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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 13, 2025

 

 

WAYFAIR INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-36666   36-4791999

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  (Commission
File Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

4 Copley Place   Boston, MA   02116
(Address of principal executive offices)     (Zip Code)

(617) 532-6100

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

Title of each class

 

Trading
symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange
on which registered

Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share   W   The New York Stock Exchange

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

Emerging growth company ☐

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01.

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Issuance of 7.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2030

On March 13, 2025, Wayfair LLC (the “Issuer”), a subsidiary of Wayfair Inc. (“Wayfair”), issued $700 million aggregate principal amount of 7.750% senior secured notes due 2030 (the “Notes”).

Wayfair used approximately $551 million of the net proceeds from the Notes offering to purchase approximately $578 million aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 1.00% convertible senior notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”) from certain investors that agreed to sell such 2026 Notes concurrent with the pricing of the Notes offering. The settlement date of the 2026 Notes repurchase is expected to occur on March 14, 2025. Wayfair intends to use the remainder of the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may include the repayment or repurchase of existing indebtedness including its outstanding 0.625% convertible senior notes due 2025 or additional 2026 Notes.

The Notes and related guarantees have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Notes were offered only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to non-U.S. persons in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. This Current Report on Form 8-K shall not constitute an offer to purchase, a solicitation of an offer to sell, or notice of redemption with respect to any of Wayfair’s outstanding convertible notes.

Indenture

The Notes were issued under an Indenture, dated March 13, 2025 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, the guarantors named therein (including Wayfair) and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee and notes collateral agent.

The Indenture provides, among other things, that the Notes will be senior secured obligations of the Issuer. Interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually, in arrears, on March 15 and September 15 of each year, commencing on September 15, 2025, at a rate of 7.750% per annum, until their maturity date of September 15, 2030. The Indenture contains covenants that restrict Wayfair’s ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries to, among other things:

 

   

incur additional indebtedness;

 

   

declare or pay dividends, redeem stock or make other distributions or restricted payments;

 

   

make certain investments;

 

   

create certain liens;

 

   

enter into certain transactions with affiliates;

 

   

agree to certain restrictions on the ability of Wayfair’s restricted subsidiaries to make certain payments;

 

   

sell or transfer certain assets; and

 

   

consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Issuer’s or its restricted subsidiaries’ assets.

These covenants are subject to a number of important limitations, qualifications and exceptions. In addition, certain of these covenants, including the limitation on indebtedness, will cease to apply to the Notes for so long as the Notes have investment grade ratings from any two of the prescribed rating agencies.

If a change of control occurs, the Issuer may be required to offer the holders of the Notes an opportunity to sell all or part of their Notes at a purchase price of 101% of the principal amount of such Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of repurchase. In addition, if Wayfair sells assets under certain circumstances, the Issuer may be required to make an offer to purchase a portion of the Notes.


At any time prior to September 15, 2027, the Issuer may on one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus a “make-whole” premium, as set forth in the Indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date. On or after September 15, 2027, the Issuer may on one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at the applicable redemption prices set forth in the Indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date. In addition, at any time prior to September 15, 2027, the Issuer may on one or more occasions redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes with an amount equal to or less than the net cash proceeds received by the Issuer or Wayfair from certain equity offerings at a redemption price equal to 107.750% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

Furthermore, at any time prior to September 15, 2027, the Issuer may redeem up to 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes during any twelve-month period at a redemption price equal to 103% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

The Indenture provides for customary events of default, which include (subject in certain cases to customary grace and cure periods) nonpayment of principal or interest; breach of other agreements in the Indenture; defaults in failure to pay certain other indebtedness; certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency; the failure to pay final judgments in excess of certain amounts of money against the Issuer and its significant subsidiaries; the failure of certain guarantees to be enforceable (other than in accordance with the terms of the Indenture); and the assertion by the Issuer, Wayfair or any guarantor that is a significant subsidiary in any pleading that any security interest related to the Notes is invalid or unenforceable.

The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Indenture and the Form of Note, which are attached as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

On March 13, 2025 (the “Effective Date”), Wayfair and certain of its subsidiaries (together, the “Guarantors”) and Wayfair LLC, a subsidiary of Wayfair, as borrower (the “Borrower”), entered into that certain amended and restated credit agreement (the “Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”), among Wayfair, the Borrower, the lenders and letter of credit issuers parties thereto and Citibank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent, collateral agent and a letter of credit issuer. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement amends and restates and replaces that certain credit agreement, dated as of March 24, 2021 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented and/or otherwise modified from time to time prior to entry into the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement), by and among the Borrower, Wayfair, each other credit party from time to time party thereto, each lender from time to time party thereto, Citibank N.A. as the administrative agent for the lenders and letter of credit issuer, and each other letter of credit issuer from time to time party thereto.

The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement provides for a $500 million senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”) with a maturity of March 13, 2030, subject to a springing earlier maturity in certain circumstances. The Borrower may from time to time request that the letter of credit issuers under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement issue letters of credit, with any issuances reducing the availability of credit under the Revolver. Any amounts outstanding under the Revolver are due at maturity.

The Borrower’s obligations under the Revolver are guaranteed by the Guarantors. The obligations of the Borrower and the Guarantors are secured by first-priority liens on substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and the Guarantors, including, with certain exceptions, all of the capital stock of Wayfair’s domestic subsidiaries and 65% of the voting capital stock and 100% of the non-voting capital stock of Wayfair’s first-tier foreign subsidiaries.

The proceeds of the Revolver may be used to finance working capital and other general corporate purposes.

Revolver borrowings bear interest through maturity at a variable rate based upon, at the Borrower’s option, (i) with respect to loans denominated in U.S. dollars, either (x) the Adjusted Term SOFR (as defined in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement) rate or (y) the base rate (which is the highest of (x) the prime rate, (y) one-half of 1.00% in excess of the federal funds effective rate and (z) 1.00% in excess of the one-month Adjusted Term SOFR rate), (ii) with respect to loans denominated in an alternative currency (other than Pounds Sterling), the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate (as defined in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement) or (iii) with respect to loans denominated in Pounds Sterling, the RFR (as defined in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement) rate, plus, in each case, an applicable margin.


As of the Effective Date and for the first full fiscal quarter following the Effective Date, the applicable margin for Adjusted Term SOFR loans and Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate loans is 1.25% per annum and the applicable margin for base rate loans is 0.25% per annum and the applicable margin for RFR loans is 1.2826% per annum. The applicable margin is subject to specified changes depending on Wayfair’s Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio (as defined in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement). The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement contains affirmative and negative covenants customarily applicable to senior secured revolving credit facilities, including covenants that, among other things, limit or restrict our ability, subject to negotiated exceptions, to incur additional indebtedness and additional liens on our assets, engage in mergers or acquisitions or dispose of assets, pay dividends or make other distributions, voluntarily prepay other indebtedness, enter into transactions with affiliated persons, make investments, or change the nature of our businesses. The Revolver also contains customary events of default, subject to thresholds and grace periods, including, among others, payment default, covenant default, cross default to other material indebtedness and judgment default. In addition, the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement requires Wayfair to maintain a Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio of 4.00 to 1.00, subject to a 0.50 step up following certain permitted acquisitions.

The foregoing description of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2.03.

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

The information set forth under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K under the headings “Indenture” and “Amended and Restated Credit Agreement” is incorporated herein by reference.


Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

 4.1

   Indenture, dated March 13, 2025, among Wayfair LLC, the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee and notes collateral agent

 4.2

   Form of Note (included in Exhibit 4.1)

10.1

   Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated March 13, 2025, among Wayfair Inc., Wayfair LLC and Citibank, N.A., as the Administrative Agent

104

   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within Inline XBRL document)


SIGNATURE

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

 

      WAYFAIR INC.
Date: March 14, 2025      

/s/ Andrew Oliver

      Andrew Oliver
      Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary
EX-4.1 2 d909268dex41.htm EX-4.1 EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

WAYFAIR LLC

the GUARANTORS party hereto from time to time

AND

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent

7.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2030

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of March 13, 2025

 


Table of Contents

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

     1  

SECTION 1.1

  Definitions      1  

SECTION 1.2

  Other Definitions      54  

SECTION 1.3

  Rules of Construction      57  

SECTION 1.4

  Certain Compliance Calculations      58  

ARTICLE II THE NOTES

     59  

SECTION 2.1

  Form, Dating and Terms      59  

SECTION 2.2

  Execution and Authentication      65  

SECTION 2.3

  Registrar and Paying Agent      65  

SECTION 2.4

  Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust      66  

SECTION 2.5

  Holder Lists      66  

SECTION 2.6

  Transfer and Exchange      66  

SECTION 2.7

  Form of Certificate to be Delivered in Connection with Transfers to IAIs      69  

SECTION 2.8

  Form of Certificate to be Delivered in Connection with Transfers Pursuant to Regulation S.      71  

SECTION 2.9

  Form of Certificate to be Delivered in Connection with Transfers to AIs      72  

SECTION 2.10

  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes      73  

SECTION 2.11

  Outstanding Notes      74  

SECTION 2.12

  Temporary Notes      74  

SECTION 2.13

  Cancellation      75  

SECTION 2.14

  Payment of Interest; Defaulted Interest      75  

SECTION 2.15

  CUSIP and ISIN Numbers      76  

ARTICLE III COVENANTS

     76  

SECTION 3.1

  Payment of Notes      76  

SECTION 3.2

  Limitation on Indebtedness      76  

SECTION 3.3

  Limitation on Restricted Payments      84  

SECTION 3.4

  Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries      92  

SECTION 3.5

  Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock      94  

SECTION 3.6

  Limitation on Liens      99  

SECTION 3.7

  Limitation on Guarantees      99  

SECTION 3.8

  Limitation on Affiliate Transactions      100  

SECTION 3.9

  Change of Control      104  

SECTION 3.10

  Reports      106  

SECTION 3.11

  Maintenance of Office or Agency      108  

SECTION 3.12

  Corporate Existence      108  

SECTION 3.13

  Payment of Taxes      109  

SECTION 3.14

  Compliance Certificate      109  

SECTION 3.15

  Statement by Officers as to Default      109  

SECTION 3.16

  Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries      109  

SECTION 3.17

  Suspension of Certain Covenants on Achievement of Investment Grade Status      110  

SECTION 3.18

  After-Acquired Collateral      111  

SECTION 3.19

  Post-Closing Deliverables      111  

SECTION 3.20

  Limitations on Dispositions and Other Transfers of Material Intellectual Property      111  

ARTICLE IV SUCCESSOR COMPANY; SUCCESSOR PERSON

     111  

SECTION 4.1

  Merger, Amalgamation and Consolidation      111  

 

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ARTICLE V REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

     114  

SECTION 5.1

  Notices to Trustee      114  

SECTION 5.2

  Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed      114  

SECTION 5.3

  Notice of Redemption      114  

SECTION 5.4

  [Reserved]      115  

SECTION 5.5

  Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price      115  

SECTION 5.6

  Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part      116  

SECTION 5.7

  Optional Redemption      116  

SECTION 5.8

  Mandatory Redemption      117  

ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

     117  

SECTION 6.1

  Events of Default      117  

SECTION 6.2

  Acceleration      121  

SECTION 6.3

  Other Remedies      121  

SECTION 6.4

  Waiver of Past Defaults      121  

SECTION 6.5

  Control by Majority      121  

SECTION 6.6

  Limitation on Suits      122  

SECTION 6.7

  Rights of Holders to Receive Payment      122  

SECTION 6.8

  Collection Suit by Trustee      122  

SECTION 6.9

  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      122  

SECTION 6.10

  Priorities      123  

SECTION 6.11

  Undertaking for Costs      123  

ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE

     123  

SECTION 7.1

  Duties of Trustee      123  

SECTION 7.2

  Rights of Trustee      124  

SECTION 7.3

  Individual Rights of Trustee      125  

SECTION 7.4

  Trustee’s Disclaimer      126  

SECTION 7.5

  Notice of Defaults      126  

SECTION 7.6

  Compensation and Indemnity      126  

SECTION 7.7

  Replacement of Trustee      127  

SECTION 7.8

  Successor Trustee by Merger      127  

SECTION 7.9

  Eligibility; Disqualification      128  

SECTION 7.10

  Trustee’s Application for Instruction from the Company      128  

SECTION 7.11

  Security Documents and Intercreditor Agreements      128  

ARTICLE VIII LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

     129  

SECTION 8.1

  Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance; Defeasance      129  

SECTION 8.2

  Legal Defeasance and Discharge      129  

SECTION 8.3

  Covenant Defeasance      129  

SECTION 8.4

  Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance      130  

SECTION 8.5

  Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions      131  

SECTION 8.6

  Repayment to the Company      131  

SECTION 8.7

  Reinstatement      132  

ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS

     132  

SECTION 9.1

  Without Consent of Holders      132  

SECTION 9.2

  With Consent of Holders      134  

SECTION 9.3

  Compliance with this Indenture      135  

SECTION 9.4

  Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers      135  

SECTION 9.5

  Notation on or Exchange of Notes      135  

SECTION 9.6

  Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent to Sign Amendments      136  

 

-ii-


ARTICLE X GUARANTEE

     136  

SECTION 10.1

  Guarantee      136  

SECTION 10.2

  Limitation on Liability; Termination, Release and Discharge      137  

SECTION 10.3

  Right of Contribution      138  

SECTION 10.4

  No Subrogation      138  

ARTICLE XI SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     139  

SECTION 11.1

  Satisfaction and Discharge      139  

SECTION 11.2

  Application of Trust Money      140  

ARTICLE XII MISCELLANEOUS

     140  

SECTION 12.1

  Notices      140  

SECTION 12.2

  Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent      141  

SECTION 12.3

  Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion      142  

SECTION 12.4

  When Notes Disregarded      142  

SECTION 12.5

  Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar      142  

SECTION 12.6

  Legal Holidays      142  

SECTION 12.7

  Governing Law      142  

SECTION 12.8

  Jurisdiction      142  

SECTION 12.9

  Waivers of Jury Trial      143  

SECTION 12.10

  USA PATRIOT Act      143  

SECTION 12.11

  No Recourse Against Others      143  

SECTION 12.12

  Successors      143  

SECTION 12.13

  Multiple Originals      143  

SECTION 12.14

  Table of Contents; Headings      143  

SECTION 12.15

  Force Majeure      143  

SECTION 12.16

  Severability      143  

SECTION 12.17

  Intercreditor Agreements      143  

ARTICLE XIII SECURITY

     144  

SECTION 13.1

  Security Documents      144  

SECTION 13.2

  Release of Collateral      144  

SECTION 13.3

  [Reserved]      145  

SECTION 13.4

  Suits to Protect the Collateral      145  

SECTION 13.5

  Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Security Documents      146  

SECTION 13.6

  Purchaser Protected      146  

SECTION 13.7

  Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee      146  

SECTION 13.8

  Notes Collateral Agent      146  

SCHEDULE I

  Subsidiary Guarantors   

SCHEDULE II

  Post-Closing Deliverables   

EXHIBIT A

  Form of Global Restricted Note   

EXHIBIT B

  Form of Supplemental Indenture to Add Guarantors   

 

 

-iii-


INDENTURE, dated as of March 13, 2025, among WAYFAIR LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), the Guarantors party hereto from time to time and U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent.

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of (i) its 7.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 issued on the date hereof (the “Initial Notes”) and (ii) any additional Notes (“Additional Notes” and, together with the Initial Notes, the “Notes”) that may be issued after the Issue Date;

WHEREAS, the Guarantors have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture; and

WHEREAS, all things necessary (i) to make the Notes, when executed and duly issued by the Company and authenticated and delivered hereunder, the valid obligations of the Company and the Guarantors, and (ii) to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company and the Guarantors have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders, as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.1 Definitions.

“Acquired Indebtedness” means with respect to any Person (x) Indebtedness of any other Person or any of its Subsidiaries existing at the time such other Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or merges or amalgamates with or into or consolidates or otherwise combines with Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary and (y) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such Person. Acquired Indebtedness shall be deemed to have been Incurred, with respect to clause (x) of the preceding sentence, on the date such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or on the date of the relevant merger, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition or other combination.

“Additional Assets” means:

(1) any property or assets (other than Capital Stock) used or to be used by Holdings, a Restricted Subsidiary or otherwise useful in a Similar Business (it being understood that capital expenditures on property or assets already used in a Similar Business or to replace any property or assets that are the subject of such Asset Disposition shall be deemed an investment in Additional Assets);

(2) the Capital Stock of a Person that is engaged in a Similar Business and becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the acquisition of such Capital Stock by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary; or

(3) Capital Stock constituting a minority interest in any Person that at such time is a Restricted Subsidiary.

“Additional First Lien Obligations” has the meaning given to such term in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

“Additional First Lien Secured Parties” has the meaning given to such term in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

“Additional Notes” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Indenture.


“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 the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

“AHYDO Catch-Up Payment” means any payment with respect to any obligations of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to avoid the application of Section 163(e)(5) of the Code thereto.

“AI” means an “accredited investor” as described in Rule 501(a)(4) under the Securities Act.

“Alternative Currency” means any currency (other than U.S. dollars) that is a lawful currency (other than U.S. dollars) that is readily available and freely transferable and convertible into U.S. dollars (as determined in good faith by the Company).

“Applicable Premium” means the greater of (A) 1.0% of the principal amount of such Note and (B) on any Redemption Date, the excess (to the extent positive) of:

(a) the present value at such Redemption Date of (i) the redemption price of such Note at September 15, 2027 (such redemption price (expressed in percentage of principal amount) being set forth in the table under Section 5.7(f) (excluding accrued but unpaid interest, if any)), plus (ii) all required interest payments due on such Note to and including such date set forth in clause (i) (excluding accrued but unpaid interest, if any), computed upon the Redemption Date using a discount rate equal to the Applicable Treasury Rate at such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points; over

(b) the outstanding principal amount of such Note;

in each case, as calculated by the Company or on behalf of the Company by such Person as the Company shall designate. The Trustee shall have no duty to calculate or verify the calculations of the Applicable Premium.

“Applicable Treasury Rate” means the weekly average for each Business Day during the most recent week that has ended at least two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date of the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (or, if such statistical release is not so published or available, any publicly available source of similar market data selected by the Company in good faith)) most nearly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to September 15, 2027; provided, however, that if the period from the Redemption Date to September 15, 2027 is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which such yield is given, the Applicable Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the Redemption Date to such applicable date is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used.

“Approved Commercial Bank” means a commercial bank with a consolidated combined capital and surplus of at least $5.0 billion.

“Asset Disposition” means:

(a) the voluntary 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 Leaseback Transaction) of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (in each case other than Capital Stock of Holdings) (each referred to in this definition as a “disposition”); or

(b) the issuance or sale of Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than (i) Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries issued in compliance with Section 3.2 hereof, (ii) directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals as required under applicable law and (iii) any non-wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary issuing Capital Stock of such Subsidiary to each owner of Capital Stock of such Subsidiary ratably based on their relative ownership interests), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions; in each case, other than:

 

-2-


(1) a disposition by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary to Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary, including pursuant to any Intercompany License Agreement;

(2) a disposition of cash, Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities, including any marketable securities portfolio owned by Holdings and its Subsidiaries on the Issue Date;

(3) a disposition of inventory, goods or other assets (including Settlement Assets) in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or held for sale or no longer used in the ordinary course of business, including any disposition of disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations;

(4) a disposition of obsolete, worn out, uneconomic, damaged or surplus property, equipment or other assets or property, equipment or other assets that are no longer economically practical or commercially desirable to maintain or used or useful in the business of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries whether now or hereafter owned or leased or acquired in connection with an acquisition or used or useful in the conduct of the business of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including by ceasing to enforce, allowing the lapse, abandonment or invalidation of or discontinuing the use or maintenance of or putting into the public domain any intellectual property that is, in the reasonable judgment of Holdings or the Restricted Subsidiaries, no longer used or useful, or economically practicable to maintain, or in respect of which Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary determines in its reasonable judgment that such action or inaction is desirable);

(5) transactions permitted under Section 4.1 hereof or a transaction that constitutes a Change of Control;

(6) an issuance of Capital Stock by a Restricted Subsidiary to Holdings or to another Restricted Subsidiary or as part of or pursuant to an equity incentive or compensation plan approved by the Board of Directors of Holdings;

(7) any dispositions of Capital Stock, properties or assets in a single transaction or series of related transactions with a fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of less than the greater of $105.0 million and 22.5% of LTM EBITDA;

(8) any Restricted Payment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section 3.3 and the making of any Permitted Payment or Permitted Investment or, solely for purposes of Section 3.5(a)(3), asset sales, the proceeds of which are used to make such Restricted Payments or Permitted Investments;

(9) dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens, Permitted Intercompany Activities, Permitted Tax Restructurings and related transactions;

(10) dispositions of receivables in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings and including factoring or similar arrangements;

(11) conveyances, sales, transfers, licenses, sub-licenses, cross-licenses or other dispositions of intellectual property, software or other general intangibles and licenses, sub-licenses, cross-licenses, leases or subleases of other property, in each case, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or pursuant to a research or development agreement in which the counterparty to such agreement receives a license in the intellectual property or software that results from such agreement; (12) the lease, assignment, license, sub-lease, sub-license, cross-license of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

 

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(13) foreclosure, condemnation, expropriation, forced disposition or any similar action with respect to any property or other assets or the granting of Liens not prohibited by this Indenture;

(14) the sale, discount or other disposition (with or without recourse, and on customary or commercially reasonable terms and for credit management purposes) of inventory, accounts receivable or notes receivable in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, or the conversion or exchange of accounts receivable for notes receivable;

(15) any issuance or sale of Capital Stock in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any other disposition of Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other securities of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or an Immaterial Subsidiary;

(16) any disposition of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement or other obligation with or to a Person (other than Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary) from whom such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired, or from whom such Restricted Subsidiary acquired its business and assets (having been newly formed in connection with such acquisition), made as part of such acquisition and in each case comprising all or a portion of the consideration in respect of such sale or acquisition;

(17) (i) dispositions of property to the extent that such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property that is promptly purchased, (ii) dispositions of property to the extent that the proceeds of such disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property (which replacement property is actually promptly purchased), and (iii) to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Code or comparable law or regulation, any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon) for use in a Similar Business;

(18) any disposition of Securitization Assets or Receivables Assets, or participations therein, in connection with any Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility not prohibited by this Indenture, 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;

(19) any financing transaction with respect to property constructed, acquired, leased, renewed, relocated, expanded, maintained, upgraded, replaced, repaired or improved (including any reconstruction, refurbishment, renovation and/or development of real property) by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, including Sale and Leaseback Transactions and asset securitizations, not prohibited by this Indenture;

(20) sales, transfers or other dispositions of Investments in joint ventures or similar entities to the extent required by, or made pursuant to customary buy/sell arrangements between, the parties to such joint venture set forth in joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements;

(21) any surrender or waiver of contractual rights or the settlement, release, surrender or waiver of contractual, tort, litigation or other claims of any kind;

(22) the settlement or unwinding of any Cash Management Obligations or Hedging Obligations;

(23) dispositions of non-core assets (with any such designation of assets as “non-core” determined in good faith by Holdings);

(24) transfers of property or assets subject to Casualty Events upon receipt of the net proceeds of such Casualty Event; provided that any Cash Equivalents received by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of such Casualty Event shall be deemed to be Net Available Cash of an Asset Disposition, and such Net Available Cash shall be applied in accordance with Section 3.5; (25) any sale of property or assets, if the acquisition of such property or assets was financed with Excluded Contributions and the proceeds of such sale are used to make a Restricted Payment pursuant to Section 3.3(b)(13)(ii);

 

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(26) dispositions of any assets (including Capital Stock) made in connection with the approval of any applicable antitrust authority or otherwise necessary or advisable in the reasonable determination of Holdings to consummate any acquisition;

(27) any disposition of non-revenue producing assets to a Person who is providing services related to such assets, the provision of which have been or are to be outsourced by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to such Person;

(28) any sale, transfer or other disposition to affect the formation of any Subsidiary that is a Delaware Divided LLC; provided that upon formation of such Delaware Divided LLC, such Delaware Divided LLC shall be a Restricted Subsidiary; and

(29) the settlement or early termination of any Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction and the settlement or early termination of any Permitted Warrant Transaction.

In the event that a transaction (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of a permitted Asset Disposition and would also be a Permitted Investment or an Investment permitted under Section 3.3, the Company, in its sole discretion, will be entitled to divide and classify such transaction (or a portion thereof) as an Asset Disposition and/or one or more of the types of Permitted Investments or Investments permitted under Section 3.3.

“Associate” means (i) any Person engaged in a Similar Business of which Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries are the legal and beneficial owners of between 20.0% and 50.0% of all outstanding Voting Stock and (ii) any joint venture entered into by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

“Authorized Representative” has the meaning given to such term in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11 of the United States Code or similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

“Board of Directors” means (a) with respect to Holdings or any corporation, the board of directors or managers, as applicable, of the corporation, or any duly authorized committee thereof; (b) with respect to any partnership, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner, as applicable, of the partnership or any duly authorized committee thereof; (c) with respect to the Company or any limited liability company, the managing member or members or any duly authorized controlling committee thereof; and (d) with respect to any other Person, the board or any duly authorized committee of such Person serving a similar function. Whenever any provision requires any action or determination to be made by, or any approval of, a Board of Directors, such action, determination or approval shall be deemed to have been taken or made if approved by a majority of the directors on any such Board of Directors (whether or not such action or approval is taken as part of a formal board meeting or as a formal board approval). Unless the context requires otherwise, Board of Directors means the Board of Directors of Holdings.

“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary or another Officer of a Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York, New York, United States or in the jurisdiction of the place of payment are authorized or required by law to close. 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 or performance shall extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day and such extension of time shall not be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

 

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“Business Successor” means (a) any former Subsidiary of Holdings and (b) any Person that, after the Issue Date, has acquired, merged or consolidated with a Subsidiary of Holdings (that results in such Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary of Holdings), or acquired (in one transaction or a series of transactions) all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of a Subsidiary or assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of a Subsidiary of Holdings.

“BVI Share Mortgage” means the British Virgin Islands governed equitable share mortgage, to be entered into on or following the Issue Date in accordance with Section 3.19, in which Wayfair International LLC provides a charge to the Notes Collateral Agent over no more than 65% of its voting Equity Interests and 100% of its non-voting Equity Interests in Windsor (BVI) Holdings 1 Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company.

“Capital Lease” means, as applied to any Person, any lease of any property (whether real, personal, or mixed) by that Person as lessee that, in conformity with GAAP, is, or is required to be, accounted for as a capital lease or finance lease on the balance sheet of that Person; provided that all leases of any Person that are or would be characterized as operating leases in accordance with GAAP immediately prior to December 15, 2019 (whether or not such operating leases were in effect on such date) shall continue to be accounted for as operating leases (and not as Capital Leases) for purposes of this Indenture regardless of any change in GAAP following the date that would otherwise require such leases or any portion thereof to be recharacterized as Capital Leases.

“Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares or membership interests of, rights to purchase or acquire, warrants, options or depositary receipts for, or other equivalents of or partnership, limited liability company or other interests in (however designated), equity of such Person, including any Preferred Stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for such equity (including the Permitted Convertible Indebtedness).

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

“Cash Equivalents” means:

(1) (a) U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars, Swiss francs, pounds sterling, yen, Euro or any national currency of any member state of the European Union or any Alternative Currency; or (b) any other foreign currency held by Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries from time to time in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States, Canadian, Swiss, United Kingdom or Japanese governments, a member state of the European Union or, in each case, or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit obligation of such country or such member state is pledged in support thereof), having maturities of 36 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(3) certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar time deposits, overnight bank deposits, demand deposits or bankers’ acceptances having maturities of not more than two years from the date of acquisition thereof issued by any lender or by any bank, trust company or other financial institution (a) whose commercial paper is rated at least “A-2” or the equivalent thereof by S&P or at least “P-2” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s (or if at the time neither is issuing comparable ratings, then a comparable rating of another Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization selected by Holdings) or (b) having combined capital and surplus in excess of $100.0 million;

(4) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2), (3), (7) and (8) entered into with any Person meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

 

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(5) securities with maturities of two years or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any Person meeting the qualifications in clause (3) above; (6) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by any Person meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above (or by the parent company thereof) maturing within two years after the creation thereof, or, if no rating is available in respect of the commercial paper or variable or fixed rate notes, the issuer of which has an equivalent rating in respect of its long-term debt;

(7) marketable short-term money market and similar securities having a rating of at least “P-2” or “A-2” from either S&P or Moody’s, respectively (or, if at the time, neither is issuing comparable ratings, then a comparable rating of another Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization selected by Holdings);

(8) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, province, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, Canada, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, any member state of the European Union or any political subdivision, taxing authority or agency or public instrumentality thereof, in each case, having one of the two highest ratings categories obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P (or, if at the time, neither is issuing comparable ratings, then a comparable rating of another Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization selected by Holdings) with maturities of not more than two years from the date of acquisition;

(9) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any foreign government or any political subdivision, taxing authority or agency or public instrumentality thereof, in each case, having one of the two highest ratings categories obtainable by either S&P or Moody’s (or, if at the time, neither is issuing comparable ratings, then a comparable rating of another Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization selected by Holdings) with maturities of not more than two years from the date of acquisition;

(10) Investments with average maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds rated within the three highest ratings categories by either S&P or Moody’s (or, if at the time, neither is issuing comparable ratings, then a comparable rating of another Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization selected by Holdings);

(11) 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’ acceptance 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-2” or the equivalent thereof or from Moody’s is at least “P-2” 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;

(12) Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued by Persons with a rating of “BBB-” or higher from S&P or “Baa3” or higher from Moody’s (or, if at the time, neither is issuing comparable ratings, then a comparable rating of another Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization selected by Holdings) with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(13) bills of exchange issued in the United States, Canada, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, 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);

 

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(14) investments in money market funds access to which is provided as part of “sweep” accounts maintained with any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above; (15) investments in industrial development revenue bonds that (i) “re-set” interest rates not less frequently than quarterly, (ii) are entitled to the benefit of a remarketing arrangement with an established broker dealer and (iii) are supported by a direct pay letter of credit covering principal and accrued interest that is issued by any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

(16) investments in pooled funds or investment accounts consisting of investments in the nature described in the foregoing clause (15);

(17) Cash Equivalents or instruments similar to those referred to in clauses (1) through (16) above denominated in Dollars or any Alternative Currency;

(18) interests in any investment company, money market, enhanced high yield, pooled or other investment fund that invests 90.0% or more of its assets in instruments of the types specified in clauses (1) through (17) above; and

(19) for purposes of clause (2) of the definition of “Asset Disposition,” any marketable securities portfolio owned by Holdings and its Subsidiaries on the Issue Date.

In the case of Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary or Investments made in a country outside the United States of America, Cash Equivalents shall also include (i) investments of the type and maturity described in the clauses above of foreign obligors, which Investments or obligors (or the parents of such obligors) have ratings described in such clauses or equivalent ratings from comparable foreign rating agencies and (ii) other short-term investments utilized by Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with normal investment practices for cash management in investments analogous to the foregoing investments in the clauses above and in this paragraph.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cash Equivalents shall include amounts denominated in currencies other than those set forth in clause (1) above, provided that such amounts are converted into any currency listed in clause (1) as promptly as practicable and in any event within 10 Business Days following the receipt of such amounts. For the avoidance of doubt, any items identified as Cash Equivalents under this definition will be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for all purposes under this Indenture regardless of the treatment of such items under GAAP.

“Cash Management Obligations” means (1) obligations in respect of any overdraft and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository, cash pooling arrangements, electronic fund transfer, treasury services and cash management services, including controlled disbursement services, working capital lines, lines of credit, overdraft facilities, foreign exchange facilities, deposit and other accounts and merchant services, or other cash management arrangements or any automated clearing house arrangements, (2) other obligations in respect of netting or setting off arrangements, credit, debit or purchase card programs, stored value card and similar arrangements and (3) obligations in respect of any other services related, ancillary or complementary to the foregoing (including any overdraft and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository, cash pooling arrangements and cash management services, corporate credit and purchasing cards and related programs or any automated clearing house transfers of funds).

“Casualty Event” means any event that gives rise to the receipt by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in respect of any equipment, assets or real property (including any improvements thereon) to replace or repair such equipment, assets or real property.

“CFC” means a Subsidiary of the Company that is a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code.

“CFC Holding Company” means a Domestic Subsidiary of the Company substantially all of the assets of which consist of equity or debt of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs.

“Change of Control” means:

 

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(1) Holdings 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) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Issue Date), other than one or more Permitted Holders or a Parent Entity, that is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act as in effect on the Issue Date), of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of Holdings, unless the Permitted Holders have, at such time, the right or the ability by proxy, voting power, contract or otherwise to directly or indirectly elect, designate, nominate or appoint a majority of the board of directors of Holdings; provided that (x) so long as Holdings is a Subsidiary of any Parent Entity, 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 Holdings 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 Entity (other than a Parent Entity that is a Subsidiary of another Parent Entity) 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 sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other business combination transaction) in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole to a Person, other than Holdings, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or one or more Permitted Holders, and any “person” (as defined in clause (1)) (other than one or more Permitted Holders or any Parent Entity) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in clause (1)) of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the transferee Person in such sale or transfer of assets, as the case may be, unless the Permitted Holders have, at such time, the right or the ability by proxy, voting power, contract or otherwise to directly or indirectly elect, designate, nominate or appoint a majority of the board of directors of Holdings; provided that (x) so long as Holdings is a Subsidiary of any Parent Entity, 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 Holdings 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 Entity (other than a Parent Entity that is a Subsidiary of another Parent Entity) 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.

Notwithstanding the preceding or any provision of Section 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, (i) a Person or group shall not be deemed to beneficially own Voting Stock subject to a stock or asset purchase agreement, merger agreement, option agreement, warrant agreement or similar agreement (or voting or option or similar agreement related thereto) until the consummation of the acquisition of the Voting Stock in connection with the transactions contemplated by such agreement, (ii) if any group includes one or more Permitted Holders, the issued and outstanding Voting Stock of Holdings owned, directly or indirectly, by any Permitted Holders that are part of such group shall not be treated as being beneficially owned by such group or any other member of such group for purposes of determining whether a Change of Control has occurred, (iii) a Person or group will not be deemed to beneficially own the Voting Stock of another Person as a result of its ownership of Voting Stock or other securities of such other Person’s parent entity (or related contractual rights) unless it owns 50% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock entitled to vote for the election of directors of such parent entity having a majority of the aggregate votes on the board of directors (or similar body) of such parent entity and (iv) the right to acquire Voting Stock (so long as such Person does not have the right to direct the voting of the Voting Stock subject to such right) or any veto power in connection with the acquisition or disposition of Voting Stock will not cause a party to be a beneficial owner.

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

“Collateral” means all assets and property of the Company or any Guarantor subject (or purported to be subject), from time to time, to a Lien securing the First Lien Notes Obligations, whether now existing or hereafter acquired.

“Company” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Indenture.

“Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense and capitalized fees, including amortization or write-off of (i) intangible assets and non-cash organization costs, (ii) deferred financing and debt issuance fees, costs and expenses, (iii) capitalized expenditures (including Capitalized Software Expenditures), customer acquisition costs and incentive payments, media development costs, 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 and (iv) capitalized fees related to any Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility, of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP and any write down of assets or asset value carried on the balance sheet.

 

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“Consolidated EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period:

 

  (1)

increased (without duplication) by:

 

  (a)

Consolidated Interest Expense and, to the extent not reflected in Consolidated Interest Expense, non-cash interest payments, premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and related expenses incurred in connection with borrowed money (including capitalized interest) or in connection with the deferred purchase price of assets, the implied interest component of synthetic leases with respect to such period, interest in respect of Finance Lease Obligations, any commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Receivables Facility, any losses on Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, net of interest income and gains on such Hedging Obligations or such derivative instruments, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to bankers acceptances, and bank and letter of credit fees and costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities (whether amortized or immediately expensed), the interest component of any pension or other post-employment benefit expense and amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance of any Indebtedness at less than par (and adjusted, in each case, to the extent applicable, to exclude any refunds or similar credits received in connection with the purchasing or procurement of goods or services under any purchasing card or similar program); plus

 

  (b)

provision for taxes based on income, profits, revenue or capital, and sales taxes, including federal, foreign and state income, franchise, excise and similar taxes based on income, profits, revenue or capital and foreign withholding taxes paid or accrued during such period (including in respect of repatriated funds), including penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from any tax examinations, and any payments to a Parent Entity in respect of such taxes not prohibited by this Indenture; plus

 

  (c)

Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense (including amortization of (A) deferred financing commissions, fees, expenses, yield or costs (including original issue discount) and (B) intangible assets, including goodwill and Capitalized Software Expenditures); plus

 

  (d)

other non-cash charges (provided, in each case, that if any non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, (A) Holdings may determine not to add back such non-cash charge in the current period or (B) to the extent Holdings decides to add back such non-cash charge, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA to such extent); plus

 

  (e)

the aggregate amount of Consolidated Net Income attributable to non-controlling interests of third parties in any non-wholly-owned Subsidiary, excluding cash distributions in respect thereof to the extent already included in Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

  (f)

(A) the amount of management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees, indemnities and related expenses paid, owed or accrued in such period to (or on behalf of) any member of the Board of Directors (or equivalent) of Holdings, any of its Subsidiaries, any Parent Entity, any Permitted Holder or any Affiliate of a Permitted Holder (including any termination fees payable in connection with the early termination of management and monitoring agreements and any expenses paid in connection with the limited partnership agreement, unitholder agreement or similar agreement (in each case, including any amortization thereof)), (B) the amount of any fees or reimbursements (including pursuant

 

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  to any management agreement) of directors, managers, officers, employees, consultants and board observers, (C) the amount of payments made to option holders of Holdings or any Parent Entity in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to equityholders of such Person or its direct or indirect Parent Entities, 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, and the employer portion of any payroll taxes associated therewith, in each case to the extent not prohibited by this Indenture, and (D) amounts of the type described in clauses (A) through (C) of this paragraph paid or accrued on or prior to the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date (and following the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date, with respect to indemnification or other amounts owed in respect of arrangements in effect prior to the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date); plus

 

  (g)

losses or discounts on sales of receivables and related assets in connection with any Receivables Facility; plus

 

  (h)

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

 

  (i)

(A) any costs or expenses incurred or paid by Holdings (or any Parent Entity) or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan, stock option plan, profits interest plan, phantom equity plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or long-term incentive plan or agreement, any severance agreement or any stock or equity subscription or equityholder or unitholder agreement, non-compete agreements and other similar agreements and the employer portion of any payroll taxes associated therewith, and (B) any charge in connection with the rollover, acceleration or payout of equity interests held by management and members of the Board of Directors of Holdings (or any Parent Entity) and the employer portion of any payroll taxes associated therewith, in each case under this clause (B), to the extent any such cash charge is funded with net cash proceeds contributed to Holdings as a capital contribution or as a result of Net Cash Proceeds of an issuance or sale of Capital Stock (other than any “specified equity contribution” or any “excluded contribution” (other than any such excluded contribution designated for such purpose)) of Holdings; plus

 

  (j)

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

 

  (k)

charges attributable to, and payments of, legal settlements, fines, judgments or orders; plus

 

  (l)

to the extent deducted in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, earn-out obligations and other post-closing obligations to sellers (including transaction tax benefit payments or to the extent accounted for as bonuses or otherwise) incurred in connection with the Transactions, any acquisition transaction or other Investment (including any acquisition or other Investment consummated prior to the Issue Date) or adjustments thereof, which is paid or accrued during the applicable period; plus

 

  (m)

to the extent not otherwise included in Consolidated Net Income, proceeds of business interruption insurance in an amount representing the earnings for the applicable period that such proceeds are intended to replace (whether or not then received so long as the Company in good faith expects to receive such proceeds within the next four fiscal quarters (it being understood that to the extent such proceeds are not actually received within such fiscal quarters, such proceeds shall be deducted in calculating Consolidated EBITDA for such fiscal quarters)); plus

 

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  (n)

the amount of any charge or deduction associated with any Restricted Subsidiary that is attributable to any non-controlling interest or minority interest of any third party; plus

 

  (o)

(A) the amount of any charge in connection with a single or one-time event, including, without limitation, in connection with the Transactions, any acquisition or other Investment consummated after the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and other professional fees and expenses incurred in connection with acquisitions and other Investments made prior to the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date) and (B) charges, expenses or losses incurred in connection with any Permitted Tax Restructuring (in each case, whether or not consummated); plus

 

  (p)

charges relating to the sale of products or services in new locations, including, without limitation, start-up costs, initial testing and registration costs in new markets, the cost of feasibility studies, travel costs for employees engaged in activities relating to any or all of the foregoing and the allocation of general and administrative support in connection with any or all of the foregoing; plus

 

  (q)

Public Company Costs; plus

 

  (r)

costs, expenses, charges, accruals, reserves (including restructuring costs related to any acquisition prior to, on or after the Issue Date) or expenses attributable to the undertaking and/or the implementation of cost savings initiatives, operating expense reductions and other restructuring and integration and transition costs; plus

 

  (s)

operating expenses incurred on or prior to the Issue Date attributable to (A) salary and other wage obligations paid to employees terminated prior to the Issue Date and (B) wages paid to executives in excess of the amounts Holdings is required to pay pursuant to its employment agreements; plus

 

  (t)

pre-opening expenses, losses and “start-up costs” (as determined by Holdings in its sole discretion) related to the acquisition, opening, organizing and entering into of any new contracts or agreements, facilities and all other location-specific costs and costs associated with upgrading, remodeling or construction of new facilities, locations or entering into of new contracts or agreements; plus

 

  (u)

if such period includes the results of new contracts or agreements whether entered into prior to the Issue Date or after the Issue Date, the “run rate” pro forma impact of Consolidated EBITDA expected to be generated by any such new contract during such period, determined as if such new contract was in effect for the duration of the applicable period; plus

 

  (v)

any costs of cash pooling services and other cash management arrangements; plus

 

  (w)

non-recurring costs for IT system development and consolidated and new product introductions; plus

 

  (x)

(1) without duplication, the amount of “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies related to any Specified Transaction, any restructuring, cost saving initiative or other initiative that is projected by Holdings in good faith to be realized as a result of actions that have been taken or initiated or are expected to be taken or initiated on or prior to the date that is 12 fiscal quarters after the date of consummation of such Specified Transaction, restructuring, cost saving initiative or other initiative, including any

 

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  cost savings, expenses and charges (including restructuring and integration charges) in connection with, or incurred by or on behalf of, any joint venture of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (whether accounted for on the financial statements of any such joint venture or Holdings) with respect to any Specified Transaction and any restructuring, cost saving initiative or other initiative (which cost savings shall be added to Consolidated EBITDA until fully realized and shall be calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings had been realized on the first day of the relevant period, net of the amount of actual benefits realized from such actions); provided that (A) such cost savings are reasonably identifiable, factually supportable and projected by the Company in good faith to result from actions either taken or expected to be taken within 24 full months of the determination to take such action, net of the amount of actual benefits realized prior to or during such period from such actions (which cost savings, operating expense reductions, and cost synergies shall be calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions, or cost synergies had been realized on the first day of such period); and (B) no cost savings, operating expense reductions or synergies shall be added pursuant to this clause (x) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges relating to such cost savings, operating expense reductions or synergies that are included in clause (1) above or otherwise added back in the computation of Consolidated EBITDA (whether through a pro forma adjustment or otherwise) for such period (it being understood and agreed that “run rate” means the full recurring benefit that is associated with any action taken); provided, further, that the aggregate amount added back pursuant to this clause (1) solely with respect to acquisitions or similar permitted Investments after the Issue Date shall not exceed 40.0% of Consolidated EBITDA (as calculated after giving effect to such add-backs) for any period and (2) other adjustments and add-backs calculated in accordance with Regulation S-X; plus

 

  (y)

adjustments of the nature used in connection with (i) the calculation of “Adjusted EBITDA” as set forth in “Summary—Summary Consolidated Financial Data” contained in the Offering Memorandum applied in good faith to the extent such adjustments continue to be applicable during the period in which Consolidated EBITDA is being calculated and (ii) any due diligence quality of earnings report from time to time prepared with respect to the target of an acquisition or Investment by a nationally recognized accounting firm; and

 

  (2)

decreased (without duplication) by:

 

  (a)

non-cash gains (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 or Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period); and

 

  (b)

cash expenditures (or any netting arrangements resulting in increased cash expenditures) not representing Consolidated EBITDA in any period to the extent non-cash losses relating to such expenditures were added to the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for any previous periods and not subtracted back.

“Consolidated First Lien Secured Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (x) Consolidated Total Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the Collateral as of such date (other than Indebtedness secured by the Collateral with Junior Lien Priority relative to the Notes and the Note Guarantees) to (y) LTM EBITDA.

“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, without duplication, the sum of:

 

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(1) consolidated cash interest expense (including that attributable to Finance Lease Obligations) with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net payments made (less net payments received) under Hedging Obligations but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt (i) Securitization Fees, (ii) penalties, additions to Tax and interest relating to Taxes, (iii) annual agency or similar fees paid to the administrative agents, collateral agents, trustees and other agents under any Credit Facility and the Existing Convertible Notes, (iv) any additional interest or liquidated damages owing pursuant to any registration rights obligations, (v) costs associated with obtaining Hedging Obligations, (vi) accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities other than Indebtedness, (vii) any expense resulting from the discounting of any Indebtedness in connection with the application of recapitalization accounting or purchase accounting in connection with the Transactions or any acquisition, (viii) amortization, expensing or write-off of deferred financing fees, amendment and consent fees, debt issuance costs, debt discount or premium, terminated Hedging Obligations and other commissions, fees and expenses, discounted liabilities, original issue discount and any other amounts of non-cash interest and, adjusted to the extent included, to exclude any refunds or similar credits received in connection with the purchasing or procurement of goods or services under any purchasing card or similar program, (ix) any expensing of bridge, arrangement, structuring, commitment, agency, consent and other financing fees and any other fees related to the Transactions or any acquisitions after the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date, (x) any accretion of accrued interest on discounted liabilities and any prepayment, make-whole or breakage premium, penalty or cost, (xi) interest expense with respect to Indebtedness of any direct or indirect parent of such Person resulting from push-down accounting and (xii) any lease, rental or other expense in connection with a Non-Financing Lease Obligations; less

(2) consolidated interest income for such period.

For purposes of this definition, interest on a Finance 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 Finance Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP.

“Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that there will not be included in such Consolidated Net Income (without duplication):

(1) extraordinary, exceptional, infrequent, one-time, unusual or non-recurring gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) or expenses (including any extraordinary, exceptional, infrequent, one-time, unusual or non-recurring operating expenses directly attributable to the implementation of cost savings initiatives, restructurings, strategic initiatives and any accruals or reserves in respect of any extraordinary, exceptional, infrequent, one-time, non-recurring or unusual items (including fees paid to strategic consultants and other third-party specialists) or acquisitions), severance, security, relocation costs, integration and facilities’ opening costs, restructuring or similar charges, redundancy charges, accruals or reserves (including restructuring and integration costs related to acquisitions after the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date and adjustments to existing reserves and any restructuring or similar charge relating to any Permitted Tax Restructuring), whether or not classified as restructuring expense on the consolidated financial statements, lease run-off or other business optimization charges, including related to technology upgrades, new product introductions, systems implementation charges, charges relating to entry into a new market, consulting charges, product and intellectual property development, software development charges, charges associated with new systems design, project startup charges, Start-Up Losses, information technology charges, charges in connection with new operations, corporate development charges, recruiting fees, signing costs, retention or completion bonuses, Transaction Bonuses (and the employer portion of any payroll taxes associated therewith), bank and similar fees and expenses incurred in connection with specified Cash Management Obligations, transition costs, costs (including in respect of employees and management) related to establishing new facilities or reserves or related to discontinuation/closure/consolidation of facilities, internal costs in respect of strategic initiatives, duplicative rent expense, implementation of any enhanced accounting function (including in connection with becoming a standalone entity or public company) and curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans (including any settlement of multi-employer plan or pension liabilities), for such period;

 

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(2) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income; (3) Transaction Expenses, including (i) payment of any severance and the amount of any other success, change of control or similar bonuses (including Transaction Bonuses) or payments payable to any current or former employee, director, manager, officer or consultant of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of the consummation of the Transactions without the requirement of any action on the part of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, and (ii) costs in connection with payments related to the rollover, acceleration or payout of equity interests and stock options held by management and members of the board of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, including the payment of any employer taxes related to the items in this clause;

(4) the net income (loss) for such period of any Person that is an Unrestricted Subsidiary and any Person that is not Holdings or a Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, except to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions or other similar payments that are actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) by such Person to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period;

(5) any fees and expenses (including allocated internal costs and expenses and any transaction or retention bonus or similar payment) incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, non-recurring costs to acquire equipment to the extent not capitalized in accordance with GAAP, Investment, recapitalization, asset disposition, non-competition agreement, issuance or repayment of debt, issuance of equity securities (including any Equity Offering of Holdings, the Company or any Parent Entity), refinancing transaction or amendment or other modification of or waiver or consent or forbearance or restructuring relating to any debt instrument (in each case, including the Transaction Expenses and any such transaction consummated prior to the Issue Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed and/or successful) and any charges or non-recurring merger costs incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction, in each case whether or not successful or completed (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the effects of expensing all transaction-related expenses in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification 805 and gains or losses associated with FASB Accounting Standards Codification 460);

(6) any income (loss) for such period attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, hedging agreements or other derivative instruments;

(7) accruals and reserves that are established or adjusted in accordance with GAAP (including any adjustment of estimated payouts on existing earn-outs, inventory, property and equipment, leases, rights fee arrangements, software, goodwill, intangible assets, in-process research and development, deferred revenue, advanced billings and debt line items thereof) resulting from the application of recapitalization accounting or the acquisition method of accounting, as the case may be, in relation to the Transactions or any consummated acquisition (or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof) or changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period or inventory valuation policy methods (including changes in capitalization or variances) or other inventory adjustments (including any non-cash increase in expense as a result of last-in-first-out and/or first-in-last-out methods of accounting);

(8) all non-cash expenses and costs that result from the issuance of stock-based awards, partnership interest-based awards and similar incentive based compensation awards or arrangements;

(9) any income (loss) attributable to deferred compensation plans or trusts, any employment benefit scheme or any similar equity plan or agreement;

(10) any income (loss) from investments recorded using the equity method of accounting (but including any cash dividends or distributions actually received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such investment);

(11) any gain (loss) on asset sales, disposals or abandonments (other than asset sales, disposals or abandonments in the ordinary course of business) or income (loss) from discontinued operations (but if such operations are classified as discontinued due to the fact that they are subject to an agreement to dispose of such operations, only when and to the extent such operations are actually disposed of); (12) any non-cash gain (loss) attributable to the mark to market movement in the valuation of hedging obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification 815-Derivatives and Hedging or mark to market movement of other financial instruments pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification 825-Financial Instruments; provided that any cash payments or receipts relating to transactions realized in a given period shall be taken into account in such period;

 

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(13) any non-cash gain (loss) related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including the net loss or gain resulting from hedging agreements for currency exchange risk and revaluations of intercompany balances or any other currency-related risk), unrealized or realized net foreign currency translation or transaction gains or losses impacting net income;

(14) any non-cash expenses, accruals or reserves related to adjustments to historical tax exposures (provided, in each case, that the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated Net Income for the period in which such cash payment was made);

(15) any impairment charge or asset write-off or write-down related to intangible assets (including goodwill), long-lived assets, and investments in debt and equity securities, in each case, including as a result of a change in law;

(16) the effects (including in the inventory, property and equipment, software, goodwill, intangible assets, in-process research and development, deferred revenue, deferred rent, deferred trade incentives and other lease-related items, advanced billings and debt line items thereof) of purchase accounting, fair value accounting or recapitalization accounting adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the referent Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries) resulting from the application of purchase accounting, fair value accounting or recapitalization accounting in relation to the Transactions or any acquisition consummated before or after the Issue Date, and the amortization, write-down or write-off of any amounts thereof, will be excluded;

(17) all discounts, commissions, fees and other charges (including interest expense) associated with any Receivables Facility will be excluded;

(18) the amount of any expense required to be recorded as compensation expense related to contingent transaction consideration and the employer portion of any payroll taxes associated therewith;

(19) the amount of any expense to the extent a corresponding amount is received in cash by Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries from a Person other than Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiaries, provided that such payment has not been included in determining Consolidated Net Income (it being understood that if the amounts received in cash under any such agreement in any period exceed the amount of expense in respect of such period, such excess amounts received may be carried forward and applied against expense in future periods); and

(20) fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with obtaining a credit rating from any ratings agency.

In addition, to the extent not already excluded (or included, as applicable) in the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Consolidated Net Income shall be increased by the amount of: (i) any expenses, charges or losses 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, so long as Holdings has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed and only to the extent that such amount is in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such evidence (net of any amount so added back in a prior period to the extent not so reimbursed within the applicable 365-day period); (ii) to the extent covered by insurance (including business interruption insurance) and actually reimbursed, or, so long as Holdings 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 in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such evidence (net of any amount so added back in a prior period to the extent not so reimbursed within the applicable 365-day period), expenses, charges or losses with respect to liability or Casualty Events or business interruption; and (iii) the amount of distributions actually made to any Parent Entity of such Person in respect of such period in accordance with Section 3.3(b)(10)(i) as though such amounts had been paid as taxes directly by such Person for such periods.

 

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“Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (x) Consolidated Total Indebtedness as of such date secured by a Lien on the Collateral to (y) LTM EBITDA.

“Consolidated Total Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to (a) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Indebtedness for borrowed money (excluding Indebtedness with respect to Cash Management Obligations, intercompany Indebtedness and Indebtedness outstanding under the First Lien Credit Agreement that was used to finance working capital needs of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as reasonably determined by Holdings) as of such date), minus (b) cash and Cash Equivalents included in the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal period for which consolidated financial statements are available (which may, at Holdings’ election, be internal financial statements) (provided that the cash proceeds of any proposed Incurrence of Indebtedness shall not be included in this clause (b) for purposes of calculating the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio or the Consolidated First Lien Secured Leverage Ratio, as applicable, except that such cash proceeds shall be taken into account for the purposes of calculating the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio solely to the extent such cash proceeds constitute Reserved Proceeds at such date of determination), with such pro forma adjustments as are consistent with the pro forma adjustments set forth in Section 1.4.

“Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (x) Consolidated Total Indebtedness as of such date to (y) LTM EBITDA.

“Contingent Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, any Non-Financing Lease Obligation, dividend or other obligation that does not constitute Indebtedness (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”), 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 the 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.

“Controlled Investment Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person, which directly or indirectly is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person and is organized by such Person (or any Person controlling such Person) primarily for making direct or indirect equity or debt investments in Holdings and/or other companies.

“Covenant Suspension” means, during any period of time following the issuance of the Notes, that (i) the Notes have achieved Investment Grade Status, and (ii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture.

 

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“Credit Facility” means, with respect to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, one or more debt facilities (including the First Lien Credit Agreement), indentures or other arrangements, commercial paper facilities and overdraft facilities with banks, other financial institutions or investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, notes, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such institutions or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such institutions against such receivables), letters of credit or other Indebtedness, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced, restructured, refinanced, repaid, increased or extended in whole or in part from time to time (and whether in whole or in part and whether or not with the original administrative agent and lenders or another administrative agent or agents or other banks, institutions, investors or other similar entities and whether provided under the original First Lien Credit Agreement or one or more other credit or other agreements, indentures, financing agreements or otherwise) and in each case including all agreements, instruments and documents executed and delivered pursuant to or in connection with the foregoing (including any notes and letters of credit issued pursuant thereto and any guarantee and collateral agreement, patent and trademark security agreement, mortgages or letter of credit applications and other Guarantees, pledges, agreements, security agreements and collateral documents). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term “Credit Facility” shall include any agreement or instrument (a) changing the maturity of any Indebtedness Incurred thereunder or contemplated thereby, (b) adding Subsidiaries of the Company as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder, (c) increasing the amount of Indebtedness Incurred thereunder or available to be borrowed thereunder or (d) otherwise altering the terms and conditions thereof.

“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

“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; provided that any Default that results solely from the taking of an action that would have been permitted but for the continuation of a previous Default will be deemed to be cured if such previous Default is cured prior to becoming an Event of Default.

“Definitive Notes” means certificated Notes.

“Delaware Divided LLC” means any Delaware LLC which has been formed upon the consummation of a Delaware LLC Division.

“Delaware LLC” means any limited liability company organized or formed under the laws of the State of Delaware.

“Delaware LLC Division” means the statutory division of any Delaware LLC into two or more Delaware LLCs pursuant to Section 18-217 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.

“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 Company and/or any one or more of the Guarantors (the “Performance References”).

“Designated Non-Cash Consideration” means the fair market value (as determined in good faith by Holdings) of non-cash consideration received by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Disposition that is so designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent payment, redemption, retirement, sale or other disposition of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration. A particular item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration will no longer be considered to be outstanding when and to the extent it has been paid, redeemed or otherwise retired or sold or otherwise disposed of in compliance with Section 3.5 hereof.

“Designated Preferred Stock” means Preferred Stock of Holdings or a Parent Entity (other than Disqualified Stock) that is issued for cash (other than to Holdings or a Subsidiary of Holdings or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by Holdings or any such Subsidiary for the benefit of their employees to the extent funded by Holdings or such Subsidiary) and that is designated as “Designated Preferred Stock” pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate of the Company at or prior to the issuance thereof, the Net Cash Proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in Section 3.3(a)(iii)(D) hereof.

 

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“Disinterested Director” means, with respect to any Affiliate Transaction, a member of the Board of Directors having no material direct or indirect financial interest in or with respect to such Affiliate Transaction. A member of the Board of Directors shall be deemed not to have such a financial interest by reason of such member’s holding Capital Stock of Holdings or any options, warrants or other rights in respect of such Capital Stock.

“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 exchangeable) or upon the happening of any event:

(1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable for cash or in exchange for Indebtedness pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise; or

(2) is or may become (in accordance with its terms) upon the occurrence of certain events or otherwise redeemable or repurchasable for cash or in exchange for Indebtedness at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock in whole or in part,

in each case on or prior to the earlier of (a) the Stated Maturity of the Notes or (b) the date on which there are no Notes outstanding; provided, however, that (i) only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date will be deemed to be Disqualified Stock and (ii) any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders thereof have the right to require Holdings to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale (howsoever defined or referred to) shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if any such redemption or repurchase obligation is subject to compliance by the relevant Person with Section 3.3 hereof; provided, however, that if such Capital Stock is issued to any future, current or former employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members (excluding the Permitted Holders (but not excluding any future, current or former employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor)) or Immediate Family Members), of Holdings, any of its Subsidiaries, any Parent Entity or any other entity in which Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary has an Investment and is designated in good faith as an “affiliate” by the Board of Directors (or the compensation committee thereof) or any other plan for the benefit of current, former or future employees (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of Holdings or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members), such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by Holdings or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations.

“Dollars” or “$” means the lawful currency of the United States of America.

“Domestic Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person other than a Foreign Subsidiary.

“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company or any successor securities clearing agency.

“Equity Interest” 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 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Permitted Convertible Indebtedness).

“Equity Offering” means (x) a sale of Capital Stock (other than through the issuance of Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock or through an Excluded Contribution) other than (a) offerings registered on Form S-8 (or any successor form) under the Securities Act or any similar offering in other jurisdictions or other securities of Holdings or any Parent Entity and (b) issuances of Capital Stock to any Subsidiary of Holdings or (y) a cash equity contribution to Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

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“Euro” means the single currency of participating member states of the economic and monetary union as contemplated in the Treaty on European Union.

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

“Excluded Contribution” means Net Cash Proceeds or property or assets received by the Company as capital contributions to the equity (other than through the issuance of Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) of Holdings after the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date or from the issuance or sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings for the benefit of their employees to the extent funded by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) of Holdings, in each case, for the avoidance of doubt to the extent designated as an Excluded Contribution by the Company.

“Excluded Property” has the meaning given to such term in the Notes Security Agreement.

“Excluded Stock and Stock Equivalents” means (i) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of Holdings, the cost or other consequences of pledging such Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents in favor of the Notes Secured Parties under the Security Documents shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Holders of the Notes therefrom, (ii) solely in the case of any pledge of Capital Stock and Stock Equivalents of any Foreign Subsidiary or any CFC Holding Company, any Voting Stock or Stock Equivalents of any class of such Foreign Subsidiary or such CFC Holding Company in excess of 65.0% of the outstanding Voting Stock of such class, (iii) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC or a CFC Holding Company, (iv) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents to the extent the pledge thereof would violate any applicable law (including any legally effective requirement to obtain the consent of any Governmental Authority unless such consent has been obtained) (in each case, after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the UCC or other applicable law), (v) in the case of (A) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary acquired after the Issue Date to the extent such Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents are subject to a Lien permitted by clause (ix) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement or (B) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary that is not a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings and its Subsidiaries at the time such Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary, any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of each such Subsidiary described in clause (A) or (B) to the extent (I) that a pledge thereof to secure the First Lien Notes Obligations is prohibited by any applicable contractual requirement permitted under this Indenture and binding on such Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents (other than customary non-assignment provisions which are ineffective under the UCC or other applicable law and other than proceeds thereof the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the UCC or other applicable law notwithstanding such prohibition or restriction), (II) any such contractual requirement prohibits such a pledge without the consent of any other party; provided that this clause (II) shall not apply if (x) such other party is the Company, a Guarantor or a wholly-owned subsidiary or (y) consent has been obtained to consummate such pledge (it being understood that the foregoing shall not be deemed to obligate Holdings or any Subsidiary to obtain any such consent) and for so long as such contractual requirement or replacement or renewal thereof is in effect (other than customary non-assignment provisions which are ineffective under the UCC or other applicable law and other than proceeds thereof the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the UCC or other applicable law notwithstanding such prohibition or restriction), or (III) a pledge thereof to secure the First Lien Notes Obligations would give any other party (other than the Company, a Guarantor or a wholly-owned subsidiary) to any contract, agreement, instrument, or indenture governing such Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents permitted under this Indenture the right to terminate its obligations thereunder, (vi) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary of Holdings to the extent that the pledge of such Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents would result in materially adverse Tax consequences to Holdings or any Subsidiary as reasonably determined by the Company, (vii) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents that are margin stock, and (viii) any Capital Stock and Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary that is not a Material Subsidiary (except to the extent a security interest therein can be perfected by filing of a UCC-1 financing statement) or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, a captive insurance Subsidiary, any special purpose vehicle or any special purpose entity.

 

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“Excluded Subsidiary” means any of the following (except for the Company and any Subsidiary that otherwise elects to be a Guarantor pursuant to Section 3.7): (i) each Subsidiary, in each case, for so long as any such Subsidiary does not (on a consolidated basis with its Restricted Subsidiaries) constitute a Material Subsidiary, (ii) each Subsidiary that is not a wholly-owned subsidiary on any date such Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary (for so long as such Subsidiary remains a non-wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary), (iii) any CFC Holding Company, (iv) any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC, (v) any Foreign Subsidiary, (vi) each Subsidiary that is prohibited by any applicable contractual requirement permitted under the Note Documents not entered into to circumvent the guarantee requirements under the Note Documents or in contemplation of such acquisition or any applicable law from guaranteeing the First Lien Notes Obligations at the time such Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary and for so long as such restriction or any replacement or renewal thereof is in effect or would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to guarantee the First Lien Notes Obligations (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received), (vii) each Subsidiary with respect to which, as reasonably determined by Holdings, the consequence of providing a Guarantee of the First Lien Notes Obligations would materially adversely affect the ability of Holdings and its Subsidiaries to satisfy applicable law, (viii) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, (a) in the reasonable judgment of Holdings, the cost or other consequences of providing a Guarantee of the First Lien Notes Obligations shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Holders of the Notes therefrom or (b) providing such a Guarantee would result in material adverse Tax consequences as reasonably determined by Holdings, (ix) each Unrestricted Subsidiary, (x) any Receivables Subsidiary, (xi) each other Subsidiary acquired pursuant to an acquisition or other Investment permitted pursuant to Section 3.3 and financed with assumed secured Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 3.2, and each Restricted Subsidiary acquired in such acquisition or other Investment permitted pursuant to Section 3.3 that guarantees such Indebtedness, in each case to the extent that, and for so long as, the documentation relating to such Indebtedness to which such Subsidiary is a party prohibits such Subsidiary from guaranteeing the First Lien Notes Obligations and such prohibition was not created in contemplation of such acquisition or other Investment, (xii) each special purpose vehicle (so long as such special purpose vehicle is not created in contemplation of circumventing guarantee requirements under the Note Documents) or not-for-profit Subsidiary and captive insurance Subsidiary and (xiii) any Massachusetts Security Corporation; provided, however, that any Subsidiary that is an Excluded Subsidiary pursuant to clause (i) or (viii) above will cease to be an Excluded Subsidiary at any time such Subsidiary guarantees outstanding Indebtedness under the First Lien Credit Agreement or the Existing Secured Notes. For the avoidance of doubt, none of Holdings, the Company or any other Subsidiary of Holdings that holds Capital Stock in the Company shall constitute an Excluded Subsidiary.

“Existing Convertible Notes” means, collectively, the (i) 0.625% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025, issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of August 14, 2020, by and between Holdings and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee; (ii) 1.000% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026, issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of August 19, 2019, by and between Holdings and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee; (iii) 3.250% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of September 13, 2022, by and between Holdings and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee; and (iv) 3.500% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of May 12, 2023, by and between Holdings and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee.

“Existing Secured Notes” means the 7.250% Senior Secured Notes due 2029, issued pursuant to the Existing Secured Notes Indenture.

“Existing Secured Notes Issue Date” means October 8, 2024.

“Existing Secured Notes Collateral Agent” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as the collateral agent with respect to the Existing Secured Notes, together with its successors and permitted assigns.

“Existing Secured Notes Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date, by and among the Company, the guarantors party thereto, and the Existing Secured Notes Trustee and Existing Secured Notes Collateral Agent.

“Existing Secured Notes Obligations” means “First Lien Notes Obligations” as defined in the Existing Secured Notes Indenture.

“Existing Secured Notes Secured Parties” means the Existing Secured Notes Trustee, the Existing Secured Notes Collateral Agent and the holders of the Existing Secured Notes.

 

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“Existing Secured Notes Trustee” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as the trustee under the Existing Secured Notes Indenture, together with its successors and permitted assigns in such capacity.

“fair market value” may be conclusively established by means of an Officer’s Certificate or resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company setting out such fair market value as determined by such Officer or such Board of Directors in good faith.

“FASB” means the Financial Accounting Standards Board or any successor organization.

“Finance Lease Obligations” means an obligation that is required to be classified and accounted for as a capitalized lease (and, for the avoidance of doubt, not a straight-line or operating lease) for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. The amount of Indebtedness represented by such obligation will be the capitalized amount of such obligation at the time any determination thereof is to be made as determined in accordance with GAAP, and the Stated Maturity thereof will be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date such lease may be terminated without penalty; provided that all obligations of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are or would be characterized as an operating lease as determined in accordance with GAAP as in effect on January 1, 2015 (whether or not such operating lease was in effect on such date) shall, unless otherwise elected by Holdings, continue to be accounted for as an operating lease (and not as a Finance Lease Obligation) for purposes of this Indenture regardless of any change in GAAP following January 1, 2015 (that would otherwise require such obligation to be recharacterized as a Finance Lease Obligation).

“First Lien Credit Agreement” means the Credit Agreement, dated as of March 24, 2021 (as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1, dated as of October 11, 2021, that certain Amendment No. 2, dated as of June 13, 2023 and the First Lien Credit Agreement Amendment), by and among the Company, Holdings, the lenders and letter of credit issuers from time to time party thereto and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, collateral agent and a letter of credit issuer, together with the related documents thereto (including the revolving loans thereunder, any letters of credit and reimbursement obligations related thereto, any Guarantees and security documents), as further amended, extended, renewed, restated, refunded, replaced, refinanced, supplemented, modified or otherwise changed (in whole or in part, and without limitation as to amount, terms, conditions, covenants and other provisions) from time to time, and any one or more agreements (and related documents) governing Indebtedness, including indentures, incurred to refinance, substitute, supplement, replace or add to (including increasing the amount available for borrowing or adding or removing any Person as a borrower, issuer or guarantor thereunder, in whole or in part), the borrowings and commitments then outstanding or permitted to be outstanding under such First Lien Credit Agreement or one or more successors to the First Lien Credit Agreement or one or more new credit agreements.

“First Lien Credit Agreement Administrative Agent” means Citibank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent for the holders of the First Lien Credit Agreement Obligations, together with its successors and permitted assigns.

“First Lien Credit Agreement Amendment” means the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, by and among the Company, Holdings, the lenders party thereto and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, which amends and restates the First Lien Credit Agreement.

“First Lien Credit Agreement Collateral Agent” means Citibank, N.A., in its capacity as collateral agent for the holders of the First Lien Credit Agreement Obligations, together with its successors and permitted assigns.

“First Lien Credit Agreement Obligations” means the “Obligations” as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement (or similar term in any refinancing thereof).

“First Lien Credit Agreement Secured Parties” means the “Secured Parties” as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement (or similar term in any refinancing thereof).

“First Lien Documents” has the meaning given to such term in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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“First Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means that certain First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date, among the Company, each Guarantor party thereto, the Existing Secured Notes Collateral Agent, the Existing Secured Notes Trustee, the First Lien Credit Agreement Collateral Agent and the First Lien Credit Agreement Administrative Agent, as supplemented by Joinder No. 1, dated as of the Issue Date, executed by the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, and as the same may be further amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“First Lien Notes Obligations” means the Obligations in respect of the Notes, this Indenture, the Guarantees relating to the Notes, the Security Documents and the other Note Documents.

“First Lien Obligations” means, collectively, (i) the First Lien Credit Agreement Obligations, (ii) the First Lien Notes Obligations, (iii) the Existing Secured Notes Obligations and (iv) each other Series of Additional First Lien Obligations.

“First Lien Secured Parties” means (i) the First Lien Credit Agreement Secured Parties, (ii) the Notes Secured Parties, (iii) the Existing Secured Notes Secured Parties and (iv) the Additional First Lien Secured Parties with respect to each Series of Additional First Lien Obligations.

“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc. or any of its successors or assigns that is a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization.

“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person on any determination date, the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA of such Person for the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to such determination date (the “reference period”) for which consolidated financial statements are available (which may, at Holdings’ election, be internal financial statements) to the Fixed Charges of such Person for the reference period. In the event that Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurs, assumes, Guarantees, redeems, defeases, retires or extinguishes any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred under any revolving credit facility unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and has not been replaced) or issues or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the reference period but prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence, deemed incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, redemption, defeasance, retirement or extinguishment of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

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

(1) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period;

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

(3) all cash dividends or other distributions paid (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Disqualified Stock of such Person during such period.

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

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect from time to time; provided that all terms of an accounting or financial nature used in this Indenture shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to in this Indenture shall be made (a) without giving effect to any election under Accounting Standards Codification Topic 825—Financial Instruments, or any successor thereto or comparable accounting principle (including pursuant to the Accounting Standards Codification), to value any Indebtedness of Holdings or any Subsidiary at “fair value,” as defined therein and (b) the amount of any Indebtedness under GAAP with respect to Finance Lease Obligations shall be determined in accordance with the definition of Finance Lease Obligations.

 

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At any time after the Issue Date, Holdings may elect to apply IFRS accounting principles in lieu of GAAP and, upon any such election, references herein to GAAP shall thereafter be construed to mean IFRS (except as otherwise provided in this Indenture); provided that any such election, once made, shall be irrevocable; provided, further, that any calculation or determination in this Indenture that requires the application of GAAP for periods that include fiscal quarters ended prior to Holdings’ election to apply IFRS shall remain as previously calculated or determined in accordance with GAAP. Holdings shall give notice of any such election made in accordance with this definition to the Trustee. For the avoidance of doubt, solely making an election (without any other action) referred to in this definition will not be treated as an incurrence of Indebtedness.

If there occurs a change in IFRS or GAAP, as the case may be, and such change would cause a change in the method of calculation of any standards, terms or measures (including all computations of amounts and ratios) used in this Indenture (an “Accounting Change”), then Holdings may elect, as evidenced by a written notice of Holdings to the Trustee, that such standards, terms or measures shall be calculated as if such Accounting Change had not occurred.

“Governmental Authority” means any nation, sovereign, or government, any state, province, territory, or other political subdivision thereof, and any entity or authority exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory, or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, including a central bank or stock exchange (including any supranational bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

“Grantor” means the Company and any Guarantor.

“Guarantee” means, any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person, including any such obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person:

(1) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise); or

(2) entered into primarily for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part);

provided, however, that the term “Guarantee” will not include (x) endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and (y) standard contractual indemnities or product warranties provided in the ordinary course of business, and provided, further, that the amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be the lower of (i) an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guarantee is made and (ii) the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing Person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument embodying such Guarantee or, if such Guarantee is not an unconditional guarantee of the entire amount of the primary obligation and such maximum amount is not stated or determinable, the amount of such guaranteeing Person’s maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by such Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

“Guarantors” means Holdings and each Subsidiary Guarantor.

“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 contracts, currency swap agreement or similar agreement providing for the transfer or mitigation of interest rate, commodity price or currency risks either generally or under specific contingencies.

“Holder” means each Person in whose name the Notes are registered on the Registrar’s books, which shall initially be the nominee of DTC.

 

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“Holding Company” means any Person so long as such Person directly or indirectly holds 100% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of Holdings, and at the time such Person acquired such voting power, no Person and no 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) (other than any Permitted Holder), shall have beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of such Person.

“Holdings” means Wayfair Inc., a Delaware corporation.

“IAI” means an institutional “accredited investor” as described in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3), (7), (8), (9), (12) or (13) under the Securities Act.

“IFRS” means the international financial reporting standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board as in effect from time to time.

“Immaterial Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Material Subsidiary.

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

“Incur” means issue, create, assume, enter into any Guarantee of, incur, extend or otherwise become liable for; provided, however, that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) will be deemed to be Incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary and the terms “Incurred” and “Incurrence” have meanings correlative to the foregoing and any Indebtedness pursuant to any revolving credit or similar facility shall only be “Incurred” at the time any funds are borrowed thereunder.

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination (without duplication):

(1) the principal of Indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money;

(2) the principal of obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments;

(3) all reimbursement obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments (the amount of such obligations being equal at any time to the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such letters of credit or other instruments plus the aggregate amount of drawings thereunder that have not been reimbursed) (except to the extent such reimbursement obligations relate to trade payables and such obligations are satisfied within 30 days of Incurrence);

(4) the principal component of all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of property (except trade payables or similar obligations, including accrued expenses owed, to trade creditors), which purchase price is due more than one year after the date of placing such property in service or taking final delivery and title thereto;

(5) Finance Lease Obligations of such Person;

(6) the principal component of all obligations, or liquidation preference, of such Person with respect to any Disqualified Stock or, with respect to any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, any Preferred Stock (but excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends); (7) the principal component of all Indebtedness of other Persons secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person; provided, however, that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of (a) the fair market value of such asset at such date of determination (as determined in good faith by the Company) and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Persons;

 

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(8) Guarantees by such Person of the principal component of Indebtedness of the type referred to in clauses (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (9) of other Persons to the extent Guaranteed by such Person; and

(9) to the extent not otherwise included in this definition, net obligations of such Person under Hedging Obligations (the amount of any such obligations to be equal at any time to the net payments under such agreement or arrangement giving rise to such obligation that would be payable by such Person at the termination of such agreement or arrangement),

with respect to clauses (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (9) above, if and to the extent that any of the foregoing Indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided, that Indebtedness of any Parent Entity appearing upon the balance sheet of Holdings solely by reason of push-down accounting under GAAP shall be excluded.

The term “Indebtedness” shall not include any lease, concession or license of property (or Guarantee thereof) that would be considered an operating lease under GAAP, any prepayments of deposits received from clients or customers in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, or obligations under any license, permit or other approval (or Guarantees given in respect of such obligations) Incurred prior to the Issue Date or in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice.

The amount of Indebtedness of any Person at any time in the case of a revolving credit or similar facility shall be the total amount of funds borrowed and then outstanding. The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be (a) the accreted value thereof in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount and (b) the principal amount of Indebtedness, or liquidation preference thereof, in the case of any other Indebtedness. Indebtedness shall be calculated without giving effect to the effects of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 815 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness.

For the avoidance of doubt, and without limitation of the foregoing, Permitted Convertible Indebtedness shall at all times prior to the repurchase, conversion or payment thereof be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof and shall not include any reduction or appreciation in value of the shares and/or cash deliverable upon conversion thereof.

Notwithstanding the above provisions, in no event shall the following constitute Indebtedness:

(i) Contingent Obligations Incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, other than Guarantees or other assumptions of Indebtedness;

(ii) Obligations under or in respect of Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facilities;

(iii) Cash Management Obligations;

(iv) any lease, concession or license of property (or Guarantee thereof) which would be considered an operating lease under GAAP as in effect on the Issue Date, Non-Financing Lease Obligations, Sale and Leaseback Transactions or any prepayments of deposits received from clients or customers in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; (v) obligations under any license, permit or other approval (or Guarantees given in respect of such obligations) incurred prior to the Issue Date or in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

 

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(vi) in connection with the purchase by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of any business, any deferred or prepaid revenue post-closing payment adjustments to which the seller may become entitled to the extent such payment is determined by a final closing balance sheet or such payment depends on the performance of such business after the closing; provided, however, that, at the time of closing, the amount of any such payment is not determinable and, to the extent such payment thereafter becomes fixed and determined, the amount is paid in a timely manner;

(vii) for the avoidance of doubt, any obligations in respect of workers’ compensation claims, early retirement or termination obligations, pension fund obligations or contributions or similar claims, obligations or contributions or social security or wage Taxes;

(viii) Indebtedness of any Parent Entity appearing on the balance sheet of the Company solely by reason of push-down accounting under GAAP;

(ix) Capital Stock (other than, in the case of clause (6) above, Disqualified Stock or, with respect to any Restricted Subsidiary, Preferred Stock); or

(x) amounts owed to dissenting equityholders (including in connection with, or as a result of, exercise of dissenters’ or appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or action (whether actual, contingent or potential)) pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of assets that complies with Section 4.1.

“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; provided, however, that such firm or appraiser is not an Affiliate of the Company.

“Initial Notes” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Indenture.

“Initial Purchasers” means Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. and RBC Capital Markets, LLC.

“Intellectual Property” means U.S. and foreign intellectual property, including all (i) (a) patents, inventions, processes, developments, technology, and know-how; (b) copyrights and works of authorship in any media, including graphics, advertising materials, labels, package designs, and photographs; (c) trademarks, service marks, trade names, brand names, corporate names, domain names, logos, trade dress, and other source indicators, and the goodwill of any business symbolized thereby; and (d) trade secrets, confidential, proprietary, or non-public information and (ii) all registrations, issuances, applications, renewals, extensions, substitutions, continuations, continuations-in-part, divisions, re-issues, re-examinations, foreign counterparts, or similar legal protections related to the foregoing.

“Intercompany License Agreement” means any cost sharing agreement, commission or royalty agreement, license or sub-license agreement, distribution agreement, services agreement, intellectual property rights transfer agreement, any related agreements or similar agreements, in each case where all parties to such agreement are one or more of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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“Investment” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of advances, loans or other extensions of credit (excluding (i) accounts receivable, trade credit, advances or extensions of credit to customers, suppliers, future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, contractors, consultants or advisors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of any Person in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, (ii) any debt or extension of credit represented by a bank deposit other than a time deposit, (iii) intercompany advances arising from cash management, tax and accounting operations and (iv) intercompany loans, advances or Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) or capital contribution to (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account or use of others)), or the Incurrence of a Guarantee of any obligation of, or any purchase or acquisition of Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other similar instruments issued by, such other Persons and all other items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that endorsements of negotiable instruments and documents in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice will not be deemed to be an Investment. If Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary issues, sells or otherwise disposes of any 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 Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Person remaining after giving effect thereto shall not be deemed to be a new Investment at such time.

For purposes of Section 3.3 and Section 3.16 hereof:

(1) “Investment” will include the portion (proportionate to Holdings’ equity interest in a Restricted Subsidiary to be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of such Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings at the time that such Restricted Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, Holdings will be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount (if positive) equal to (a) Holdings’ “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less (b) the portion (proportionate to Holdings’ equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets (as determined by Holdings) of such Subsidiary at the time that such Subsidiary is so re-designated a Restricted Subsidiary;

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

(3) if Holdings 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 Holdings 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 Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Investment to the extent such amounts do not increase any other baskets under this Indenture.

“Investment Grade Securities” means:

(1) securities issued or directly and fully Guaranteed or insured by the United States, Canadian, Swiss, United Kingdom or Japanese government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents);

(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by a member of the European Union, or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents);

(3) debt securities or debt instruments with a rating of “BBB-” or higher from S&P or “Baa3” or higher by Moody’s or the equivalent of such rating by such rating organization or, if no rating of Moody’s or S&P then exists, the equivalent of such rating by any other Nationally Recognized Statistical Ratings Organization, but excluding any debt securities or instruments constituting loans or advances among Holdings and its Subsidiaries; (4) investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clauses (1), (2) and (3) above which fund may also hold cash and Cash Equivalents pending investment or distribution; and

 

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

“Investment Grade Status” shall occur when the Notes receive two of the following:

(1) a rating of “BBB-” or higher from S&P;

(2) a rating of “Baa3” or higher from Moody’s; or

(3) a rating of “BBB-” or higher from Fitch,

or the equivalent of such rating by such rating organization or, if no rating of Moody’s, Fitch or S&P then exists, the equivalent of such rating by any other Nationally Recognized Statistical Ratings Organization.

“Issue Date” means March 13, 2025.

“Junior Lien Collateral Agent” means, with respect to any series of Junior Lien Obligations, the trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent or other debt representative for such series of Junior Lien Obligations, or any successor agent or trustee as is designated under the Junior Lien Security Documents.

“Junior Lien Documents” means, with respect to any series of Junior Lien Obligations, the notes, guarantees, indentures, security documents and other operative agreements evidencing or governing such Junior Lien Obligations, including each agreement entered into for the purpose of securing any series of Junior Lien Obligations, and including the Junior Lien Security Documents.

“Junior Lien Obligations” means any Indebtedness and other Obligations that are secured by Liens on the Collateral ranking junior in priority to the Liens securing the Notes and the Note Guarantees, including without limitation all obligations under the Junior Lien Documents; provided, that the holders of such Indebtedness or their Junior Lien Representative shall become party to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any other applicable intercreditor agreements.

“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 Obligations under the Notes and is subject to an intercreditor agreement (it being understood that junior Liens are not required to rank equally and ratably with other junior Liens, and that Indebtedness secured by junior Liens may be secured by Liens that are senior in priority to, or rank equally and ratably with, or junior in priority to, other Liens constituting junior Liens).

“Junior Lien Representative” means any duly authorized representative of any holders of Junior Lien Obligations, which representative is named as such in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any joinder thereto.

“Junior Lien Secured Parties” means, with respect to any series, issue or class of Junior Lien Obligations, the holders of such Junior Lien Obligations, the Junior Lien Representative with respect thereto, any trustee or agent therefor under any related Junior Lien Documents and the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by the Company or any other grantor under any related Junior Lien Documents.

“Junior Lien Security Documents” means the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the security documents granting a security interest in any assets of any Person to secure any Junior Lien Obligations, and each other agreement entered into in favor of any Junior Lien Collateral Agent for the purpose of securing any series of Junior Lien Obligations, as each may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien, hypothecation or charge of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof); provided that in no event shall Non-Financing Lease Obligations be deemed to constitute a Lien.

“Limited Condition Transaction” means (1) any Investment or acquisition (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other business combination or the acquisition of Capital Stock or otherwise and which may include, for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction that may constitute a Change of Control), whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing; (2) any redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock requiring irrevocable notice in advance of such redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment; (3) any Restricted Payment requiring irrevocable notice in advance thereof; (4) any merger, consolidation, amalgamation, liquidation, dissolution or similar “fundamental change” transaction, in each case, whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third-party financing; and (5) any asset sale or a disposition excluded from the definition of “Asset Disposition.”

“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.

“LTM EBITDA” means Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings measured for the period of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters ending prior to the date of such determination for which consolidated financial statements are available (which may, at Holdings’ election, be internal financial statements), in each case with such pro forma adjustments giving effect to such Indebtedness, acquisition or Investment, as applicable, since the start of such four quarter period and as are consistent with the pro forma adjustments set forth in Section 1.4.

“Management Advances” means loans or advances made to, or Guarantees with respect to loans or advances made to, future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, contractors, consultants or advisors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of any Parent Entity, Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary:

(1) (a) in respect of travel, entertainment, relocation or moving related expenses, payroll advances and other analogous or similar expenses or payroll expenses Incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or (b) for purposes of funding any such person’s purchase of Capital Stock (or similar obligations) of Holdings, its Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity;

(2) in respect of relocation or moving related expenses, payroll advances and other analogous or similar expenses or payroll expenses, in each case Incurred in connection with any closing or consolidation of any facility or office; or

(3) not exceeding the greater of $35.0 million and 7.5% of LTM EBITDA in the aggregate outstanding at any time.

“Management Equityholders” means (i) any member of management, employee or service provider (whether as employee, consultant, advisor or otherwise) of Holdings (or any Parent Entity) or its Subsidiaries who holds Capital Stock of Holdings or of any Parent Entity on the Issue Date and (ii) any other Person that holds Capital Stock of Holdings or of any Parent Entity on the Issue Date that is an Affiliate of any member of management, employee or other service provider (whether as employee, consultant, advisor or otherwise) of Holdings (or any Parent Entity) or its Subsidiaries.

“Market Capitalization” means an amount equal to (i) the total number of issued and outstanding common equity interests of Capital Stock of Holdings or any Parent Entity on the date of the declaration of a Restricted Payment permitted pursuant to Section 3.3(b)(11)(i) multiplied by (ii) the arithmetic mean of the closing prices per unit of such common Capital Stock on the principal securities exchange on which such common Capital Stock is traded for the 30 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of declaration of such Restricted Payment.

 

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“Massachusetts Security Corporation” means a Person that qualifies as a Massachusetts “security corporation” under Mass. Gen. L. c. 63, §38B, but only to the extent, and during the time period, it so qualifies.

“Material Intellectual Property” means Intellectual Property that is material to the business of the Company and the Guarantors, taken as a whole, as determined by Holdings in good faith.

“Material Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, each Restricted Subsidiary (i) whose total assets measured at the end of the most recent fiscal period for which consolidated financial statements are available (which may, at the Company’s election, be internal financial statements) were equal to or greater than 5.0% of the Total Assets of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date or (ii) whose revenues during such period were equal to or greater than 5.0% of the consolidated revenues of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that if, at any time and from time to time after the Issue Date, Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Material Subsidiaries (other than Subsidiaries that are Excluded Subsidiaries by virtue of any of clauses (ii) through (xii) of the definition of “Excluded Subsidiary”) have, in the aggregate, (a) total assets at the last day of such period equal to or greater than 10.0% of the Total Assets of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date or (b) revenues during such period equal to or greater than 10.0% of the consolidated revenues of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP, then Holdings shall, on the date on which financial statements for such quarter are available, designate one or more of such Restricted Subsidiaries as Material Subsidiaries for each fiscal period until this proviso is no longer applicable.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any of its successors or assigns that is a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization.

“Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization” means a nationally recognized statistical rating organization within the meaning of Rule 436 under the Securities Act.

“Net Available Cash” from an Asset Disposition means cash proceeds received (including any cash proceeds received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise and net proceeds from the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received as consideration, but only as and when received, but excluding any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness or other obligations relating to the properties or assets that are the subject of such Asset Disposition or received in any other non-cash form) therefrom, in each case net of:

(1) (a) all legal, accounting, consulting, investment banking, survey, title and recording tax, fees and expenses, title insurance premiums, payments made to obtain a required consent or required by applicable law, brokerage and sales commissions, relocation expenses, premiums (including tender premiums), underwriting discounts, defeasance costs, commissions and other fees, costs and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) in connection with such Asset Disposition; and (b) all Taxes paid, reasonably estimated to be actually payable or accrued as a liability under GAAP (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any income, withholding and other Taxes payable as a result of the distribution or deemed distribution of such proceeds to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes, and taxes that would be payable in connection with any repatriation of such proceeds, and after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing agreements), as a consequence of such Asset Disposition, including distributions for Related Taxes or any transactions occurring or deemed to occur to effectuate a payment under this Indenture;

(2) all payments made on any Indebtedness which (x) is secured by any assets subject to such Asset Disposition, in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon such assets, (y) is owed by a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary or (z) by applicable law must be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Disposition;

 

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(3) all distributions and other payments required to be made to non-controlling interest or minority interest holders (other than any Parent Entity, Holdings or any of its respective Subsidiaries) in Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of such Asset Disposition; (4) the deduction of appropriate amounts required to be provided by the seller as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated with the assets disposed of in such Asset Disposition and retained by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset Disposition, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such Asset Disposition; provided that the amount of any subsequent reduction of such reserve (other than in connection with a payment in respect of any such liability) shall be deemed to be Net Available Cash of such Asset Disposition occurring on the date of the transaction;

(5) any portion of the purchase price from such Asset Disposition placed in escrow, whether for the satisfaction of any indemnification obligations in respect of such Asset Disposition, as a reserve for adjustments to the purchase price associated with any such Asset Disposition or otherwise in connection with such Asset Disposition; provided that the amount of any subsequent reduction of such escrow (other than in connection with a payment in respect of any such indemnification obligation) shall be deemed to be Net Available Cash of such Asset Disposition occurring on the date of the reduction solely to the extent an amount of cash is received equal to the amount of such reduction; and

(6) all costs associated with unwinding a related Hedging Obligation in connection with such Asset Disposition.

“Net Cash Proceeds” means, with respect to any issuance or sale of Capital Stock, the cash proceeds of such issuance or sale net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, underwriting or placement agents’ fees, listing fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and other fees and charges actually Incurred in connection with such issuance or sale and net of Taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be actually payable as a result of such issuance or sale (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any income, withholding and other Taxes payable as a result of the distribution of such proceeds to Holdings and after taking into account any available tax credit or deductions and any tax sharing agreements, and including distributions for Related Taxes).

“Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) attributable to such Person, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of dividends on Preferred Stock (other than dividends on Disqualified Stock).

“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 ISDA Credit Derivatives Definitions) to have occurred with respect to the Company or any Guarantor immediately prior to such date of determination.

“New Project” means (a) each facility which is either a new facility, branch or office or an expansion, relocation, remodeling or substantial modernization of an existing facility, branch or office owned by Holdings or its Subsidiaries which in fact commences operations and (b) each creation (in one or a series of related transactions) of a business unit to the extent such business unit commences operations or each expansion (in one or a series of related transactions) of business into a new market.

“Non-Financing Lease Obligation” means a lease obligation that is not required to be accounted for as a financing or capital lease in accordance with GAAP. For the avoidance of doubt, a straight-line or operating lease shall be considered a Non-Financing Lease Obligation.

“Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor.

“Non-U.S. Person” means a Person who is not a U.S. Person (as defined in Regulation S).

“Note Documents” means the Notes (including Additional Notes), the Note Guarantees, this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents.

 

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“Notes” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Indenture.

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

“Notes Custodian” means the custodian with respect to the Global Notes (as appointed by DTC), or any successor Person thereto and shall initially be the Trustee.

“Notes Pledge Agreement” means the Notes Pledge Agreement, entered into by the Company, the Guarantors party thereto and the Notes Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties, dated as of the Issue Date, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Notes Secured Parties” means the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Holders of the Notes.

“Notes Security Agreement” means the Notes Security Agreement, entered into by the Company, the Guarantors party thereto and the Notes Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties, dated as of the Issue Date, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Obligations” means any principal, interest (including Post-Petition Interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company or any Guarantor whether or not a claim for Post-Petition Interest is allowed in such proceedings), penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including, without limitation, reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances), damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

“Offering Memorandum” means the offering memorandum, dated March 10, 2025, relating to the offering by the Company of $700 million aggregate principal amount of 7.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 and any future offering memorandum relating to Additional Notes.

“Officer” means, with respect to any Person, (a) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, any Managing Director or the Secretary (1) of such Person or (2) if such Person is owned or managed by a single entity, of such entity, or (b) any other individual designated as an “Officer” for the purposes of this Indenture by the Board of Directors of such Person.

“Officer’s Certificate” means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by one Officer of such Person.

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

“Parent Entity” means any direct or indirect parent of Holdings.

“Parent Entity Expenses” means:

(1) fees, costs and expenses (including all legal, accounting and other professional fees, costs and expenses) incurred or paid by any Parent Entity in connection with reporting obligations under or otherwise incurred or paid in connection with compliance with applicable laws, rules or regulations of any governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory body or stock exchange, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument relating to the Notes, the Guarantees or any other Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, including in respect of any reports filed or delivered with respect to the Securities Act, Exchange Act or the respective rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (2) customary salary, bonus, severance, indemnity, insurance (including premiums therefor) and other benefits payable to any employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor of any Parent Entity or other Persons under its articles, charter, by-laws, partnership agreement or other organizational documents or pursuant to written agreements with any such Person to the extent relating to Holdings and its Subsidiaries;

 

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(3) obligations of any Parent Entity in respect of director and officer insurance (including premiums therefor) to the extent relating to Holdings and its Subsidiaries;

(4) (x) general corporate operating and overhead fees, costs and expenses (including all legal, accounting and other professional fees, costs and expenses and fees and expenses incurred related to the maintenance of any Parent Entity’s corporate, legal or organizational existence) and listing fees and other costs and expenses attributable to being a publicly traded company and (y) other operational expenses of any Parent Entity related to the ownership or operation of the business of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, including any franchise and similar taxes required to maintain corporate existence of any Parent Entity;

(5) expenses incurred by any Parent Entity in connection with (i) any offering, sale, conversion or exchange of Capital Stock or Indebtedness (whether or not successful) and (ii) any related compensation paid to employees, directors, officers, managers, contractors, consultants or advisors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of such Parent Entity;

(6) amounts payable pursuant to any management services or similar agreements or the management services provisions in an investor rights agreement or other equityholders’ agreement (including any amendment thereto or replacement thereof so long as any such amendment or replacement is not materially disadvantageous in the reasonable determination of Holdings to the Holders when taken as a whole, as compared to the management services or similar agreements as in effect immediately prior to such amendment or replacement), solely to the extent such amounts are not paid directly by Holdings or its Subsidiaries; and

(7) amounts to finance Investments that would otherwise be permitted to be made pursuant to Section 3.3 hereof if made by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, that (A) such Restricted Payment shall be made substantially concurrently with the closing of such Investment; (B) such Parent Entity shall, immediately following the closing thereof, cause (1) all property acquired (whether assets or Capital Stock) to be contributed to the capital of Holdings or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (2) the merger, consolidation or amalgamation of the Person formed or acquired into Holdings or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries (to the extent not prohibited by Section 4.1 hereof) in order to consummate such Investment; (C) such Parent Entity and its Affiliates (other than Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary) receives no consideration or other payment in connection with such transaction except to the extent Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary could have given such consideration or made such payment in compliance with this Indenture and such consideration or other payment is included as a Restricted Payment under this Indenture; (D) any property received by Holdings shall not increase amounts available for Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 3.3(a)(iii); and (E) such Investment shall be deemed to be made by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to a provision of Section 3.3 or pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investment.”

“Pari Passu Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Company which ranks equally in right of payment to the Notes or of any Guarantor if such Indebtedness ranks equally in right of payment to the Note Guarantees, in each case, without regard to control of remedies.

“Pari Passu Lien Priority” means, relative to specified Indebtedness, having equal Lien priority (without regard to control of remedies) on specified Collateral and subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Note on behalf of the Company.

 

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“Perfection Exceptions” means that, except as otherwise elected by the Company in its commercially reasonable discretion, neither the Company nor any Guarantor shall be required, to (i) enter into control agreements with respect to, or otherwise perfect any security interest granted under the Security Documents by “control” (or similar arrangements) over, commodities accounts, securities accounts, deposit accounts, futures accounts, other bank accounts, cash and cash equivalents and accounts related to the clearing, payment processing and similar operations of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, (ii) perfect the security interest granted under the Security Documents in the following other than by the filing of a UCC financing statement: (1) letter-of-credit rights (as defined in the UCC), (2) commercial tort claims (as defined in the UCC), (3) Fixtures (as defined in the UCC) related to real property and (4) assigned agreements, (iii) send notices to account debtors or other contractual third-parties unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (iv) enter into any security documents to be governed by the law of any jurisdiction in which assets are located other than the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia (other than the BVI Share Mortgage), (v) deliver or provide (or take any actions with respect to obtaining) any leasehold mortgages, mortgages (with respect to any real property), landlord waivers, estoppels or collateral access letters or (vi) except as required by the Security Documents, enter into any source code escrow agreement or register any Intellectual Property.

“Permitted Asset Swap” means the concurrent purchase and sale or exchange of assets used or useful in a Similar Business or a combination of such assets and cash, Cash Equivalents between Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided that any cash or Cash Equivalents received in excess of the value of any cash or Cash Equivalents sold or exchanged must be applied in accordance with Section 3.5 hereof.

“Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction” means any call or capped call option (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) on Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Holdings purchased by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the issuance of any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness to hedge Holdings’ or such Restricted Subsidiary’s obligations to deliver shares of Holdings’ Equity Interests under such Permitted Convertible Indebtedness, in each case on terms that are customary for “capped call” or “call spread” transactions entered into in connection with the issuance of convertible indebtedness (as determined by Holdings in good faith); provided that the purchase price for such Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction, less the proceeds received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary from the sale of any Permitted Warrant Transaction entered into substantially concurrently with such Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction, does not exceed the net proceeds received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary from the sale of such Permitted Convertible Indebtedness issued in connection with the Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction.

“Permitted Convertible Indebtedness” means (a) Indebtedness that is (i) either (A) a debt security issued by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary which is convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Holdings and cash in lieu of fractional shares and/or cash (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such Equity Interests) or (B) sold as units with call options, warrants or rights to purchase (or substantially equivalent derivative transactions) that are exercisable for Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Holdings and/or cash (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such Equity Interests) and (ii) permitted to be incurred hereunder and (b) the Existing Convertible Notes.

“Permitted Holders” means, collectively, (i) Niraj Shah and Steven Conine, (ii) any one or more Persons or group, together with such Persons’ Affiliates, whose beneficial ownership constitutes or results in a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is made or waived in accordance with the requirements of this Indenture, (iii) other Management Equityholders (including any Management Equityholders holding Capital Stock through an equityholding vehicle), (iv) any Person who is acting solely as an underwriter in connection with a public or private offering of Capital Stock of any Parent Entity or Holdings, acting in such capacity, (v) 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 or any Holding Company or Permitted Plan are members and any members of such group; provided that, in the case of such group and without giving effect to the existence of such group or any other group, Persons referred to in clauses (i) through (iii), collectively, have beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of Holdings or any Parent Entity held by such group, (vi) any Holding Company and (vii) any Permitted Plan.

“Permitted Intercompany Activities” means any transactions between or among Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries that, in the reasonable determination of Holdings are necessary or advisable in connection with the ownership or operation of the business of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

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“Permitted Investment” means (in each case, by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries):

(1) Investments in (a) a Restricted Subsidiary (including the Capital Stock of, or guarantees or obligations of, a Restricted Subsidiary) or Holdings or (b) a Person (including the Capital Stock of any such Person) that will, upon the making of such Investment, become a Restricted Subsidiary;

(2) Investments in another Person if such Person is engaged, directly or through entities that will be Restricted Subsidiaries, in any Similar Business and as a result of such Investment such other Person, in one transaction or a series of transactions, is merged, amalgamated, consolidated or otherwise combined with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all its assets (or such division, business unit, product line or business) to, or is liquidated into, Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary, and any Investment held by such Person; provided that such Investment was not acquired by such Person in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, combination, transfer or conveyance;

(3) Investments in cash, Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;

(4) Investments in receivables owing to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary created or acquired in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(5) Investments in payroll, travel, entertainment, relocation and similar advances that are made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(6) Management Advances;

(7) Investments (including debt obligations and equity interests) (a) received in settlement, compromise or resolution of debts created in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, (b) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable, endorsements for collection or deposit held by Holdings or any such Restricted Subsidiary, (c) as a result of foreclosure, perfection or enforcement of any Lien, (d) in satisfaction of judgments or (e) pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement including upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of a debtor or litigation, arbitration or other disputes or otherwise with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(8) Investments made as a result of the receipt of promissory notes or other non-cash consideration (including earn-outs) from a sale or other disposition of property or assets, including an Asset Disposition;

(9) Investments existing or pursuant to binding commitments, agreements or arrangements in effect on the Issue Date and any modification, replacement, renewal, reinvestment or extension thereof; provided that the amount of any such Investment may not be increased except (i) as required by the terms of such Investment or binding commitment as in existence on the Issue Date (including in respect of any unused commitment), plus any accrued but unpaid interest (including any accretion of interest, original issue discount or the issuance of pay-in-kind securities) and premium payable by the terms of such Indebtedness thereon and fees and expenses associated therewith as of the Issue Date or (ii) as otherwise not prohibited under this Indenture;

(10) Hedging Obligations, which transactions or obligations not prohibited by Section 3.2 hereof;

(11) pledges or deposits with respect to leases or utilities provided to third parties in the ordinary course of business or Liens otherwise described in the definition of “Permitted Liens” or made in connection with Liens permitted under Section 3.6 hereof;

(12) any Investment to the extent made using Capital Stock of Holdings (other than Disqualified Stock) or Capital Stock of any Parent Entity or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as consideration; (13) any transaction to the extent constituting an Investment that is permitted and made in accordance with Section 3.8(b) hereof (except those described in Sections 3.8(b)(1), (4), (8), (9) and (14));

 

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(14) Investments consisting of purchases or other acquisitions of assets, inventory, supplies, materials, equipment or services, or licenses, sub-licenses, cross-licenses, leases, subleases, assignments, contributions or other Investments of intellectual property (including any Intercompany License Agreement and any other Investments made in connection therewith) or other intangibles or services in the ordinary course of business;

(15) (i) Guarantees of Indebtedness not prohibited by Section 3.2 hereof and (other than with respect to Indebtedness) guarantees, keepwells and similar arrangements in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and (ii) performance guarantees and Contingent Obligations with respect to obligations that are not prohibited by this Indenture;

(16) Investments consisting of earnest money deposits required in connection with a purchase agreement, or letter of intent, or other acquisitions to the extent not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture;

(17) Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Issue Date or of an entity merged or amalgamated into or consolidated with Holdings or merged or amalgamated into or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

(18) Investments consisting of licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

(19) contributions to a “rabbi” trust for the benefit of employees, directors, consultants, independent contractors or other service providers or other grantor trust subject to claims of creditors in the case of a bankruptcy of the Company or Holdings;

(20) Investments in (i) Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate fair market value, when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (i) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $140.0 million and 30.0% of LTM EBITDA at the time of such Investment (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), plus the amount of any returns (including dividends, payments, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) in respect of such Investments (without duplication for purposes of Section 3.3 of any amounts applied pursuant to Section 3.3(a)(iii)) 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 Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such person becomes Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause; and (ii) Investments in joint ventures and similar entities having an aggregate fair market value, when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (ii) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $140.0 million and 30.0% of LTM EBITDA at the time of such Investment (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), plus the amount of any returns in respect of such Investments (without duplication for purposes of Section 3.3 of any amounts applied pursuant to Section 3.3(a)(iii)) 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 Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such person becomes Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause; (21) additional Investments having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $230.0 million and 50.0% of LTM EBITDA (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value) plus the amount of any returns (including dividends, payments, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) in respect of such Investments (without duplication for purposes of Section 3.3 of any amounts applied pursuant to Section 3.3(a)(iii)) 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 Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause;

 

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(22) any Investment in a Similar Business having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $230.0 million and 50.0% of LTM EBITDA (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), plus the amount of any returns (including dividends, payments, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) in respect of such Investments (without duplication for purposes of Section 3.3 of any amounts applied pursuant to Section 3.3(a)(iii)) 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 Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause;

(23) (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 in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility;

(24) any Investments in connection with a Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or Permitted Structured Repurchase Transaction; provided that to the extent such Investment constitutes a Restricted Payment, such Restricted Payment is permitted pursuant to Section 3.3;

(25) repurchases of Notes or any other senior Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(26) Investments by an Unrestricted Subsidiary entered into prior to the day such Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary as described under Section 3.16;

(27) non-cash Investments in connection with tax planning and reorganization activities, and Investments in connection with a Permitted Tax Restructuring, Permitted Intercompany Activities and related transactions;

(28) guaranty and indemnification obligations arising in connection with surety bonds issued in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(29) Investments (a) consisting of purchases and acquisitions of assets or services in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, (b) made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice in connection with obtaining, maintaining or renewing client, franchisee and customer contracts and loans or (c) consisting of advances, loans, extensions of credit (including the creation of receivables) or prepayments made to, and guarantees with respect to obligations of, franchisees, distributors, suppliers, lessors, licensors and licensees in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; (30) Investments in prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection and lease, utility and workers compensation, performance and similar deposits entered into as a result of the operations of the business in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

 

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(31) Investments consisting of UCC Article 3 endorsements for collection or deposit and Article 4 trade arrangements with customers (or any comparable or similar provisions in other applicable jurisdictions) in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practices;

(32) any Investment in any Subsidiary or any joint venture in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice (including any cash management arrangements, cash pooling arrangements, intercompany loans or activities related thereto);

(33) Investments made from casualty insurance proceeds in connection with the replacement, substitution, restoration or repair of assets on account of a Casualty Event; and

(34) 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 Total Leverage Ratio shall be no greater than 5.75 to 1.00.

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

(1) Liens on assets or property of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor securing Indebtedness and other Obligations of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor;

(2) pledges, deposits or Liens (a) in connection with workmen’s compensation laws, payroll taxes, unemployment insurance laws, employers’ health tax and other social security laws or similar legislation or other insurance related obligations (including in respect of deductibles, self-insured retention amounts and premiums and adjustments thereto), (b) securing liability, reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees or similar instruments) for the benefit of insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements or otherwise supporting the payments of items set forth in the foregoing clause (a), or (c) in connection with bids, tenders, completion guarantees, contracts, leases, utilities, licenses, public or statutory obligations, or to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, government contracts and leases, statutory obligations, surety, stay, indemnity, warranty, release, judgment, customs, appeal, performance bonds, guarantees of government contracts, return of money bonds, bankers’ acceptance facilities and obligations of a similar nature (including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations), and obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments that have been posted to support the same, or as security for contested taxes or import or customs duties or for the payment of rent, or other obligations of like nature, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(3) Liens with respect to outstanding motor vehicle fines and Liens imposed by law or regulation, including carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, landlords’, suppliers’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, architects’, construction contractors’ or other similar Liens, in each case for amounts not overdue for a period of more than 60 days or, if more than 60 days overdue, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce such Liens or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(4) Liens for Taxes, assessments or governmental charges (i) that are not overdue for a period of more than 60 days or not yet payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; provided that appropriate reserves required pursuant to GAAP (or other applicable accounting principles) have been made in respect thereof or (ii) that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect;

 

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(5) encumbrances, charges, ground leases, easements (including reciprocal easement agreements), survey exceptions, restrictions, encroachments, protrusions, by-law, regulation, zoning restrictions or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights of way, servitudes, sewers, electric lines, drains, telegraph, telephone and cable television lines and other similar purposes, or zoning, building codes or other restrictions (including minor defects or irregularities in title and similar encumbrances) as to the use of real properties, exceptions on title policies insuring Liens granted on any mortgaged properties or any other collateral or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties, including servicing agreements, development agreements, site plan agreements, subdivision agreements, facilities sharing agreements, cost sharing agreements and other agreements, charges or encumbrances, which do not in the aggregate materially interfere with the ordinary course conduct of the business of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(6) Liens (a) securing Hedging Obligations, Cash Management Obligations and the costs thereof; (b) that are rights of set-off, rights of pledge or other bankers’ Liens (i) relating to treasury, depository and cash management services or any automated clearing house transfers of funds in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of Holdings or any Subsidiary or consistent with past practice or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; (c) on cash accounts securing Indebtedness or other Obligations permitted to be incurred under Section 3.2(b)(8)(v) with financial institutions; (d) encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and not for speculative purposes; and (e) (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the UCC or any comparable or successor provision on items in the course of collection and (ii) in favor of a banking or other financial institution or electronic payment service providers arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with the maintenance of such accounts and (iii) arising under customary general terms and conditions of the account bank in relation to any bank account maintained with such bank and attaching only to such account and the products and proceeds thereof, which Liens, in any event, do not secure any Indebtedness;

(7) leases, licenses, subleases and sub-licenses of assets (including real property, intellectual property, software and other technology rights), in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice or, with respect to intellectual property, software and other technology rights, that are not material to the conduct of the business of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(8) Liens securing or otherwise arising out of judgments, decrees, attachments, orders or awards not giving rise to an Event of Default under Section 6.1(a)(5);

(9) Liens (i) securing Finance Lease Obligations or Purchase Money Obligations, or securing the payment of all or a part of the purchase price of, or securing Indebtedness or other Obligations Incurred to finance or refinance the acquisition, improvement or construction of, assets or property acquired or constructed in the ordinary course of business; provided that (a) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such Liens is otherwise permitted to be Incurred under this Indenture and (b) any such Liens may not extend to any assets or property of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary other than assets and property affixed or appurtenant thereto and accessions, additions, improvements, proceeds, dividends or distributions thereof, including after-acquired property that is (A) affixed or incorporated into the property or assets covered by such Lien, (B) after-acquired property or assets subject to a Lien securing such Indebtedness, the terms of which Indebtedness require or include a pledge of after-acquired property or assets and (C) the proceeds and products thereof; and (ii) any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, franchisor, licensor or sublicensor or secured by a lessor’s, sublessor’s, franchisor’s, licensor’s or sublicensor’s interest under any Finance Lease Obligations or Non-Financing Lease Obligations;

(10) Liens arising from UCC financing statements, including precautionary financing statements (or similar filings) regarding operating leases or consignments entered into by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries; (11) Liens existing on the Issue Date (including Liens securing the Existing Secured Notes outstanding on the Issue Date and any Guarantees thereof) and any Liens securing any Refinancing Indebtedness of any Indebtedness secured by such Liens, but excluding Liens securing the First Lien Credit Agreement, the Notes and any Guarantees thereof;

 

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(12) Liens on property, other assets or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (or at the time Holdings or a Subsidiary acquires such property, other assets or shares of stock, including any acquisition by means of a merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other business combination transaction with or into Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary); provided, however, that such Liens are not created in anticipation of such other Person becoming a Subsidiary (or such acquisition of such property, other assets or stock); provided, further, that such Liens are limited to all or part of the same property, other assets or stock (plus property and assets affixed or appurtenant thereto and additions, improvements, accessions, proceeds, dividends or distributions thereof, including after-acquired property that is (i) affixed or incorporated into the property or assets covered by such Lien, (ii) after-acquired property or assets subject to a Lien securing such Indebtedness, the terms of which Indebtedness require or include a pledge of after-acquired property or assets and (iii) the proceeds and products thereof) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which such Liens arose, could secure) the Obligations relating to any Indebtedness or other obligations to which such Liens relate;

(13) Liens securing Obligations relating to any Indebtedness or other obligations of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary owing to Holdings or another Restricted Subsidiary, or Liens in favor of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or the Trustee;

(14) Liens securing Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance Indebtedness that was previously so secured, and permitted to be secured under this Indenture; provided that any such Lien is limited to all or part of the same property or assets (plus property and assets affixed or appurtenant thereto and additions, improvements, accessions, proceeds, dividends or distributions thereof, including after-acquired property that is (i) affixed or incorporated into the property or assets covered by such Lien, (ii) after-acquired property or assets subject to a Lien securing such Indebtedness, the terms of which Indebtedness require or include a pledge of after-acquired property or assets and (iii) the proceeds and products thereof) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the Obligations relating to the Indebtedness or other obligations being refinanced or is in respect of property or assets that is or could be the security for or subject to a Permitted Lien hereunder;

(15) (a) mortgages, liens, security interests, restrictions, encumbrances or any other matters of record that have been placed by any government, statutory or regulatory authority, developer, landlord or other third party on property over which Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary has easement rights or on any leased property and subordination or similar arrangements relating thereto and (b) any condemnation or eminent domain proceedings affecting any real property;

(16) (i) any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to Capital Stock of any joint venture secured financing arrangement, joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture secured financing arrangement, joint venture or similar agreement and (ii) customary rights of first refusal and tag, drag and similar rights in joint venture agreements and agreements with respect to non-wholly owned Subsidiaries;

(17) Liens on property or assets under construction (and related rights) in favor of a contractor or developer or arising from progress or partial payments by a third party relating to such property or assets;

(18) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, hire purchase, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale or purchase of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

 

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(19) Liens securing Indebtedness and other Obligations in respect of (a) Credit Facilities, including any letter of credit facility relating thereto, pursuant to Section 3.2(b)(1) and (b) obligations of Holdings or any Subsidiary in respect of any Cash Management Obligation or Hedging Obligation provided by any lender party to any Credit Facility or Affiliate of such lender (or any Person that was a lender or an Affiliate of a lender at the time the applicable agreements in respect of such Cash Management Obligation or Hedging Obligation were entered into); (20) Liens securing Indebtedness and other Obligations under Section 3.2(b)(5); provided that such Liens shall only be permitted if such Liens are limited to all or part of the same property or assets, including Capital Stock (plus property and assets affixed or appurtenant thereto and additions, improvements, accessions, proceeds, dividends or distributions thereof, including after-acquired property that is (i) affixed or incorporated into the property or assets covered by such Lien, (ii) after-acquired property or assets subject to a Lien securing such Indebtedness, the terms of which Indebtedness require or include a pledge of after-acquired property or assets and (iii) the proceeds and products thereof) acquired, or of any Person acquired or merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, in any transaction to which such Indebtedness or other Obligation relates;

(21) Liens securing Indebtedness and other Obligations under Section 3.2(b)(4)(iii) (other than with respect to any Additional Notes, and solely to the extent constituting Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance such Indebtedness or other Obligations that were previously secured), (7), (8), (10), (11) or (14);

(22) Liens securing Indebtedness and other Obligations of any non-Guarantor covering only the assets of such Subsidiary;

(23) Liens on Capital Stock or other securities or assets of any Unrestricted Subsidiary that secure Indebtedness or other obligations of such Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(24) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments permitted under clause (4) of the definition of “Cash Equivalents”;

(25) Liens on (i) goods the purchase price of which is financed by a documentary letter of credit issued for the account of Holdings or any Subsidiary or Liens on bills of lading, drafts or other documents of title arising by operation of law or pursuant to the standard terms of agreements relating to letters of credit, bank guarantees and other similar instruments and (ii) specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or documentary letters of credit issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods; provided that any such Liens attach only to the goods and inventory covered thereby and proceeds thereof;

(26) Liens on vehicles or equipment of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(27) Liens on assets or securities deemed to arise in connection with and solely as a result of the execution, delivery or performance of contracts to sell such assets or securities if such sale is not prohibited by this Indenture;

(28) (a) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto, and (b) Liens, pledges, deposits made or other security provided to secure liabilities to, or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefits of), insurance carriers in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

 

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(29) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted under this Indenture; (30) Liens (i) on cash advances or escrow deposits in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted under this Indenture to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment or otherwise in connection with any escrow arrangement with respect to such Investment (including any letter of intent or purchase agreement with respect to such Investment), and (ii) consisting of an agreement to sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any property in an asset sale, in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or sale, transfer, lease or other disposition, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;

(31) Liens securing Indebtedness and other Obligations in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of $455.0 million and 100.0% of LTM EBITDA at the time Incurred; provided that, if such Liens are consensual Liens that are secured by the Collateral, (x) if any such Indebtedness secured by Liens on the Collateral that rank (or are intended to rank) on an equal priority basis (but without regard to control of remedies) with the Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes, such Indebtedness shall be subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (y) if any such Indebtedness is secured by the Liens on the Collateral that rank (or are intended to rank) on a junior basis to Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes, such Indebtedness shall be subject to a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement providing that the Liens on the Collateral shall rank on a junior basis to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes;

(32) Liens then existing with respect to assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary on the day such Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 3.16; provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those of such Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(33) Liens securing Indebtedness and other Obligations permitted pursuant to Section 3.2; provided that with respect to Liens securing Indebtedness or other Obligations permitted under this clause, at the time of Incurrence and after giving pro forma effect thereto, (i) in the case of Indebtedness or other Obligations having Pari Passu Lien Priority, the Consolidated First Lien Secured Leverage Ratio would be no greater than 3.50 to 1.00 and (ii) in the case of Indebtedness or other Obligations having Junior Lien Priority, the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio would be no greater than 3.50 to 1.00;

(34) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 3.2 provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those that are the subject of such repurchase agreement;

(35) Liens arising in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing or a Receivables Facility;

(36) Settlement Liens;

(37) rights of recapture of unused real property in favor of the seller of such property set forth in customary purchase agreements and related arrangements with any government, statutory or regulatory authority;

(38) the rights reserved to or vested in any Person or government, statutory or regulatory authority by the terms of any lease, license, franchise, grant or permit held by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary 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;

(39) restrictive covenants affecting the use to which real property may be put;

(40) Liens or covenants restricting or prohibiting access to or from lands abutting on controlled access highways or covenants affecting the use to which lands may be put; provided that such Liens or covenants do not interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(41) Liens arising in connection with any Permitted Intercompany Activities, Permitted Tax Restructuring or any Intercompany License Agreements;

 

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(42) Liens on property, assets or Permitted Investments used to defease or to satisfy or discharge Indebtedness; provided that such defeasance, satisfaction or discharge is not prohibited by this Indenture; (43) Liens relating to escrow arrangements securing Indebtedness, including (i) Liens on escrowed proceeds from the issuance of Indebtedness for the benefit of the related holders of debt securities or other Indebtedness (or the underwriters, arrangers, trustee or collateral agent thereof) and (ii) Liens on cash or Cash Equivalents set aside at the time of the incurrence of any Indebtedness, in either case to the extent such cash or Cash Equivalents prefund the payment of interest or premium or discount on such Indebtedness (or any costs related to the issuance of such Indebtedness) and are held in an escrow account or similar arrangement to be applied for such purpose;

(44) Liens in favor of a landlord and permitted pursuant to the terms of any real property leases (and which have not been triggered by any default or breach under the applicable lease);

(45) zoning, entitlement, building, and other land use regulations imposed by any governmental authority (having jurisdiction over real property) which are not violated by the current use and operation of the real property in any material respect; and

(46) Liens securing the Notes (other than any Additional Notes) and the related Note Guarantees.

In the event that a Permitted Lien meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Permitted Liens (at the time of incurrence or at a later date), the Company in its sole discretion may divide, classify or from time to time reclassify all or any portion of such Permitted Lien in any manner that complies with this Indenture and such Permitted Lien shall be treated as having been made pursuant only to the clause or clauses of the definition of “Permitted Lien” to which such Permitted Lien has been classified or reclassified.

“Permitted Plan” means any employee benefits plan of Holdings or any of its Affiliates and any Person acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan.

“Permitted Tax Distribution” means:

(a) if and for so long as Holdings is a member of a group filing a consolidated or combined tax return with any Parent Entity, any dividends or other distributions to fund any Taxes attributable to any taxable income of Holdings and its Subsidiaries up to an amount not to exceed with respect to such Taxes the amount of any such Taxes that Holdings and its Subsidiaries would have been required to pay on a separate company basis or on a consolidated basis calculated as if Holdings and its Subsidiaries had paid Tax on a consolidated, combined, group, affiliated or unitary basis on behalf of an affiliated group consisting only of Holdings and its Subsidiaries; provided that such dividends or other distributions with respect to any Taxes attributable to the income of any Unrestricted Subsidiaries of Holdings may be made only to the extent that such Unrestricted Subsidiaries have made cash payments for such purpose to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary; and

(b) for any taxable year (or portion thereof) ending after the Issue Date for which Holdings is treated as a disregarded entity, partnership, or other flow-through entity for U.S. federal income Tax purposes, the payment of dividends or other distributions to any Parent Entity to fund the Tax liability of such Parent Entity (or, if a Parent Entity is a pass-through entity, of its direct or indirect owner(s)) for such taxable year (or portion thereof) attributable to its ownership of Holdings; provided that for each taxable period, such distributions shall not in the aggregate exceed an amount equal to the product of (1) the taxable income of Holdings (determined as if Holdings were a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) allocated to the members of any Parent Entity for such taxable period and any guaranteed payments or taxable capital shifts to the members of such Parent Entity for such taxable period (provided that such guaranteed payments and capital shifts are deducted in computing the taxable income of Holdings for such period), determined without regard to any adjustments under Section 743 of the Code and including any income inclusions of such Parent Entity’s direct or indirect owners pursuant to Section 951 or 951A of the Code and (2) the highest combined marginal U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate (including tax imposed on “net investment income” pursuant to Section 1411 of the Code) applicable to an individual or a corporation (whichever is higher) resident in any jurisdiction within the United States for such taxable period, without regard to any deduction under Section 199A of the Code.

 

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“Permitted Structured Repurchase Transaction” means any forward purchase or accelerated share repurchase transaction (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) relating to Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Holdings for which Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary is the purchaser, a call or capped call option (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) relating to Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Holdings purchased by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, and/or a put or put spread option (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) relating to Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Holdings sold by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary and/or any other structured equity repurchase transaction similar to any of the foregoing in respect of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Holdings, in each case, entered into by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary with a leading dealer in the market in respect of such transactions (each, a “Structured Repurchase Dealer”); provided that such transaction is a Swap Agreement and will be entered into between Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary and a Structured Repurchase Dealer under or otherwise pursuant to an ISDA Master Agreement and there shall be no “Credit Support Annex”, “Credit Support Document”, “Credit Support Provider”, security, Guarantee or other credit support with respect thereto, in each case provided by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their respective Affiliates.

“Permitted Tax Restructuring” means any reorganizations and other activities related to Tax planning and Tax reorganization entered into prior to, on or after the Issue Date so long as such Permitted Tax Restructuring is not materially adverse to the holders of the Notes, taken as a whole, in their capacity as such (in each case, as determined by Holdings in good faith).

“Permitted Warrant Transaction” means any call option, warrant or contractual right to purchase (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) Equity Interests of Holdings sold by Holdings substantially concurrently with any purchase by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of a Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction in each case on terms that are customary for “call spread” transactions entered in connection with the issuance of convertible indebtedness.

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

“Post-Petition Interest” means any interest or entitlement to fees or expenses or other charges that accrue after the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, whether or not allowed or allowable as a claim in any such bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.

“Predecessor Note” of any particular Note means every previous Note evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Note; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Note authenticated and delivered under Section 2.10 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note.

“Preferred Stock,” as applied to the Capital Stock of any Person, means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the payment of dividends or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Person, over Capital Stock of any other class of such Person.

“Public Company Costs” means, as to any Person, 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 equity or debt securities held by the public, the rules of national securities exchanges, employees’, consultants’, directors’ or managers’ compensation, fees and expense reimbursement, costs relating to enhanced accounting functions and investor relations, equityholder meetings and reports to equityholders or debtholders, directors’ and officers’ insurance and other executive costs, legal and other professional fees, listing fees and other transaction costs.

“Purchase Money Obligations” means any Indebtedness Incurred to finance or refinance the acquisition, leasing, expansion, construction, installation, replacement, repair or improvement of property (real or personal), equipment or assets (including Capital Stock), and whether acquired through the direct acquisition of such property or assets, or the acquisition of the Capital Stock of any Person owning such property or assets, or otherwise.

 

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“QIB” means any “qualified institutional buyer” as such term is defined in Rule 144A.

“Qualified Securitization Financing” means any Securitization Facility that meets the following conditions: (i) the Board of Directors shall have determined in good faith that such Securitization Facility (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries; (ii) all sales of Securitization Assets and related assets by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Securitization Subsidiary or any other Person are made for fair consideration (as determined in good faith by Holdings); and (iii) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be fair and reasonable terms (as determined in good faith by Holdings) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings.

“Receivables Assets” means (a) any accounts receivable owed to Holdings 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.

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

“Receivables Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary formed for the purpose of facilitating or entering into one or more Receivables Facilities, and in each case engages only in activities reasonably related or incidental thereto or another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in a Receivables Facility in which Holdings or any Subsidiary makes an Investment and to which Holdings or any Subsidiary transfers accounts receivables and related assets.

“Refinance” and “refinance” mean refinance, refund, replace, renew, repay, modify, restate, defer, substitute, supplement, reissue, resell, extend or increase (including pursuant to any defeasance or discharge mechanism) and the terms “refinances,” “refinanced” and “refinancing” as used for any purpose in this Indenture shall have a correlative meaning.

“Refinancing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that is Incurred to refund, refinance, replace, exchange, renew, repay or extend (including pursuant to any defeasance or discharge mechanism) any Indebtedness (or unutilized commitment in respect of Indebtedness) existing on the Issue Date or incurred (or established) in compliance with this Indenture (including Indebtedness of Holdings that refinances Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary and Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of Holdings or another Restricted Subsidiary) including Indebtedness that refinances Refinancing Indebtedness and Indebtedness incurred pursuant to a commitment that refinances any Indebtedness or unutilized commitment; provided, however, that:

(1) (a) 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 refunded or refinanced, replaced, exchanged, renewed, repaid or extended (or requires no or nominal payments in cash (other than interest payments) prior to the date that is 91 days after the maturity date of the Notes); and (b) 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, respectively; (2) Refinancing Indebtedness shall not include:

 

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(i) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of Holdings that is not Holdings, the Company or a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Holdings, the Company or a Guarantor; or

(ii) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

(3) such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred in an aggregate principal amount (or if issued 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 issued with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding of 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 Section 3.2 immediately prior to such refinancing, plus (z) 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) in connection with such refinancing,

provided, that clause (1) above will not apply to any extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of any Credit Facilities or Secured Indebtedness. 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.

“Regulated Bank” means an (x) Approved Commercial 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 of Governors 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 or (y) any Affiliate of a Person set forth in clause (x) above to the extent that (1) all of the capital stock of such Affiliate is directly or indirectly owned by either (I) such Person set forth in clause (x) above or (II) a parent entity that also owns, directly or indirectly, all of the capital stock of such Person set forth in clause (x) and (2) such Affiliate is a securities broker or dealer registered with the SEC under Section 15 of the Exchange Act.

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

“Regulation S-X” means Regulation S-X under the Securities Act.

“Related Taxes” means:

(1) any Taxes, including sales, use, transfer, rental, ad valorem, value added, stamp, property, consumption, franchise, license, capital, registration, business, customs, net worth, gross receipts, excise, occupancy, intangibles or similar Taxes and other similar fees and expenses (other than (x) Taxes measured by income and (y) withholding Taxes), required to be paid (provided such Taxes are in fact paid) by any Parent Entity by virtue of its:

(a) being organized or having Capital Stock outstanding (but not by virtue of owning stock or other equity interests of any corporation or other entity other than, directly or indirectly, Holdings or any of Holdings’ Subsidiaries) or otherwise maintain its existence or good standing under applicable law;

(b) being a holding company parent, directly or indirectly, of Holdings or any of Holdings’ Subsidiaries; (c) receiving dividends from or other distributions in respect of the Capital Stock of, directly or indirectly, Holdings or any of Holdings’ Subsidiaries; or

 

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(d) having made any payment in respect to any of the items for which Holdings is permitted to make payments to any Parent Entity pursuant to Section 3.3; or

(2) any Permitted Tax Distribution.

“Reserved Proceeds” means, on any date of determination, the aggregate amount of net cash proceeds of any Indebtedness Incurred or issued in reliance on Section 3.2(b)(17) and not re-classified as Incurred pursuant to any other type of Indebtedness permitted under Section 3.2.

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

“Restricted Notes” means Initial Notes and Additional Notes bearing one of the restrictive legends described in Section 2.1(d).

“Restricted Notes Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.1(d)(1).

“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of Holdings other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall at all times constitute a “Restricted Subsidiary.”

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

“S&P” means S&P Global Inc. or any of its successors or assigns that is a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization.

“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any arrangement providing for the leasing by Holdings 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 Holdings 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 Holdings 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 or any successor thereto.

“Secured Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien other than Indebtedness with respect to Cash Management Obligations.

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

“Securitization Asset” means (a) any accounts receivable, 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 (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.

 

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“Securitization Facility” means any of one or more securitization, financing, factoring or sales transactions, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated or refunded from time to time, pursuant to which Holdings or any of the 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 Receivables Asset or participation interest therein issued or sold in connection with, and other fees, expenses and charges (including commissions, yield, interest expense and 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 a Receivables Facility to repurchase or otherwise make payments with respect to Securitization Assets or Receivables 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 Holdings in each case formed for the purpose of and that solely engages in one or more Qualified Securitization Financings or Receivables Facilities and other activities reasonably related thereto or another Person formed for this purpose.

“Security Documents” means the Notes Security Agreement, the Notes Pledge Agreement, each joinder to the Notes Security Agreement and the Notes Pledge Agreement, the BVI Share Mortgage, all security agreements, pledge agreements, control agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust or other grants or transfers for security or agreements related thereto executed and delivered by the Company or any Guarantor creating or perfecting (or purporting to create or perfect) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Notes Collateral Agent on behalf of itself, the Trustee, the Holders of the Notes and the other Notes Secured Parties to secure the Notes and the Note Guarantees, in each case, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Series” means (a) with respect to the First Lien Secured Parties, each of (i) the First Lien Credit Agreement Secured Parties (in their capacities as such), (ii) the Existing Secured Notes Secured Parties (in their capacities as such), (iii) the Notes Secured Parties (in their capacities as such), and (iv) the Additional First Lien Secured Parties (in their capacities as such) that are or become subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement after the Issue Date that are represented by a common Authorized Representative (in its capacity as such for such Additional First Lien Secured Parties) and (b) with respect to any First Lien Obligations, each of (i) the First Lien Credit Agreement Obligations, (ii) the First Lien Notes Obligations, (iii) Existing Secured Notes Obligations and (iv) the Additional First Lien Obligations incurred pursuant to any Additional First Lien Document (as defined in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement) after the Issue Date, the holders of which are to be represented by a common Authorized Representative (in its capacity as such for such Additional First Lien Obligations) under the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

“Settlement” means the transfer of cash or other property with respect to any credit or debit card charge, check or other instrument, electronic funds transfer, or other type of paper-based or electronic payment, transfer, or charge transaction for which a Person acts as a processor, remitter, funds recipient or funds transmitter in the ordinary course of its business.

“Settlement Asset” means any cash, receivable or other property, including a Settlement Receivable, due or conveyed to a Person in consideration for a Settlement made or arranged, or to be made or arranged, by such Person or an Affiliate of such Person.

“Settlement Indebtedness” means any payment or reimbursement obligation in respect of a Settlement Payment.

“Settlement Lien” means any Lien relating to any Settlement or Settlement Indebtedness (and may include, for the avoidance of doubt, the grant of a Lien in or other assignment of a Settlement Asset in consideration of a Settlement Payment, Liens securing intraday and overnight overdraft and automated clearing house exposure, and similar Liens).

 

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“Settlement Payment” means the transfer, or contractual undertaking (including by automated clearing house transaction) to effect a transfer, of cash or other property to effect a Settlement.

“Settlement Receivable” means any general intangible, payment intangible, or instrument representing or reflecting an obligation to make payments to or for the benefit of a Person in consideration for a Settlement made or arranged, or to be made or arranged, by such Person.

“Short Derivative Instrument” means a Derivative Instrument (a) 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 (b) 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 Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02(w)(1)(ii) of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such regulation is in effect on the Issue Date.

“Similar Business” means (a) any businesses, services or activities engaged in by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or any Associates on the Issue Date, (b) any businesses, services and activities engaged in by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or any Associates that are reasonably similar, ancillary, supportive, synergistic, incidental, complementary or related to (including non-core incidental businesses acquired in connection with any Investment not prohibited by this Indenture), or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the businesses that Holdings and its Subsidiaries conduct or propose to conduct on the Issue Date, including relating to social services or any healthcare services, and (c) a Person conducting a business, service or activity specified in clauses (a) and (b), and any Subsidiary thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, any Person that invests in or owns Capital Stock or Indebtedness of another Person that is engaged in a Similar Business shall be deemed to be engaged in a Similar Business.

“Specified Restructuring” means any restructuring initiative, cost saving initiative or other similar strategic initiative of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date described in reasonable detail in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee.

“Specified Transaction” means, with respect to any period, any Investment, Specified Restructuring, Asset Disposition, Incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, Restricted Payment, subsidiary designation, operating improvements, restructurings, New Project or other event that by the terms of this Indenture requires “pro forma compliance” with a test or covenant hereunder or requires such test or covenant to be calculated on a “pro forma basis” or after giving “pro forma effect” to such event.

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

“Start-Up Losses” means in respect of any period, any loss for such period directly attributable to the operation of a separately identifiable business unit of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or an acquired entity or business, which business unit commenced operations, or acquired entity or business was acquired, within 18 months prior to the last day of such period.

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision, but shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

 

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“Stock Equivalents” means all securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock and all warrants, options, or other rights to purchase or subscribe for any Capital Stock, whether or not presently convertible, exchangeable or exercisable.

“Subordinated Indebtedness” means, with respect to any person, any Indebtedness (whether outstanding on the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date or thereafter Incurred) which is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes pursuant to a written agreement.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) any corporation, association, or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50.0% of the total voting power of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof;

(2) any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which:

(a) more than 50.0% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise; and

(b) such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity; or

(3) at the election of Holdings, any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

“Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Restricted Subsidiary that Guarantees the Notes, until such Note Guarantee is released in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

“Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, spot, future, credit default or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions, including, without limitation, any Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction, any Permitted Warrant Transaction or any Permitted Structured Repurchase Transaction.

“Taxes” means all present and future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, duties, assessments, fees and withholdings (including backup withholding) and any charges of a similar nature (however denominated) that are imposed by any governmental authority or other taxing authority and any interest, fines, penalties or additions to tax with respect to the foregoing.

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

“Total Assets” means, as of any date, the total consolidated assets of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as shown on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a pro forma basis in a manner consistent with the pro forma adjustments set forth in Section 1.4.

 

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“Transaction Bonuses” means bonuses payable to any director, manager, officer, employee or consultant of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries (including any Person who becomes a director, manager, officer, employee or consultant of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with an acquisition not prohibited under this Indenture).

“Transaction Expenses” means any fees, costs and expenses (including all legal, accounting and other professional fees, costs and expenses) incurred or paid by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary associated or in connection with the Transactions.

“Transactions” means all transactions described in the Offering Memorandum, which, for the avoidance of doubt, need not have occurred on the Issue Date, and which shall include, without limitation, the issuance of the Notes, the closing of the First Lien Credit Agreement Amendment, the repayment of certain indebtedness, including a portion of the Existing Convertible Notes as described in the Offering Memorandum, the payment of Transaction Expenses, other related transactions as described in the Offering Memorandum and the consummation of any other transaction in connection with any of the foregoing.

“Trust Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, 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 relating to this Indenture is referred because of such Person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who, in each case, shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

“Trustee” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee under this Indenture, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity.

“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code 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 of the attachment, perfection or priority of the Notes Collateral Agent’s and the Notes Secured Parties’ security interest in any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the term “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect 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 Subsidiary” means:

(1) any Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Company) that at the time of determination is an Unrestricted Subsidiary (as designated by Holdings in the manner provided below); and

(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Holdings may designate any Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Company but including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary or a Person becoming a Subsidiary through merger, consolidation or other business combination transaction, or Investment therein), to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary only if:

(1) at the time of such designation, such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries does not own any Capital Stock of Holdings or any other Subsidiary of Holdings which is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated or otherwise an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(2) each of (i) the Subsidiary to be so designated and (ii) its Subsidiaries does not at the time of designation own any Material Intellectual Property; and

(2) such designation and the Investment, if any, of Holdings in such Subsidiary complies with Section 3.3 hereof.

 

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“Unsecured Finance Lease Obligations” means Finance Lease Obligations not secured by a Lien and any other lease obligation that is not required to be accounted for as a financing or capital lease on both the balance sheet and the income statement for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. For the avoidance of doubt, an operating lease shall be considered an Unsecured Finance Lease Obligation.

“Unsecured Finance Leases” means all leases underlying Unsecured Finance Lease Obligations.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are (a) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (b) 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 of the United States of America, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuers thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligations or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary 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 depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligations or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligations evidenced by such depositary receipt.

“Voting Stock” of a Person means all classes of Capital Stock of such Person then outstanding and normally entitled to vote in the election of directors.

“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 (in number of years) obtained by dividing:

(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) 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, by (ii) the amount of such payment, by

(2) the sum of all such payments,

provided that, for purposes of determining the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Indebtedness, the effects of any prepayments or amortization made on such Indebtedness prior to the date of such determination will be disregarded.

“Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary” means a Domestic Subsidiary of Holdings, all of the Capital Stock of which is owned by Holdings, the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor.

“wholly-owned subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

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SECTION 1.2 Other Definitions.

 

Term

  

Defined in

Section

“Acceptable Commitment”    3.5(a)(3)(ii)
“Accounting Change”    “GAAP”
“Accredited Investor Notes”    2.1(b)
“Action”    13.8(v)
“Additional Restricted Notes”    2.1(b)
“Advance Offer”    3.5(d)
“Advance Portion”    3.5(d)
“Affiliate Transaction”    3.8(a)
“Agent Members”    2.1(e)(2)
“Applicable Premium Deficit”    8.4(1)
“Applicable Proceeds”    3.5(a)(3)
“Approved Foreign Bank”    “Cash Equivalents”
“Asset Disposition Offer”    3.5(d)
“Authenticating Agent”    2.2
“Automatic Exchange”    2.6(e)
“Automatic Exchange Date”    2.6(e)
“Automatic Exchange Notice”    2.6(e)
“Automatic Exchange Notice Date”    2.6(e)
“CERCLA”    13.8(q)
“Change of Control Offer”    3.9(a)
“Change of Control Payment”    3.9(a)
“Change of Control Payment Date”    3.9(a)(2)
“Clearstream”    2.1(b)
“Collateral Advance Offer”    3.5(b)
“Collateral Advance Portion”    3.5(b)
“Collateral Asset Disposition Offer”    3.5(b)
“Collateral Excess Proceeds”    3.5(b)
“Collateral Retained Proceeds”    3.5(b)

 

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Term

  

Defined in

Section

“Company Order”    2.2
“Covenant Defeasance”    8.3
“Defaulted Interest”    2.14
“Directing Holder”    6.1(a)
“Election Date”    3.3
“Euroclear”    2.1(b)
“Event of Default”    6.1(a)
“Excess Proceeds”    3.5(d)
“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date”    “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”
“Foreign Disposition”    3.5(f)(i)
“Global Notes”    2.1(b)
“Guaranteed Obligations”    10.1
“Increased Amount”    3.6
“Initial Agreement”    3.4(b)(16)
“Initial Default”    6.1(e)
“Institutional Accredited Investor Global Notes”    2.1(b)
“Institutional Accredited Investor Notes”    2.1(b)
“Intercreditor Agreement”    7.11
“Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement”    7.11
“LCT Election”    3.2(c)(10)
“LCT Public Offer”    3.2(c)(10)
“LCT Test Date”    3.2(c)(10)
“Legal Defeasance”    8.2
“Legal Holiday”    12.6
“Note Guarantees”    10.1

 

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Term

  

Defined in

Section

“Noteholder Direction”    6.1(a)
“Notes Collateral Document Order”    13.8(r)
“Notes Register”    2.3
“Other Guarantee”    10.2(b)(4)
“payment default”    6.1(a)(4)(A)
“Performance References”    “Derivative Instrument”
“Permitted Payments”    3.3(b)
“Position Representation”    6.1(a)
“primary obligations”    “Contingent Obligations”
“primary obligor”    “Contingent Obligations”
“Proceeds Application Period”    3.5(a)(3)
“protected purchaser”    2.10
“Redemption Date”    5.7(a)
“reference period”    “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”
“Refunding Capital Stock”    3.3(b)(2)
“Registrar”    2.3
“Regulation S Global Note”    2.1(b)
“Regulation S Notes”    2.1(b)
“Related Person”    13.8(b)
“Resale Restriction Termination Date”    2.6(b)
“Reserved Indebtedness Amount”    3.2(c)(9)
“Restricted Global Note”    2.6(e)
“Restricted Payment”    3.3(a)
“Restricted Period”    2.1(b)

 

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Term

  

Defined in

Section

“Retained Proceeds”    3.5(d)
“Reversion Date”    3.17
“Rule 144A Global Note”    2.1(b)
“Rule 144A Notes”    2.1(b)
“Special Interest Payment Date”    2.14(a)
“Special Record Date”    2.14(a)
“Subject Lien”    3.6
“Successor Company”    4.1(a)(1)
“Suspended Covenants”    3.17
“Suspension Period”    3.17
“Treasury Capital Stock”    3.3(b)(2)
“Unrestricted Global Note”    2.6(e)
“Verification Covenant”    6.1(a)

SECTION 1.3 Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(3) “or” is not exclusive;

(4) “including” means including without limitation;

(5) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular;

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

(7) the principal amount of any non-interest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(8) the principal amount of any preferred stock shall be (i) the maximum liquidation value of such preferred stock or (ii) the maximum mandatory redemption or mandatory repurchase price with respect to such preferred stock, whichever is greater; (9) all amounts expressed in this Indenture or in any of the Notes in terms of money refer to the lawful currency of the United States of America;

 

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

(11) unless otherwise specifically indicated, the term “consolidated” with respect to any Person refers to such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries, and excludes from such consolidation any Unrestricted Subsidiary as if such Unrestricted Subsidiary were not an Affiliate of such Person; and

(12) the words “execute,” “execution,” “signed” and “signature” and words of similar import used in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Indenture, any Note or any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including amendments, waivers, consents and other modifications) shall be deemed to include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “.pdf,” “.tif” or “.jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign, AdobeSign or other electronic signature provider that the Company has specified in writing to the Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent). The use of electronic signatures and the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based record-keeping system, as applicable, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the UCC; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent is under any obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, pursuant to reasonable procedures approved by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable.

SECTION 1.4 Certain Compliance Calculations.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) is incurred or issued, any Lien is incurred or other transaction (including any Restricted Payment or Investment) is undertaken in reliance on any ratio based exceptions, thresholds and baskets, such ratio(s) shall be calculated with respect to such incurrence, issuance or other transaction without giving effect to amounts being utilized under any other exceptions, thresholds or baskets (other than ratio based baskets) on the same date. Each item of Indebtedness that is incurred or issued, each Lien incurred and each other transaction undertaken will be deemed to have been incurred, issued or taken first, to the extent available, pursuant to the relevant ratio based test.

(b) Any calculation or measure that is determined with reference to Holdings’ financial statements (including Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Interest Expense, Consolidated Net Income, Fixed Charges, Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated First Lien Secured Leverage Ratio and Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio) may be determined with reference to the financial statements of a Parent Entity instead, so long as such Parent Entity does not hold any material assets other than, directly or indirectly, the Capital Stock of Holdings.

(c) For purposes of making any of the computations referred to above, any Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, operational changes, business expansions and disposed or discontinued operations that have been made by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, during the reference period (as defined in the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”) or subsequent to the reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date or any other date of calculation shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, operational changes, business expansions and disposed or discontinued operations (and the change in any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in Consolidated EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the reference period.

 

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If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged or amalgamated with or into Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, operational change, business expansion, or disposed or discontinued operation that would have required adjustment pursuant to this Indenture, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated First Lien Secured Leverage Ratio and any other ratio or calculation determined with reference to Holdings’ financial statements shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or disposed operation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable reference period.

(d) For purposes of this Indenture, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to a transaction (including the Transactions), the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or chief accounting officer of Holdings (and may include, for the avoidance of doubt, cost savings, operating expenses reductions and synergies resulting from such transactions which is being given pro forma effect). If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date or any other date of calculation had been the applicable rate for the entire reference period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness). Interest on a Finance Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company to be the rate of interest implicit in such Finance Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making any of the computations referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed with a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the reference period except as set forth in Section 1.4(a). Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be determined to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as Holdings may designate.

ARTICLE II

THE NOTES

SECTION 2.1 Form, Dating and Terms.

(a) The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Initial Notes issued on the date hereof will be in an aggregate principal amount of $700,000,000. In addition, the Company may issue, from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, Additional Notes (as provided herein). Furthermore, Notes may be authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer, exchange or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Sections 2.2, 2.6, 2.10, 2.12, 5.6 or 9.5, in connection with a Collateral Asset Disposition Offer or an Asset Disposition Offer pursuant to Section 3.5 or in connection with a Change of Control Offer pursuant to Section 3.9.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company may not issue any Additional Notes unless such issuance is in compliance with Section 3.2.

With respect to any Additional Notes, the Company shall set forth in (1) a Board Resolution and (2) (i) an Officer’s Certificate and (ii) one or more indentures supplemental hereto, the following information:

(A) the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture;

(B) the issue price and the issue date of such Additional Notes, including the date from which interest shall accrue; and

(C) whether such Additional Notes shall be Restricted Notes.

In authenticating and delivering Additional Notes, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the Opinion of Counsel and Officer’s Certificate required by Section 12.2, an Opinion of Counsel as to the due authorization, execution, delivery, validity and enforceability of such Additional Notes.

 

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The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes shall be considered collectively as a single class for all purposes of this Indenture, provided that any Additional Notes will not be issued with the same CUSIP, ISIN or other identifying number as the Initial Notes unless such Additional Notes are fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Holders of the Initial Notes and the Additional Notes will vote and consent together on all matters to which such Holders are entitled to vote or consent as one class, and none of the Holders of the Initial Notes or the Additional Notes shall have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter to which such Holders are entitled to vote or consent.

If any of the terms of any Additional Notes are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or another Officer of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate and the indenture supplemental hereto setting forth the terms of the Additional Notes.

(b) The Initial Notes are being offered and sold by the Company pursuant to a Purchase Agreement, dated March 10, 2025, among the Company, the guarantors party thereto and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as representative for the several Initial Purchasers. The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes (if issued as Restricted Notes) (the “Additional Restricted Notes”) will be resold initially only to (A) Persons reasonably believed to be QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A and (B) Non-U.S. Persons in reliance on Regulation S. Such Initial Notes and Additional Restricted Notes may thereafter be transferred to, among others, Persons reasonably believed to be QIBs, purchasers in reliance on Regulation S, and AIs and IAIs in accordance with Rule 501 under the Securities Act in each case, in accordance with the procedure described herein. Additional Notes offered after the date hereof may be offered and sold by the Company from time to time pursuant to one or more purchase agreements in accordance with applicable law.

Initial Notes and Additional Restricted Notes offered and sold to Persons reasonably believed to be QIBs in the United States of America in reliance on Rule 144A (the “Rule 144A Notes”) shall be issued in the form of a permanent global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A, which is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Indenture, including appropriate legends as set forth in Section 2.1(d) (the “Rule 144A Global Note”), deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for DTC, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The Rule 144A Global Note may be represented by more than one certificate, if so required by DTC’s rules regarding the maximum principal amount to be represented by a single certificate. The aggregate principal amount of the Rule 144A Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for DTC or its nominee, as hereinafter provided.

Initial Notes and any Additional Restricted Notes offered and sold to non-U.S. Persons outside the United States of America (the “Regulation S Notes”) in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued in the form of a permanent global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A including appropriate legends as set forth in Section 2.1(d) (the “Regulation S Global Note”). Each Regulation S Global Note will be deposited upon issuance with, or on behalf of, the Trustee as custodian for DTC in the manner described in this Article II. Prior to the 40th day after the later of the commencement of the offering of the Initial Notes and the Issue Date (such period through and including such 40th day, the “Restricted Period”), beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Note may be held only through Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System (“Euroclear”) and Clearstream Banking, Société Anonyme (“Clearstream”) (as indirect participants in DTC), unless transferred to a person that takes delivery through a Rule 144A Global Note in accordance with the certification requirements described herein.

After the expiration of the Restricted Period, investors may hold their interests in the Regulation S Global Note through organizations other than Euroclear or Clearstream that are participants in DTC’s system or directly through Euroclear or Clearstream, if they are participants in such systems, or indirectly through organizations which are participants in such systems. If such interests are held through Euroclear or Clearstream, Euroclear and Clearstream will hold such interests in the Regulation S Global Note on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in their respective names on the books of their respective depositaries. Such depositaries, in turn, will hold interests in the Regulation S Global Note in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC.

 

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The Regulation S Global Note may be represented by more than one certificate, if so required by DTC’s rules regarding the maximum principal amount to be represented by a single certificate. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for DTC or its nominee, as hereinafter provided.

After the Issue Date, to the extent any Initial Notes and Additional Restricted Notes will be resold to IAIs (the “Institutional Accredited Investor Notes”) in the United States of America, such Institutional Accredited Investor Notes shall be issued in the form of a permanent global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A including appropriate legends as set forth in Section 2.1(d) (the “Institutional Accredited Investor Global Note”) deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for DTC, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The Institutional Accredited Investor Global Note, if issued, may be represented by more than one certificate, if so required by DTC’s rules regarding the maximum principal amount to be represented by a single certificate. The aggregate principal amount of the Institutional Accredited Investor Global Note, if issued, may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for DTC or its nominee, as hereinafter provided.

After the Issue Date, to the extent any Initial Notes and Additional Restricted Notes will be resold to AIs (an “Accredited Investor Note”) in the United States of America, such Accredited Investor Note shall be issued in the form of a Definitive Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A including the legend as set forth in Section 2.1(d).

The Rule 144A Global Note, the Regulation S Global Note and the Institutional Accredited Investor Global Note (if any) are sometimes collectively herein referred to as the “Global Notes.”

The principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes shall be payable at the office or agency of the Paying Agent designated by the Company maintained for such purpose (which shall initially be the office of the Trustee maintained for such purpose), or at such other office or agency of the Company as may be maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 2.3; provided, however, that, at the option of the Paying Agent, each installment of interest may be paid by (i) check mailed to addresses of the Persons entitled thereto as such addresses shall appear on the Notes Register or (ii) wire transfer to an account located in the United States maintained by the payee, subject to the last sentence of this paragraph. Payments in respect of Notes represented by a Global Note (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by DTC. Payments in respect of Notes represented by Definitive Notes (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) held by a Holder of at least $1,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by Definitive Notes will be made in accordance with the Notes Register, or by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 15 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).

The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage, in addition to those set forth on Exhibit A and in Section 2.1(d). The Company shall approve any notation, endorsement or legend on the Notes. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The terms of the Notes set forth in Exhibit A are part of the terms of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to be bound by such terms.

(c) Denominations. The Notes shall be issuable only in fully registered form in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

(d) Restrictive Legends. Unless and until (i) an Initial Note or an Additional Note issued as a Restricted Note is sold under an effective registration statement or (ii) the Company receives an Opinion of Counsel and any additional documentation it may reasonably request, in each case satisfactory to it, to the effect that neither such legend nor the related restrictions on transfer are required in order to maintain compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act:

(1) the Rule 144A Global Note, the Regulation S Global Note, the Institutional Accredited Investor Global Note (if any) and the Accredited Investor Note (if any) shall each bear substantially the following legend on the face thereof:

 

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THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, NOT TO OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS [IN THE CASE OF RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES: ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF, THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE OF THE ISSUANCE OF ANY ADDITIONAL NOTES AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY),] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF, THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE OF THE ISSUANCE OF ANY ADDITIONAL NOTES AND THE DATE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) WAS FIRST OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN DISTRIBUTORS (AS DEFINED IN RULE 902 OF REGULATION S) IN RELIANCE ON REGULATION S], ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION PURSUANT TO REGULATION S MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903 OR RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES (OR HAS FURNISHED ON IT BEHALF BY A U.S. BROKER DEALER) TO THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (THE FORM OF WHICH LETTER CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE FOR THIS NOTE) OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (C), (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE. [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.]

BY ITS ACQUISITION OF THIS SECURITY (INCLUDING ANY INTEREST THEREIN), THE HOLDER THEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (1) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE AND HOLD THE NOTES CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF (A) AN “EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN” THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), (B) A PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE, OR TO PROVISIONS UNDER ANY FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAWS”) OR (C) AN ENTITY THE UNDERLYING ASSETS OF WHICH ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF SUCH PLANS, ACCOUNTS AND ARRANGEMENTS (EACH OF (A)-(C), A “PLAN”); OR (2) THE HOLDER’S ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THE NOTES WILL NOT CONSTITUTE OR RESULT IN A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A VIOLATION OF SIMILAR LAWS.

 

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(2) Each Global Note, whether or not an Initial Note, shall bear the following legend on the face thereof:

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS 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.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

(e) Book-Entry Provisions. (i) This Section 2.1(e) shall apply only to Global Notes deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for DTC, and for which the applicable procedures of DTC shall govern.

(1) Each Global Note initially shall (x) be registered in the name of DTC or the nominee of DTC, (y) be delivered to the Notes Custodian for DTC and (z) bear legends as set forth in Section 2.1(d). Transfers of a Global Note (but not a beneficial interest therein) will be limited to transfers thereof in whole, but not in part, to DTC, its successors or its respective nominees, except as set forth in Section 2.1(e)(3), Section 2.1(e)(4) and Section 2.1(f). If a beneficial interest in a Global Note is transferred or exchanged for a beneficial interest in another Global Note, the Notes Custodian will (a) record a decrease in the principal amount of the Global Note being transferred or exchanged equal to the principal amount of such transfer or exchange and (b) record a like increase in the principal amount of the other Global Note. Any beneficial interest in one Global Note that is transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in another Global Note, or exchanged for an interest in another Global Note, will, upon transfer or exchange, cease to be an interest in such Global Note and become an interest in the other Global Note and, accordingly, will thereafter be subject to all transfer and exchange restrictions, if any, and other procedures applicable to beneficial interests in such other Global Note for as long as it remains such an interest.

(2) Members of, or participants in, DTC (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by DTC or by the Notes Custodian as the custodian of DTC or under such Global Note, and DTC may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by DTC or impair, as between DTC and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of DTC governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.

(3) In connection with any transfer of a portion of the beneficial interest in a Global Note pursuant to Section 2.1(f) to beneficial owners who are required to hold Definitive Notes, the Notes Custodian shall reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of such Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the Global Note to be transferred, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, one or more Definitive Notes of like tenor and amount.

 

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(4) In connection with the transfer of an entire Global Note to beneficial owners pursuant to Section 2.1(f), such Global Note shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, to each beneficial owner identified by DTC in exchange for its beneficial interest in such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized denominations.

(5) The registered Holder of a Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any person, including Agent Members and persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action that a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.

(6) Any Holder of a Global Note shall, by acceptance of such Global Note, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Note may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by (i) the Holder of such Global Note (or its agent) or (ii) any holder of a beneficial interest in such Global Note, and that ownership of a beneficial interest in such Global Note shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.

(f) Definitive Notes. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in Global Notes will not be entitled to receive Definitive Notes. Definitive Notes shall be transferred to all beneficial owners in exchange for their beneficial interests in a Global Note if (A) DTC notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for such Global Note or DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, at a time when DTC is required to be so registered in order to act as depositary, and in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor depositary within 90 days of such notice, (B) the Company in its sole discretion executes and deliver to the Trustee and Registrar an Officer’s Certificate stating that such Global Note shall be so exchangeable or (C) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Registrar has received a written request from DTC. In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in clause (A), (B) or (C) of the preceding sentence, the Company shall promptly make available to the Registrar a reasonable supply of Definitive Notes. In addition, any Note transferred to an affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of the Company or evidencing a Note that has been acquired by an affiliate in a transaction or series of transactions not involving any public offering must, until one year after the last date on which either the Company or any affiliate of the Company was an owner of the Note, be in the form of a Definitive Note and bear the legend regarding transfer restrictions in Section 2.1(d). If required to do so pursuant to any applicable law or regulation, beneficial owners may also obtain Definitive Notes in exchange for their beneficial interests in a Global Note upon written request in accordance with DTC’s and the Registrar’s procedures.

(1) Any Definitive Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note pursuant to Section 2.1(e) shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.1(d), bear the applicable legend regarding transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Note set forth in Section 2.1(d).

(2) If a Definitive Note is transferred or exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Global Note, the Trustee will (x) cancel such Definitive Note, (y) record an increase in the principal amount of such Global Note equal to the principal amount of such transfer or exchange and (z) in the event that such transfer or exchange involves less than the entire principal amount of the canceled Definitive Note, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, to the transferring Holder a new Definitive Note representing the principal amount not so transferred.

(3) If a Definitive Note is transferred or exchanged for another Definitive Note, (x) the Trustee will cancel the Definitive Note being transferred or exchanged, (y) the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, one or more new Definitive Notes in authorized denominations having an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such transfer or exchange to the transferee (in the case of a transfer) or the Holder of the canceled Definitive Note (in the case of an exchange), registered in the name of such transferee or Holder, as applicable, and (z) if such transfer or exchange involves less than the entire principal amount of the canceled Definitive Note, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the Holder thereof, one or more Definitive Notes in authorized denominations having an aggregate principal amount equal to the untransferred or unexchanged portion of the canceled Definitive Notes, registered in the name of the Holder thereof.

 

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(4) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, in no event shall a Definitive Note be delivered upon exchange or transfer of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note prior to the end of the Restricted Period and the receipt of any certificates required under the provisions of Regulation S.

SECTION 2.2 Execution and Authentication. One Officer shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual, facsimile or other electronic signature. If the Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note shall be valid nevertheless.

A Note shall not be valid until an authorized officer of the Trustee manually authenticates the Note. The signature of the Trustee on a Note shall be conclusive evidence that such Note has been duly and validly authenticated and issued under this Indenture. A Note shall be dated the date of its authentication.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery: (1) Initial Notes for original issue on the Issue Date in an aggregate principal amount of $700,000,000, (2) subject to the terms of this Indenture, Additional Notes for original issue in an unlimited principal amount and (3) under the circumstances set forth in Section 2.6(e), Initial Notes in the form of an Unrestricted Global Note, in each case upon a written order of the Company signed by one Officer (the “Company Order”). Such Company Order shall specify whether the Notes will be in the form of Definitive Notes or Global Notes, the amount of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated, the Holder of the Notes and whether the Notes are to be Initial Notes or Additional Notes.

The Trustee may appoint an agent (the “Authenticating Agent”) reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate the Notes. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument signed by a Trust Officer, a copy of which shall be furnished to the Company. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, any such Authenticating Agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by the Authenticating Agent. An Authenticating Agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

In case the Company or any Guarantor, pursuant to Article IV or Section 10.2, as applicable, shall be consolidated or merged with or into any other Person or shall convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, and the successor Person resulting from such consolidation, or surviving such merger, or into which the Company or any Guarantor shall have been merged, or the Person which shall have received a conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition as aforesaid, shall have executed an indenture supplemental hereto with the Trustee pursuant to Article IV, any of the Notes authenticated or delivered prior to such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition may (but shall not be required), from time to time, at the request of the successor Person, be exchanged for other Notes executed in the name of the successor Person with such changes in phraseology and form as may be appropriate to reflect such successor Person, but otherwise in substance of like tenor as the Notes surrendered for such exchange and of like principal amount; and the Trustee, upon the Company Order of the successor Person, shall authenticate and make available for delivery Notes as specified in such order for the purpose of such exchange. If Notes shall at any time be authenticated and delivered in any new name of a successor Person pursuant to this Section 2.2 in exchange or substitution for or upon registration of transfer of any Notes, such successor Person, at the option of the Holders but without expense to them, shall provide for the exchange of all Notes at the time outstanding for Notes authenticated and delivered in such new name.

SECTION 2.3 Registrar and Paying Agent. The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment. The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange (the “Notes Register”). The Company may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent and the term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar.

 

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The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of each such agent. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.6. The Company or any Guarantor may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or transfer agent.

The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent for the Notes. The Company may change any Registrar or Paying Agent without prior notice to the Holders, but upon written notice to such Registrar or Paying Agent and to the Trustee; provided, however, that no such removal shall become effective until (i) acceptance of any appointment by a successor as evidenced by an appropriate agreement entered into by the Company and such successor Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee and the passage of any waiting or notice periods required by DTC procedures or (ii) written notification to the Trustee that the Trustee shall serve as Registrar or Paying Agent until the appointment of a successor in accordance with clause (i) above. The Registrar or Paying Agent may resign at any time upon written notice to the Company and the Trustee.

SECTION 2.4 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. By no later than 11:00 a.m. (Eastern time) on the date on which any principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note is due and payable, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient in immediately available funds to pay such principal, premium or interest when due. The Company shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that such Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by such Paying Agent for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes (whether such assets have been distributed to it by the Company or other obligors on the Notes), shall notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Company or any Guarantor in making any such payment and shall during the continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes) in the making of any payment in respect of the Notes, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith deliver to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Notes together with a full accounting thereof. If the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds or assets disbursed by such Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section 2.4, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee. Upon any bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

SECTION 2.5 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 Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company, on its own behalf and on behalf of each of the Guarantors, shall furnish or cause the Registrar to furnish to the Trustee, in writing at least five 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 Holders.

SECTION 2.6 Transfer and Exchange.

(a) A Holder may transfer a Note (or a beneficial interest therein) to another Person or exchange a Note (or a beneficial interest therein) for another Note or Notes of any authorized denomination by presenting to the Registrar a written request therefor stating the name of the proposed transferee or requesting such an exchange, accompanied by any certification, opinion or other document required by this Section 2.6. The Registrar will promptly register any transfer or exchange that meets the requirements of this Section 2.6 by noting the same in the Notes Register maintained by the Registrar for the purpose, and no transfer or exchange will be effective until it is registered in such Notes Register. The transfer or exchange of any Note (or a beneficial interest therein) may only be made in accordance with this Section 2.6 and Section 2.1(e) and Section 2.1(f), as applicable, and, in the case of a Global Note (or a beneficial interest therein), the applicable rules and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream. The Registrar shall refuse to register any requested transfer or exchange that does not comply with this Section 2.6(a).

 

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(b) Transfers of Rule 144A Notes and Institutional Accredited Investor Notes. The following provisions shall apply with respect to any proposed registration of transfer of a Rule 144A Note or an Institutional Accredited Investor Note prior to the date that is one year after the later of the date of its original issue and the last date on which the Company or any Affiliate of the Company was the owner of such Notes (or any predecessor thereto) (the “Resale Restriction Termination Date”):

(1) a registration of transfer of a Rule 144A Note or an Institutional Accredited Investor Note or a beneficial interest therein to a QIB shall be made upon the representation of the transferee in the form as set forth on the reverse of the Note that it is purchasing for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a QIB, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as such transferee has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon its foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A; provided that no such written representation or other written certification shall be required in connection with the transfer of a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note to a transferee in the form of a beneficial interest in that Rule 144A Global Note in accordance with this Indenture and the applicable procedures of DTC;

(2) a registration of transfer of a Rule 144A Note or an Institutional Accredited Investor Note or a beneficial interest therein to an IAI or an AI shall be made upon receipt by the Registrar or its agent of a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Section 2.7 or Section 2.9, respectively, from the proposed transferee and the delivery of an Opinion of Counsel, certification and/or other information satisfactory to the Company; and

(3) a registration of transfer of a Rule 144A Note or an Institutional Accredited Investor Note or a beneficial interest therein to a Non-U.S. Person shall be made upon receipt by the Registrar or its agent of a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Section 2.8 from the proposed transferee and the delivery of an Opinion of Counsel, certification and/or other information satisfactory to the Company.

(c) Transfers of Regulation S Notes. The following provisions shall apply with respect to any proposed transfer of a Regulation S Note prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period:

(1) a transfer of a Regulation S Note or a beneficial interest therein to a QIB shall be made upon the representation of the transferee, in the form of assignment on the reverse of the certificate, that it is purchasing the Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a QIB, is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon its foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A;

(2) a transfer of a Regulation S Note or a beneficial interest therein to an IAI or an AI shall be made upon receipt by the Registrar or its agent of a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Section 2.7 or Section 2.9, respectively, from the proposed transferee and the delivery of an Opinion of Counsel, certification and/or other information satisfactory to the Company; and

(3) a transfer of a Regulation S Note or a beneficial interest therein to a Non-U.S. Person shall be made upon receipt by the Registrar or its agent of a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Section 2.8 hereof from the proposed transferee and receipt by the Registrar or its agent of an Opinion of Counsel, certification and/or other information satisfactory to the Company.

After the expiration of the Restricted Period, interests in the Regulation S Note may be transferred in accordance with applicable law without requiring the certification set forth in Section 2.8 or any additional certification.

 

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(d) Restricted Notes Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes not bearing a Restricted Notes Legend, the Registrar shall deliver Notes that do not bear a Restricted Notes Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes bearing a Restricted Notes Legend, the Registrar shall deliver only Notes that bear a Restricted Notes Legend unless (1) an Initial Note is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement, (2) Initial Notes are being exchanged for Notes that do not bear the Restricted Notes Legend in accordance with Section 2.6(e) or (3) there is delivered to the Registrar an Opinion of Counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company to the effect that neither such legend nor the related restrictions on transfer are required in order to maintain compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act. Any Additional Notes sold in a registered offering shall not be required to bear a Restricted Notes Legend.

(e) Automatic Exchange from Global Note Bearing Restricted Notes Legend to Global Note Not Bearing Restricted Notes Legend. Upon the Company’s satisfaction that the Restricted Notes Legend shall no longer be required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act, beneficial interests in a Global Note bearing the Restricted Notes Legend (a “Restricted Global Note”) may be automatically exchanged into beneficial interests in a Global Note not bearing the Restricted Notes Legend (an “Unrestricted Global Note”) without any action required by or on behalf of the Holder (the “Automatic Exchange”) at any time on or after the date that is the 366th calendar day after (1) with respect to the Notes issued on the Issue Date, the Issue Date or (2) with respect to Additional Notes, if any, the issue date of such Additional Notes, or, in each case, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (the “Automatic Exchange Date”). Upon the Company’s satisfaction that the Restricted Notes Legend shall no longer be required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act, the Company shall (i) provide written notice to DTC and the Trustee at least 15 calendar days prior to the Automatic Exchange Date, instructing DTC to exchange all of the outstanding beneficial interests in a particular Restricted Global Note to the Unrestricted Global Note, which the Company shall have previously otherwise made eligible for exchange with DTC, (ii) provide prior written notice (the “Automatic Exchange Notice”) to each Holder at such Holder’s address appearing in the register of Holders at least 15 calendar days prior to the Automatic Exchange Date (the “Automatic Exchange Notice Date”), which notice must include (w) the Automatic Exchange Date, (x) the section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Automatic Exchange shall occur, (y) the “CUSIP” number of the Restricted Global Note from which such Holder’s beneficial interests will be transferred and (z) the “CUSIP” number of the Unrestricted Global Note into which such Holder’s beneficial interests will be transferred, and (iii) on or prior to the Automatic Exchange Date, deliver to the Trustee for authentication one or more Unrestricted Global Notes, duly executed by the Company and a Company Order requesting the Trustee to authenticate, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Restricted Global Notes to be exchanged into such Unrestricted Global Notes. At the Company’s written request on no less than 5 calendar days’ notice prior to the Automatic Exchange Notice Date, the Trustee shall deliver, in the Company’s name and at its expense, the Automatic Exchange Notice to each Holder at such Holder’s address appearing in the register of Holders; provided that the Company has delivered to the Trustee the information required to be included in such Automatic Exchange Notice.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.6(e), during the 15 calendar day period prior to the Automatic Exchange Date, no transfers or exchanges other than pursuant to this Section 2.6(e) shall be permitted without the prior written consent of the Company. As a condition to any Automatic Exchange, the Company shall provide, and the Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon, an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to the Company to the effect that the Automatic Exchange shall be effected in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Restricted Notes Legend shall no longer be required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and that the aggregate principal amount of the particular Restricted Global Note is to be transferred to the particular Unrestricted Global Note by adjustment made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for the depositary to reflect the Automatic Exchange. Upon such exchange of beneficial interests pursuant to this Section 2.6(e), the aggregate principal amount of the Global Notes shall be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for the depositary, to reflect the relevant increase or decrease in the principal amount of such Global Note resulting from the applicable exchange. The Restricted Global Note from which beneficial interests are transferred pursuant to an Automatic Exchange shall be cancelled following the Automatic Exchange.

(f) Retention of Written Communications. The Registrar shall retain copies of all letters, notices and other written communications received pursuant to Section 2.1 or this Section 2.6. The Company shall have the right to inspect and make copies of all such letters, notices or other written communications at any reasonable time upon the giving of reasonable prior written notice to the Registrar.

 

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(g) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Notes. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall, subject to the other terms and conditions of this Article II, execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Notes and Global Notes at the Company’s and Registrar’s written request.

No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require the Holder to pay a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax assessments or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charges payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.2, 2.6, 2.10, 2.12, 3.5, 5.6 or 9.5).

The Company (and the Registrar) shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Note (A) for a period beginning (1) 15 calendar days before the mailing of a notice of an offer to repurchase or redeem Notes and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing or (2) 15 calendar days before an interest payment date and ending on such interest payment date or (B) called for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Note is registered as the owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, premium, if any, and (subject to paragraph 2 of the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A) interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, including without limitation the transfer or exchange of such Note, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Any Definitive Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note pursuant to Section 2.1(f) shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.6(d), bear the applicable legend regarding transfer restrictions applicable to the Definitive Note set forth in Section 2.1(d).

All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

(h) No Obligation of the Trustee. Neither the Trustee nor the Registrar shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a participant in, DTC or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of DTC or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than DTC) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or purchase) or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Notes (or other security or property) under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders in respect of the Notes shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be DTC or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through DTC subject to the applicable rules and procedures of DTC. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by DTC with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

Neither the Trustee nor the Registrar shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among DTC participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof. Neither the Trustee nor any of its agents shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by DTC.

SECTION 2.7 Form of Certificate to be Delivered in Connection with Transfers to IAIs.

[Date]

Wayfair LLC

 

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4 Copley Place

Boston, MA 02116

Attn: General Counsel

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee

One Federal Street

Boston, MA 02110

Attention: Global Corporate Trust Boston (Wayfair Notes Administrator)

 

Re:

Wayfair LLC (the “Issuer”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This certificate is delivered to request a transfer of $[ ] principal amount of the 7.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 (the “Notes”) of Wayfair LLC (the “Issuer”).

Upon transfer, the Notes would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows:

 

Name:                                                                                                                        
Address:                                                                                                                   
Taxpayer ID Number:                                                                                          
The undersigned represents and warrants to you that:  

1. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3), (7), (8), (9), (12) or (13) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)) purchasing for our own account or for the account of such an institutional “accredited investor” of at least $250,000 principal amount of the Notes, and we are acquiring the Notes not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act. We have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risk of our investment in the Notes and we invest in or purchase securities similar to the Notes in the normal course of our business. We and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

2. We understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and, unless so registered, may not be sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree on our own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing Notes to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Notes prior to the date that is one year after the later of the date of original issue and the last date on which the Issuer or any affiliate of the Issuer was the owner of such Notes (or any predecessor thereto) (the “Resale Restriction Termination Date”) only (a) to the Issuer or any Subsidiary thereof, (b) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, (c) in a transaction complying with the requirements of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, to a person we reasonably believe is a “qualified institutional buyer” under Rule 144A of the Securities Act (a “QIB”) that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of a QIB and to whom notice is given that the transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, (d) pursuant to offers and sales to non-U.S. persons that occur outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (e) to an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a) (1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of such an institutional “accredited investor,” in each case in a minimum principal amount of Notes of $250,000 for investment purposes and not with a view to or for offer or sale in connection with any distribution in violation of the Securities Act or (f) pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, subject in each of the foregoing cases to any requirement of law that the disposition of our property or the property of such investor account or accounts be at all times within our or their control and in compliance with any applicable state securities laws.

 

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The foregoing restrictions on resale will not apply subsequent to the Resale Restriction Termination Date. If any resale or other transfer of the Notes is proposed to be made pursuant to clause (e) above prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, the transferor shall deliver a letter from the transferee substantially in the form of this letter to the Issuer and the Trustee, which shall provide, among other things, that the transferee is an institutional “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3), (7), (8), (9), (12) or (13) under the Securities Act) and that it is acquiring such Notes for investment purposes and not for distribution in violation of the Securities Act. Each purchaser acknowledges that the Issuer and the Trustee reserve the right prior to any offer, sale or other transfer prior to the Resale Termination Date of the Notes pursuant to clauses (d), (e) or (f) above to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certifications and/or other information satisfactory to the Issuer.

3. We [are][are not] an Affiliate of the Issuer.

 

TRANSFEREE:             
BY:                  

SECTION 2.8 Form of Certificate to be Delivered in Connection with Transfers Pursuant to Regulation S.

[Date]

Wayfair LLC

4 Copley Place

Boston, MA 02116

Attn: General Counsel

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee

One Federal Street

Boston, MA 02110

Attention: Global Corporate Trust Boston (Wayfair Notes Administrator)

Re: Wayfair LLC (the “Company”)

7.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 (the “Notes”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with our proposed sale of $[________] aggregate principal amount of the Notes, we confirm that such sale has been effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, we represent that:

(a) the offer of the Notes was not made to a person in the United States;

(b) either (i) at the time the buy order was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee was outside the United States or (ii) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither we nor any person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been pre-arranged with a buyer in the United States;

(c) no directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(a)(2) or Rule 904(a)(2) of Regulation S, as applicable; and (d) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

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In addition, if the sale is made during a restricted period and the provisions of Rule 903(b)(2), Rule 903(b)(3) or Rule 904(b)(1) of Regulation S are applicable thereto, we confirm that such sale has been made in accordance with the applicable provisions of Rule 903(b)(2), Rule 903(b)(3) or Rule 904(b)(1), as the case may be.

We also hereby certify that we [are][are not] an Affiliate of the Company and, to our knowledge, the transferee of the Notes [is][is not] an Affiliate of the Company.

The Trustee and the Company are entitled to conclusively rely upon this certificate and are irrevocably authorized to produce this certificate or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.

 

Very truly yours,

[Name of Transferor]

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signature

SECTION 2.9 Form of Certificate to be Delivered in Connection with Transfers to AIs

[Date]

Wayfair LLC

4 Copley Place

Boston, MA 02116

Attn: General Counsel

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee

One Federal Street

Boston, MA 02110

Attention: Global Corporate Trust Boston (Wayfair Notes Administrator)

Re: Wayfair LLC (the “Issuer”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This certificate is delivered to request a transfer of $[ ] principal amount of the 7.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 (the “Notes”) of Wayfair LLC (the “Issuer”).

Upon transfer, the Notes would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows:

 

Name:                
Address:               
Taxpayer ID Number:          

 

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The undersigned represents and warrants to you that:

1. I am an “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(4) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)) and I am acquiring the Notes not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act. I have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risk of my investment in the Notes and I invest in or purchase securities similar to the Notes in the normal course of my business. I am able to bear the economic risk of my investment.

2. I understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and, unless so registered, may not be sold except as permitted in the following sentence. I agree on my own behalf to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Notes prior to the date that is one year after the later of the date of original issue and the last date on which the Issuer or any affiliate of the Issuer was the owner of such Notes (or any predecessor thereto) (the “Resale Restriction Termination Date”) only (a) to the Issuer or any Subsidiary thereof, (b) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, (c) in a transaction complying with the requirements of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, to a person I reasonably believe is a “qualified institutional buyer” under Rule 144A of the Securities Act (a “QIB”) that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of a QIB and to whom notice is given that the transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, (d) pursuant to offers and sales to non-U.S. persons that occur outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (e) to an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3), (7), (8), (9), (12) or (13) under the Securities Act that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of such an institutional “accredited investor,” in each case in a minimum principal amount of Notes of $250,000 for investment purposes and not with a view to or for offer or sale in connection with any distribution in violation of the Securities Act or (f) pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, subject in each of the foregoing cases to any requirement of law that the disposition of my property be at all times within my control and in compliance with any applicable state securities laws. The foregoing restrictions on resale will not apply subsequent to the Resale Restriction Termination Date. Each purchaser acknowledges that the Issuer and the Trustee reserve the right prior to any offer, sale or other transfer prior to the Resale Termination Date of the Notes pursuant to clauses (d), (e) or (f) above to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certifications and/or other information satisfactory to the Issuer.

3. I understand and acknowledge that upon the issuance thereof, and until such time as the same is no longer required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act or state securities laws, the Notes that I acquire will be certificated Notes that will bear, and all certificates issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof will bear, a restrictive legend set forth in Section 2.1(d) of the Indenture.

4. I [am][am not] an Affiliate of the Issuer.

 

TRANSFEREE:             

BY:                  

SECTION 2.10 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes.

If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the UCC are met, such that the Holder (a) satisfies the Company and the Trustee that such Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken within a reasonable time after such Holder has notice of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking and the Registrar has not registered a transfer prior to receiving such notification, (b) makes such request to the Company and the Trustee in writing prior to the Note being acquired by a protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the UCC (a “protected purchaser”), (c) satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee and (d) provides an indemnity bond, as more fully described below; provided, however, if after the delivery of such replacement Note, a protected purchaser of the Note for which such replacement Note was issued presents for payment or registration such replaced Note, the Trustee and/or the Company shall be entitled to recover such replacement Note from the Person to whom it was issued and delivered or any Person taking therefrom, except a protected purchaser, and shall be entitled to recover upon the security or indemnity provided therefor to the extent of any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred by the Company or the Trustee in connection therewith.

 

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Such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the (i) Trustee to protect the Trustee and (ii) the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar, from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced, and, in the absence of notice to the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee that such Note has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company shall execute, and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange for any such mutilated Note or in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Note, a new Note of like tenor and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Note, pay such Note.

Upon the issuance of any new Note under this Section 2.10, the Company may require that such Holder pay a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of counsel and of the Trustee) in connection therewith.

Subject to the proviso in the initial paragraph of this Section 2.10, every new Note issued pursuant to this Section 2.10, in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, any Guarantor (if applicable) and any other obligor upon the Notes, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

The provisions of this Section 2.10 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes.

SECTION 2.11 Outstanding Notes. Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those cancelled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those paid pursuant to Section 2.10 and those described in this Section 2.11 as not outstanding. A Note does not cease to be outstanding in the event the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note; provided, however, that (i) for purposes of determining which are outstanding for consent or voting purposes hereunder, the provisions of Section 12.4 shall apply and (ii) in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making a determination whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Notes are present at a meeting of Holders of Notes for quorum purposes or have consented to or voted in favor of any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, amendment or modification hereunder, or relying upon any such quorum, consent or vote, only Notes that a Trust Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be held by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company shall not be considered outstanding.

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.10 (other than a mutilated Note surrendered for replacement), it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser. A mutilated Note ceases to be outstanding upon surrender of such Note and replacement pursuant to Section 2.10.

If the Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, on a Redemption Date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest payable on that date with respect to the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, and the Paying Agent is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

SECTION 2.12 Temporary Notes. In the event that Definitive Notes are to be issued under the terms of this Indenture, until such Definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare, and the Trustee shall authenticate, temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form, and shall carry all rights, of Definitive Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Notes.

 

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After the preparation of Definitive Notes, the temporary Notes shall be exchangeable for Definitive Notes upon surrender of the temporary Notes at any office or agency maintained by the Company for that purpose and such exchange shall be without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Notes, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Order, authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therefor, one or more Definitive Notes representing an equal principal amount of Notes. Until so exchanged, the Holder of temporary Notes shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as a Holder of Definitive Notes.

SECTION 2.13 Cancellation. The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and dispose of such Notes in accordance with its internal policies and customary procedures (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act and the Trustee). If the Company or any Guarantor acquires any of the Notes, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness represented by such Notes unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation pursuant to this Section 2.13. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for any reason other than in connection with a transfer or exchange.

At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Note have either been exchanged for Definitive Notes, transferred, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, such Global Note shall be returned by DTC to the Trustee for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for Definitive Notes, transferred in exchange for an interest in another Global Note, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Trustee (if it is then the Notes Custodian for such Global Note) with respect to such Global Note, by the Trustee or the Notes Custodian, to reflect such reduction.

SECTION 2.14 Payment of Interest; Defaulted Interest. Interest on any Note that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any interest payment date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such payment at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 2.3.

Any interest on any Note that is payable, but is not paid when the same becomes due and payable and such nonpayment continues for a period of 30 days shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the regular record date, and such defaulted interest and (to the extent lawful) interest on such defaulted interest at the rate borne by the Notes (such defaulted interest and interest thereon herein collectively called “Defaulted Interest”) shall be paid by the Company, at its election, as provided in clause (a) or (b) below:

(a) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date (as defined below) for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date (not less than 30 days after such notice) of the proposed payment (the “Special Interest Payment Date”), and at the same time the Company 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 in this Section 2.14(a). Thereupon the Company shall fix a record date (the “Special Record Date”) for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which date shall be not more than 20 calendar days and not less than 15 calendar days prior to the Special Interest Payment Date and not less than 10 calendar days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of such Special Record Date, and in the name and at the expense of the Company, the Trustee shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date and Special Interest Payment Date therefor to be given in the manner provided for in Section 12.1, not less than 10 calendar days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date and Special Interest Payment Date therefor having been so given, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid on the Special Interest Payment Date to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the provisions in Section 2.14(b).

 

 

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(b) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after written notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this Section 2.14(b), such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.14, each Note delivered under this Indenture upon registration of, transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Note shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Note.

SECTION 2.15 CUSIP and ISIN Numbers.

The Company in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” and “ISIN” numbers and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” and “ISIN” numbers in notices of redemption or purchase as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, 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 a redemption or purchase and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption or purchase shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such CUSIP and ISIN numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP and ISIN numbers.

ARTICLE III

COVENANTS

SECTION 3.1 Payment of Notes. The Company shall promptly pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes and in this Indenture. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if by 11:00 a.m. (Eastern time) on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due and the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Notes, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Company may, to the extent it is required to do so by law, deduct or withhold income or other similar taxes imposed by the United States of America from principal or interest payments hereunder.

SECTION 3.2 Limitation on Indebtedness.

(a) Holdings shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness); provided, however, that Holdings and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) if, on the date of such Incurrence and after giving pro forma effect thereto (including pro forma application of the proceeds thereof), either (i) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries is greater than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00 or (ii) the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio is no greater than 6.00 to 1.00; provided further, that Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries may not Incur Indebtedness under this Section 3.2(a) if, after giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), more than an aggregate of the greater of (a) $205.0 million and (b) 45.0% of LTM EBITDA of Indebtedness of Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries would be outstanding pursuant to this Section 3.2(a) at such time.

(b) Section 3.2(a) shall not prohibit the incurrence of the following Indebtedness:

 

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(1) Indebtedness Incurred under any Credit Facility (including letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances issued or created under any Credit Facility) and Guarantees in respect of such Indebtedness, up to an aggregate principal amount at the time of incurrence not to exceed the sum of (a) $600.0 million, (b) the greater of $455.0 million and 100.0% of LTM EBITDA, (c) an additional amount if, after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such additional amount and the application of the proceeds therefrom, the Consolidated First Lien Secured Leverage Ratio would be no greater than 3.50 to 1.00, outstanding at any one time (provided that, for the purposes of determining the amount that may be Incurred under this clause (1)(c), all Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (1)(c) shall be deemed to constitute First Lien Obligations), and (d) any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the foregoing;

(2) Guarantees by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as the Incurrence of such Indebtedness or other obligations is not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture;

(3) Indebtedness of Holdings owing to any Restricted Subsidiary or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that:

(i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Capital Stock or any other event that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary; and

(ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person other than Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary

shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an Incurrence of such Indebtedness by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be;

(4) Indebtedness represented by (i) the Notes (other than any Additional Notes), including any Guarantees thereof, (ii) any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clauses (1) and (4)(i) above) outstanding on the Issue Date and any Guarantees thereof (including the Existing Convertible Notes and the Existing Secured Notes outstanding on the Issue Date and any Guarantees thereof), (iii) Refinancing Indebtedness (including with respect to the Notes and any Guarantee thereof) Incurred in respect of any Indebtedness described in this clause (4) (other than in respect of the Existing Convertible Notes) or clause (2), (5) or (10) of this Section 3.2(b) or Incurred pursuant to Section 3.2(a), and (iv) Management Advances;

(5) Indebtedness of (x) Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurred or issued to finance an acquisition or Investment or (y) Persons that are acquired by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into, amalgamated or consolidated with Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture (including designating an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary); provided that such Indebtedness is in an aggregate amount not to exceed (i) the greater of $340.0 million and 75.0% of LTM EBITDA at the time of incurrence plus (ii) unlimited additional Indebtedness if after giving pro forma effect to such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation, either:

(i) Holdings would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to Section 3.2(a);

(ii) in the case of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 3.2(b)(5)(y) above, either the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries would not be lower or the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries would not be higher, in each case, than immediately prior to such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation; or (iii) such Indebtedness constitutes Acquired Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness Incurred in contemplation of the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or was otherwise acquired by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary); provided that, in the case of this clause (iii), the only obligors with respect to such Indebtedness shall be those Persons who were obligors of such Indebtedness prior to such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

 

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(6) Hedging Obligations (excluding Hedging Obligations entered into for speculative purposes);

(7) Indebtedness (i) represented by Finance Lease Obligations or Purchase Money Obligations in an aggregate outstanding principal amount which, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (i) and then outstanding, does not exceed the greater of (x) $340.0 million and (y) 75.0% of LTM EBITDA at the time of incurrence (for the avoidance of doubt, Unsecured Finance Leases shall be permitted in an unlimited amount pursuant to clause (22)), and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof and (ii) arising out of Sale and Leaseback Transactions;

(8) Indebtedness in respect of (i) workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits, property, casualty or liability insurance, self-insurance obligations, customer guarantees, performance, indemnity, surety, judgment, bid, appeal, advance payment (including progress premiums), customs, value added or other similar tax or other guarantees or other similar bonds, instruments or obligations, completion guarantees and warranties or relating to liabilities, obligations or guarantees Incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; (ii) 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 or consistent with past practice; (iii) customer deposits and advance payments (including progress premiums) received from customers for goods or services purchased in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; (iv) letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, discounted bills of exchange, discounting or factoring of receivables or payables for credit management purposes, warehouse receipts, guarantees or other similar instruments or obligations issued or entered into, or relating to liabilities or obligations Incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; (v) any customary treasury, depositary, automatic clearinghouse arrangements, overdraft protections, credit or debit card, purchase card, electronic funds transfer, cash pooling or netting or setting off arrangements or similar arrangements, and any Cash Management Obligations; and (vi) Settlement Indebtedness;

(9) Indebtedness arising from agreements providing for guarantees, indemnification, obligations in respect of earn-outs, deferred purchase price or other adjustments of purchase price or, in each case, similar obligations, in each case, Incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business, assets, a Person (including any Capital Stock of a Subsidiary) or Investment (other than Guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by any Person acquiring or disposing of such business, assets, Person or Investment for the purpose of financing such acquisition or disposition);

(10) Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount which, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause and then outstanding, will not exceed 100.0% of the Net Cash Proceeds received by Holdings or the Company from the issuance or sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of its Capital Stock or otherwise contributed to the equity (in each case, other than through the issuance of Disqualified Stock, Designated Preferred Stock or an Excluded Contribution) of Holdings or the Company, in each case, subsequent to the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date, and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; provided, however, that (i) any such Net Cash Proceeds that are so received or contributed shall not increase the amount available for making Restricted Payments to the extent Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries Incur Indebtedness in reliance thereon and (ii) any Net Cash Proceeds that are so received or contributed shall be excluded for purposes of Incurring Indebtedness pursuant to this clause to the extent such Net Cash Proceeds or cash have been applied to make Restricted Payments; (11) Indebtedness of non-Guarantors (i) in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $205.0 million and (y) 45.0% of LTM EBITDA at the time of incurrence and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; and (ii) incurred from time to time pursuant to ordinary course asset-based facilities or local working capital lines of credit to the extent non-recourse to the Company or any Guarantor so long as neither the Company nor any Guarantor shall Guarantee such Indebtedness; provided that in the case of this clause (ii) at the time of incurrence thereof and after giving pro forma effect thereto and the use of the proceeds thereof, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this clause (ii) then outstanding shall not exceed an amount equal to the greater of $205.0 million and 45.0% of LTM EBITDA, and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

 

 

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(12) (a) Indebtedness issued by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries to any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of Holdings, any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity (or permitted transferees, assigns, estates or heirs of such Person), in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Capital Stock of Holdings or any Parent Entity that is not prohibited by Section 3.3 and (b) Indebtedness consisting of obligations under deferred compensation or any other similar arrangements incurred in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice or in connection with the Transactions, any Investment or any acquisition (by merger, consolidation, amalgamation or otherwise);

(13) Indebtedness of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(14) Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount that, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause and then outstanding, will not exceed the greater of (a) $205.0 million and (b) 45.0% of LTM EBITDA and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

(15) Indebtedness in respect of any Qualified Securitization Financing or any Receivables Facility;

(16) Indebtedness of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries arising pursuant to any Permitted Tax Restructuring, Permitted Intercompany Activities and related transactions;

(17) Indebtedness of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries the net cash proceeds of which will be used to Refinance Permitted Convertible Indebtedness (the “Refinancing Convertible Indebtedness”); provided that (1) the initial principal amount of such Refinancing Convertible Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness to be Refinanced, plus any accrued and unpaid interest, plus the amount of any defeasance costs and any reasonable fees, costs and expenses incurred or payable or projected in good faith to be incurred or payable in connection therewith or the Incurrence of such Indebtedness (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any premiums or similar fees, costs and expenses), (2) such Refinancing Convertible Indebtedness has a maturity date and Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Convertible Indebtedness is Incurred which is not earlier than the maturity date of or less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Permitted Convertible Indebtedness to be Refinanced, (3) such Refinancing Convertible Indebtedness is unsecured Indebtedness of Holdings, the Company or any Guarantors, (4) within 180 days following the date such Refinancing Convertible Indebtedness is Incurred, (x) the net cash proceeds of such Refinancing Convertible Indebtedness are applied to Refinance Permitted Convertible Indebtedness and/or pay any reasonable fees, costs and expenses incurred or payable in connection therewith or (y) such Refinancing Convertible Indebtedness is re-classified as Incurred pursuant to any other type of Indebtedness permitted under Section 3.2(a) or Section 3.2(b), and (5) to the extent the terms and conditions of such Refinancing Convertible Indebtedness are not substantially identical to the terms and conditions of the applicable Refinanced Permitted Convertible Indebtedness, such terms and conditions shall not be materially more restrictive to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as determined in good faith by Holdings), when taken as a whole, than the terms of such Refinanced Permitted Convertible Indebtedness (it being understood that (A) to the extent that any such more favorable terms are added for the benefit of Holders of the Notes, such materially more restrictive terms shall be permitted and (B) any materially more restrictive terms that are only applicable after the maturity date of the Notes shall be permitted); provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, this clause (5) shall not apply to (x) terms addressed in the other clauses of this clause (17) or (y) pricing, interest rate margins, discounts, voluntary prepayment terms and premiums, rate floors, fees and currency types and denominations;

 

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(18) any obligation, or guaranty of any obligation, of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to reimburse or indemnify a Person extending credit to customers of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice for all or any portion of the amounts payable by such customers to the Person extending such credit;

(19) Indebtedness to a customer to finance the acquisition of any equipment necessary to perform services for such customer; provided that the terms of such Indebtedness are consistent with those entered into with respect to similar Indebtedness prior to the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date, including, if so consistent, that (1) the repayment of such Indebtedness is conditional upon such customer ordering a specific amount of goods or services and (2) such Indebtedness does not bear interest or provide for scheduled amortization or maturity;

(20) Indebtedness in respect of any Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or Permitted Warrant Transaction;

(21) [reserved];

(22) Unsecured Finance Leases;

(23) Indebtedness incurred by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent that the net proceeds thereof are promptly deposited with the Trustee to satisfy or discharge the Notes or exercise the Company’s legal defeasance or covenant defeasance, in each case, in accordance with this Indenture;

(24) Indebtedness of or with respect to any joint venture; provided that the aggregate amount of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause and then outstanding will not exceed the greater of $105.0 million and 22.5% of LTM EBITDA, and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

(25) [reserved];

(26) Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that is incurred in connection with lease agreements where such entity is considered the owner for accounting purposes only, or build-to-suit leases, to the extent such entity is involved in the construction of structural improvements or takes construction risk prior to commencement of a lease where such entity does not meet the sale-leaseback criteria for derecognition of the building assets and liability, incurred in the ordinary course of business, and which in all cases is characterized on Holdings’ balance sheet as “Lease Financing Obligations” or any replacement term in accordance with GAAP; (27) Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with incentive or other economic development programs provided or offered by any Governmental Authority, including, without limitation, tax credit programs, tax-exempt bonds and notes and forgivable loan programs incurred in the ordinary course of business; and

 

 

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(28) Indebtedness incurred in connection with “bonds-for-title” or “bond-lease” transactions in the ordinary course of business under Georgia law.

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with, and the outstanding principal amount of any particular Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to and in compliance with, this Section 3.2:

(1) subject to clause (3) below, in the event that all or any portion of any item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in Section 3.2(a) and (b), the Company, in its sole discretion, shall classify, and may from time to time reclassify, such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) and only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in Section 3.2(a) or one of the clauses of Section 3.2(b);

(2) additionally, all or any portion of any item of Indebtedness may later be reclassified as having been Incurred pursuant to any type of Indebtedness described in Section 3.2(a) or (b) so long as such Indebtedness is permitted to be Incurred pursuant to such provision and any related Liens are permitted to be Incurred at the time of reclassification (it being understood that any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to one of the clauses of Section 3.2(b) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of such clause but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of Section 3.2(a) from and after the first date on which Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries could have incurred such Indebtedness under Section 3.2(a) without reliance on such clause);

(3) all Indebtedness outstanding on the Issue Date under the First Lien Credit Agreement shall be deemed to have been Incurred on the Issue Date under Section 3.2(b)(1);

(4) in the case of any Refinancing Indebtedness, when measuring the outstanding amount of such Indebtedness, such amount shall not include the aggregate amount of fees, underwriting discounts, accrued and unpaid interest, dividends, premiums (including, without limitation, tender premiums), defeasance costs, fees and other costs and expenses (including, without limitation, original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) in connection with such refinancing;

(5) Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments relating to, or Liens securing, Indebtedness that is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included;

(6) if obligations in respect of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments are Incurred pursuant to any Credit Facility and are being treated as incurred pursuant to Section 3.2(a) or any clause of Section 3.2(b) and the letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments relate to other Indebtedness, then such other Indebtedness shall not be included;

(7) the principal amount of any Disqualified Stock of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary, or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, will be equal to the greater of the maximum mandatory redemption or repurchase price (not including, in either case, any redemption or repurchase premium) or the liquidation preference thereof;

 

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(8) Indebtedness permitted by this Section 3.2 need not be permitted solely by reference to one provision permitting such Indebtedness but may be permitted in part by one such provision and in part by one or more other provisions of this Section 3.2 permitting such Indebtedness; (9) for all purposes under this Indenture, including for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Consolidated First Lien Secured Leverage Ratio or the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio, as applicable, in connection with the incurrence, issuance or assumption of any Indebtedness pursuant to Section 3.2(a) or (b) or the incurrence or creation of any Lien pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Liens,” Holdings may elect, at its option, to treat all or any portion of the committed amount of any Indebtedness (and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder) which is to be incurred (or any commitment in respect thereof) or secured by such Lien, as the case may be (any such committed amount elected until revoked as described below, the “Reserved Indebtedness Amount”), as being incurred as of such election date, and, if such Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Consolidated First Lien Secured Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio or other provision of this Indenture, as applicable, is complied with (or satisfied) with respect thereto on such election date, any subsequent borrowing or reborrowing thereunder (and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder) will be deemed to be permitted under this Section 3.2 or the definition of “Permitted Liens,” as applicable, whether or not the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Consolidated First Lien Secured Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio or other provision of this Indenture, as applicable, at the actual time of any subsequent borrowing or reborrowing (or issuance or creation of letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances thereunder) is complied with (or satisfied) for all purposes (including as to the absence of any continuing Default or Event of Default);

(10) when calculating the availability under any basket or ratio under this Indenture or compliance with any provision of this Indenture in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction and any actions or transactions related thereto (including acquisitions, Investments, the incurrence, issuance or assumption of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, the incurrence or creation of Liens, repayments, Restricted Payments and Asset Dispositions), in each case, at the option of the Company (the Company’s election to exercise such option, an “LCT Election”), the date of determination for availability under any such basket or ratio and whether any such action or transaction is permitted (or any requirement or condition therefor is complied with or satisfied (including as to the absence of any continuing Default or Event of Default)) under this Indenture shall be deemed to be the date (the “LCT Test Date”) either (a) the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is entered into (or, if applicable, the date of delivery of an irrevocable declaration of a Restricted Payment or similar event) or (b) solely in connection with an acquisition to which the United Kingdom City Code on Takeovers and Mergers applies, the date on which a “Rule 2.7 announcement” of a firm intention to make an offer (or the equivalent announcement in another jurisdiction) (an “LCT Public Offer”) in respect of a target of a Limited Condition Transaction and, in each case, if, after giving pro forma effect to the Limited Condition Transaction and any actions or transactions related thereto (including acquisitions, Investments, the incurrence, issuance or assumption of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, the incurrence or creation of Liens, repayments, Restricted Payments and Asset Dispositions) and any related pro forma adjustments, Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries would have been permitted to take such actions or consummate such transactions on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with such ratio, test or basket (and any related requirements and conditions), such ratio, test or basket (and any related requirements and conditions) shall be deemed to have been complied with (or satisfied) for all purposes (in the case of Indebtedness, for example, whether such Indebtedness is committed, issued, assumed or incurred at the LCT Test Date or at any time thereafter); provided, that (a) if financial statements for one or more subsequent fiscal quarters shall have become available, the Company may elect, in its sole discretion, to re-determine all such ratios, tests or baskets on the basis of such financial statements, in which case, such date of redetermination shall thereafter be the applicable LCT Test Date for purposes of such ratios, tests or baskets, (b) except as contemplated in the foregoing clause (a), compliance with such ratios, test or baskets (and any related requirements and conditions) shall not be determined or tested at any time after the applicable LCT Test Date for such Limited Condition Transaction and any actions or transaction related thereto (including acquisitions, Investments, the incurrence, issuance or assumption of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, the incurrence or creation of Liens, repayments, Restricted Payments and Asset Dispositions) and (c) Consolidated Interest Expense for purposes of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated using an assumed interest rate as reasonably determined by the Company.

 

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, if the Company has made an LCT Election: (1) if any of the ratios, tests or baskets for which compliance was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date would at any time after the LCT Test Date have been exceeded or otherwise failed to have been complied with as a result of fluctuations in any such ratio, test or basket, including due to fluctuations in EBITDA or Total Assets of Holdings or the Person subject to such Limited Condition Transaction, such baskets, tests or ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded or failed to have been complied with as a result of such fluctuations; (2) if any related requirements and conditions (including as to the absence of any continuing Default or Event of Default) for which compliance or satisfaction was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date would at any time after the LCT Test Date not have been complied with or satisfied (including due to the occurrence or continuation of an Default or Event of Default), such requirements and conditions will not be deemed to have been failed to be complied with or satisfied (and such Default or Event of Default shall be deemed not to have occurred or be continuing); and (3) in calculating the availability under any ratio, test or basket in connection with any action or transaction unrelated to such Limited Condition Transaction following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated or the date that the definitive agreement or date for redemption, purchase or repayment specified in an irrevocable notice for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated, expires or passes (or, if applicable, the irrevocable notice is terminated, expires or passes or, as applicable, the offer in respect of an LCT Public Offer for, such acquisition is terminated), as applicable, without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such ratio, test or basket shall be determined or tested giving pro forma effect to such Limited Condition Transaction;

(11) notwithstanding anything in this Section 3.2 to the contrary, in the case of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness initially incurred in reliance on any clause of Section 3.2(b) measured by reference to a percentage of LTM EBITDA at the time of Incurrence, if such refinancing would cause the percentage of LTM EBITDA restriction to be exceeded if calculated based on the percentage of LTM EBITDA on the date of such refinancing, such percentage of LTM EBITDA restriction shall not be deemed to be exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced, 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) in connection with such refinancing; and

(12) the amount of Indebtedness issued at a price that is less than the principal amount thereof will be equal to the amount of the liability in respect thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

Accrual of interest, accrual of dividends, accretion of accreted value, accretion or amortization of original issue discount, payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness, payment of dividends in the form of additional Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock or reclassification of commitments or obligations not treated as Indebtedness due to a change in GAAP, will not be deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 3.2.

If at any time an Unrestricted Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be Incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings as of such date (and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be Incurred as of such date under this Section 3.2, Holdings shall be in default of this Section 3.2).

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.

 

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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 (a) the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced plus (b) the aggregate amount of 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) in connection with such refinancing.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 3.2, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary may Incur pursuant to this Section 3.2 shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies. 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.

For purposes of this Indenture, (1) unsecured Indebtedness shall not be treated as subordinated or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured and (2) senior Indebtedness shall not be treated as subordinated or junior to any other senior Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority with respect to the same collateral or is secured by different collateral or because it is guaranteed by different obligors.

SECTION 3.3 Limitation on Restricted Payments.

(a) Holdings shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to:

(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on or in respect of Holdings’ or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Capital Stock (including any such payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) except:

(x) dividends, payments or distributions payable in Capital Stock of Holdings (other than Disqualified Stock) or in options, warrants or other rights to purchase such Capital Stock of Holdings; and

(y) dividends, payments or distributions payable to Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary (and, in the case of any such Restricted Subsidiary making such dividend or distribution, to holders of its Capital Stock other than Holdings or another Restricted Subsidiary on no more than a pro rata basis);

(2) purchase, repurchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Capital Stock of Holdings or any Parent Entity held by Persons other than Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(3) purchase, repurchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, prior to scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment, any Subordinated Indebtedness (other than (i) any such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case, due within one year of the date of purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement and (ii) any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 3.2(b)(3)); or

(4) make any Restricted Investment;

(any such dividend, distribution, payment, purchase, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, other acquisition, retirement or Restricted Investment referred to in clauses (1) through (4) above are referred to herein as a “Restricted Payment”), if at the time the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary makes such Restricted Payment:

 

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(i) other than in the case of a Restricted Investment, an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would immediately thereafter result therefrom);

(ii) other than in the case of a Restricted Investment, the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio would be greater than 5.00 to 1.00 immediately after giving effect, on a pro forma basis, to such Restricted Payment; or

(iii) the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payment and all other Restricted Payments made subsequent to the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date (and not returned or rescinded) (including Permitted Payments made pursuant to Section 3.3(b)(1) (without duplication), but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by Section 3.3(b)) would exceed the sum of (without duplication):

(A) the greater of $275.0 million and 60.0% of LTM EBITDA;

(B) 50.0% of Consolidated Net Income for the period (treated as one accounting period) from the first day of the first fiscal quarter in which the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date occurs to the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the date of such Restricted Payment for which consolidated financial statements are available (which may, at Holdings’ election, be internal financial statements);

(C) 100.0% of the aggregate amount of cash, and the fair market value of property or assets or marketable securities, received by Holdings from the issue or sale of its Capital Stock or as the result of a merger or consolidation with another Person subsequent to the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date, or otherwise contributed to the equity (in each case, other than through the issuance of Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary (including the aggregate principal amount of any Indebtedness of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary contributed to Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary for cancellation) or that becomes part of the capital of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary through consolidation or merger subsequent to the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date (other than (x) Net Cash Proceeds or property or assets or marketable securities received from an issuance or sale of such Capital Stock to a Restricted Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings for the benefit of their employees to the extent funded by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, (y) cash or property or assets or marketable securities to the extent that any Restricted Payment has been made from such proceeds in reliance on Section 3.3(b)(6) and (z) Excluded Contributions);

 

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(D) 100.0% of the aggregate amount of cash, and the fair market value of property or assets or marketable securities, received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary from the issuance or sale (other than to Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings for the benefit of their employees to the extent funded by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary) by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary subsequent to the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date of any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock that has been converted into or exchanged for Capital Stock of Holdings (other than Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) plus, without duplication, the amount of any cash, and the fair market value of property or assets or marketable securities, received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary upon such conversion or exchange; (E) 100.0% of the aggregate amount received in cash and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by Holdings, of marketable securities or other property received by means of: (i) the sale or other disposition (other than to Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary) of, or other returns on Investment from, Restricted Investments made by Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repurchases and redemptions of, or cash distributions or cash interest received in respect of, such Restricted Investments from Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constitute Restricted Investments by Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case after the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date; or (ii) the sale or other disposition (other than to Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a dividend, payment or distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than to the extent of the amount of the Investment that constituted a Permitted Investment or was made pursuant to Section 3.3(b)(17), and will increase the amount available under the applicable clause of the definition of “Permitted Investment” or Section 3.3(b)(17), as the case may be) or a dividend from a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary after the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date; and

(F) in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or the merger, amalgamation or consolidation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary into Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary or the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary after the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date, the fair market value of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary (or the assets transferred), as determined in good faith by Holdings at the time of the redesignation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation or transfer of assets (after taking into consideration any Indebtedness associated with the Unrestricted Subsidiary so designated or merged, amalgamated or consolidated or Indebtedness associated with the assets so transferred), other than to the extent of the amount of the Investment that constituted a Permitted Investment or was made pursuant to Section 3.3(b)(17), and will increase the amount available under the applicable clause of the definition of “Permitted Investment” or Section 3.3(b)(17), as the case may be.

(b) The foregoing provisions will not prohibit any of the following (collectively, “Permitted Payments”):

(1) the payment of 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 Indenture or the redemption, repurchase or retirement of Indebtedness if, at the date of any redemption notice, such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture as if it were and is deemed at such time to be a Restricted Payment at the time of such notice;

(2) (a) any prepayment, purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, discharge or other acquisition or retirement of Capital Stock, including any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon (“Treasury Capital Stock”) or Subordinated Indebtedness made by exchange (including any such exchange pursuant to the exercise of a conversion right or privilege in connection with which cash is paid in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares) for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Capital Stock of Holdings or any Parent Entity to the extent contributed to Holdings (in each case, other than Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) or a substantially concurrent contribution to the equity (other than through the issuance of Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock or through an Excluded Contribution) of Holdings (“Refunding Capital Stock”); (b) the declaration and payment of dividends on Treasury Capital Stock out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale or issuance (other than to a Subsidiary of Holdings or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries) of 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 Section 3.3(b)(14), the declaration and payment of dividends on the Refunding Capital Stock (other than Refunding Capital Stock the proceeds of which were used to redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire any Capital Stock of a Parent Entity) 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;

 

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(3) any prepayment, purchase, repurchase, exchange, redemption, defeasance, discharge or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 3.2;

(4) any prepayment, purchase, repurchase, exchange, redemption, defeasance, discharge or other acquisition or retirement of Preferred Stock of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially concurrent sale of Preferred Stock of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that, in each case, is permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 3.2;

(5) any prepayment, purchase, repurchase, exchange, redemption, defeasance, discharge or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary:

(i) from Net Available Cash to the extent permitted under Section 3.5, but only if Holdings shall have first complied with the terms described under Section 3.5 and purchased all Notes tendered pursuant to any offer to repurchase all the Notes required thereby, prior to prepaying, purchasing, repurchasing, redeeming, defeasing, discharging or otherwise acquiring or retiring such Subordinated Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; or

(ii) to the extent required by the agreement governing such Subordinated Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, following the occurrence of (i) a Change of Control (or other similar event described therein as a “change of control”) or (ii) an Asset Disposition (or other similar event described therein as an “asset disposition” or “asset sale”), but only if Holdings shall have first complied with Section 3.5 or Section 3.9, as applicable, and purchased all Notes tendered pursuant to the offer to repurchase all the Notes required thereby, prior to purchasing, repurchasing, redeeming, defeasing or otherwise acquiring or retiring such Subordinated Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; or

(iii) consisting of Acquired Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness Incurred (A) to provide all or any portion of the funds utilized to consummate the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or was otherwise acquired by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary or (B) otherwise in connection with or contemplation of such acquisition);

 

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(6) a Restricted Payment to pay for the prepayment, purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, discharge, retirement or other acquisition or retirement of Capital Stock of Holdings or any Parent Entity held by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of Holdings, any of its Subsidiaries or of any Parent Entity (or any of their permitted transferees, assigns, estates, trusts or heirs) pursuant to any management equity plan, stock option plan, phantom equity plan or any other management, employee benefit or other compensatory plan or agreement (and any successor plans or arrangements thereto), employment, termination or severance agreement, or any stock subscription or equityholder agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any principal and interest payable on any Indebtedness issued by Holdings or any Parent Entity in connection with such prepayment, purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, discharge, retirement or other acquisition), including any Capital Stock rolled over, accelerated or paid out by or to any employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity in connection with any transaction or upon the termination of such employee, director or consultant’s employment or directorship; provided, however, that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (6) do not exceed the greater of $170.0 million and 37.5% of LTM EBITDA in any calendar year, with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years; provided, further, that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(i) the cash proceeds from the sale of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of Holdings and, to the extent contributed to the capital of Holdings, the cash proceeds from the sale of Capital Stock of any Parent Entity, in each case, to any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of Holdings, any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity that occurred after the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date, to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Capital Stock have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of Section 3.3(a)(iii); plus

(ii) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries (or any Parent Entity to the extent contributed to Holdings) after the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date; plus

(iii) the amount of any cash bonuses otherwise payable to members of management, employees, directors or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof) of Holdings, any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity that are foregone in exchange for the receipt of Capital Stock of Holdings or any Parent Entity pursuant to any compensation arrangement, including any deferred compensation plan; less

(iv) the amount of any Restricted Payments made in previous calendar years pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of this clause (6);

provided, that Holdings may elect to apply all or any portion of the aggregate increase contemplated by clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above in any fiscal year and provided, further, that (i) cancellation of Indebtedness owing to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary from any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of Holdings or Restricted Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity in connection with a repurchase of Capital Stock of Holdings or any Parent Entity and (ii) the repurchase of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the exercise of options, warrants or similar instruments if such Capital Stock represents all or a portion of the exercise price thereof and payments, in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares of such Capital Stock or withholding to pay other taxes payable in connection therewith, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 3.3 or any other provision of this Indenture;

 

 

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(7) the declaration and payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, issued in accordance with Section 3.2; (8) payments made or expected to be made by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of withholding or similar taxes payable in connection with the exercise or vesting of Capital Stock or any other equity award by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent Entity and purchases, repurchases, redemptions, defeasances or other acquisitions or retirements of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of stock options, warrants, equity-based awards or other rights in respect thereof if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise price thereof or payments in respect of withholding or similar taxes payable upon exercise or vesting thereof;

(9) payments or distributions to dissenting equityholders pursuant to applicable law (including in connection with, or as a result of, exercise of dissenters’ or appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or action (whether actual, contingent or potential)), pursuant to or in connection with a merger, amalgamation, consolidation or transfer of assets that complies with Section 4.1;

(10) dividends, loans, advances or distributions to any Parent Entity or other payments by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in amounts equal to (without duplication):

(i) the amounts required for any Parent Entity to pay any Parent Entity Expenses or any Related Taxes; and

(ii) amounts constituting or to be used for purposes of making payments to the extent specified in Sections 3.8(b)(2), (3), (5), (11), (12), (13), (15) and (19);

(11) (i) the declaration and payment of dividends on the common stock or common equity interests of Holdings or any 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 and any Restricted Payment to any such Parent Entity to fund the payment by such Parent Entity of dividends on such entity’s Capital Stock) following a public offering of such common stock or common equity interests (or such exchangeable securities, as applicable), in an amount in any fiscal year not to exceed the sum of (A) 6.0% of the aggregate proceeds received by or contributed to Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in or from any such public offering and (B) 7.0% of Market Capitalization; or (ii) in lieu of all or a portion of the dividends permitted by clause (i), any prepayment, purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, discharge, retirement or other acquisition of Holdings’ Capital Stock (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 and any Restricted Payment to any such Parent Entity to fund the payment by such Parent Entity of dividends on such entity’s Capital Stock) for aggregate consideration that, when taken together with dividends permitted by clause (i), does not exceed the amount contemplated by clause (i);

(12) payments by Holdings, or loans, advances, dividends or distributions to any Parent Entity to make payments, to holders of Capital Stock of Holdings or any Parent Entity in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares of such Capital Stock; provided, however, that any such payment, loan, advance, dividend or distribution shall not be for the purpose of evading any limitation of this Section 3.3 or otherwise to facilitate any dividend or other return of capital to the holders of such Capital Stock (as determined in good faith by Holdings);

 

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(13) Restricted Payments that are made (i) in an amount not to exceed the amount of Excluded Contributions received since the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date or (ii) in an amount equal to the amount of Net Cash Proceeds from an asset sale or disposition in respect of property or assets acquired since the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date, if the acquisition of such property or assets was financed with Excluded Contributions; (14) (i) the declaration and payment of dividends on Designated Preferred Stock of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued after the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date; (ii) the declaration and payment of dividends to a Parent Entity in an amount sufficient to allow the Parent Entity to pay dividends to holders of its Designated Preferred Stock issued after the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date; and (iii) the declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock; provided, however, that, in the case of clause (ii), the amount of dividends paid to a Person pursuant to such clause shall not exceed the cash proceeds received by Holdings or the aggregate amount contributed in cash to the equity of Holdings (other than through the issuance of Disqualified Stock or an Excluded Contribution of Holdings), from the issuance or sale of such Designated Preferred Stock; provided further, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii), that for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which consolidated financial statements are available (which may, at Holdings’ election, be internal financial statements) immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock or declaration of such dividends on such Refunding Capital Stock, after giving effect to such payment on a pro forma basis, Holdings would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the test set forth in Section 3.2(a);

(15) dividends or other distributions, transfers or dispositions of shares of Capital Stock of, or equity interests in, an Unrestricted Subsidiary (or a Restricted Subsidiary that owns one or more Unrestricted Subsidiaries and no other material assets), or Indebtedness owed to Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary by an Unrestricted Subsidiary (or a Restricted Subsidiary that owns one or more Unrestricted Subsidiaries and no other material assets), in each case, other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries, substantially all of the assets of which are cash and Cash Equivalents or proceeds thereof;

(16) 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;

(17) (i) Restricted Payments (including loans or advances) in an aggregate amount outstanding at the time made not to exceed the greater of $170.0 million and 37.5% of LTM EBITDA at such time, and (ii) any Restricted Payments, so long as, immediately after giving pro forma effect to the payment of any such Restricted Payment and the Incurrence of any Indebtedness the net proceeds of which are used to make such Restricted Payment, the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio shall be no greater than 4.75 to 1.00;

(18) mandatory redemptions of Disqualified Stock issued as a Restricted Payment or as consideration for a Permitted Investment;

(19) (I)(a) the payment of the premium to the hedge provider due under and determined in accordance with a Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction after giving effect to the setoff or any premium or other payments due to Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary under and determined in accordance with such Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or any Permitted Warrant Transaction or (b) any payments or deliveries to the hedge provider required under and determined in accordance with the Permitted Warrant Transaction, in each case, (i) by delivery of Holdings’ Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) upon settlement thereof or (ii) by (A) payment of an early termination amount in common stock upon any early termination thereof or (B) set-off against payments or deliveries received from the hedge provider under a Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or (II) any payments (other than any payment(s) of any premium(s), prepayment amount(s), strike price(s) or other applicable purchase price, costs, expenses or any other payments (whether absolute or contingent) for a Permitted Structured Repurchase Transaction at the time of entry into such Permitted Structured Repurchase Transaction) or deliveries to a Structured Repurchase Dealer required under and determined in accordance with a Permitted Structured Repurchase Transaction, in each case, (i) by delivery of Holdings’ Equity Interests upon settlement thereof or (ii) by payment of an early termination amount in common stock upon any early termination thereof; (20) (i) the redemption, defeasance, repurchase, exchange or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of Holdings, the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in an aggregate amount outstanding at the time made, taken together with all other redemptions, defeasances, repurchases, exchanges or other acquisitions or retirements of Subordinated Indebtedness made pursuant to this clause not to exceed the greater of (x) $275.0 million and (y) 60.0% of LTM EBITDA at the time and (ii) the redemption, defeasance, repurchase, exchange or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of Holdings, the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, so long as, immediately after giving pro forma effect to the payment of any such Restricted Payment and the incurrence of any Indebtedness the net proceeds of which are used to make such Restricted Payment, the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio shall be no greater than 5.25 to 1.00;

 

 

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(21) any Restricted Payment made in connection with a Permitted Intercompany Activity, Permitted Tax Restructuring or related transactions;

(22) Restricted Payments to a Parent Entity to finance Investments that would otherwise be permitted to be made pursuant to this Section 3.3 if made by Holdings; provided that (a) such Restricted Payment shall be made substantially concurrently with the closing of such Investment, (b) such Parent Entity shall, promptly following the closing thereof, cause (1) all property acquired (whether assets or Capital Stock) to be contributed to the capital of Holdings or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (2) the merger or amalgamation of the Person formed or acquired into Holdings or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries (to the extent not prohibited by Section 4.1) to consummate such Investment, (c) such Parent Entity and its Affiliates (other than Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary) receives no consideration or other payment in connection with such transaction except to the extent Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary could have given such consideration or made such payment in compliance with this Indenture, (d) any property received by Holdings shall not increase amounts available for Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 3.3(a)(iii), except to the extent the fair market value at the time of such receipt of such property exceeds the Restricted Payment made pursuant to this clause and (e) such Investment shall be deemed to be made by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to another provision of this Section 3.3 (other than pursuant to clause (13) hereof) or pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investment” (other than pursuant to clause (13) thereof);

(23) investments or other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed an amount equal to the sum of Collateral Retained Proceeds and Retained Proceeds; and

(24) repurchases of Equity Interests of Holdings issued upon a conversion or exchange of any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness (and the payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares) with the proceeds of any other Permitted Convertible Indebtedness incurred substantially concurrently with such conversion or exchange.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 3.3, in the event that a Restricted Payment or Investment (or portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Payments described in Section 3.3(b), or is permitted pursuant to Section 3.3(a) and/or one or more of the clauses contained in the definition of “Permitted Investment,” the Company will be entitled to divide or classify such Restricted Payment or Investment (or portion thereof) or later divide, classify or reclassify in whole or in part in its sole discretion such Restricted Payment or Investment (or portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 3.3, including as an Investment pursuant to one or more of the clauses contained in the definition of “Permitted Investment.”

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the fair market value on the date of such Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be paid, transferred or issued by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to such Restricted Payment. The fair market value of any cash Restricted Payment shall be its face amount, and the fair market value of any non-cash Restricted Payment, property or assets other than cash shall be determined conclusively by Holdings acting in good faith.

 

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In connection with any commitment, definitive agreement or similar event relating to an Investment, Holdings or applicable Restricted Subsidiary may designate such Investment as having occurred on the date of the commitment, definitive agreement or similar event relating thereto (such date, the “Election Date”) if, after giving pro forma effect to such Investment and all related transactions in connection therewith and any related pro forma adjustments, Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries would have been permitted to make such Investment on the relevant Election Date in compliance with this Indenture, and any subsequent actual making of such Investment will be deemed for all purposes under this Indenture to have been made on such Election Date, including for purposes of calculating any ratio, compliance with any test, usage of any baskets hereunder (if applicable) and Consolidated EBITDA and for purposes of determining whether there exists any Default or Event of Default (and all such calculations on and after the Election Date until the termination, expiration, passing, rescission, retraction or rescindment of such commitment, definitive agreement or similar event shall be made on a pro forma basis giving effect thereto and all related transactions in connection therewith).

If Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary makes a Restricted Payment which at the time of the making of such Restricted Payment would in the good faith determination of Holdings be permitted under the provisions of this Indenture, such Restricted Payment shall be deemed to have been made in compliance with this Indenture notwithstanding any subsequent adjustments made in good faith to Holdings’ financial statements affecting Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for any period.

For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 3.3 shall not restrict the making of, or dividends or other distributions in amounts sufficient to make, any AHYDO Catch-Up Payment with respect to any Indebtedness of any Parent Entity, Holdings, the Company or any of Holdings’ Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred under this Indenture.

SECTION 3.4 Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries.

(a) Holdings shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create or otherwise cause or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions in cash or otherwise on its Capital Stock or pay any Indebtedness or other obligations owed to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(2) make any loans or advances to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary; or

(3) sell, lease or transfer any of its property or assets to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary,

provided that (x) the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock and (y) the subordination of (including the application of any standstill requirements to) loans or advances made to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to other Indebtedness Incurred by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed to constitute such an encumbrance or restriction.

(b) The provisions of Section 3.4(a) shall not prohibit:

(1) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to any Credit Facility, the Existing Convertible Notes and the Existing Secured Notes, including any Guarantee thereof, or any other agreement or instrument, in each case, in effect at or entered into on the Issue Date;

(2) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to the Note Documents;

 

 

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(3) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to applicable law, rule, regulation or order; (4) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement or instrument of a Person or relating to any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of a Person, entered into on or before the date on which such Person was acquired by or merged, consolidated or otherwise combined with or into Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, or was designated as a Restricted Subsidiary or on which such agreement or instrument is assumed by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an acquisition of assets (other than Capital Stock or Indebtedness Incurred as consideration in, or to provide all or any portion of the funds utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or was acquired by Holdings or was merged, consolidated or otherwise combined with or into Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or entered into in contemplation of or in connection with such transaction) and outstanding on such date; provided that, for the purposes of this clause, if another Person is the Successor Company, any Subsidiary thereof or agreement or instrument of such Person or any such Subsidiary shall be deemed acquired or assumed by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary when such Person becomes the Successor Company;

(5) any encumbrance or restriction: (i) that restricts in a customary manner the subletting, assignment or transfer of any property or asset that is subject to a lease, license or similar contract or agreement, or the assignment or transfer of any lease, license or other contract or agreement; (ii) contained in mortgages, pledges, charges or other security agreements permitted under this Indenture or securing Indebtedness of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary permitted under this Indenture to the extent such encumbrances or restrictions restrict the transfer or encumbrance of the property or assets subject to such mortgages, pledges, charges or other security agreements; (iii) contained in any trading, netting, operating, construction, service, supply, purchase, sale or other agreement to which Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; provided that such agreement prohibits the encumbrance of solely the property or assets of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary that are subject to such agreement, the payment rights arising thereunder or the proceeds thereof and does not extend to any other asset or property of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary or the assets or property of another Restricted Subsidiary; or (iv) pursuant to customary provisions restricting dispositions of real property interests set forth in any reciprocal easement agreements of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(6) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to Purchase Money Obligations and Finance Lease Obligations permitted under this Indenture, in each case, that impose encumbrances or restrictions on the property so acquired;

(7) any encumbrance or restriction imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the direct or indirect sale or disposition to a Person of all or substantially all the Capital Stock or assets of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (or the property or assets that are subject to such restriction) pending the closing of such sale or disposition;

(8) customary provisions in leases, licenses, equityholder agreements, joint venture agreements, organizational documents and other similar agreements and instruments;

(9) encumbrances or restrictions arising or existing by reason of applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order, or required by any regulatory authority;

(10) any encumbrance or restriction on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(11) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to Hedging Obligations;

(12) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries permitted to be Incurred or issued subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to Section 3.2 that impose restrictions solely on the Foreign Subsidiaries party thereto or their Subsidiaries; (13) restrictions created in connection with any Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility that, in the good faith determination of Holdings, are necessary or advisable to effect such Securitization Facility or Receivables Facility;

 

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(14) any encumbrance or restriction arising pursuant to an agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to Section 3.2 if the encumbrances and restrictions contained in any such agreement or instrument taken as a whole are not materially less favorable to the Holders than (i) the encumbrances and restrictions contained in the First Lien Credit Agreement or the Existing Secured Notes Indenture, together with the security documents associated therewith, or this Indenture as in effect on the Issue Date or (ii) in comparable financings (as determined in good faith by Holdings) and where, in the case of clause (ii), either (A) Holdings determines at the time of entry into such agreement or instrument that such encumbrances or restrictions will not adversely affect, in any material respect, the Company’s ability to make principal or interest payments on the Notes or (B) such encumbrance or restriction applies only during the continuance of a default in respect of a payment relating to such agreement or instrument;

(15) any encumbrance or restriction existing by reason of any lien permitted under Section 3.6; or

(16) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement or instrument effecting a refinancing of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to, or that otherwise refinances, an agreement or instrument referred to in clauses (1) through (15) of this Section 3.4(b) or this clause (16) (an “Initial Agreement”) or contained in any amendment, supplement or other modification to an agreement referred to in clauses (1) through (15) of this Section 3.4(b) or this clause (16); provided, however, that the encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary contained in any such agreement or instrument are no less favorable in any material respect to the Holders taken as a whole than the encumbrances and restrictions contained in the Initial Agreement or Initial Agreements to which such refinancing or amendment, supplement or other modification relates (as determined in good faith by Holdings).

SECTION 3.5 Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock.

(a) Holdings shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any Asset Disposition unless:

(1) Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration (including by way of relief from, or by any other Person assuming responsibility for, any liabilities, contingent or otherwise) at least equal to the fair market value (such fair market value to be determined on the date of contractually agreeing to such Asset Disposition), as determined in good faith by Holdings, of the shares and assets subject to such Asset Disposition (including, for the avoidance of doubt, if such Asset Disposition is a Permitted Asset Swap);

(2) in any such Asset Disposition, or series of related Asset Dispositions (except to the extent the Asset Disposition is a Permitted Asset Swap), at least 75.0% of the consideration from such Asset Disposition, together with all other Asset Dispositions since the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date (on a cumulative basis) (including by way of relief from, or by any other Person assuming responsibility for, any liabilities, contingent or otherwise), received by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; and

(3) within 540 days from the later of (A) the date of such Asset Disposition and (B) the receipt of the Net Available Cash from such Asset Disposition (as may be extended by an Acceptable Commitment, the “Proceeds Application Period”), an amount equal to the Net Available Cash (the “Applicable Proceeds”) is applied, to the extent Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, elects:

 

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(i) (x) to the extent such Net Available Cash is from an Asset Disposition of Collateral, (A) to reduce, prepay, repay or purchase any First Lien Obligations (other than the Notes), including Indebtedness under the First Lien Credit Agreement (or any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof); provided, however, that, to the extent Holdings or the Company reduces, prepays, repays or purchases such First Lien Obligations pursuant to this clause (A), the Company shall equally and ratably reduce Obligations under the Notes pursuant to Section 5.7 through open market purchases or in privately negotiated transactions or by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for a Collateral Asset Disposition Offer) to all Holders to purchase their Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus the amount of accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on the amount of Notes that would otherwise be prepaid, (B) to make an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for a Collateral Asset Disposition Offer), to redeem Notes pursuant to Section 5.7 or to purchase Notes through open market purchases or in privately negotiated transactions, or (C) to reduce, prepay, repay or purchase any Indebtedness of a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary (in each case, other than Indebtedness owed to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary); provided, however, that, in connection with any prepayment, repayment or purchase of Indebtedness pursuant to this clause (i)(x), Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary will retire such Indebtedness and will cause the related commitment (other than obligations in respect of any asset-based credit facility to the extent the assets sold or otherwise disposed of in connection with such Asset Disposition constituted “borrowing base assets”) to be reduced in an amount equal to the principal amount so prepaid, repaid or purchased; provided, further, that if any such offer to purchase any Notes is made, such amount will be deemed repaid to the extent of the amount of such offer, whether or not accepted by the holders of such Notes; and

(y) to the extent such Net Available Cash is from an Asset Disposition of assets or property that do not constitute Collateral, (A) to reduce, prepay, repay or purchase any Indebtedness secured by a Lien on such asset, (B) to reduce, prepay, repay or purchase Pari Passu Indebtedness; provided, however, that, to the extent Holdings or the Company reduces, prepays, repays or purchases such Pari Passu Indebtedness pursuant to this clause (B), the Company shall equally and ratably reduce Obligations under the Notes pursuant to Section 5.7 through open market purchases or in privately negotiated transactions or by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Disposition Offer) to all Holders to purchase their Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus the amount of accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on the amount of Notes that would otherwise be prepaid, (C) to make an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Disposition Offer), to redeem Notes pursuant to Section 5.7 or to purchase Notes through open market purchases or in privately negotiated transactions, or (D) to reduce, prepay, repay or purchase any Indebtedness of a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary (in each case, other than Indebtedness owed to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary); provided, however, that, in connection with any reduction, prepayment, repayment or purchase of Indebtedness pursuant to this clause (i)(y), Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary will retire such Indebtedness and will cause the related commitment (other than obligations in respect of any asset-based credit facility to the extent the assets sold or otherwise disposed of in connection with such Asset Disposition constituted “borrowing base assets”) to be reduced in an amount equal to the principal amount so reduced, prepaid, repaid or purchased; provided, further, that if any such offer to purchase any Notes is made, such amount will be deemed repaid to the extent of the amount of such offer, whether or not accepted by the holders of such Notes;

(ii) (A) to invest (including capital expenditures) in or commit to invest in Additional Assets (including by means of an investment in Additional Assets by a Restricted Subsidiary); or (B) to invest (including capital expenditures) in any one or more businesses, properties or assets that replace the businesses, properties and/or assets that are the subject of such Asset Disposition, with any such investment made by way of a capital or other lease valued at the present value of the minimum amount of payments under such lease (as reasonably determined by Holdings); provided, however, that a binding agreement shall be treated as a permitted application of Applicable Proceeds from the date of such commitment with the good faith expectation that an amount equal to Applicable Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment within 180 days of such commitment (an “Acceptable Commitment”); or (iii) any combination of the foregoing;

 

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provided that (1) pending the final application of the amount of any such Applicable Proceeds pursuant to this Section 3.5, Holdings or the applicable Restricted Subsidiaries may apply such Applicable Proceeds temporarily to reduce Indebtedness (including under the Credit Facility) or otherwise apply such Applicable Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture, and (2) Holdings (or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) may elect to invest in Additional Assets prior to receiving the Applicable Proceeds attributable to any given Asset Disposition (provided that such investment shall be made no earlier than the earliest of notice to the Trustee of the relevant Asset Disposition, execution of a definitive agreement for the relevant Asset Disposition, and consummation of the relevant Asset Disposition) and deem the amount so invested to be applied pursuant to and in accordance with clause (ii) above with respect to such Asset Disposition.

(b) If, with respect to any Asset Disposition of Collateral, at the expiration of the Proceeds Application Period with respect to such Asset Disposition, there remains Applicable Proceeds in excess of the greater of $70.0 million and 15.0% of LTM EBITDA (such amount of Applicable Proceeds that are equal to the greater of $70.0 million and 15.0% of LTM EBITDA, the “Collateral Retained Proceeds,” and such amount of Applicable Proceeds that are in excess of the greater of $70.0 million and 15.0% of LTM EBITDA, the “Collateral Excess Proceeds”), then subject to the limitations with respect to Foreign Dispositions set forth below, the Company shall make an offer (a “Collateral Asset Disposition Offer”) no later than ten Business Days after the expiration of the Proceeds Application Period to all Holders of Notes and, if required by the terms of any First Lien Obligations or Obligations secured by a Lien not prohibited by 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 First Lien Obligations or other Obligations, to purchase the maximum principal amount of such Notes, First Lien Obligations and other Obligations, as appropriate, on a pro rata basis, that may be purchased out of such Collateral Excess Proceeds, if any, at an offer price, in the case of the Notes, in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or in the event such other Indebtedness was issued with original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any (or such lesser price with respect to First Lien Obligations or other Obligations, if any, as may be provided by the terms of such other Indebtedness), to, but excluding, the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture and the agreement governing the First Lien Obligations or other Obligations, as applicable, in minimum denominations of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Notices of a Collateral Asset Disposition Offer shall be sent by first class mail or sent electronically, at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the purchase date to each Holder of the Notes at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC, with a copy to the Trustee. The Company may satisfy the foregoing obligation with respect to the Applicable Proceeds by making a Collateral Asset Disposition Offer prior to the expiration of the Proceeds Application Period (the “Collateral Advance Offer”) with respect to all or a part of the Applicable Proceeds (the “Collateral Advance Portion”) in advance of being required to do so by this Indenture.

(c) To the extent that the aggregate amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Notes and, if applicable, any other First Lien Obligations or Obligations secured by a Lien not prohibited by this Indenture on the Collateral disposed of, as the case may be, validly tendered or otherwise surrendered in connection with a Collateral Asset Disposition Offer made with Collateral Excess Proceeds (or, in the case of a Collateral Advance Offer, the Collateral Advance Portion) is less than the amount offered in a Collateral Asset Disposition Offer, the Company may include any remaining Collateral Excess Proceeds (or, in the case of a Collateral Advance Offer, the Collateral Advance Portion) in Collateral Retained Proceeds, and use such Collateral Retained Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of the Notes or, if applicable, First Lien Obligations or other Obligations validly tendered pursuant to any Collateral Asset Disposition Offer exceeds the amount of Collateral Excess Proceeds (or, in the case of a Collateral Advance Offer, the Collateral Advance Portion), the Company shall allocate the Collateral Excess Proceeds among the Notes, First Lien Obligations and other Obligations to be purchased on a pro rata basis on the basis of the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of tendered Notes, First Lien Obligations and other Obligations; provided that no Notes, First Lien Obligations or other Obligations will be selected and purchased in an unauthorized denomination. Upon completion of any Collateral Asset Disposition Offer, the amount of Applicable Proceeds and Collateral Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

 

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(d) If, with respect to any Asset Disposition of assets or property that do not constitute Collateral, at the expiration of the Proceeds Application Period with respect to such Asset Disposition, there remains Applicable Proceeds in excess of the greater of $70.0 million and 15.0% of LTM EBITDA (such amount of Applicable Proceeds that are equal to the greater of $70.0 million and 15.0% of LTM EBITDA, “Retained Proceeds,” and such amount of Applicable Proceeds that are in excess of the greater of $70.0 million and 15.0% of LTM EBITDA, “Excess Proceeds”), then subject to the limitations with respect to Foreign Dispositions set forth below, the Company shall make an offer (an “Asset Disposition Offer”) no later than ten Business Days after the expiration of the Proceeds Application Period to all Holders of Notes and, if required by the terms of any Pari Passu Indebtedness, to all holders of such Pari Passu Indebtedness, to purchase the maximum principal amount of such Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness, as appropriate, on a pro rata basis, that may be purchased out of such Excess Proceeds, if any, at an offer price, in the case of the Notes, in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or in the event such other Indebtedness was issued with original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any (or such lesser price with respect to Pari Passu Indebtedness, if any, as may be provided by the terms of such other Indebtedness), to, but excluding, 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, as applicable, in minimum denominations of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Notices of an Asset Disposition Offer shall be sent by first class mail or sent electronically, at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the purchase date to each Holder of the Notes at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC. The Company may satisfy the foregoing obligation with respect to the Applicable Proceeds by making an Asset Disposition Offer prior to the expiration of the Proceeds Application Period (the “Advance Offer”) with respect to all or a part of the Applicable Proceeds (the “Advance Portion”) in advance of being required to do so by this Indenture.

(e) To the extent that the aggregate amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Notes and, if applicable, any Pari Passu Indebtedness validly tendered or otherwise surrendered in connection with an Asset Disposition Offer made with Excess Proceeds (or, in the case of an Advance Offer, the Advance Portion) is less than the amount offered in an Asset Disposition Offer, the Company may include any remaining Excess Proceeds (or, in the case of an Advance Offer, the Advance Portion) in Retained Proceeds, and use such Retained Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of the Notes or, if applicable, Pari Passu Indebtedness validly tendered pursuant to any Asset Disposition Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds (or, in the case of an Advance Offer, the Advance Portion), the Company shall allocate the Excess Proceeds among the Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis on the basis of the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of tendered Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness; provided that no Notes or Pari Passu Indebtedness will be selected and purchased in an unauthorized denomination. Upon completion of any Asset Disposition Offer, the amount of Applicable Proceeds and Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero. To the extent that any portion of Net Available Cash payable in respect of the Notes is denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, the amount thereof payable in respect of the Notes shall not exceed the net amount of funds in U.S. dollars that is actually received by the Company upon converting such portion into U.S. dollars.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 3.5,

(i) to the extent that any of or all the Net Available Cash of any Asset Disposition is received or deemed to be received by a Foreign Subsidiary (a “Foreign Disposition”) is (x) prohibited or delayed by applicable local law, (y) restricted by applicable organizational documents or any agreement or (z) subject to other onerous organizational or administrative impediments, in each case, from being repatriated to the United States, an amount equal to the portion of such Net Available Cash so affected will not be required to be applied in compliance with this Section 3.5, and such amounts may be retained by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary so long, but only so long, as the applicable local law or regulation, applicable organizational documents or agreements or other impediments will not permit repatriation to the United States (Holdings hereby agreeing to use reasonable efforts (as determined in Holdings’ reasonable business judgment) to otherwise cause the applicable Foreign Subsidiary to within one year following the date on which the respective payment would otherwise have been required, promptly take all actions reasonably required by the applicable local law, applicable organizational impediments or other impediment to permit such repatriation), and if within one year following the date on which the respective payment would otherwise have been required such repatriation of any of such affected Net Available Cash is permitted under the applicable local law or regulation, applicable organizational documents or other impediments, such repatriation will be promptly effected and an amount equal to such repatriated Net Available Cash will be promptly (and in any event not later than five Business Days after such repatriation could be made) applied (net of additional Taxes payable or reserved against as a result thereof) (whether or not such repatriation actually occurs) in compliance with this Section 3.5; and

 

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(ii) to the extent that Holdings has determined in good faith that repatriation of, or an obligation to repatriate, any of or all the Net Available Cash of any Foreign Disposition would have an adverse Tax consequence (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes, but is not limited to, any prepayment whereby doing so Holdings, the Company, any of Holdings’ Subsidiaries, any Parent Entity or any of their respective affiliates and/or equity owners would incur a tax liability, including receipt of a taxable dividend, deemed dividend pursuant to Section 956 of the Code or a withholding tax), an amount equal to the Net Available Cash so affected may be retained by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 3.5 shall require Holdings to cause any amounts to be repatriated to the United States (whether or not such amounts are used in or excluded from the determination of the amount of any mandatory prepayments hereunder). The non-application of any prepayment amounts as a consequence of the foregoing provisions will not, for the avoidance of doubt, constitute a Default or an Event of Default.

(g) For the purposes of Section 3.5(a)(2) hereof, the following will be deemed to be cash:

(1) the assumption by the transferee of Indebtedness or other liabilities, contingent or otherwise, of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than Subordinated Indebtedness of Holdings, the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor) or the release of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary from all liability on such Indebtedness or other liability in connection with such Asset Disposition;

(2) securities, notes or other obligations received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary from the transferee that are converted by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents, or by their terms are required to be satisfied for cash and Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received), in each case, within 180 days following the closing of such Asset Disposition;

(3) Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Asset Disposition, to the extent that Holdings and each other Restricted Subsidiary are released from any Guarantee of payment of such Indebtedness in connection with such Asset Disposition;

(4) consideration consisting of Indebtedness of Holdings (other than Subordinated Indebtedness) received after the Existing Secured Notes Issue Date from Persons who are not Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary; and

(5) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Dispositions having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $70.0 million and 15.0% of LTM EBITDA (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).

(h) To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws, rules or regulations, including Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in this Indenture by virtue of compliance therewith.

 

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(i) The provisions of this Indenture relative to the Company’s obligation to make an offer to repurchase the Notes as a result of an Asset Disposition may be waived or modified with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

(j) The First Lien Credit Agreement may prohibit or limit, and future credit agreements or other agreements to which the Company becomes a party may prohibit or limit, the Company from purchasing any Notes pursuant to this Section 3.5. In the event the Company is prohibited from purchasing the Notes, the Company could seek the consent of its lenders to the purchase of the Notes or could attempt to refinance the borrowings that contain such prohibition. If the Company does not obtain such consent or repay such borrowings, it will remain prohibited from purchasing the Notes. In such case, the Company’s failure to purchase tendered Notes would constitute an Event of Default under this Indenture.

(k) To the extent that the provisions of any First Lien Obligations or any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement conflict with the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the application of proceeds of Asset Dispositions, the Company shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in this Indenture by virtue of compliance herewith.

SECTION 3.6 Limitation on Liens. Holdings shall not, and shall not permit the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to create, Incur or permit to exist any Lien (except Permitted Liens) (each, a “Subject Lien”) that secures Obligations under any Indebtedness on any asset or property of Holdings, the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, unless: (x) in the case of a Subject Lien on any Collateral, such Subject Lien (i) expressly has Junior Lien Priority on the Collateral relative to the Notes and related Note Guarantees or (ii) is a Permitted Lien; or (y) in the case of any Subject Lien on any asset or property that is not Collateral, (i) the Notes (or the Note Guarantee in the case of Subject Lien on assets or property of a Guarantor) are equally and ratably secured with (or on a senior basis to, in the case such Subject Lien secures any Subordinated Indebtedness) the Obligations secured by such Subject Lien until such time as such Obligations are no longer secured by such Subject Lien or (ii) such Subject Lien is a Permitted Lien.

Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders pursuant to clause (x) or (y) of the first paragraph of this Section 3.6 shall be deemed automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of each of the Liens described in clauses (x) and (y) of the first paragraph of this Section 3.6 or upon such Liens no longer attaching to assets or property of the Company or a Guarantor.

With respect to any Lien securing Indebtedness that was permitted to secure such Indebtedness at the time of the Incurrence of such Indebtedness, such Lien shall also be permitted to secure any Increased Amount of such Indebtedness. The “Increased Amount” of any Indebtedness means any increase in the amount of such Indebtedness in connection with any accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, accretion of original issue discount or liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies or increases in the value of property securing Indebtedness.

SECTION 3.7 Limitation on Guarantees.

(a) Holdings shall not permit any of its Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries (and non-Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiaries if such non-Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiaries guarantee, or are a co-issuer of, other capital markets debt securities of the Company or any Guarantor in a principal amount in excess of the greater of (x) $115.0 million and (y) 25.0% of LTM EBITDA), other than the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor or an Excluded Subsidiary, to Guarantee the payment of (i) any syndicated Credit Facility permitted under Section 3.2(b)(1) or (ii) capital markets debt securities of the Company or any Guarantor in a principal amount in excess of the greater of (x) $115.0 million and (y) 25.0% of LTM EBITDA 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 Holdings, the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Note 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 Guarantee of the Notes; and (2) such Restricted Subsidiary waives and will 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 Holdings 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,

 

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provided that this Section 3.7 shall not be applicable (i) 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, or (ii) in the event that the Guarantee of the Company’s obligations under the Notes or this Indenture by such Subsidiary would not be permitted under applicable law.

Each Person that becomes a Guarantor after the Issue Date shall also become a party to the applicable Security Documents (as and if applicable) and any applicable Intercreditor Agreement then in effect and shall as promptly as practicable (and in any event within such sixty day period) execute and deliver such Security Documents, security instruments, financing statements and other related deliverables (to the extent a comparable Security Document, instrument, financing statement or other related deliverable has previously been executed and delivered, in substantially the same form as those previously executed and delivered with respect to the Collateral on the Issue Date or on the date first delivered in the case of Collateral that this Indenture provides may be delivered after the Issue Date (to the extent, and substantially in the form, delivered on the Issue Date or the date first delivered, as applicable (but no greater scope))) as may be necessary to vest in the Notes Collateral Agent a perfected first-priority security interest (subject to the Perfection Exceptions and Permitted Liens) in properties and assets that constitute Collateral as security for such Guarantor’s Note Guarantee and as may be necessary to have such property or asset added to the Collateral as required under the Security Documents and this Indenture, and thereupon all provisions of this Indenture relating to the Collateral shall be deemed to relate to such properties and assets to the same extent and with the same force and effect.

(b) Holdings may elect, in its sole discretion, to cause or allow, as the case may be, any Subsidiary or any of its Parent Entities that is not otherwise required to be a Guarantor to become a Guarantor, in which case, such Subsidiary or Parent Entity shall not be required to comply with the 60-day period described in Section 3.7(a) and such Note Guarantee may be released at any time in Holdings’ sole discretion so long as any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary then outstanding could have been incurred by such Subsidiary (either (x) when so incurred or (y) at the time of the release of such Note Guarantee) assuming such Subsidiary were not a Guarantor at such time.

(c) Each Note Guarantee will also be released pursuant to Section 10.2.

SECTION 3.8 Limitation on Affiliate Transactions.

(a) Holdings shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to enter into or conduct any transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate of Holdings (an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate value in excess of the greater of $45.0 million and 10.0% of LTM EBITDA, unless:

(1) the terms of such Affiliate Transaction taken as a whole are not materially less favorable to Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that could be obtained in a comparable transaction at the time of such transaction or the execution of the agreement providing for such transaction in arm’s length dealings with a Person who is not such an Affiliate; and

(2) in the event such Affiliate Transaction involves an aggregate value in excess of the greater of $115.0 million and 25.0% of LTM EBITDA, the terms of such transaction have been approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of Holdings.

 

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Any Affiliate Transaction shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements set forth in clause (2) of this Section 3.8(a) if such Affiliate Transaction is approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors of Holdings, if any.

(b) The provisions of Section 3.8(a) shall not apply to:

(1) any Restricted Payment or other transaction permitted to be made or undertaken pursuant to Section 3.3 (including Permitted Payments) or any Permitted Investment;

(2) any issuance, transfer or sale of (a) Capital Stock, options, other equity-related interests or other securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, or entering into, or maintenance of, any employment, consulting, collective bargaining or benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement, related trust or other similar agreement and other compensation arrangements, options, warrants or other rights to purchase Capital Stock of Holdings, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent Entity, restricted stock plans, long-term incentive plans, stock appreciation rights plans, participation plans or similar employee benefits or consultants’ plans (including valuation, health, insurance, deferred compensation, severance, retirement, savings or similar plans, programs or arrangements) or indemnities provided to or on behalf of any Parent Entity, Permitted Holder or future, current or former officers, employees, directors, managers, contractors, advisors or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of Holdings, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Parent Entities and (b) directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals as required under applicable law;

(3) any Management Advances and any waiver or transaction with respect thereto;

(4) (a) any transaction between or among Holdings and any Restricted Subsidiary (or entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction), or between or among Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) any merger, amalgamation or consolidation with any Parent Entity; provided that such Parent Entity shall have no material liabilities and no material assets other than cash, Cash Equivalents and the Capital Stock of Holdings and such merger, amalgamation or consolidation is otherwise not prohibited under this Indenture;

(5) the payment of compensation, fees (including advisory, legal, consulting and exit), costs and reimbursement of expenses to, indemnities (including under insurance policies), employment and severance arrangements, and employee benefit and pension expenses provided on behalf of, or for the benefit of, future, current or former employees, directors, officers, managers, contractors, consultants, distributors or advisors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of Holdings, any Parent Entity or any Restricted Subsidiary (whether directly or indirectly and including through their Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members);

(6) the entry into and performance of obligations of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under the terms of any transaction arising out of, and any payments pursuant to or for purposes of funding, any agreement or instrument in effect as of or on the Issue Date, as these agreements and instruments may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed or refinanced from time to time in accordance with the other terms of this Section 3.8 or to the extent not more disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders when taken as a whole as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect on the Issue Date;

 

 

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(7) any 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; (8) transactions with customers, vendors, clients, joint venture partners, suppliers, contractors, distributors or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, which are fair to Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries in the reasonable determination of Holdings or are on terms, taken as a whole, that are not materially less favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

(9) any transaction between or among Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Person that is an Affiliate of Holdings or an Associate or similar entity solely because Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary or any Affiliate of Holdings owns an equity interest in or otherwise controls such Affiliate, Associate or similar entity;

(10) issuances, transfers or sales of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) of Holdings, any Parent Entity or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or options, warrants or other rights to acquire such Capital Stock and the granting of registration and other customary rights (and the performance of the related obligations) in connection therewith or any contribution to capital of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(11) [reserved];

(12) [reserved];

(13) [reserved];

(14) transactions in which Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of Section 3.8(a)(1);

(15) the existence of, or the performance by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of its obligations under the terms of, any equityholders, investor rights or similar agreement (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreements related thereto) to which it is party as of the Issue Date and any similar agreement that it (or any Parent Entity) may enter into thereafter; provided, however, that the existence of, or the performance by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (or any Parent Entity) of its obligations under any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Issue Date will only be permitted under this clause to the extent that the terms of any such amendment or new agreement are not otherwise, when taken as a whole, more disadvantageous to the Holders in any material respect;

(16) any purchase by Holdings’ Affiliates of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries the majority of which Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock is purchased by Persons who are not Holdings’ Affiliates; provided that such purchases by Holdings’ Affiliates are on the same terms as such purchases by such Persons who are not Holdings’ Affiliates;

(17) (i) investments by Affiliates in securities or loans of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (and payment of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such Affiliates in connection therewith) so long as the investment is being offered by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary generally to other non-affiliated third party investors on the same or more favorable terms and (ii) payments to Affiliates in respect of securities or loans of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries contemplated in the foregoing subclause (i) or that were acquired from Persons other than Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, in accordance with the terms of such securities or loans;

 

 

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(18) payments by Holdings (and any Parent Entity) and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to any tax sharing or receivable agreements or other equity agreements in respect of “Related Taxes” among Holdings (and any such Parent Entity) and its Restricted Subsidiaries on customary terms to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of Holdings and its Subsidiaries; (19) payments, Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock (and cancellation of any thereof) of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries and Preferred Stock (and cancellation of any thereof) of any Restricted Subsidiary to any future, current or former employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of Holdings, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Parent Entities pursuant to any management equity plan, stock option plan, phantom equity plan or any other management, employee benefit or other compensatory plan or agreement (and any successor plans or arrangements thereto), employment, termination or severance agreement, or any stock subscription or equityholder agreement with any such employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) that are, in each case, approved by Holdings in good faith;

(20) any management equity plan, stock option plan, phantom equity plan or any other management, employee benefit or other compensatory plan or agreement (and any successor plans or arrangements thereto), employment, termination or severance agreement, or any stock subscription or equityholder agreement between Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries and any distributor, employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) approved by the reasonable determination of Holdings or entered into in connection with the Transactions;

(21) any transition services arrangement, supply arrangement or similar arrangement entered into in connection with or in contemplation of the disposition of assets or Capital Stock in any Restricted Subsidiary permitted under Section 3.5 or entered into with any Business Successor, in each case, that the Company determines in good faith is either fair to Holdings or otherwise on customary terms for such type of arrangements in connection with similar transactions;

(22) transactions entered into by an Unrestricted Subsidiary with an Affiliate prior to the day such Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary as described under Section 3.16 and pledges of Capital Stock of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(23) (i) any lease entered into between Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, as lessee, and any Affiliate of Holdings, as lessor and (ii) any operational services or other arrangement entered into between Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Affiliate of Holdings, in each case, which is approved by the reasonable determination of Holdings;

(24) intellectual property licenses in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(25) any Permitted Tax Restructuring, Intercompany License Agreement, Permitted Intercompany Activity and related transactions;

(26) payments to or from, and transactions with, any Subsidiary or any joint venture in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice (including any cash management arrangements or activities related thereto);

(27) the payment of fees and expenses related to registration rights and indemnities provided to equityholders pursuant to equityholders, investor rights, registration rights or similar agreements; and

(28) transactions undertaken in the ordinary course of business pursuant to membership in a purchasing consortium.

 

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In addition, if Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) purchases or otherwise acquires assets or properties from a Person that is not an Affiliate, the purchase or acquisition by an Affiliate of Holdings of an interest in all or a portion of the assets or properties acquired shall not be deemed an Affiliate Transaction (or cause such purchase or acquisition by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary to be deemed an Affiliate Transaction) or (ii) sells or otherwise disposes of assets or other properties to a Person that is not an Affiliate, the sale or other disposition by an Affiliate of Holdings of an interest in all or a portion of the assets or properties sold shall not be deemed an Affiliate Transaction (or cause such sale or other disposition by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary to be deemed an Affiliate Transaction).

SECTION 3.9 Change of Control.

(a) If a Change of Control occurs, unless a third party makes a Change of Control Offer or the Company has previously or substantially concurrently therewith delivered a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes as set forth in Section 5.7 or Section 3.9(c), the Company shall make an offer to purchase all of the Notes pursuant to the offer described in this Section 3.9 (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, but excluding, the date of repurchase; provided that if the date of repurchase is on or after the record date and on or before the corresponding interest payment date, then Holders in whose names the Notes are registered at the close of business on such record date will receive interest on the date of repurchase. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company will deliver or cause to be delivered a notice of such Change of Control Offer electronically in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC or by first-class mail, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes at the address of such Holder appearing in the security register 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 3.9, and that all Notes properly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer will be accepted for payment by the Company;

(2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which will be no earlier than 10 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is delivered (the “Change of Control Payment Date”);

(3) that any Note not properly tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest;

(4) that unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest, on the Change of Control Payment Date;

(5) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender such Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of such Notes completed, to the Paying Agent specified in the notice at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;

(6) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their tendered Notes and their election to require the Company to purchase such Notes; provided that the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day prior to the expiration date of the Change of Control Offer, 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 Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes and such new Notes will be equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered.

 

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The unpurchased portion of the Notes must be equal to at least $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000;

(8) if such notice is 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 Company, consistent with this Section 3.9, that a Holder must follow.

The Paying Agent will promptly deliver to each Holder of the Notes tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.

If the Change of Control Payment Date is on or after a record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest will be paid on the relevant interest payment date to the Holder in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC.

(b) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent permitted by law,

(1) accept for payment all Notes issued by it or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer,

(2) 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 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 Company.

(c) The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control if (x) 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 Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer or (y) a notice of redemption of all outstanding Notes has been given pursuant to Section 5.7 hereof unless and until there is a default in the payment of the redemption price on the applicable Redemption Date or the redemption is not consummated due to the failure of a condition precedent contained in the applicable redemption notice to be satisfied.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.9, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditional upon such Change of Control.

(e) The provisions of this Indenture relative to the Company’s obligation to make an offer to repurchase the Notes as a result of a Change of Control may, to the extent permitted by Article IX hereof, be waived or modified with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

(f) While the Notes are in global form and the Company makes an offer to purchase all of the Notes pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, a Holder may exercise its option to elect for the purchase of the Notes through the facilities of DTC, subject to its rules and regulations.

(g) To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws, rules or regulations, including Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, including this Section 3.9, the Company shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in this Indenture or this Section 3.9 by virtue of compliance therewith. The Company may rely on any no-action letters issued by the SEC indicating that the staff of the SEC will not recommend enforcement action in the event a tender offer satisfies certain conditions.

 

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SECTION 3.10 Reports.

(a) Notwithstanding that Holdings 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 Company shall furnish to the Trustee, within 15 days after any time periods specified below:

(1) within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the Issue Date (or if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day), 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 Holdings’ independent registered public accounting firm;

(2) within 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year beginning with the first fiscal quarter ending after the Issue Date (or if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day), 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, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP; and

(3) promptly after the occurrence of any of the following events occurring after the Issue Date (but in no event sooner than the filing deadline applicable to a comparable report on Form 8-K), all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K as in effect on the Issue Date (if Holdings had been a reporting company under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act); provided, that the foregoing shall not obligate Holdings to make available (i) any information regarding the occurrence of any of the following events if the Company determines in its reasonable determination 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 Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) an exhibit or a summary of the terms of, any employment or compensatory arrangement, agreement, plan or understanding between Holdings (or any of its Subsidiaries) and any director, manager or officer of Holdings (or any of its Subsidiaries), (iii) copies of any agreements, financial statements, reports, letters or other items that would be required to be filed as exhibits to a current report on Form 8-K or (iv) any trade secrets, privileged or confidential information obtained from another Person and competitively sensitive information:

(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”);

(C) bankruptcy;

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

(E) a change in Holdings’ certifying independent auditor;

(F) the appointment or departure of directors or executive officers (with respect to the principal executive officer, president, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and principal operating officer only); (G) non-reliance on previously issued financial statements; and

 

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(H) change of control transactions,

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 and subject to exceptions consistent with the presentation of information in the Offering Memorandum; provided, however, that Holdings shall not be required to (i) comply with Regulation G under the Exchange Act or Item 10(e), Item 302, Item 402 or Item 601 of Regulation S-K (or any successor provision), (ii) provide XBRL exhibits, (iii) provide earnings per share (or applicable equivalent equity interest) information or segment reporting and disclosure (including any required by FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 280), (iv) provide information regarding executive compensation and related party disclosure related to SEC Release Nos. 33-8732A, 34-54302A and IC-27444A, (v) provide climate-related disclosures related to SEC Release Nos. 33-11275 and 34-99678, including, without limitation, any information, reports or exhibits required by Article 14 of Regulation S-X or Item 1506 of Regulation S-K, (vi) provide any information that is customarily excluded from an offering memorandum, including information that is not otherwise similar to the information currently included in the Offering Memorandum or (vii) provide separate financial statements or other information contemplated by Rule 3-03(e), Rule 3-05, Rule 3-09, Rule 3-10, Rule 3-16 or Rule 4-08 of Regulation S-X or, in each case, any successor provisions or any schedules required by Regulation S-X. In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, Holdings will not be required to (x) comply with Sections 302, 906 and 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, or (y) otherwise furnish any information, certificates or reports required by Items 307 or 308 of Regulation S-K (or any successor provision). To the extent any such information is not so filed or furnished, as applicable, within the time periods specified above and such information is subsequently filed or furnished, as applicable, Holdings will be deemed to have satisfied its obligations with respect thereto at such time and any Default with respect thereto shall be deemed to have been cured; provided that such cure shall not otherwise affect the rights of the Holders under Section 6.1 hereof if Holders of at least 30.0% in principal amount of the 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, Holdings shall agree that, for so long as any Notes are outstanding, it shall 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) Substantially concurrently with the furnishing or making such information available to the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.10(a), Holdings shall also use its commercially reasonable efforts to post copies of such information required by Section 3.10(a) on a website (which may be nonpublic, require a confidentiality acknowledgement and may be maintained by Holdings or a third party) to which access will be given to Holders, bona fide prospective investors in the Notes (which prospective investors shall be limited to QIBs or non-U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) that certify their status as such to the reasonable satisfaction of Holdings), and securities analysts (to the extent providing analysis of an investment in the Notes) and market making financial institutions that are reasonably satisfactory to the Company who agree to treat such information and reports as confidential; provided that Holdings may deny access to any competitively-sensitive information and reports otherwise to be provided pursuant to this Section 3.10(b) to any Holder, bona fide prospective investors, security analyst or market maker that is a competitor of Holdings and its Subsidiaries to the extent that Holdings determines in good faith that the provision of such information and reports to such Person would be competitively harmful to Holdings and its Subsidiaries. To the extent Holdings 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, Holdings shall furnish such reports to the Holders of the Notes, upon their written request. Holdings 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 therein) 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.

(c) Holdings will also hold quarterly conference calls for the Holders of Notes, bona fide prospective investors in the Notes and securities analysts and market making financial institutions, to discuss financial information for the previous quarter (it being understood that such quarterly conference call may be the same conference call as with Holdings’ (or as applicable, any of any Parent Entity’s) equity investors and analysts). Prior to the conference call, Holdings will announce the time and date of such conference call and provide instructions for Holders, securities analysts, bona fide prospective investors and market making financial institutions to obtain access to such call.

 

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(d) If Holdings has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries and such Unrestricted Subsidiaries hold in the aggregate more than 5.0% of the Total Assets of Holdings, then the annual and quarterly information required by Sections 3.10(a)(1) and (2) will include supplemental financial information necessary to eliminate the accounts of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries from such consolidated financial statements.

(e) Holdings may satisfy its obligations pursuant to this Section 3.10 with respect to financial information relating to Holdings by furnishing financial information relating to a Parent Entity; provided that the same is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such Parent Entity (and other direct or indirect Parent Entities included in such information, if any), on the one hand, and the information relating to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand, which consolidating information need not be audited.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 3.10, if Holdings or any Parent Entity has furnished to the Holders of Notes or filed with the SEC the reports described in clauses (a) through (e) of this Section 3.10 with respect to Holdings or any Parent Entity, Holdings shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions of this Section 3.10.

(g) The Trustee shall have no duty to review or analyze any reports furnished or made available to it. Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under this Indenture is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such reports shall not constitute actual or constructive knowledge of the information contained therein or determinable therefrom, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants (as to which the Trustee is entitled to conclusively rely on an Officer’s Certificate).

SECTION 3.11 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Company will maintain an office or agency where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment, where, if applicable, the Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange. The corporate trust office of the Trustee, which initially shall be located at U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, One Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110 Attention: Global Corporate Trust Boston (Wayfair Notes Administrator), shall be such office or agency of the Company, unless the Company shall designate and maintain some other office or agency for one or more of such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change in the location of any such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations and surrenders may be made or served at the corporate trust office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations and surrenders.

The Company 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 any such designation. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and any change in the location of any such other office or agency. No office of the Trustee shall be an office or agency of the Company for the purposes of service of legal process on the Company or any Guarantor.

SECTION 3.12 Corporate Existence. Except as otherwise provided in this Article III, Article IV and Section 10.2(b), Holdings will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, corporate or otherwise, and the corporate, partnership, limited liability company or other existence of each Restricted Subsidiary and the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of Holdings and each Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that Holdings shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise or the corporate, partnership, limited liability company or other existence of any Restricted Subsidiary if the respective Board of Directors or, with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Significant Subsidiary (or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken together would not be a Significant Subsidiary), senior management of Holdings determines that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of Holdings and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not, and will not be, disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

 

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SECTION 3.13 Payment of Taxes. Holdings shall pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon Holdings or any Subsidiary; provided, however, that Holdings shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim the amount, applicability or validity of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which appropriate reserves, if necessary (in the good faith judgment of management of Holdings), are being maintained in accordance with GAAP or where the failure to effect such payment will not be disadvantageous to the Holders.

SECTION 3.14 Compliance Certificate. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company an Officer’s Certificate, signed by the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company, stating that in the course of the performance by the signer of his or her duties as an Officer of the Company he or she would normally have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default and whether or not the signer knows of any Default or Event of Default that occurred during the previous fiscal year; provided that no such Officer’s Certificate shall be required for any fiscal year ended prior to the Issue Date. If such Officer does have such knowledge, the certificate shall describe the Default or Event of Default, its status and the action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

SECTION 3.15 Statement by Officers as to Default. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible and in any event within 30 days after the Board of Directors of the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Default, its status and the actions which the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

SECTION 3.16 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries. Holdings may designate any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Company) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause an Event of Default specified under Section 6.1 (with respect to Holdings or the Company). If a Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate fair market value of all outstanding Investments owned by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be deemed to be an Investment made as of the time of the designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 3.3 herein or under one or more clauses of the definition of Permitted Investments, as determined by Holdings. That designation will only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Holdings may redesignate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary if that redesignation would not cause an Event of Default specified under Section 6.1 (with respect to Holdings or the Company).

Any designation of a Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Company) as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complies with the preceding conditions and was not prohibited by Section 3.3.

Holdings may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings; provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 3.2 (including pursuant to Section 3.2(b)(5) thereof treating such redesignation as an acquisition for the purpose of such clause), calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable reference period (as defined in the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”); and (2) no Event of Default specified under Section 6.1 (with respect to Holdings or the Company) would be in existence following such designation. Any such designation will be a return of capital on any Investment by Holdings or its applicable Restricted Subsidiary in Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the preceding sentence in an amount equal to the fair market value at the date of such designation of Holdings’ or its Subsidiary’s Investment in such Subsidiary. Any such designation by Holdings shall be evidenced to the Trustee by an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complies with the preceding conditions.

 

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SECTION 3.17 Suspension of Certain Covenants on Achievement of Investment Grade Status. If on any day following the Issue Date, the Notes have achieved Investment Grade Status and no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, then, beginning on that day and continuing until a Reversion Date (as defined below) (such period a “Suspension Period”), if any, the Note Guarantees will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged and Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.7, 3.8 and Section 4.1(a)(3) (collectively, the “Suspended Covenants”).

If at any time the Notes cease to have such Investment Grade Status, then the Suspended Covenants will thereafter be reinstated as if such covenants had never been suspended (such date, a “Reversion Date”) and shall be applicable pursuant to the terms of this Indenture (including in connection with performing any calculation or assessment to determine compliance with the terms of this Indenture), unless and until the Notes subsequently attain Investment Grade Status and no Event of Default is in existence (in which event the Suspended Covenants shall no longer be in effect for such time that the Notes maintain an Investment Grade Status); provided, however, that no Default, Event of Default or breach of any kind shall be deemed to exist under this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees with respect to the Suspended Covenants based on, and none of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries shall bear any liability for, any actions taken or events occurring during the Suspension Period, or any actions taken at any time pursuant to any contractual obligation arising prior to the Reversion Date, regardless of whether such actions or events would have been permitted if the applicable Suspended Covenants remained in effect during such period.

During the Suspension Period, Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be entitled to incur Liens to the extent provided for under Section 3.6 (including, without limitation, Permitted Liens) and any Permitted Liens which may refer to one or more Suspended Covenants shall be interpreted as though such applicable Suspended Covenant(s) continued to be applicable during the Suspension Period (but solely for purposes of Section 3.6 and the “Permitted Liens” definition and for no other section).

On the Reversion Date, all Indebtedness Incurred during the Suspension Period will be deemed to have been outstanding on the Issue Date, so that it is classified as permitted under Section 3.2(b)(4)(ii). Calculations made after the Reversion Date of the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 3.3 will be made as though the covenant described under Section 3.3 had been in effect since the Issue Date and 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 3.3. On the Reversion Date, the amount of Collateral Excess Proceeds and Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero. Any Affiliate Transaction entered into after the Reversion Date pursuant to an agreement entered into during any Suspension Period will be deemed to have been outstanding on the Issue Date, and accordingly will be classified as permitted under Section 3.8(b)(6). Any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to take any action described in Section 3.4(a)(1) through (3) that becomes effective during the Suspension Period will be deemed to have existed on the Issue Date, and accordingly will be classified as permitted under Section 3.4(b)(1). In addition, any future obligation to grant further Note Guarantees shall be released. All such further obligations to grant Note Guarantees shall be reinstated on the Reversion Date. As described above, however, no Default, Event of Default or breach of any kind shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of or on the Reversion Date occurring on the basis or as a result of any actions taken or the continuance of any circumstances resulting from actions taken or the performance of obligations under agreements entered into by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries during the Suspension Period.

On and after each Reversion Date, Holdings and its Subsidiaries shall be permitted to consummate the transactions contemplated by any contract entered into during the Suspension Period, so long as such contract and such consummation would have been permitted during such Suspension Period.

The Company, in an Officer’s Certificate, shall provide the Trustee notice of any Covenant Suspension or Reversion Date. The Trustee will have no obligation to (i) independently determine or verify if such events have occurred or (ii) make any determination regarding the impact of actions taken during the Suspension Period on the Company’s future compliance with its covenants. In addition, the Trustee shall have no duty to monitor the ratings of the Notes, shall not be deemed to have any knowledge of the ratings of the Notes and shall have no duty to notify Holders if the Notes achieve Investment Grade Status or of the occurrence of a Reversion Date or to independently determine if such events have occurred.

 

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SECTION 3.18 After-Acquired Collateral.

From and after the Issue Date, and subject to the Perfection Exceptions and the limitations and exceptions set forth in the Security Documents, if (a) any Subsidiary of Holdings becomes a Guarantor or (b) the Company 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 Property 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 (within the time period required under this Indenture or thereunder) to vest in the Notes Collateral Agent a first-priority perfected security interest (subject to Permitted Liens) in such after-acquired collateral (or all of its assets, except Excluded Property, in the case of a new Guarantor) and to take such actions to add such after-acquired collateral (or such assets, in the case of a new Guarantor) to the Collateral, 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 (or such assets, in the case of a new Guarantor) to the same extent and with the same force and effect. From and after the Issue Date, if the Company or any Guarantor creates any additional security interest upon any property or asset to secure any First Lien Obligations, it must substantially concurrently grant a first-priority security interest (subject to Permitted Liens and the Perfection Exceptions) upon any such property or asset, as security for the First Lien Notes Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, Opinions of Counsel will not be required in connection with any additional Guarantors entering into the Security Documents or to vest in the Notes Collateral Agent a perfected security interest in after-acquired collateral owned by the Company or such Guarantors.

Subject to the Perfection Exceptions and any applicable limitations set forth in the Security Documents and other than when in the reasonable determination of Holdings the cost or other consequences of doing so would be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Holders therefrom, Holdings will cause such assets to be subjected to a Lien securing the Obligations and will take, and cause the Company and/or any other applicable Subsidiary Guarantor to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Notes Collateral Agent, as soon as commercially reasonable but in no event later than 90 days to grant and perfect such Liens consistent with the applicable requirements of the Security Documents, including actions described in this Section 3.18.

SECTION 3.19 Post-Closing Deliverables. The Company agrees that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Notes Collateral Agent (or its bailee or agent pursuant to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement) the items described on Schedule II by the times specified on such Schedule II with respect to such items. All conditions precedent, covenants and representations and warranties contained in this Indenture and the other Note Documents shall be deemed modified to the extent necessary to effect the foregoing (and to permit the taking of the actions described on Schedule II within the time periods required by Schedule II), rather than as elsewhere provided in the Note Documents.

SECTION 3.20 Limitations on Dispositions and Other Transfers of Material Intellectual Property. None of the Company or any Guarantor shall sell, lease, sublease, dispose of or otherwise transfer (including pursuant to an Investment) any Material Intellectual Property that is owned by or exclusively licensed to the Company or such Guarantor to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not the Company or a Guarantor; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and each Guarantor may enter into non-exclusive intercompany intellectual property licenses and research and development arrangements in the ordinary course of business.

ARTICLE IV

SUCCESSOR COMPANY; SUCCESSOR PERSON

SECTION 4.1 Merger, Amalgamation and Consolidation.

(a) Neither Holdings nor the Company will consolidate with or merge or amalgamate with or into or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all its assets, in one transaction or a series of related transactions to any Person, unless:

(1) Holdings or the Company, as applicable, is the surviving Person or the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “Successor Company”) will be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof and the Successor Company (if not Holdings or the Company, as applicable) will expressly assume, by supplemental indenture or other document or instrument, executed and delivered to the Trustee, all the obligations of Holdings or the Company, as applicable, under the Note Documents; (2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness that becomes an obligation of the applicable Successor Company or any Subsidiary of the applicable Successor Company as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the applicable Successor Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Event of Default under Section 6.1(a)(1), (2), (9) or (10) shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

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(3) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, either (a) the applicable Successor Company, Holdings or the Company (as applicable) would be able to Incur at least an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 3.2(a) hereof, (b) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the applicable Successor Company, Holdings or the Company (as applicable) and the Restricted Subsidiaries would not be lower than it was immediately prior to giving effect to such transaction or (c) the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio of the applicable Successor Company, Holdings or the Company (as applicable) and its Restricted Subsidiaries would not be higher than it was immediately prior to giving effect to such transaction;

(4) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, amalgamation or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such supplemental indenture (if any) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered and is a legal, valid and binding agreement enforceable against the Successor Company; provided that in giving an Opinion of Counsel, counsel may rely on an Officer’s Certificate as to any matters of fact, including as to satisfaction of clauses (2) and (3) above; and

(5) to the extent any assets of the Person which is merged or consolidated with or into Holdings or the Company, as applicable, are assets of the type which would constitute Collateral under the Security Documents, Holdings, the Company or the Successor Company, 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 Document in the manner and to the extent required in this Indenture or the applicable Security Document 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 Company will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, Holdings or the Company, as applicable, under the Note Documents, and Holdings or the Company, as applicable, will automatically and unconditionally be released and discharged from its obligations under the Note Documents.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.1, (i) Holdings or the Company, as applicable, may consolidate or otherwise combine with, merge or amalgamate into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to a Guarantor, (ii) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate or otherwise combine with, merge or amalgamate into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to Holdings, the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries may complete any Permitted Tax Restructuring and (iv) Holdings or the Company, as applicable, may consolidate or otherwise combine with or merge or amalgamate into an Affiliate incorporated or organized for the purpose of changing the legal domicile of Holdings or the Company, reincorporating Holdings or the Company in another jurisdiction, or changing the legal form of Holdings or the Company.

(d) The foregoing provisions (other than the requirements of clause (a)(2) of this Section 4.1) shall not apply to the creation of a new Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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(e) Subject to certain limitations described in this Indenture governing release of a Guarantee upon the sale, disposition or transfer of a Guarantor, no Guarantor (other than Holdings, except as described in Section 4.1(a) through (d)) may:

(1) consolidate with or merge or amalgamate with or into any Person;

(2) sell, convey, transfer or dispose of all or substantially all its assets, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to any Person;

(3) permit any Person to merge or amalgamate with or into such Guarantor, unless

(i) the other Person is Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor or becomes a Guarantor concurrently with the transaction; or

(ii) (A) either (x) Holdings, the Company or a Guarantor is the continuing Person or (y) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person expressly assumes all the obligations of the Guarantor under the Note Documents and, to the extent any assets of the Person which is merged or consolidated with or into the Guarantor are assets of the type which would constitute Collateral under the Security Documents, such 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 Document in the manner and to the extent required in this Indenture or the applicable Security Document and shall take all reasonably necessary action so that such Lien is perfected to the extent required by the applicable Security Documents; and (B) immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; or

(iii) the transaction constitutes a sale, disposition or transfer (including by way of consolidation, merger or amalgamation) of the Guarantor or the conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all the assets of the Guarantor (in each case other than to Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary) otherwise not prohibited by this Indenture.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.1, any Guarantor may (a) consolidate or otherwise combine with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to Holdings, another Guarantor or the Company, (b) consolidate or otherwise combine with or merge into an Affiliate incorporated or organized for the purpose of changing the legal domicile of the Guarantor, reincorporating the Guarantor in another jurisdiction, or changing the legal form of the Guarantor, (c) convert into a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company or trust organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Guarantor, (d) liquidate or dissolve or change its legal form if the Company determines in good faith that such action is in the best interests of the Company and (e) complete any Permitted Tax Restructuring. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.1, Holdings or the Company may contribute Capital Stock of any or all of its Subsidiaries to any Guarantor.

Any reference herein to a merger, consolidation, amalgamation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, shall be deemed to apply to a division of or by a limited liability company, limited partnership or trust, or an allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability company, limited partnership or trust (or the unwinding of such a division or allocation), as if it were a merger, consolidation, amalgamation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, as applicable, to, of or with a separate Person. Any division of a limited liability company, limited partnership or trust shall constitute a separate Person hereunder (and each division of any limited liability company, limited partnership or trust that is a Subsidiary, Restricted Subsidiary, Unrestricted Subsidiary, joint venture or any other like term shall also constitute such a Person or entity).

 

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ARTICLE V

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 5.1 Notices to Trustee. If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 5.7 hereof, it must furnish to the Trustee, at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before a Redemption Date, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth:

(1) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur;

(2) the Redemption Date;

(3) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed; and

(4) the redemption price.

Any optional redemption referenced in such Officer’s Certificate may be cancelled by the Company at any time prior to notice of redemption being sent to any Holder and thereafter shall be null and void.

SECTION 5.2 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed pursuant to Section 5.7 or a redemption pursuant to Section 5.6, the Trustee will select Notes for redemption (a) if the Notes are held through DTC (including in global form) or if DTC prescribes a method of selection, in compliance with the applicable requirements of DTC and (b) if the Notes are not held through DTC or DTC prescribes no method of selection (including if the Notes are held in definitive form), by lot or on a pro rata basis (subject to adjustments to maintain the authorized Notes denomination requirements) except:

(1) if the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Notes are listed; or

(2) if otherwise required by law.

No Notes in an unauthorized denomination or of $2,000 in aggregate principal amount or less shall be redeemed in part. In the event of partial redemption, the particular Notes to be redeemed will be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption; provided that the Company shall provide the Trustee with sufficient notice of such partial redemption to enable the Trustee to select the Notes for partial redemption.

The Trustee will promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or purchased. Notes and portions of Notes selected will be in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

SECTION 5.3 Notice of Redemption. At least 10 days but not more than 60 days before a Redemption Date, the Company will send or cause to be sent, by electronic delivery or, at the Company’s option, by first class mail postage prepaid, a notice of redemption to each Holder (with a copy to the Trustee) whose Notes are to be redeemed at the address of such Holder appearing in the security register or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC, with a copy to the Trustee, except that redemption notices may be delivered electronically or mailed more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Articles VIII or XI hereof.

The notice will identify the Notes (including the CUSIP or ISIN number) to be redeemed and will state:

(1) the Redemption Date;

 

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(2) the redemption price;

(3) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note 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 will be issued upon cancellation of the original Note or, in the case of a Global Note, an appropriate notation will be made on such Note to decrease the principal amount thereof to an amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof;

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

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

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

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

(8) 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.

At the Company’s request, the Trustee will give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Company has delivered to the Trustee, at least 15 days (or such shorter period as shall be acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the Redemption Date (or such shorter period as the Trustee may agree), 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.

Notice of any redemption of the Notes may, at the Company’s discretion, be given prior to the completion of a transaction (including but not limited to an Equity Offering, an Incurrence of Indebtedness, a Change of Control or other transaction) and any redemption notice may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of a related transaction. 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 Company’s discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time (including more than 60 days after the date the notice of redemption was mailed or delivered, including by electronic transmission) 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. In addition, the Company may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Company’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.

SECTION 5.4 [Reserved].

SECTION 5.5 Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price. Prior to 11:00 a.m. (Eastern time) on the Redemption Date or purchase date, as the case may be, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued interest on, all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent will promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption or purchase price of, and accrued interest, on, all Notes to be redeemed or purchased.

If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the applicable Redemption Date or purchase date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase. If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after a record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date shall be paid on the Redemption Date to the Holder in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC. If any Note called for redemption or purchase is not so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or purchase date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 3.1 hereof.

 

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SECTION 5.6 Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part. Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee will authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered; provided, that each such new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. In the case of a Global Note, an appropriate notation will be made on such Note to decrease the principal amount thereof to an amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof.

SECTION 5.7 Optional Redemption.

(a) At any time prior to September 15, 2027, the Company may redeem the Notes in whole or in part, at its option, in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Article V, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) equal to 100.000% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the relevant Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of redemption (the “Redemption Date”), subject to the rights of Holders of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

(b) At any time and from time to time prior to September 15, 2027, the Company may, on one or more occasions, in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Article V, redeem up to 40.0% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture (including Additional Notes) at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) equal to 107.750% of the principal amount of such Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, with the Net Cash Proceeds received by the Company from any Equity Offerings of the Company; provided that not less than 50.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes issued under this Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption (including Additional Notes but excluding Notes held by Holdings, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) unless all such Notes are redeemed substantially concurrently; provided, further, that each such redemption occurs not later than 180 days after the date of closing of the related Equity Offering. The Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased in the manner described under Sections 5.1 through 5.6.

(c) In addition, at any time and from time to time prior to September 15, 2027, the Company may redeem up to 10.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued under this Indenture (including Additional Notes) during any twelve-month period, in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Article V, at a redemption price equal to 103.000% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

(d) [Reserved].

(e) Except pursuant to clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 5.7, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to September 15, 2027.

(f) At any time and from time to time on or after September 15, 2027, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Article V, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth in the table below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed, to but excluding the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on September 15 of each of the years indicated in the table below:

 

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Period

   Percentage  

2027

     103.875

2028

     101.938

2029 and thereafter

     100.000

(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any tender offer for the Notes, including a Change of Control Offer, Collateral Asset Disposition Offer or Asset Disposition Offer, if Holders of not less than 90.0% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not validly withdraw such Notes in such tender offer and the Company, or any third party making such tender offer in lieu of the Company, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn by such Holders, the Company or such third party shall have the right, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the Notes Register, 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 date of such redemption. In determining whether the Holders of at least 90% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes have validly tendered and not validly withdrawn such Notes in a tender offer, including a Change of Control Offer, Collateral Asset Disposition Offer or Asset Disposition Offer, Notes owned by the Company or its Affiliates or by funds controlled or managed by any Affiliate of the Company, or any successor thereof, shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purposes of such tender offer.

(h) Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable Redemption Date.

(i) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 5.7 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 5.1 through 5.6.

SECTION 5.8 Mandatory Redemption. The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes; provided however, that under certain circumstances, the Company may be required to offer to purchase Notes under Section 3.5 and Section 3.9. The Company, its direct and indirect equityholders and its and their respective Affiliates and members of management, may at any time and from time to time seek to purchase the Company’s outstanding debt securities or loans, including the Notes, in privately negotiated or open market transactions, by tender offer or otherwise.

ARTICLE VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 6.1 Events of Default.

(a) Each of the following is an “Event of Default”:

(1) default in any payment of interest on any Note when due and payable, continued for 30 days;

(2) default in the payment of the principal amount of or premium, if any, on any Note issued under this Indenture when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise;

 

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(3) failure by the Company or any Guarantor to comply for 60 days after written notice by the Trustee on behalf of the Holders or by the Holders of at least 30.0% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes with any agreement or obligation contained in this Indenture; provided that in the case of a failure to comply with this Indenture provisions described under Section 3.10, such period of continuance of such default or breach shall be 180 days after written notice described in this clause (3) has been given; (4) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by Holdings or any Significant Subsidiary (or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) (or the payment of which is Guaranteed by Holdings or any Significant Subsidiary (or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary)) other than Indebtedness owed to Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after the Issue Date, which default:

(A) is caused by a failure to pay principal of such Indebtedness, at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) provided in such Indebtedness (“payment default”); or

(B) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its stated final maturity;

and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a payment default of principal at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates to the greater of $220.0 million and 47.5% of LTM EBITDA (measured at the date of such non-payment or acceleration) or more at any one time outstanding;

(5) failure by Holdings or any Significant Subsidiary (or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of the greater of $220.0 million and 47.5% of LTM EBITDA (measured at the date of such judgment) other than any judgments covered by indemnities provided by, or insurance policies issued by, reputable and creditworthy companies, which final judgments remain unpaid, undischarged and unstayed for a period of more than 60 days after such judgment becomes final, and in the event such judgment is covered by insurance, an enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree which is not promptly stayed;

(6) (A) any Note Guarantee by Holdings or a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect or (B) Holdings or a Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary denies or disaffirms its obligations in writing under its Note Guarantee, other than, in each of clauses (A) and (B), in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or upon release of such Note Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture, or in connection with the bankruptcy of a Guarantor, so long as the aggregate assets of such Guarantor and any other Guarantor whose Note Guarantee ceased or ceases to be in full force as a result of a bankruptcy are less than the greater of $220.0 million and 47.5% of LTM EBITDA (measured at the date of such bankruptcy);

(7) (i) the Liens created by the Security Documents shall at any time not constitute a valid and perfected first-priority Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) 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 First Lien Notes Obligations or (C) any loss of perfection that results from the failure of the Notes Collateral Agent (or its bailee pursuant to the terms of any applicable intercreditor agreement to which the Notes Collateral Agent is a party) 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 30.0% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes; or (8) Holdings, the Company or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary (or group of Guarantors that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) shall assert, in any pleading in any court of competent jurisdiction, that any security interest in any Security Document is invalid or unenforceable (other than by reason of the satisfaction in full of all obligations under this Indenture and discharge of this Indenture, the release of the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or the release of such security interest in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Security Documents).

 

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(9) Holdings, the Company or any Guarantor that is Significant Subsidiary or any group of Guarantors that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(A) commences a voluntary case or proceeding;

(B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding;

(C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for substantially all of its property;

(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;

(E) consents to or acquiesces in the institution of a bankruptcy or an insolvency proceeding against it; or

(F) takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency;

(10) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(A) is for relief against Holdings, the Company or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Guarantors that, taken together as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for Holdings, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, in an involuntary case;

(B) appoints a Custodian of Holdings, the Company, any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Guarantors that, taken together as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for Holdings, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, for substantially all of its property;

(C) orders the winding up or liquidation of Holdings, the Company, any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Guarantors that, taken together as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for Holdings, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or

 

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(D) or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws and the order, decree or relief remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days; provided that a Default under clause (3), (4) or (5) above will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of at least 30.0% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes notify the Company of the Default (with a copy to the Trustee, if given by the Holders) and, with respect to clauses (3) and (5), the Company does not cure such Default within the time specified in clause (3) or (5) after receipt of such notice; provided, further, 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. Any notice of Default, notice of acceleration or instruction to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent to provide a notice of Default, notice of acceleration or take any other action (a “Noteholder Direction”) provided by any one or more Holders (other than a Regulated Bank or any Affiliates thereof) (each a “Directing Holder”) must be accompanied by a written representation from each such Holder delivered to the Company 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 are not) Net Short (a “Position Representation”), which representation, in the case of a Noteholder Direction relating to the delivery of a notice of Default shall be deemed a continuing representation until the resulting Event of Default is cured or otherwise ceases to exist or the Notes are accelerated. In addition, each Directing Holder is deemed, at the time of providing a Noteholder Direction, to covenant to provide the Company with such other information as the Company may reasonably request from time to time in order to verify the accuracy of such 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 and DTC shall be entitled to conclusively rely on such Position Representation and Verification Covenant in delivering its direction to the Trustee.

(b) If, following the delivery of a Noteholder Direction, but prior to acceleration of the Notes, the Company 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 an Officer’s Certificate stating that the Company has initiated litigation in 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 Default, Event of Default or acceleration (or notice thereof) that resulted from the applicable Noteholder Direction, the cure period with respect to such Default or Event of Default shall be automatically stayed and the cure period with respect to such Default or Event of Default shall be automatically reinstituted and any remedy 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 Company 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 such Default or Event of Default shall be automatically stayed and the cure period with respect to any Default or Event of Default that resulted from the applicable Noteholder Direction shall be automatically reinstituted and any remedy stayed pending satisfaction of such Verification Covenant. 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 (other than any indemnity such Directing Holder may have offered the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent), with the effect that such Default or Event of Default shall be deemed never to have occurred, acceleration voided and the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall be deemed not to have received such Noteholder Direction or any notice of such Default or Event of Default.

(c) Notwithstanding anything in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 6.1 to the contrary, any Noteholder Direction delivered to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, during the pendency of an Event of Default as the result of a bankruptcy or similar proceeding shall not require compliance with clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 6.1.

(d) For the avoidance of doubt, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall be entitled to conclusively rely on any Noteholder Direction delivered to it in accordance with this Indenture, shall have no duty to inquire as to or investigate the accuracy of any Position Representation, enforce compliance with any Verification Covenant, verify any statements in any Officer’s Certificate delivered to it, or otherwise make calculations, investigations or determinations with respect to Derivative Instruments, Net Shorts, Long Derivative Instruments, Short Derivative Instruments or otherwise. Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall have any liability to the Company, any Holder or any other Person in acting in good faith on a Noteholder Direction.

(e) 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 shall also be cured without any further action.

 

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(f) Any Default or Event of Default for the failure to comply with the time periods prescribed in Section 3.10 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 provision or such notice or certificate, as applicable, even though such delivery is not within the prescribed period specified in this Indenture. Any time period specified 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 6.2 Acceleration. If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in clause (9) or (10) of Section 6.1(a)) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by written notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 30.0% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes by written notice to the Company and the Trustee may declare the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be due and payable immediately.

In the event of a declaration of acceleration of the Notes because an Event of Default specified in clause (4) of Section 6.1(a) has occurred and is continuing, the declaration of acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically annulled, waived and rescinded if the event of default or payment default triggering such Event of Default pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(4) shall be remedied or cured, or waived by the holders of the Indebtedness, or the Indebtedness that gave rise to such Event of Default shall have been discharged in full, in each case, within 30 days after the declaration of acceleration with respect thereto and the annulment of the acceleration of the Notes would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction.

If an Event of Default described in clause (9) or (10) of Section 6.1(a) with respect to the Company occurs and is continuing, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders.

SECTION 6.3 Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.

SECTION 6.4 Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes under this Indenture by written notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of all of the Holders, (a) waive, by their consent (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), all past or present Defaults or Events of Default and its consequences under this Indenture except (i) a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or interest, on a Note or (ii) a Default or Event of Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.2 cannot be amended without the consent of each affected Holder and (b) rescind any acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences if (1) such rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, (2) the Company has paid the Trustee its compensation and reimbursed the Trustee for its reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances and (3) in the event of the cure or waiver of an Event of Default of the type described in clause (4) of Section 6.1(a), the Trustee shall have received an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such Event of Default has been cured or waived. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto. When a Default or Event of Default is waived, it is deemed cured, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any consequent right.

SECTION 6.5 Control by Majority. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent. However, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or the Notes or, subject to Sections 7.1 and 7.2, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders or would involve the Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent in personal liability (it being understood that the Trustee has no duty to determine if any directed action is prejudicial to any Holder); provided, however, that the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, that is not inconsistent with such direction.

 

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Prior to taking any such action hereunder, each of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it against all fees, losses, liabilities and expenses (including attorney’s fees and expenses) that may be caused by taking or not taking such action.

SECTION 6.6 Limitation on Suits. Subject to Section 6.7, a Holder may not pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

(1) such Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

(2) Holders of at least 30.0% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have requested in writing the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(3) such Holders have offered in writing and, if requested, provided to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

(4) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the written request and the offer of security or indemnity; and

(5) Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a written direction that, in the opinion of the Trustee, is inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders).

SECTION 6.7 Rights of Holders to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture (including, without limitation, Section 6.6), the contractual right of any Holder to receive payment of interest on the Notes held by such Holder or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the amendment, supplement or modification in accordance with the terms of this Indenture of Articles III and IV and Sections 6.1(a)(3), (4), (5) and (6) and the related definitions shall be deemed not to impair the contractual right of any Holder to receive payments of principal of and interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Note).

SECTION 6.8 Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in clause (1) or (2) of Section 6.1(a) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on any unpaid interest to the extent lawful) and the amounts provided for in Section 7.6 and Section 13.8(z).

SECTION 6.9 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee may 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 and the Notes Collateral Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of each of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent and their respective agents and counsel) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company, its Subsidiaries or its or their respective creditors or properties and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may be entitled and empowered to participate as a member of any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter and may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent, their respective agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent under Sections 7.6 and Section 13.8(z).

 

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No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

SECTION 6.10 Priorities.

(a) Subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article VI, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:

FIRST: to the Trustee and to the Notes Collateral Agent, in each case, for amounts due to it under Section 7.6 and Section 13.8(z);

SECOND: to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal of, or 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 of, or premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

THIRD: to the Company, or to the extent the Trustee collects any amount for any Guarantor, to such Guarantor.

(b) The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.10. At least 15 days before such record date, the Company shall send or cause to be sent to each Holder and the Trustee a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

SECTION 6.11 Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as 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. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by the Company, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.7 or a suit by Holders of more than 10.0% in outstanding principal amount of the Notes.

ARTICLE VII

TRUSTEE

SECTION 7.1 Duties of Trustee.

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and is actually known to a Trust Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default actually known to a Trust Officer of the Trustee:

(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture 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, opinions or orders furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture or the Notes, as the case may be. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture or the Notes, as the case may be (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

 

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(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability 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 clause (b) of this Section 7.1;

(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

(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 6.5; and

(4) No provision of this Indenture or the Notes shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or thereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds to believe that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 7.1.

(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company.

(f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

(g) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 7.1.

SECTION 7.2 Rights of Trustee. Subject to Section 7.1:

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, judgment, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order or other paper or document (whether in its original, facsimile or electronic form) reasonably 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. The Trustee shall receive and retain financial reports and statements of the Company as provided herein, but shall have no duty to review or analyze such reports or statements to determine compliance with covenants or other obligations of the Company.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate and/or an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on an Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

(c) The Trustee may execute any of the trusts and powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

 

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(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of counsel relating to this Indenture or the Notes shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder or under the Notes in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

(f) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, including without limitation, as Notes Collateral Agent, and to each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

(g) Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be under any obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture or the Notes at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered, and if requested, provided to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby.

(h) Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have knowledge of any fact or matter unless such fact or matter is known to a Trust Officer of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable.

(i) Whenever in the administration of this Indenture or the Notes the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder or thereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on its part, conclusively rely upon an Officer’s Certificate.

(j) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, judgment, bond, debenture, coupon or other paper or 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, during business hours and upon reasonable notice, the books, records and premises of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

(k) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

(l) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture or the Notes.

(m) In no event shall the Trustee be liable to any Person for special, punitive, indirect, consequential or incidental loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, lost profits), even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage.

(n) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by one Officer of the Company.

(o) The permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein or in the other Note Documents shall not be construed as duties.

SECTION 7.3 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 Company, Guarantors or their Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent, Registrar, co-registrar or co-paying agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Section 7.9. In addition, the Trustee shall be permitted to engage in transactions with the Company; provided, however, that if the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest, the Trustee must (i) eliminate such conflict within 90 days of acquiring such conflicting interest, (ii) apply to the SEC for permission to continue acting as Trustee or (iii) resign.

 

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SECTION 7.4 Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, the Notes or the other Note Documents, shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes, shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee or any money paid to the Company pursuant to the terms of this Indenture and shall not be responsible for any statement of the Company in this Indenture the other Note Documents or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Notes or in the Notes other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication.

SECTION 7.5 Notice of Defaults. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if a Trust Officer has actual knowledge thereof, the Trustee shall send electronically or by first class mail to each Holder at the address set forth in the Notes Register notice of the Default or Event of Default within 60 days after it is actually known to a Trust Officer. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Note (including payments pursuant to the optional redemption or required repurchase provisions of such Note), the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long it in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders. Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent will be deemed to have knowledge of any Defaults or Events of Default unless written notice of an event, which is in fact a Default, has been delivered to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, at its office specified in Section 12.1 and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture and states that it is a “Notice of Default.”

SECTION 7.6 Compensation and Indemnity. The Company shall pay to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent from time to time compensation for its services hereunder and under the Notes as the Company and the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall from time to time agree in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse each of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it, including, but not limited to, costs of collection, costs of preparing reports, certificates and other documents, costs of preparation and mailing of notices to Holders. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the agents, counsel, accountants and experts of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent. The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent, their respective directors, officers, employees and agents against any and all loss, liability, damages, claims or expense, including taxes (other than taxes based upon the income of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent) (including reasonable attorneys’ and agents’ fees and expenses) incurred by it without willful misconduct or gross negligence, as determined by a final nonappealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction, on its part in connection with the administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder and under the Notes and other Note Documents, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture (including this Section 7.6 and Section 13.8(z)) and the Notes and the other Note Documents and of defending itself against any claims (whether asserted by any Holder, the Company, any Guarantor or otherwise). The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity of which it has received written notice. Failure by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Company’s expense in the defense. The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel; provided that the Company shall not be required to pay the fees and expenses of such separate counsel if it assumes the Trustee’s and the Notes Collateral Agent’s defense, and, in the reasonable judgment of outside counsel to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, there is no conflict of interest between the Company and the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent in connection with such defense.

To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section 7.6, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Notes. Such lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. The Trustee’s and the Notes Collateral Agent’s respective right to receive payment of any amounts due under this Section 7.6 shall not be subordinate to any other liability or Indebtedness of the Company.

 

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The Company’s payment obligations pursuant to this Section 7.6 shall survive the discharge of this Indenture and any resignation or removal of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent under Section 7.7. Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent under applicable law, when the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent incurs fees, expenses or renders services after the occurrence of a Default specified in clause (9) or clause (10) of Section 6.1(a), the fees and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

SECTION 7.7 Replacement of Trustee. The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Company in writing not less than 30 days prior to the effective date of such resignation. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the removed Trustee in writing not less than 30 days prior to the effective date of such removal and may appoint a successor Trustee with the Company’s written consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld. The Company shall remove the Trustee if:

(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.9 hereof;

(2) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

(3) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(4) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns or is removed by the Company or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee as described in the preceding paragraph, or if a vacancy exists in the office of the Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee shall, at the expense of the Company, promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.6.

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of at least 10.0% in principal amount of the Notes may petition, at the Company’s expense, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.9, unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided in TIA Section 310(b), any Holder, who has been a bona fide holder of a Note for at least six months, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.7, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.6 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee. The predecessor Trustee shall have no liability for any action or inaction of any successor Trustee.

SECTION 7.8 Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable.

In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture, any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; provided that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or authenticate Notes in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall only apply to its successor or successors by merger, consolidation or conversion.

 

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SECTION 7.9 Eligibility; Disqualification. This Indenture shall always have a Trustee. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $100.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

SECTION 7.10 Trustee’s Application for Instruction from the Company. Any application by the Trustee for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Trustee under this Indenture and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Trustee in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than three Business Days after the date any Officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any such Officer shall have consented in writing to any earlier date) unless prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Trustee shall have received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.

SECTION 7.11 Security Documents and Intercreditor Agreements.

By their acceptance of the Notes, each Holder is deemed to accept the terms of, agrees to be bound by and authorize and direct each of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, to enter into and perform its respective obligations under, the Security Documents and any applicable Intercreditor Agreement.

By their acceptance of the Notes, the Holders and the other Notes Secured Parties authorize and instruct the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, to, without any further consent of any Holder or any other First Lien Secured Parties, join or enter into (or acknowledge and consent to) the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement that provides the First Lien Notes Obligations with pari passu or senior Lien and/or payment priority, in each case, that is permitted under this Indenture (including with respect to priority) and to subject the Liens on the Collateral securing the First Lien Notes Obligations to the provisions thereof (any of the foregoing, an “Intercreditor Agreement”). By their acceptance of the Notes, the Holders and the other Notes Secured Parties irrevocably agree that (x) the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may rely exclusively on a certificate of an Officer of the Company as to whether any such Intercreditor Agreement that provides the First Lien Notes Obligations with pari passu or senior Lien and/or payment priority is permitted under this Indenture and the other Note Documents and (y) any Intercreditor Agreement entered into by the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall be binding on the Notes Secured Parties, and each Holder and each other Notes Secured Parties by their acceptance of the Notes agrees that it will take no actions contrary to the provisions of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and, if entered into and if applicable, any other Intercreditor Agreement.

If the Company or any of the Guarantors incurs Indebtedness secured or intended to be secured by the Collateral with a Junior Lien Priority relative to the Notes, the First Lien Credit Agreement Collateral Agent (if the First Lien Credit Agreement is still in effect), the Existing Secured Notes Collateral Agent (to the extent any Existing Secured Notes are outstanding at such time), the Notes Collateral Agent and the applicable Junior Lien Collateral Agent will enter into an intercreditor agreement (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement”) without requiring the consent of the Holders. The Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time without the consent of the Holders or any other party to add other parties holding Junior Lien Obligations and First Lien Obligations permitted to be incurred under the then existing relevant agreements, or their respective representatives. Any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement will subordinate the Liens securing such future Indebtedness to the Liens securing the First Lien Obligations with respect to all Collateral on the terms set forth in such Intercreditor Agreement and will also contain other provisions setting forth various limitations on the rights available to any Junior Lien Representatives and the Junior Lien Secured Parties in any future insolvency or liquidation proceeding of the Company or any Guarantor. The form of the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement shall be in a form that the First Lien Credit Agreement Collateral Agent and the Company have determined (or if the First Lien Credit Agreement has been terminated, in a form that the Company has determined) in good faith is reasonably customary which shall provide for the subordination of the Liens securing Obligations on a junior priority basis relative to the Liens securing the First Lien Obligations and other intercreditor provisions with respect thereto as are reasonably customary in the good faith determination of the Company for intercreditor agreements governing the relationship between senior and junior priority Liens, in each case, as provided in writing by the Company to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent.

 

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It is hereby expressly acknowledged and agreed that, in entering into any Security Document or Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee and the Notes 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. Whether or not so expressly stated therein, in entering into, or taking (or forbearing from) any action under, the Intercreditor Agreements or any other Security Documents, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent each shall have all of the rights, 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 8.1 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance; Defeasance. The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either Section 8.2 or 8.3 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article VIII.

SECTION 8.2 Legal Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.2, the Company and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes (including the Note Guarantees), and the Security Documents, and the Liens, if any, on the Collateral securing the Notes will be automatically released (subject to the Security Documents) on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company and the Guarantors will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes (including the Note Guarantees), which will thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.5 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (1) and (2) below, and to have satisfied all of their other obligations under the Note Documents (and the Trustee, on written demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute such instruments reasonably requested by the Company acknowledging the same) and to have cured all then existing Events of Default, except for the following provisions which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

(1) the rights of Holders of Notes issued under this Indenture 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 referred to in Section 8.4 hereof;

(2) the Company’s obligations with respect to the Notes under Article II concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of such Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and Section 3.11 hereof concerning the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;

(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent and the Company’s or Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith; and

(4) this Article VIII with respect to provisions relating to Legal Defeasance.

SECTION 8.3 Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.3, the Company and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof, be released from each of their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 3.14, 3.15, 3.16, 3.17, 3.18, 3.20 and Section 4.1 (except Sections 4.1(a)(1) and (2)) hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof are satisfied and the Liens, if any, on the Collateral securing the Notes will be automatically released (subject to the Security Documents) (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes will thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but will continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder.

 

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For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes and Guarantees, the Company and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.1(a) hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes and Guarantees will be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.3, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof, Sections 6.1(a)(3) (other than with respect to Section 4.1(a)(1) and (2)), Section 6.1(a)(4), 6.1(a)(5), 6.1(a)(6), 6.1(a)(9) (with respect only to a Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Guarantors that taken together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), and Section 6.1(a)(10) (with respect only to a Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Guarantors that taken together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.

SECTION 8.4 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance under either Section 8.2 or 8.3 hereof:

(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, interest, due on the Notes issued under this Indenture on the stated maturity date or on the applicable Redemption Date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether such Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular Redemption Date; provided, that upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any deficit as of the Redemption Date (any such amount, the “Applicable Premium Deficit”) only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the Redemption Date; provided, further, that any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee substantially concurrently with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit (or, if required by applicable DTC procedures, up to two Business Days prior to such deposit) that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit shall be applied toward such redemption;

(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions;

(A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

(B) since the issuance of such Notes, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law;

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel in the United States shall confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders, in their capacity as Holders of the Notes; will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S.

 

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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 Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders, in their capacity as Holders of the Notes, will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(4) no Default or Event of Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and the granting of Liens in connection therewith) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the Credit Facilities or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which, the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;

(6) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying, defrauding or preferring any creditors of the Company or any Guarantor or others; and

(7) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel in the United States (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions and may rely on any Officer’s Certificate as to matters of fact) 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 8.5 Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to Section 8.6 hereof, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.5, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes will be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Company will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

Notwithstanding anything in this Article VIII to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 8.4 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 8.4(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 8.6 Repayment to the Company. Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium or interest on, any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on their written request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person or (if then held by the Company) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note will thereafter be permitted to look only to the Company for payment thereof unless an abandoned property law designates another Person, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, will thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, shall at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which will not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

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SECTION 8.7 Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. dollars or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.2 or 8.3 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 Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes and the Guarantees will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.2 or 8.3 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.2 or 8.3 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company make any payment of principal of, premium, or interest on, any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS

SECTION 9.1 Without Consent of Holders. Notwithstanding Section 9.2 of this Indenture, without the consent of any Holder, the Company, any Guarantor (with respect to its Note Guarantee or this Indenture), the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent, if applicable, and the other parties thereto, as applicable, may amend, supplement or modify any Note Documents, and the Company may direct the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, if applicable, and the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, if applicable, shall, enter into an amendment to the Note Documents, to:

(1) cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect, error or inconsistency, conform any provision to any provision under the heading “Description of Notes” in the Offering Memorandum or reduce the minimum denomination of the Notes;

(2) provide for the assumption by a successor Person of the obligations of the Company or a Guarantor under any Note Document or to comply with Section 4.1;

(3) provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes or alter the provisions of this Indenture relating to the form of the Notes (including related definitions);

(4) add to or modify the covenants or provide for a Note Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders or surrender any right or power conferred upon Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(5) make any change (including changing the CUSIP or other identifying number on any Notes) that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not materially and adversely affect the rights of any Holder;

(6) at the Company’s election, comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA, if such qualification is required;

(7) make such provisions as necessary for the issuance of Additional Notes;

(8) provide for any Restricted Subsidiary to provide a Note Guarantee in accordance with Section 3.2, to add Guarantees with respect to the Notes, to add security to or for the benefit of the Notes, or to confirm and evidence the release, termination, discharge or retaking of any Guarantee or Lien with respect to or securing the Notes when such release, termination, discharge or retaking is provided for under this Indenture;

(9) evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent or successor Paying Agent hereunder pursuant to the requirements hereof or to provide for the accession by the Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent to any Note Document; (10) secure the Notes and/or the related Guarantees or to add collateral thereto;

 

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(11) add an obligor or a Guarantor under this Indenture, the Security Documents and/or any Intercreditor Agreement;

(12) make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes not prohibited by this Indenture, including, without limitation, to facilitate the issuance and administration of Notes; provided, however, that such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes;

(13) comply with the rules and procedures of any applicable securities depositary;

(14) make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture, the Guarantees and/or the Notes to eliminate the effect of any Accounting Change or in the application thereof as described in the last paragraph of the definition of “GAAP”;

(15) mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant any other Lien in favor of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Holders, as additional security for the payment and performance of all or any portion of the First Lien 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 Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to this Indenture, any of the Security Documents or otherwise;

(16) add Additional First Lien Secured Parties to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement;

(17) enter into any intercreditor agreement having substantially similar terms with respect to the Holders as those set forth in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, taken as a whole, or any joinder thereto;

(18) 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 to modify any such legend as required by the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement;

(19) provide for the succession of any parties to any Security Document (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 First Lien Credit Agreement or any other agreement that is not prohibited by this Indenture; and

(20) release Collateral from the Lien securing the First Lien Notes Obligations when permitted or required by this Indenture or any Security Document.

Subject to Section 9.2, upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture or amendment or supplement to the other Note Documents, and upon receipt by the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, of the documents described in Sections 9.6 and 12.4 hereof, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, will join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of such amendment or supplement unless such amendment or supplement affects the Trustee’s or the Notes Collateral Agent’s own rights, duties, liabilities or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such amendment or supplement.

After an amendment or supplement under this Section 9.1 becomes effective, the Company shall mail to Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment or supplement. The failure to give such notice to all Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment or supplement under this Section 9.1.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and any Guarantor (with respect to a Note Guarantee to which it is a party) and the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall, without the consent of any Holder, (a) enter into any additional Security Document (or joinder or supplement documents with respect thereto) to add additional assets as Collateral or perfect any liens with respect thereto the perfection as to which is required or permitted under this Indenture or the Security Documents and (b) enter into any additional intercreditor agreement that either (x) has substantially similar terms (or other terms not less favorable to the Holders, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent) with respect to the Holders as those set forth in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement in effect on the Issue Date, taken as a whole, or any joinder thereto or (y) would constitute a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with this Indenture.

SECTION 9.2 With Consent of Holders. Except as provided below in this Section 9.2, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, if applicable, may amend or supplement any Note Document with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes, and, subject to Sections 6.4 and 6.7 hereof), any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes issued under this Indenture (including consents obtained before or after a Change of Control or in connection with a purchase of or tender offer or exchange offer for Notes). Section 2.11 hereof and Section 12.4 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for the purposes of this Section 9.2.

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amendment or supplement, and upon the filing with the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, of evidence of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, of the documents described in Sections 9.6 and 12.2 hereof, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, will join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of such amendment or supplement unless such amendment or supplement affects the Trustee’s or the Notes Collateral Agent’s own rights, duties, liabilities or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such amendment or supplement.

Without the consent of each Holder of Notes affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not, with respect to any Notes issued thereunder and held by a nonconsenting Holder:

(1) reduce the principal amount of such Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment;

(2) reduce the stated rate of or extend the stated time for payment of interest on any such Note (other than provisions relating to Section 3.5 and Section 3.9);

(3) reduce the principal of or extend the Stated Maturity of any such Note (other than provisions relating to Section 3.5 and Section 3.9);

(4) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any such Note or change the time at which any such Note may be redeemed, in each case as set forth in Section 5.7;

(5) make any such Note payable in currency other than that stated in such Note;

(6) impair the right of any Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of principal of and interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor; (7) waive a Default or Event of Default with respect to the nonpayment of principal, premium or interest (except pursuant to a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of such Notes outstanding and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

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(8) make any change in the amendment or waiver provisions which require the Holders’ consent described in this Section 9.2; or

(9) change the ranking in right of payment of the Notes or the Note Guarantees in any way materially adverse to the Holders.

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 First Lien Notes Obligations or (B) change or alter the priority of the Liens securing the First Lien Notes Obligations 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 or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. A consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver under this Indenture by any Holder of the Notes given in connection with a tender or exchange of such Holder’s Notes will not be rendered invalid by such tender or exchange.

After an amendment or supplement under this Section 9.2 becomes effective, the Company shall mail to Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment or supplement. The failure to give such notice to all Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment or supplement.

SECTION 9.3 Compliance with this Indenture. Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture, any Guarantee and the Notes will be set forth in an amended or supplemental indenture that complies with this Indenture as then in effect.

SECTION 9.4 Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers. 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 or waiver is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent or waiver as to such Holder’s Note or portion of its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.

SECTION 9.5 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 Company in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note will not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

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SECTION 9.6 Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent to Sign Amendments. The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall sign any amendment or supplement, security documents or intercreditor agreement authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable. In executing any amendment or supplement, security documents or intercreditor agreement, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent will be entitled to receive and (subject to Sections 7.1 and 7.2 hereof) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 12.2 hereof, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment or supplement, security documents or intercreditor agreement is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and is valid, binding and enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Opinion of Counsel will be required for the Trustee to execute any amendment or supplement adding a new Guarantor under this Indenture, substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto.

ARTICLE X

GUARANTEE

SECTION 10.1 Guarantee. Subject to the provisions of this Article X, each Guarantor hereby fully, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees (the “Note Guarantees”), as primary obligor and not merely as surety, jointly and severally with each other Guarantor, to each Holder of the Notes, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent the full and punctual payment when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and all other obligations and liabilities of the Company under this Indenture (including without limitation interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to the Company or any Guarantor whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding and the obligations under Section 7.6 and Section 13.8(z)), (all the foregoing being hereinafter collectively called the “Guaranteed Obligations”). Each Guarantor agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations will rank equally in right of payment with other Indebtedness of such Guarantor, including the Existing Convertible Notes in the case of Holdings and each such Guarantor’s guarantee of Indebtedness under the First Lien Credit Agreement, except to the extent such other Indebtedness is subordinate to the Guaranteed Obligations, in which case the obligations of the Guarantors under the Note Guarantees will rank senior in right of payment to such other Indebtedness.

To evidence its Note Guarantee set forth in this Section 10.1, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by an Officer of such Guarantor.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Note Guarantee set forth in this Section 10.1 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Note Guarantee.

If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note Guarantee shall be valid nevertheless.

Each Guarantor further agrees (to the extent permitted by law) that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound under this Article X notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligation.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives diligence, promptness, presentation to, demand of payment or performance from, protest, notice of acceptance and any other notice in respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or any part of them to the issuer of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and also waives notice of protest for nonpayment and any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense of the Company or any other Guarantors with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor waives notice of any default under the Notes or the Guaranteed Obligations.

Each Guarantor further agrees that its Note Guarantee herein constitutes a Guarantee of payment when due (and not a Guarantee of collection) and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any Holder to any security held for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations.

 

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Except as set forth in Section 10.2, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than payment of the Guaranteed Obligations in full), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense of set-off, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever (other than a defense of payment or performance) or by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice to or knowledge of Holdings, the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor) that constitutes, or might be construed to constitute, an equitable or legal discharge of the Company for the Obligations, or of such Guarantor, in bankruptcy or in any other instance. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Guaranteed Obligations of each Guarantor herein shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by (a) the failure of any Holder to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the Company or any other person under this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement or otherwise; (b) any extension or renewal of any thereof; (c) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement; (d) the release of any security held by any Holder for the Guaranteed Obligations; (e) the failure of any Holder to exercise any right or remedy against any other Guarantor; (f) any change in the ownership of the Company; or (g) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Guaranteed Obligations.

Each Guarantor agrees that its Note Guarantee herein shall remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all the Guaranteed Obligations or such Guarantor is released from its Note Guarantee in compliance with Section 10.2, Article VIII or Article XI. Each Guarantor further agrees that its Note Guarantee herein shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any Holder upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or otherwise.

In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any Holder has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Company to pay any of the Guaranteed Obligations when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, each Guarantor hereby promises to and will, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the Holders or the Trustee on behalf of the Holders an amount equal to the sum of (i) the unpaid amount of such Guaranteed Obligations then due and owing and (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on such Guaranteed Obligations then due and owing (but only to the extent not prohibited by law) (including interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding relating to the Company or any Guarantor whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding).

Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between such Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in this Indenture for the purposes of its Note Guarantee herein and (y) in the event of any such declaration of acceleration of such Guaranteed Obligations, such Guaranteed Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for the purposes of this Note Guarantee.

Each Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all fees, costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent or the Holders in enforcing any rights under this Section 10.1.

SECTION 10.2 Limitation on Liability; Termination, Release and Discharge.

(a) Any term or provision of this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder will be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under its Note Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Indenture, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal, foreign, state or provincial law and not otherwise being void or voidable under any similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

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(b) Any Note Guarantee of a Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged:

(1) in the case of a Note Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor, upon a sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition (including by way of merger, amalgamation, consolidation, dividend, distribution or otherwise) of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor or the sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case, to a Person other than to Holdings, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and as otherwise not prohibited by this Indenture;

(2) in the case of the Note Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor, upon the designation in accordance with this Indenture of such Subsidiary Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or the occurrence of any event after which such Subsidiary Guarantor is (i) no longer a Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) becomes an Excluded Subsidiary; provided that (A) if such Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary, such release shall be deemed an Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary or (B) if such Subsidiary Guarantor remains a Restricted Subsidiary, such release shall be deemed an Investment in such Restricted Subsidiary and, to the extent that at the time of release such Restricted Subsidiary has Indebtedness or has granted Liens (other than the Obligations and the Liens granted pursuant to the Security Documents), such Indebtedness or Liens shall be permitted to be Incurred under this Indenture;

(3) upon defeasance or discharge of the Notes pursuant to Article VIII or Article XI;

(4) upon such Guarantor being (or being substantially concurrently) released or discharged from all of its obligations under its Guarantees of payment (i) of the First Lien Credit Agreement Obligations or (ii) in the case of a Note Guarantee made by a Guarantor (each, an “Other Guarantee”) as a result of its guarantee of other Indebtedness of the Company or a Guarantor pursuant to Section 3.7 hereof, of the relevant Indebtedness, except in the case of (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, and if any such Guarantee of such Guarantor under the First Lien Credit Agreement or any Other Guarantee is so reinstated, such Note Guarantee shall also be reinstated);

(5) upon the merger, amalgamation or consolidation of any Guarantor with and into the Company or another Guarantor or upon the liquidation of such Guarantor, in each case, in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

(6) upon the achievement of Investment Grade Status by the Notes; provided that such Note Guarantee shall be reinstated upon the Reversion Date; and

(7) as described under Article IX or in accordance with the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

SECTION 10.3 Right of Contribution. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that to the extent that any Guarantor shall have paid more than its proportionate share of any payment made on the obligations under the Note Guarantees, such Guarantor shall be entitled to seek and receive contribution from and against the Company or any other Guarantor who has not paid its proportionate share of such payment. The provisions of this Section 10.3 shall in no respect limit the obligations and liabilities of each Guarantor to the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Holders and each Guarantor shall remain liable to the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Holders for the full amount guaranteed by such Guarantor hereunder.

SECTION 10.4 No Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment or payments made by each Guarantor hereunder, no Guarantor shall be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent or any Holder against the Company or any other Guarantor or any collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent or any Holder for the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations, nor shall any Guarantor seek or be entitled to seek any contribution or reimbursement from the Company or any other Guarantor in respect of payments made by such Guarantor hereunder, until all amounts owing to the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Holders by the Company on account of the Guaranteed Obligations are paid in full.

 

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If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at any time when all of the Guaranteed Obligations shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall be held by such Guarantor in trust for the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Holders, segregated from other funds of such Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be turned over to the Trustee in the exact form received by such Guarantor (duly indorsed by such Guarantor to the Trustee, if required), to be applied against the Guaranteed Obligations.

ARTICLE XI

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 11.1 Satisfaction and Discharge. This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder and the Liens, if any, on the Collateral securing the Notes will be released, when:

(a) either:

(1) all Notes that have been authenticated and delivered, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that 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) all such Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (i) have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise or (ii) will become due and payable within one year at their Stated Maturity or (iii) 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 Company;

(b) the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on such Notes not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal, premium, if any, and interest to the date of deposit (in the case of Notes that have become due and payable), or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be; provided that upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, as calculated by the Company or on behalf of the Company by such Person as the Company shall designate, with any Applicable Premium Deficit only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the Redemption Date, and any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit (or, if required by applicable DTC procedures, up to two Business Days prior to such deposit) that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit shall be applied toward such redemption;

(c) no Default or Event of Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and the granting of Liens in connection therewith) with respect to this Indenture or the Notes issued hereunder shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the Credit Facilities or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;

(d) the Company or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by the Company under this Indenture; and (e) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money in U.S. dollars toward the payment of such Notes issued hereunder at maturity or the Redemption Date, as the case may be.

 

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In addition, the Company shall deliver an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions and may rely on any Officer’s Certificate as to matters of fact (including as to compliance with the foregoing clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e))) to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the Company’s obligation to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent in Section 7.6 and Section 13.8(z) hereof and, if money in U.S. dollars has been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a)(2) of this Section 11.1, the provisions of Section 11.2 and Section 8.6 hereof will survive.

SECTION 11.2 Application of Trust Money. Subject to the provisions of Section 8.6 hereof, all money in U.S. dollars or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.1 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 Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium) and interest for whose payment such money in U.S. dollars or U.S. Government Obligations has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money in U.S. dollars or U.S. Government Obligations need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 11.1 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 Company’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 11.1 hereof; provided that if the Company has made any payment of principal of, premium or interest on, any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE XII

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 12.1 Notices. Any notice, request, direction, consent or communication made pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture or the Notes shall be in writing and delivered in person, sent by facsimile, sent by electronic mail in PDF format, delivered by commercial courier service or mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

if to the Company or to any Guarantor:

Wayfair LLC

4 Copley Place

Boston, MA 02116

Attn: General Counsel

with a copy to:

Goodwin Procter LLP

100 Northern Avenue

Boston, Massachusetts 02210

Attention: Jim Barri

Facsimile: (212) 459-7387

 

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if to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, at its corporate trust office, which corporate trust office for purposes of this Indenture is at the date hereof located at:

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association

One Federal Street

Boston, MA 02110

Attention: Global Corporate Trust Boston (Wayfair Notes Administrator)

The Company, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, by written notice to the other, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

Any notice or communication to the Company or the Guarantors shall be deemed to have been given or made as of the date so delivered if personally delivered or if delivered electronically, in PDF format; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and seven calendar days after mailing if sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid (except that a notice of change of address shall not be deemed to have been given until actually received by the addressee). Any notice or communication to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent shall be deemed delivered upon receipt.

Any notice or communication sent to a Holder will be validly given if electronically delivered or mailed to the Holder at the Holder’s address as it appears in the Notes Register and shall be sufficiently given if so sent within the time prescribed.

Failure to electronically deliver or mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is sent in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it, except that notices to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent shall be effective only upon receipt.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Note, where this Indenture or any Note provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption or purchase) to a Holder of a Global Note (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be properly delivered if delivered to DTC (or its designee) in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC.

The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of using digital signatures and electronic methods to submit communications to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

SECTION 12.2 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Company or any of the Guarantors to the Trustee and/or the Notes Collateral Agent to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee, or such action relates to a Security Document, the Notes Collateral Agent:

(1) an Officer’s Certificate in form satisfactory to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.3 hereof), stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

(2) an Opinion of Counsel in form satisfactory to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.3 hereof), stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been satisfied and all covenants have been complied with.

 

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SECTION 12.3 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture:

(1) a statement that the individual making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(2) 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;

(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such individual, he 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

(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with.

In giving such Opinion of Counsel, counsel may rely as to factual matters on an Officer’s Certificate or on certificates of public officials.

SECTION 12.4 When Notes Disregarded. In determining whether the Holders of the required aggregate principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Company, any Guarantor or any Affiliate of them shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes which a Trust Officer of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Also, subject to the foregoing, only Notes outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.

SECTION 12.5 Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by, or at meetings of, Holders. The Registrar and the Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

SECTION 12.6 Legal Holidays. A “Legal Holiday” is a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which commercial banking institutions are authorized or required to be closed in New York, New York or the state of the place of payment. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. If a regular record date is a Legal Holiday, the record date shall not be affected.

SECTION 12.7 Governing Law. THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 12.8 Jurisdiction. The Company and the Guarantors agree that any suit, action or proceeding against the Company or any Guarantor brought by any Holder or the Trustee arising out of or based upon this Indenture, the Note Guarantee or the Notes may be instituted in any state or Federal court in the Borough of Manhattan, New York, New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, and each of them irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any suit, action or proceeding. The Company and the Guarantors irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection to any suit, action, or proceeding that may be brought in connection with this Indenture, the Note Guarantee or the Notes, including such actions, suits or proceedings relating to securities laws of the United States of America or any state thereof, in such courts whether on the grounds of venue, residence or domicile or on the ground that any such suit, action or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The Company and the Guarantors agree that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, and may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction of which the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, are subject by a suit upon such judgment.

 

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SECTION 12.9 Waivers of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE, AND EACH HOLDER BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF A NOTE, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE NOTE GUARANTEES AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

SECTION 12.10 USA PATRIOT Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent with such information as it may request in order to satisfy the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act.

SECTION 12.11 No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member or equityholder of Holdings, the Company or any of its respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under the Note Documents, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the U.S. federal securities laws and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

SECTION 12.12 Successors. All agreements of Holdings, the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent in this Indenture shall bind their respective successors.

SECTION 12.13 Multiple Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, PDF or other electronic transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile, PDF or other electronic format shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

SECTION 12.14 Table of Contents; Headings. The table of contents, cross-reference table and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

SECTION 12.15 Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, epidemics, pandemics and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or telex or other wire or communication facility, it being understood that the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall use reasonable best efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

SECTION 12.16 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 12.17 Intercreditor Agreements. Reference is made to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any. Each Holder, by its acceptance of a Note, (a) agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and (b) authorizes and instructs the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, to enter into the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, as Trustee and as Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, and on behalf of such Holder, including without limitation, making the representations of the Holders contained therein.

 

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ARTICLE XIII

SECURITY

SECTION 13.1 Security Documents.

The due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium and interest, if any, 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 and interest on the Notes and payment and performance of all other Obligations of the Company and the Guarantors to the Holders, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent under this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and the Security Documents, according to the terms hereunder or thereunder, shall be secured as provided in the Security Documents. Each Holder, by accepting a Note, consents and agrees to the terms of the Security Documents (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for the possession, use, release and foreclosure of Collateral) and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, each as may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms and this Indenture, and authorizes and directs the Notes Collateral Agent and the Trustee, if applicable, to enter into the Security Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement 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. The Company shall deliver to the Notes 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 Security Documents, to assure and confirm to the Notes 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.

On or following the Issue Date and subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Perfection Exceptions, the Company and the Guarantors shall promptly execute, file or cause the filing of any and all further documents, financing statements (including continuation statements and amendments to financing statements), agreements and instruments, and take all further action that may be required under applicable law, or that the Notes Collateral Agent may reasonably request, in order to grant, preserve, maintain, protect and perfect (or continue the perfection of) the validity and priority of the security interests created or intended to be created by the Security Documents in the Collateral (including, for the avoidance of doubt, correcting any material defect or error that may be discovered in the execution, acknowledgement, filing or recordation of any Security Document or other document or instrument relating to any Collateral), all at the expense of the Company. In addition, from time to time, the Company and each Guarantor will reasonably promptly secure the obligations under this Indenture and the Security Documents by pledging or creating, or causing to be pledged or created, first-priority perfected security interests (subject to Permitted Liens) with respect to the Collateral. Such security interests and Liens will be created under the Security Documents and other security agreements and other instruments and documents.

SECTION 13.2 Release of Collateral.

The Company and the Guarantors will be entitled to the automatic and immediate release of property and other assets constituting Collateral from the Liens securing the Notes and the First Lien Notes Obligations under any one or more of the following circumstances:

(1) upon the sale or other disposition of such Collateral (including as part of or in connection with any other sale or other disposition permitted hereunder) to any Person (other than to the Company or any Guarantor), to the extent such sale or other disposition is made in compliance with the terms of this Indenture (and the Notes Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on a certificate to that effect provided to it by the Company or any Guarantor upon its reasonable request without further inquiry);

(2) to the extent the property constituting such Collateral is comprised of property leased to the Company or a Guarantor, upon termination or expiration of such lease; (3) to the extent the property constituting such Collateral is owned by any Guarantor, upon the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under the applicable Note Guarantee;

 

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(4) as required to effect any sale or other disposition of Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Documents;

(5) if such assets constitute Excluded Property or Excluded Stock and Stock Equivalents;

(6) in the case of a Guarantor that is released from its Guarantee with respect to the First Lien Credit Agreement Obligations pursuant to the terms of the First Lien Credit Agreement, the release of the property and assets of such Guarantor;

(7) in part, as to any property or asset constituting Collateral if and only to the extent that the Liens on such Collateral in favor of the First Lien Credit Agreement Collateral Agent in respect of the First Lien Credit Agreement have been released in accordance with the terms of the First Lien Documents related thereto (other than any release by, or as a result of payment in full and irrevocable termination of such First Lien Credit Agreement); or

(8) pursuant to an amendment or waiver in accordance with Article IX of this Indenture.

The Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes and the Note Guarantees also will be automatically and immediately released (i) upon payment in full of the principal of, together with accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes and all other Obligations, and all fees and all other expenses or amounts payable, under this Indenture, the Note 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, (ii) upon a legal defeasance or covenant defeasance pursuant to Article VIII or a discharge pursuant to Article XI or (iii) pursuant to the Security Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

With respect to any release of Collateral, upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent under this Indenture, the Security Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable, to such release have been met, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall execute, deliver or acknowledge (at the Company’s expense) any instruments or releases to evidence the release of any Guarantees and Collateral permitted to be released pursuant to this Indenture, the Security Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable, and shall do or cause to be done (at the Company’s expense) all acts reasonably requested of them to release such Lien as soon as is reasonably practicable. Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be liable for any such release undertaken in reliance upon any such Officer’s Certificate, and notwithstanding any term in this Indenture, in any Security Document or in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement to the contrary, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be under any obligation to release any such Lien and security interest, or execute and deliver any such instrument of release, satisfaction or termination, unless and until it receives such Officer’s Certificate, upon which it shall be entitled to conclusively rely.

SECTION 13.3 [Reserved].

SECTION 13.4 Suits to Protect the Collateral.

Subject to the provisions of Article VII and the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, the Trustee may or may direct the Notes 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 First Lien Notes Obligations hereunder.

 

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Subject to the provisions of the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall have the power to institute and to maintain such suits and proceedings as the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent 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 or the Notes Collateral Agent may determine to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the Holders in the Collateral. Nothing in this Section 13.4 shall be considered to impose any such duty or obligation to act on the part of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent.

SECTION 13.5 Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Security Documents.

Subject to the provisions of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, 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 13.6 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 Notes Collateral Agent or the Trustee to execute the applicable 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 XIII to be sold be under any obligation to ascertain or inquire into the authority of the Company or the applicable Guarantor to make any such sale or other transfer.

SECTION 13.7 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 XIII upon the Company 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 Company or a Guarantor or of any Officer or Officers thereof required by the provisions of this Article XIII; and if the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent shall be in the possession of the Collateral under any provision of this Indenture, then such powers may be exercised by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent.

SECTION 13.8 Notes Collateral Agent.

(a) The Company and each of the Holders by acceptance of the Notes hereby designates and appoints the Notes Collateral Agent as its agent under this Indenture, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and the Company and each of the Holders by acceptance of the Notes hereby irrevocably authorizes the Notes Collateral Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Indenture, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Notes Collateral Agent by the terms of this Indenture, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and consents and agrees to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and each Security Document, as the same may be in effect or may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with their respective terms. The Notes Collateral Agent agrees to act as such on the express conditions contained in this Section 13.8. Each Holder agrees that any action taken by the Notes Collateral Agent in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and the Security Documents, and the exercise by the Notes 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, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, the duties of the Notes Collateral Agent shall be ministerial and administrative in nature, and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein and in the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, to which the Notes Collateral Agent is a party, nor shall the Notes Collateral Agent have or be deemed to have any trust or other fiduciary relationship with the Trustee, any Holder or any Grantor, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Indenture, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or otherwise exist against the Notes Collateral Agent.

 

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Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” in this Indenture with reference to the Notes 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 Notes Collateral Agent may perform any of its duties under this Indenture, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, 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 Notes Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any receiver, agent, employee, attorney-in-fact or Related Person that it selects as long as such selection was made in good faith and with due care.

(c) The Notes 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 Company or any other Grantor), independent accountants and other experts and advisors selected by the Notes Collateral Agent. The Notes 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, judgment, order, bond, debenture, or other paper or document. The Notes Collateral Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Indenture, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes as it determines and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Holders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Notes Collateral Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Indenture, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, in accordance with a request, direction, instruction or consent of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all of the Holders.

(d) [Reserved].

(e) The Notes Collateral Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, unless a Trust Officer of the Notes Collateral Agent shall have received written notice from the Trustee or the Company referring to this Indenture, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” The Notes Collateral Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as may be requested by the Trustee in accordance with Article VI or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (subject to this Section 13.8).

(f) The Notes Collateral Agent may resign at any time by 30 days’ written notice to the Trustee and the Company, such resignation to be effective upon the acceptance of a successor agent to its appointment as Notes Collateral Agent. If the Notes Collateral Agent resigns under this Indenture, Holdings shall appoint a successor collateral agent. If no successor collateral agent is appointed prior to the intended effective date of the resignation of the Notes Collateral Agent (as stated in the notice of resignation), the Trustee, at the direction of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, may appoint a successor collateral agent, subject to the consent of Holdings (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld and which shall not be required during a continuing Event of Default). If no successor collateral agent is appointed and consented to by Holdings pursuant to the preceding sentence within thirty (30) days after the intended effective date of resignation (as stated in the notice of resignation), the Notes Collateral Agent shall be entitled to petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor.

 

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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 Notes Collateral Agent, and the term “Notes Collateral Agent” shall mean such successor collateral agent, and the retiring Notes Collateral Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Notes Collateral Agent shall be terminated. After the retiring Notes Collateral Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Section 13.8 (and Section 7.6 hereof) shall continue to inure to its benefit and the retiring Notes 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 Notes Collateral Agent under this Indenture.

(g) U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association shall initially act as Notes Collateral Agent and shall be authorized to appoint co-Notes Collateral Agents as necessary in its sole discretion. Except as otherwise explicitly provided herein or in the Security Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, neither the Notes 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 (other than the request of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes) or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the Collateral or any part thereof. The Notes Collateral Agent shall be accountable only for amounts that it actually receives as a result of the exercise of such powers, and neither the Notes 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.

(h) The Notes 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) join the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement on the Issue Date, (iii) enter into the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, after the Issue Date, (iv) make the representations of the Holders set forth in the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, (v) bind the Holders on the terms as set forth in the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and (vi) perform and observe its obligations under the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any.

(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 First Lien Notes Obligations arising under, or relating to, this Indenture, except for any such proceeds or payments received by the Trustee from the Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, or (ii) payments from the Notes Collateral Agent in excess of the amount required to be paid to the Trustee pursuant to Article VI, the Trustee shall promptly turn the same over to the Notes Collateral Agent, in kind, and with such endorsements as may be required to negotiate the same to the Notes Collateral Agent such proceeds to be applied by the Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements.

(j) The Notes Collateral Agent is each Holder’s agent for the purpose of perfecting the Holders’ security interest in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, can be perfected only by possession. Should the Trustee obtain possession of any such Collateral, upon request from the Company, the Trustee shall notify the Notes Collateral Agent thereof and promptly shall deliver such Collateral to the Notes Collateral Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Notes Collateral Agent’s instructions.

(k) The Notes Collateral Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to the Trustee or any of the Holders to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned by any Grantor or is cared for, protected, or insured or has been encumbered, or that the Notes Collateral Agent’s Liens have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected, maintained or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or to determine whether all or the Grantor’s property constituting Collateral intended to be subject to the Lien and security interest of the 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 Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to this Indenture, any Security Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, 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.

 

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(l) If the Company or any Guarantor (i) incurs any obligations in respect of First Lien Obligations at any time when no applicable intercreditor agreement is in effect or at any time when Indebtedness constituting First Lien Obligations entitled to the benefit of an existing First Lien Intercreditor Agreement is concurrently retired, and (ii) delivers to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent an Officer’s Certificate so stating and requesting the Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent, if applicable, to enter into an intercreditor agreement (on substantially the same terms as the applicable First Lien Intercreditor Agreement with such changes as are permitted hereunder) in favor of a designated agent or representative for the holders of the First Lien Obligations so incurred, together with an Opinion of Counsel, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Trustee, if applicable, shall (and is hereby authorized and directed to) enter into such Intercreditor Agreement (at the sole expense and cost of the Company, including legal fees and expenses of the Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent), bind the Holders on the terms set forth therein and perform and observe its obligations thereunder; provided that neither an Officer’s Certificate nor an Opinion of Counsel shall be required in connection with the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement to be entered into by the Notes Collateral Agent and the Trustee on the Issue Date.

(m) No provision of this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or any Security Document shall require the Notes 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 Notes Collateral Agent) unless it shall have received indemnity satisfactory to the Notes Collateral Agent and the Trustee against potential costs and liabilities incurred by the Notes Collateral Agent relating thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or the Security Documents, in the event the Notes 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 Notes 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 Notes Collateral Agent has determined that the Notes Collateral Agent may incur personal liability as a result of the presence at, or release on or from, the Collateral or such property, of any hazardous substances. The Notes Collateral Agent shall at any time be entitled to cease taking any action described in this clause (m) if it no longer reasonably deems any indemnity, security or undertaking from the Company or the Holders to be sufficient.

(n) The Notes Collateral Agent (i) shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in connection with this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, 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 Notes Collateral Agent may agree in writing with the Company (and money held in trust by the Notes 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 Notes Collateral Agent shall not be construed to impose duties to act.

(o) Neither the Notes 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 Notes 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.

 

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(p) The Notes Collateral Agent does not assume any responsibility for any failure or delay in performance or any breach by the Company or any other Grantor under this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and the Security Documents. The Notes 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 Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or in any certificate, report, statement, or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Notes Collateral Agent under or in connection with, this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or any Security Document; the execution, validity, genuineness, effectiveness or enforceability of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, 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 First Lien Notes 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 First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and the Security Documents. The Notes 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 First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and the Security Documents, or the satisfaction of any conditions precedent contained in this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and any Security Documents. The Notes Collateral Agent shall not be required to initiate or conduct any litigation or collection or other proceeding under this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and the Security Documents unless expressly set forth hereunder or thereunder. The Notes Collateral Agent shall have the right at any time to seek instructions from the Holders with respect to the administration of this Indenture, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any.

(q) The parties hereto and the Holders hereby agree and acknowledge that neither the Notes Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall assume, be responsible for or otherwise be obligated for any liabilities, claims, causes of action, suits, losses, allegations, requests, demands, penalties, fines, settlements, damages (including foreseeable and unforeseeable), judgments, expenses and costs (including but not limited to, any remediation, corrective action, response, removal or remedial action, or investigation, operations and maintenance or monitoring costs, for personal injury or property damages, real or personal) of any kind whatsoever, pursuant to any environmental law as a result of this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, 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 First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and the Security Documents, the Notes Collateral Agent may hold or obtain indicia of ownership primarily to protect the security interest of the Notes Collateral Agent in the Collateral and that any such actions taken by the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be construed as or otherwise constitute any participation in the management of such Collateral. In the event that the Notes Collateral Agent or the Trustee is required to acquire title to an asset for any reason, or take any managerial action of any kind in regard thereto, in order to carry out any fiduciary or trust obligation for the benefit of another, which in either of the Notes Collateral Agent or the Trustee’s sole discretion may cause the Notes Collateral Agent or the Trustee, as applicable, to be considered an “owner or operator” under the provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), 42 U.S.C. § 9601, et seq., or otherwise cause the Notes Collateral Agent or the Trustee to incur liability under CERCLA or any other federal, state or local law, each of the Notes Collateral Agent and the Trustee reserves the right, instead of taking such action, to either resign as the Notes Collateral Agent or the Trustee or arrange for the transfer of the title or control of the asset to a court-appointed receiver. Neither the Notes Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall be liable to the Company, the Guarantors or any other Person for any environmental claims or contribution actions under any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation by reason of either of the Notes Collateral Agent’s or the Trustee’s actions and conduct as authorized, empowered and directed hereunder or relating to the discharge, release or threatened release of hazardous materials into the environment. If at any time it is necessary or advisable for property to be possessed, owned, operated or managed by any Person (including the Notes Collateral Agent or the Trustee) other than the Company or the Guarantors, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes shall direct the Notes Collateral Agent or the Trustee to appoint an appropriately qualified Person (excluding the Notes Collateral Agent or the Trustee) who they shall designate to possess, own, operate or manage, as the case may be, the property.

 

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(r) Upon the receipt by the Notes Collateral Agent of a written request of the Company signed by an Officer (a “Notes Collateral Document Order”), the Notes Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to execute and enter into, and shall execute and enter into, without the further consent of any Holder or the Trustee, any Security Document or amendment or supplement thereto permitted hereunder to be executed after the Issue Date; provided that the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be required to execute or enter into any such Security Document which, in the Notes Collateral Agent’s reasonable opinion is reasonably likely to adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Notes Collateral Agent or that the Notes Collateral Agent determines is reasonably likely to involve the Notes Collateral Agent in personal liability. Such Notes Collateral Document Order shall (i) state that it is being delivered to the Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to, and is a Notes Collateral Document Order referred to in, this Section 13.8(r), and (ii) instruct the Notes Collateral Agent to execute and enter into such Security Document. Other than as set forth in this Indenture, any such execution of a Security Document shall be at the direction and expense of the Company, upon delivery to the Notes Collateral Agent of an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel, each 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 Notes Collateral Agent to execute such Security Documents (subject to the first sentence of this Section 13.8(r)).

(s) Subject to the provisions of the applicable Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, each Holder, by acceptance of the Notes, agrees that the Notes Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, 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 Notes Collateral Agent shall have no obligation to exercise any discretion under this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, 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. Each Holder, by acceptance of the Notes, authorizes and directs the Trustee to execute and deliver the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, in its capacity as Authorized Representative and all agreements, documents and instruments incidental thereto, and act in accordance with the terms thereof.

(t) After the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee, acting at the direction of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, may direct the Notes Collateral Agent in connection with any action required or permitted by this Indenture, the Security Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any.

(u) The Notes 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 First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and to the extent not prohibited under the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, for turnover to the Trustee to make further distributions of such funds to itself, the Trustee and the Holders in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.10 and the other provisions of this Indenture.

(v) In each case that the Notes Collateral Agent may or is required hereunder or under any Security Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, to take any action (an “Action”), including without limitation to make any determination, to give consents, to exercise rights, powers or remedies, to release or sell Collateral or otherwise to act hereunder or under any Security Document or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, the Notes Collateral Agent may seek direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, accompanied by indemnity, if requested, satisfactory to the Notes Collateral Agent. The Notes Collateral Agent shall not be liable with respect to any Action taken or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with the direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. If the Notes 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 Notes Collateral Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such Action unless and until the Notes Collateral Agent shall have received direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, accompanied by indemnity, if requested, satisfactory to the Notes Collateral Agent, and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining.

 

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(w) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or in any Security Document or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, in no event shall the Notes 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 Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any (including without limitation the filing or continuation of any UCC financing or continuation statements or similar documents or instruments), nor shall the Notes Collateral Agent or the Trustee be responsible for, and neither the Notes 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.

(x) Before the Notes Collateral Agent acts or refrains from acting in each case at the request or direction of the Company or the Guarantors, other than as set forth in this Indenture, it may require an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which shall conform to the provisions of this Section 13.8 and Section 12.2 hereof. The Notes 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.

(y) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Notes Collateral Agent shall be entitled to act pursuant to the instructions of the Holders and the Trustee with respect to the Security Documents and the Collateral.

(z) The rights, privileges, benefits, immunities, indemnities and other protections given to the Trustee are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Notes Collateral Agent as if the Notes Collateral Agent were named as the Trustee herein and the Security Documents were named as this Indenture herein. The Notes Collateral Agent shall be entitled to compensation, reimbursement and indemnity as set forth in Section 7.6, as if references therein to Trustee were references to Notes Collateral Agent.

[Signatures on following pages]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed all as of the date and year first written above.

 

WAYFAIR LLC
By:  

/s/ Kate Gulliver

  Name: Kate Gulliver
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
WAYFAIR INC.
By:  

/s/ Kate Gulliver

  Name: Kate Gulliver
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
ON BEHALF OF EACH OF THE DELAWARE AND MASSACHUSETTS SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS LISTED ON SCHEDULE I HERETO
By:  

/s/ Kate Gulliver

  Name: Kate Gulliver
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
ON BEHALF OF THE ILLINOIS SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR LISTED ON SCHEDULE I HERETO
By:  

/s/ Kate Gulliver

  Name: Kate Gulliver
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to the Indenture]


U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent
By:  

/s/ Ivy Wegener

  Name: Ivy Wegener
  Title: Vice President

 

[Signature Page to the Indenture]


SCHEDULE I

Delaware and Massachusetts Subsidiary Guarantors

 

No.

  

Name

  

Jurisdiction of

Incorporation/Formation

1.    CastleGate Logistics Inc.    Delaware
2.    Wayfair International LLC    Delaware
3.    Wayfair Maine LLC    Delaware
4.    Wayfair Purchasing LLC    Delaware
5.    Wayfair Trade LLC    Delaware
6.    Wayfair Transportation LLC    Delaware
7.    SK Retail, Inc.    Massachusetts

Illinois Subsidiary Guarantor

 

No.

  

Name

  

Jurisdiction of

Incorporation/Formation

8.    Wayfair Illinois LLC    Illinois


SCHEDULE II

POST-CLOSING DELIVERABLES

 

1.

To the extent not previously delivered to the First Lien Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, on or prior to the date that is ninety (90) days after the Issue Date, the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the First Lien Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, all Pledged Shares (as defined in the Notes Pledge Agreement) pledged as Collateral, accompanied by undated share transfer powers or other instruments of transfer executed in blank.


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF GLOBAL RESTRICTED NOTE]

[Applicable Restricted Notes Legend]

[Depository Legend, if applicable]

[OID Legend, if applicable]

 

No. [___]    Principal Amount $[___________] [as revised by the Schedule of Increases and Decreases in Global Note attached hereto]1

CUSIP NO. _________________________

ISIN NO. ____________________________

WAYFAIR LLC

7.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2030

Wayfair LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Company”), promises to pay to [Cede & Co.],2 or its registered assigns, the principal sum of _______________ Dollars, [as revised by the Schedule of Increases and Decreases in Global Note attached hereto],3 on September 15, 2030.

Interest Payment Dates: March 15 and September 15, commencing on September 15, 2025, and at maturity Record Dates: March 1 and September 1

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 

Insert in Global Notes only.

Insert in Global Notes only.

Insert in Global Notes only.

 

A-1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

WAYFAIR LLC
By:  

     

  Name:
  Title:

 

A-2


TRUSTEE CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This Note is one of the 7.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By:  

     

  Authorized Signatory

Dated:           

 

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[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]

WAYFAIR LLC

7.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2030

Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture.

1. Interest

The Company promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 7.750% per annum from September 15, 2025 until maturity. The Company will pay interest semi-annually in arrears every March 15 and September 15 of each year and at the Stated Maturity, 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; provided, that the first Interest Payment Date shall be September 15, 2025. The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified herein, and it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

2. Method of Payment

By no later than 11:00 a.m. (Eastern time) on the date on which any principal of, premium, if any, or interest, on any Note is due and payable, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient in immediately available funds to pay such principal, premium and interest when due. Interest on any Note which is payable, and is timely paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the preceding March 1 and September 1 at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 2.3 of the Indenture. The principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes shall be payable at the office or agency of Paying Agent or Registrar designated by the Company maintained for such purpose (which shall initially be the office of the Trustee maintained for such purpose), or at such other office or agency of the Company as may be maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 2.3 of the Indenture; provided, however, that, at the option of the Paying Agent, each installment of interest may be paid by (i) check mailed to addresses of the Persons entitled thereto as such addresses shall appear on the Notes Register or (ii) wire transfer to an account located in the United States maintained by the payee, subject to the third to last sentence of this paragraph. Payments in respect of Notes represented by a Global Note (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The Depository Trust Company or any successor depository. Payments in respect of Notes represented by Definitive Notes (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) held by a Holder of at least $1,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by Definitive Notes will be made in accordance with the Notes Register, or by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 15 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion). If an Interest Payment Date is a Legal Holiday, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. If a regular record date is a Legal Holiday, the record date shall not be affected.

3. Paying Agent and Registrar

The Company initially appoints U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) as Registrar and Paying Agent for the Notes. The Company may change any Registrar or Paying Agent without prior notice to the Holders. The Company or any Guarantor may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or transfer agent.

 

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4. Indenture

The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of March 13, 2025 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, the “Indenture”), among the Company, the guarantors named therein, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all terms and provisions of the Indenture, and Holders are referred to the Indenture for a statement of those terms. In the event of a conflict between the terms of the Notes and the terms of the Indenture, the terms of the Indenture shall control.

The Notes are senior secured obligations of the Company. The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture is unlimited. This Note is one of the 7.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 referred to in the Indenture. The Notes include (i) $700,000,000 principal amount of the Company’s 7.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 issued under the Indenture on March 13, 2025 (the “Initial Notes”) and (ii) if and when issued, additional Notes that may be issued from time to time under the Indenture subsequent to March 13, 2025 (the “Additional Notes”) as provided in Section 2.1(a) of the Indenture. The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes shall be considered collectively as a single class for all purposes of the Indenture. Additional Notes will be part of the same issue as the existing Notes under the Indenture for all purposes, including waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase. If any Additional Notes are not fungible with any other existing Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes or if the Company otherwise determines that any Additional Notes should be differentiated from the existing Notes, such Additional Notes may have a separate CUSIP number; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, such Additional Notes will still constitute a single series with all other Notes issued under the Indenture for all purposes. The Indenture imposes certain limitations on the incurrence of indebtedness, the making of restricted payments, the sale of assets, the incurrence of certain liens, the making of payments for consents, the entering into of agreements that restrict distribution from restricted subsidiaries and the consummation of mergers and consolidations. The Indenture also imposes requirements with respect to the provision of financial information and the provision of guarantees of the Notes by certain subsidiaries.

5. Guarantees

To guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal, premium, if any, interest (including post-filing or post-petition interest in any proceeding under Bankruptcy Law) on the Notes and all other amounts payable by the Company under the Indenture and the Notes when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, according to the terms of the Notes and the Indenture, the Guarantor will unconditionally guarantee (and future guarantors, jointly and severally with the Guarantor, will fully and unconditionally guarantee) such obligations on a senior secured basis pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.

6. Redemption

(a) At any time prior to September 15, 2027, the Company may redeem the Notes in whole or in part, at its option, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the Notes Register, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) equal to 100.000% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the relevant Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, subject to the rights of Holders of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

(b) At any time and from time to time prior to September 15, 2027, the Company may, on one or more occasions, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the Notes Register, redeem up to 40.0% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture (including Additional Notes) at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) equal to 107.750% of the principal amount of such Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, with the Net Cash Proceeds received by the Company or Holdings from any Equity Offerings of the Company; provided that not less than 50.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes issued under the Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption (including Additional Notes but excluding Notes held by Holdings, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) unless all such Notes are redeemed substantially concurrently; provided, further, that each such redemption occurs not later than 180 days after the date of closing of the related Equity Offering. The Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased in the manner described under Sections 5.1 through 5.6 of the Indenture.

 

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(c) In addition, at any time and from time to time prior to September 15, 2027, the Company may redeem up to 10.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued under the Indenture (including Additional Notes) during any twelve-month period, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the Notes Register, at a redemption price equal to 103.000% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

(d) [Reserved].

(e) Except pursuant to clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this paragraph 6, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to September 15, 2027.

(f) At any time and from time to time on or after September 15, 2027, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the Notes Register, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth in the table below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed, to but excluding the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on September 15 of each of the years indicated in the table below:

 

Period

   Percentage  

2027

     103.875

2028

     101.938

2029 and thereafter

     100.000

(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any tender offer for the Notes, including a Change of Control Offer or Asset Disposition Offer, if Holders of not less than 90.0% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not validly withdraw such Notes in such tender offer and the Company, or any third party making such a tender offer in lieu of the Company, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn by such Holders, the Company or such third party shall have the right, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the Notes Register, 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 date of such redemption. In determining whether the Holders of at least 90% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes have validly tendered and not validly withdrawn such Notes in a tender offer, including a Change of Control Offer or Asset Disposition Offer, Notes owned by the Company or its Affiliates or by funds controlled or managed by any Affiliate of the Company, or any successor thereof, shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purposes of such tender offer.

(h) Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable Redemption Date.

(i) Any redemption pursuant to this paragraph 6 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 5.1 through 5.6 of the Indenture.

The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

7. Repurchase Provisions

If a Change of Control occurs, each Holder will have the right to require the Company to repurchase from each Holder all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of such Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101.0% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of purchase, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date as provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.

 

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Upon certain Asset Dispositions, the Company may be required to use the Collateral Excess Proceeds or the Excess Proceeds from such Asset Dispositions to offer to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of Notes (that is $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) and, at the Company’s option, Pari Passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Collateral Excess Proceeds or the Excess Proceeds, as applicable, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100.0% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.5 and in Article V of the Indenture.

8. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

The Notes shall be issuable only in fully registered form in minimum denominations of principal amount of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay a sum sufficient to cover any tax and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange of any Note (A) for a period beginning (1) 15 days before the mailing of a notice of an offer to repurchase or redeem Notes and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing or (2) 15 days before an Interest Payment Date and ending on such Interest Payment Date or (B) called for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

9. Persons Deemed Owners

The registered Holder of this Note may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

10. Unclaimed Money

If money for the payment of principal, premium, if any, interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Company at its written request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person to receive such money. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to the Company and not to the Trustee for payment as general creditors unless an abandoned property law designates another person for payment.

11. Discharge and Defeasance

Subject to certain exceptions and conditions set forth in the Indenture, the Company at any time may terminate some or all of its obligations under the Notes and the Indenture and have Liens, if any, on the Collateral securing the Notes released if the Company deposits with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal, premium, if any and interest on the Notes to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.

12. Amendment, Supplement, Waiver

Subject to certain exceptions contained in the Indenture, the Note Documents may be amended, or a Default thereunder may be waived, with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes. Without notice to or the consent of any Holder, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, may amend or supplement the Note Documents as provided in the Indenture.

13. Defaults and Remedies

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company or certain Guarantors) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 30.0% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may, and the Trustee (subject to the provisions of the Indenture) at the request of such Holders shall, declare the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, and any other monetary obligations on all the Notes to be due and payable immediately.

 

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Upon the effectiveness of such declaration, such principal, interest, and other monetary obligations will be due and payable immediately. If a bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company or certain Guarantors occurs and is continuing, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest and any other monetary obligations on all the Notes will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders. Under certain circumstances, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences.

14. Trustee Dealings with the Company

Subject to certain limitations set forth in the Indenture, the Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company, Guarantors or their Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. In addition, the Trustee shall be permitted to engage in transactions with the Company; provided, however, that if the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest, the Trustee must (i) eliminate such conflict within 90 days of acquiring such conflicting interest, (ii) apply to the SEC for permission to continue acting as Trustee or (iii) resign.

15. No Recourse Against Others

No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member or equityholder of Holdings, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under the Note Documents or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the U.S. federal securities laws and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

16. Authentication

This Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent acting on its behalf) manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.

17. Abbreviations

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entirety), JT TEN (= joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= custodian) and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gift to Minors Act).

18. CUSIP and ISIN Numbers

The Company has caused CUSIP and ISIN numbers, if applicable, to be printed on the Notes and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP and ISIN numbers, if applicable, in notices of redemption or purchase as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption or purchase and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

19. Governing Law

This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge to the Holder a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:

Wayfair LLC

4 Copley Place

Boston, MA 02116

Attn: General Counsel

 

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20. Security

From and after the Issue Date, the Notes and the Note 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 Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, hold a security interest in the Collateral for its benefit and the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, in each case pursuant to the Security Documents. 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), 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 Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, to enter into the Security Documents on the Issue Date (or thereafter, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture), and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith.

 

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ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Note to:

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

 

(Insert assignee’s social security or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint ___________ agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:    Your Signature:             

 

Signature Guarantee:   

    

   (Signature must be guaranteed)

 

 

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 17Ad-15.

The undersigned hereby certifies that it ☐ is / ☐ is not an Affiliate of the Company and that, to its knowledge, the proposed transferee ☐ is / ☐ is not an Affiliate of the Company.

In connection with any transfer or exchange of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the date that is one year after the later of the date of original issuance of such Notes and the last date, if any, on which such Notes were owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW:

 

(1)

          acquired for the undersigned’s own account, without transfer;

(2)

          transferred to the Company;

(3)

          transferred pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”);

(4)

          transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act;

(5)

          transferred pursuant to and in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act;

(6)

          transferred to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3), (7), (8), (9), (12) or (13) under the Securities Act) or an “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(4) under the Securities Act), that has furnished to the Trustee a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements (the form of which letter appears as Section 2.7 or 2.9 of the Indenture, respectively); or

 

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(7)

          transferred pursuant to another available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered Holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (5) or (6) is checked, the Company may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, in its sole discretion, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company may reasonably request to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act such as the exemption provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

 

    

 

Signature

Signature Guarantee:     

    

    

   

(Signature must be guaranteed)      Signature

The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 17Ad-15.

TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF BOX (1) OR (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

    

Dated:  

 

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[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTES]

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTES

The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

  

Amount of decrease
in Principal Amount
of this Global Note

  

Amount of increase
in Principal Amount
of this Global Note

  

Principal Amount of
this Global Note
following such
decrease or increase

  

Signature of
authorized signatory
of Trustee or Notes
Custodian

 

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OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 3.5 or 3.9 of the Indenture, check either box:

Section 3.5 ☐  Section 3.9  ☐

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 3.5 or 3.9 of the Indenture, state the amount in principal amount (must be in denominations of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof): $___________________________________ and specify the denomination or denominations (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) of the Notes to be issued to the Holder for the portion of the within Note not being repurchased (in the absence of any such specification, one such Note will be issued for the portion not being repurchased): _________________.

 

Date: __________ Your Signature ____________________________________________________

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of the Note)

Signature Guarantee: _______________________________________________________________

(Signature must be guaranteed)

The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 17Ad-15.

 

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EXHIBIT B

Form of Supplemental Indenture to Add Guarantors

[  ] SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, (this “Supplemental Indenture”) dated as of [ ], by and among the parties that are signatories hereto as Guarantors (each a “Guaranteeing Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Guaranteeing Subsidiaries”), Wayfair LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, as Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent under the Indenture referred to below.

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, each of the Company, the Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture), the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent have heretofore executed and delivered an indenture dated as of March 13, 2025 (as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance of an aggregate principal amount of $700 million of 7.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 of the Company (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiaries shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiaries shall unconditionally guarantee, on a joint and several basis with the other Guarantors, all of the Company’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 9.1 of the Indenture, the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent are authorized to execute and deliver a supplemental indenture to add additional Guarantors, without the consent of any Holder;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guaranteeing Subsidiaries, the Company, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.1. Defined Terms. As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recitals hereto are used herein as therein defined. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

ARTICLE II

AGREEMENT TO BE BOUND; GUARANTEE

SECTION 2.1. Agreement to be Bound. Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby becomes a party to the Indenture as a Guarantor and as such will have all of the rights and be subject to all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.

SECTION 2.2. Guarantee. Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary agrees, on a joint and several basis with the other Guaranteeing Subsidiaries and all the existing Guarantors, to fully, unconditionally and irrevocably Guarantee to each Holder of the Notes, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent the Guaranteed Obligations pursuant to Article X of the Indenture on a senior basis.

 

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ARTICLE III

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 3.1. Notices. All notices and other communications to the Guaranteeing Subsidiaries shall be given as provided in the Indenture to the Guarantors, at its address set forth below, with a copy to the Company as provided in the Indenture for notices to the Company.

[INSERT ADDRESS]

SECTION 3.2. Merger, Amalgamation and Consolidation. Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall not sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into another Person (other than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor or becomes a Guarantor concurrently with the transaction) except in accordance with Section 4.1(e) of the Indenture.

SECTION 3.3. Release of Guarantee. This Guarantee shall be released in accordance with Section 10.2 of the Indenture.

SECTION 3.4. Parties. Nothing expressed or mentioned herein is intended or shall be construed to give any Person, firm or corporation, other than the Holders, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Supplemental Indenture or the Indenture or any provision herein or therein contained.

SECTION 3.5. Governing Law. This Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

SECTION 3.6. Severability. In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture 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 and such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability.

SECTION 3.7. Benefits Acknowledged. Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary’s Guarantee is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture. Each 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.

SECTION 3.8. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

SECTION 3.9. The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent. Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent makes any representation or warranty as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or with respect to the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the other parties hereto.

SECTION 3.10. Counterparts. The parties hereto may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, PDF or other electronic transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile, PDF or other electronic means shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

SECTION 3.11. Execution and Delivery. Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary agrees that the Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of any such Guarantee.

 

B-2


SECTION 3.12. Headings. The headings of the Articles and the Sections in this Supplemental Indenture are for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to alter or affect the meaning or interpretation of any provisions hereof.

 

B-3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

WAYFAIR LLC
By:  

    

  Name:
  Title:
[SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR],
as a Guarantor
By:  

    

  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page to Supplemental Indenture]


U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent
By:  

    

  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page to Supplemental Indenture]

EX-10.1 3 d909268dex101.htm EX-10.1 EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of March 13, 2025

among

WAYFAIR INC.,

as Holdings,

WAYFAIR LLC,

as the Borrower,

The Several Lenders

from Time to Time Parties Hereto,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, a Letter of Credit Issuer and a Lender,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA,

BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

KEYBANC CAPITAL MARKETS INC. and

RBC CAPITAL MARKETS1,

as Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners

 

 

1

RBC Capital Markets is a brand name for the capital markets businesses of Royal Bank of Canada and its affiliates.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
Section 1.   Definitions      1  

1.1

  Defined Terms      1  

1.2

  Other Interpretive Provisions      66  

1.3

  Accounting Terms      67  

1.4

  Rounding      67  

1.5

  References to Agreements Laws, Etc.      67  

1.6

  Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents      67  

1.7

  Rates      67  

1.8

  Times of Day      68  

1.9

  Timing of Payment or Performance      68  

1.10

  Certifications      68  

1.11

  Classification and Re-Classification; Certain Calculations      68  

1.12

  Pro Forma Calculations; Limited Condition Transactions      69  

1.13

  Divisions      71  

1.14

  Additional Alternate Currencies      71  
Section 2.   Amount and Terms of Credit      72  

2.1

  Commitments      72  

2.2

  Minimum Amount of Each Borrowing; Maximum Number of Borrowings      73  

2.3

  Notice of Borrowing      73  

2.4

  Disbursement of Funds      73  

2.5

  Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt      74  

2.6

  Conversions and Continuations      75  

2.7

  Pro Rata Borrowings      76  

2.8

  Interest      76  

2.9

  Interest Periods      77  

2.10

  Increased Costs, Illegality, Alternate Rate of Interest, Benchmark Replacement Setting, Etc.      77  

2.11

  Compensation      82  

2.12

  Change of Lending Office      83  

2.13

  Notice of Certain Costs      83  

2.14

  Incremental Facilities      83  

2.15

  Permitted Debt Exchanges      88  

2.16

  Defaulting Lenders      89  
Section 3.   Letters of Credit      91  

3.1

  Letters of Credit      91  

3.2

  Letter of Credit Requests      93  

3.3

  Letter of Credit Participations      94  

3.4

  Agreement to Repay Letter of Credit Drawings      95  

3.5

  Increased Costs      97  

3.6

  New or Successor Letter of Credit Issuer      97  

3.7

  Role of Letter of Credit Issuer      98  

3.8

  Cash Collateral      99  

3.9

  Applicability of ISP and UCP      99  

3.10

  Conflict with Issuer Documents      99  

3.11

  Letters of Credit Issued for Restricted Subsidiaries      100  

3.12

  Provisions Related to Extended Revolving Credit Commitments       100  


Section 4.   Fees      100  

4.1

  Fees      100  

4.2

  Voluntary Reduction of Revolving Credit Commitments      101  

4.3

  Mandatory Termination of Commitments      101  
Section 5.   Payments      101  

5.1

  Voluntary Prepayments      101  

5.2

  Mandatory Prepayments      102  

5.3

  Method and Place of Payment      103  

5.4

  Net Payments      103  

5.5

  Computations of Interest and Fees      106  

5.6

  Limit on Rate of Interest      106  
Section 6.   Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness of Agreement      107  

6.1

  Credit Documents      107  

6.2

  Collateral      107  

6.3

  Legal Opinions      107  

6.4

  Closing Certificates      107  

6.5

  Authorization of Proceedings of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties; Corporate Documents      108  

6.6

  Fees      108  

6.7

  Solvency Certificate      108  

6.8

  Patriot Act      108  

6.9

  Financial Statements      108  

6.10

  No Default; Representations and Warranties      108  

6.11

  [Reserved]      108  

6.12

  Officer’s Certificate      108  
Section 7.   Conditions Precedent to All Credit Events.      108  

7.1

  No Default; Representations and Warranties      109  

7.2

  Notice of Borrowing; Letter of Credit Request      109  
Section 8.   Representations and Warranties      109  

8.1

  Corporate Status      109  

8.2

  Corporate Power and Authority      109  

8.3

  No Violation      110  

8.4

  Litigation      110  

8.5

  Margin Regulations      110  

8.6

  Governmental Approvals      110  

8.7

  Investment Company Act      110  

8.8

  True and Complete Disclosure      110  

8.9

  Financial Condition; Financial Statements      111  

8.10

  Compliance with Laws      111  

8.11

  Tax Matters      111  

8.12

  Compliance with ERISA      111  

8.13

  Subsidiaries      111  

8.14

  Intellectual Property      111  

8.15

  Environmental Laws      112  

8.16

  Properties      112  

8.17

  Solvency       112  

 

ii


8.18

  Patriot Act      112  

8.19

  OFAC and FCPA      112  
Section 9.   Affirmative Covenants      113  

9.1

  Information Covenants      113  

9.2

  Books, Records, and Inspections      115  

9.3

  Maintenance of Insurance      115  

9.4

  Payment of Taxes      116  

9.5

  Preservation of Existence; Consolidated Corporate Franchises      116  

9.6

  Compliance with Statutes, Regulations, Etc.      116  

9.7

  ERISA      116  

9.8

  Maintenance of Properties      117  

9.9

  Transactions with Affiliates      117  

9.10

  End of Fiscal Years      117  

9.11

  Additional Guarantors and Grantors      118  

9.12

  Pledge of Additional Stock and Evidence of Indebtedness      118  

9.13

  Use of Proceeds      118  

9.14

  Further Assurances      118  

9.15

  Lines of Business      119  
Section 10.   Negative Covenants      119  

10.1

  Limitation on Indebtedness      119  

10.2

  Limitation on Liens      125  

10.3

  Limitation on Fundamental Changes      125  

10.4

  Limitation on Sale of Assets      127  

10.5

  Limitation on Restricted Payments      128  

10.6

  Limitation on Subsidiary Distributions      133  

10.7

  Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio      135  

10.8

  Limitations on Dispositions and Other Transfers of Material Intellectual Property      135  
Section 11.   Events of Default      135  

11.1

  Payments      135  

11.2

  Representations, Etc.      135  

11.3

  Covenants      135  

11.4

  Default Under Other Agreements      136  

11.5

  Bankruptcy, Etc.      136  

11.6

  ERISA      137  

11.7

  Credit Documents; Guarantee      137  

11.8

  Pledge Agreement      137  

11.9

  Security Agreement      137  

11.10

  Judgments      137  

11.11

  Change of Control      137  

11.12

  Remedies Upon Event of Default      138  

11.13

  Application of Proceeds      138  
Section 12.   The Agents      138  

12.1

  Appointment      138  

12.2

  Delegation of Duties      139  

12.3

  Exculpatory Provisions      139  

12.4

  Reliance by Agents      140  

12.5

  Notice of Default      140  

12.6

  Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, and Other Lenders       140  

 

iii


12.7

  Indemnification      141  

12.8

  Agents in Their Individual Capacities      141  

12.9

  Successor Agents      141  

12.10

  Withholding Tax      142  

12.11

  Agents Under Security Documents and Guarantee      143  

12.12

  Right to Realize on Collateral and Enforce Guarantee      143  

12.13

  Intercreditor Agreements      144  

12.14

  The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim      144  

12.15

  ERISA Representation of the Lenders      145  

12.16

  Erroneous Distributions      146  
Section 13.   Miscellaneous      146  

13.1

  Amendments, Waivers, and Releases      146  

13.2

  Notices      150  

13.3

  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies      150  

13.4

  Survival of Representations and Warranties      150  

13.5

  Payment of Expenses; Indemnification      150  

13.6

  Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments      152  

13.7

  Replacements of Lenders Under Certain Circumstances      155  

13.8

  Adjustments; Set-off      156  

13.9

  Counterparts      157  

13.10

  Severability      157  

13.11

  Integration      157  

13.12

  GOVERNING LAW      157  

13.13

  Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers      157  

13.14

  Acknowledgments      158  

13.15

  WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL      158  

13.16

  Confidentiality      159  

13.17

  Direct Website Communications      160  

13.18

  USA PATRIOT Act      161  

13.19

  [Reserved]      161  

13.20

  Payments Set Aside      161  

13.21

  No Fiduciary Duty      161  

13.22

  Amendment and Restatement      162  

13.23

  Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs      162  
Section 14.   Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions      163  

 

iv


SCHEDULES
Schedule 1.1(b)   

Commitments of Lenders and Letter of Credit Issuers

Schedule 1.1(c)   

Existing Letters of Credit

Schedule 8.13   

Subsidiaries

Schedule 9.14   

Post-Closing Actions

Schedule 10.1   

Closing Date Indebtedness

Schedule 10.2   

Closing Date Liens

Schedule 10.5   

Closing Date Investments

Schedule 13.2   

Notice Addresses

EXHIBITS
Exhibit A   

Form of Joinder Agreement

Exhibit B   

Form of Guarantee

Exhibit C   

Form of Perfection Certificate

Exhibit D   

Form of Pledge Agreement

Exhibit E   

Form of Security Agreement

Exhibit F   

Form of Letter of Credit Request

Exhibit G   

Form of Credit Party Closing Certificate

Exhibit H   

Form of Assignment and Acceptance

Exhibit I-1   

Form of Promissory Note (Term Loans)

Exhibit I-2   

Form of Promissory Note (Revolving Credit Loans)

Exhibit J-1   

Form of Non-Bank Tax Certificate (For Non-U.S. Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Exhibit J-2   

Form of Non-Bank Tax Certificate (For Non-U.S. Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Exhibit J-3   

Form of Non-Bank Tax Certificate (For Non-U.S. Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Exhibit J-4   

Form of Non-Bank Tax Certificate (For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Exhibit K   

Form of Conversion/Continuation Notice

Exhibit L   

Form of Compliance Certificate


AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of March 13, 2025, among WAYFAIR INC., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), WAYFAIR LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Borrower”), the lending institutions from time to time parties hereto (each a “Lender” and, collectively, the “Lenders”), and CITIBANK, N.A., as the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and a Letter of Credit Issuer (such terms and each other capitalized term used but not defined in this preamble having the meaning provided in Section 1).

WHEREAS, Holdings, the Borrower, certain lending institutions, certain letter of credit issuers and Citibank, N.A., as the administrative agent, the collateral agent and a letter of credit issuer, are party to the Original Credit Agreement (defined below), pursuant to which certain revolving credit and letter of credit facilities have been made available to the Borrower;

WHEREAS, (i) the Borrower has requested that the Lenders extend credit in the form of Revolving Credit Loans made available to the Borrower at any time and from time to time prior to the Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not in excess of $500,000,000 less the aggregate Letters of Credit Outstanding at such time, and (ii) the Borrower has requested the Letter of Credit Issuer to issue Letters of Credit in Dollars or in any Alternate Currency at any time and from time to time prior to the L/C Facility Maturity Date, in an aggregate Stated Amount at any time outstanding not in excess of $200,000,000;

WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Original Credit Agreement be amended and restated to evidence the revolving credit and letter of credit facilities described above and make certain other modifications to the terms of the Original Credit Agreement as more fully set forth herein; and

WHEREAS, the Lenders and Letter of Credit Issuer are willing to make available to the Borrower the revolving credit and letter of credit facilities described above and amend and restate the Original Credit Agreement for the purposes described above, in each case, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

Section 1. Definitions

1.1 Defined Terms. As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings specified in this Section 1.1 unless the context otherwise requires (it being understood that defined terms in this Agreement shall include in the singular number the plural and in the plural the singular):

“2025 Convertible Notes” shall mean the 0.625% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025, issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of August 14, 2020, by and between Holdings and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee.

“2026 Convertible Notes” shall mean the 1.000% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026, issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of August 19, 2019, by and between Holdings and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee.

“2027 Convertible Notes” shall mean the 3.250% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of September 13, 2022, by and between Holdings and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee.

“2028 Convertible Notes” shall mean the 3.500% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of May 12, 2023, by and between Holdings and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee.


“2029 Senior Secured Notes” shall mean the 7.250% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of October 8, 2024, among, inter alios, Holdings and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee and notes collateral agent.

“2029 Senior Secured Notes Collateral Agent” shall means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association in its capacities as the trustee and notes collateral agent with respect to the 2029 Senior Secured Notes (and its successors and assigns)

“2030 Senior Secured Notes” shall mean the 7.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of March 13, 2025, among, inter alios, Holdings and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee and notes collateral agent.

“2030 Senior Secured Notes Collateral Agent” shall mean U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association in its capacities as the collateral agent with respect to the 2030 Senior Secured Notes (and its successors and assigns)

“ABR” shall mean for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the NYFRB Rate in effect on such day plus 1⁄2 of 1% and (c) Adjusted Term SOFR for a one month Interest Period on such day plus 1%. Any change in the ABR due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or Adjusted Term SOFR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or Adjusted Term SOFR, respectively. If the ABR is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.10 (for the avoidance of doubt, only until any amendment has become effective pursuant to Section 2.10(c)), then the ABR shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above. For the avoidance of doubt, if the ABR as determined pursuant to the foregoing would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

“ABR Loan” shall mean each Loan bearing interest based on the ABR.

“ABR Term SOFR Determination Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Term SOFR”.

“Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean:

(a) with respect to any Indebtedness or other obligation that is or is to be secured by Liens on the Collateral on an equal priority basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations or any other First Lien Obligations, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or another intercreditor agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent under which such Liens on the Collateral are contractually equal in priority with the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations that contains terms and conditions substantially consistent with those set forth in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, with such changes thereto as are reasonably acceptable to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent; and

(b) with respect to any Indebtedness or other obligation that is or is to be secured by Liens on the Collateral that are junior to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations or any other First Lien Obligations, a customary intercreditor agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent under which such Liens on the Collateral securing such Indebtedness or other obligation are contractually subordinated to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations.

“Acquired EBITDA” shall mean, with respect to any Acquired Entity or Business or any Converted Restricted Subsidiary (any of the foregoing, a “Pro Forma Entity”) for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Pro Forma Entity.

“Acquired Entity or Business” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”

 

2


“Acquired Indebtedness” shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, (i) 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 (ii) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.

“Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate” shall mean, with respect to any Borrowing of Eurocurrency Loans for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

“Adjusted Term SOFR” shall mean, for purposes of any calculation, an interest 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 USD Floor, then Adjusted Term SOFR shall be deemed to be the USD Floor.

“Adjusted Total Revolving Credit Commitment” shall mean at any time the Total Revolving Credit Commitment less the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all Defaulting Lenders.

“Adjusted Total Term Loan Commitment” shall mean at any time the Total Term Loan Commitment less the aggregate Incremental Term Loan Commitments of all Defaulting Lenders.

“Administrative Agent” shall mean Citibank, N.A., as the administrative agent for the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, or any successor administrative agent pursuant to Section 12.9.

“Administrative Agent’s Office” shall mean the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 13.2 or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.

“Administrative Questionnaire” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.6(b)(ii)(D).

“Affected Financial Institution” shall mean (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.

“Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with such Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if such Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such other Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

“Agent Parties” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.17(b).

“Agents” shall mean the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners.

“Agreed Currencies” shall mean Dollars and each Alternate Currency.

“Agreement” shall mean this Credit Agreement, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Alternate Currency” shall mean Euros, Pounds Sterling, Hong Kong Dollars and any other currency (other than Dollars) that is approved in accordance with Section 1.14.

“Alternate Currency Benchmark” shall mean, initially (i) with respect to any Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in, or calculated with respect to, Pounds Sterling, the Daily Simple RFR for RFR Loans denominated in Pounds Sterling and (ii) with respect to Eurocurrency Loans denominated in an Alternate Currency (other than Pounds Sterling), the Eurocurrency Rate; provided that if an Alternate Currency Benchmark Transition Event or an Alternate Currency Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, and its related Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the applicable Daily Simple RFR, Eurocurrency Rate or the then-current Alternate Currency Benchmark, then “Alternate Currency Benchmark” means the applicable Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to clause (h) of Section 2.10.

 

3


“Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement” shall mean, with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan denominated in an Alternate Currency (other than Pounds Sterling) and any RFR Loan denominated in Pounds Sterling, the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement to the applicable Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR for syndicated credit facilities denominated in such Alternate Currency at such time and (b) the Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

With respect to Eurocurrency Loans or RFR Loans denominated in an Alternate Currency, if the Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement would be less than the “floor”, if any, provided in this Agreement initially (as of the execution of this Agreement, the modification, amendment or removal of this Agreement or otherwise) with respect to Eurocurrency Loans or RFR Loans denominated in such Alternate Currency, the Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement with respect to such Alternate Currency will be deemed to be the “floor” for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

“Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” shall mean, with respect to any replacement of applicable Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR with an Alternate Currency Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable Interest Period, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of the applicable Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR with the applicable Alternate Currency Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of the applicable Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR with the applicable Alternate Currency Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for syndicated credit facilities at such time.

“Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” shall mean, with respect to any Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Interest Period,” the definition of “RFR Business Day”, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other administrative matters) that the Administrative Agent decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of the Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement).

“Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement Date” shall mean the earlier to occur of the following events with respect to the applicable Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR:

(1) in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Alternate Currency Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of the applicable Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide the applicable Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR; or

(2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Alternate Currency Benchmark Transition Event,” the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein.

 

4


“Alternate Currency Benchmark Transition Event” shall mean the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the applicable Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR:

 

  (1)

a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of the applicable Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR, permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the applicable Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR;

 

  (2)

a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the applicable Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR, the U.S. Federal Reserve System, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for the applicable Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR, a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for the applicable Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for the applicable Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR, which states that the administrator of the applicable Eurocurrency Rate has ceased or will cease to provide Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the applicable Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR; or

 

  (3)

a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the applicable Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR announcing that the applicable Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR is no longer representative.

“Alternate Currency Benchmark Transition Start Date” shall mean (a) in the case of an Alternate Currency Benchmark Transition Event, the earlier of (i) the applicable Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement Date and (ii) if such Alternate Currency 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) and (b) in the case of an Alternate Currency Early Opt-in Election, the date specified by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, as applicable, by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent (in the case of such notice by the Required Lenders) and the Lenders.

“Alternate Currency Benchmark Unavailability Period” shall mean, if an Alternate Currency Benchmark Transition Event and its related Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the applicable Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR and solely to the extent that the applicable Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR has not been replaced with an Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement, the period (x) beginning at the time that such Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement Date has occurred if, at such time, no Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement has replaced the applicable Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR for all purposes hereunder in accordance with Section 2.10 and (y) ending at the time that an Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement has replaced the applicable Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR for all purposes hereunder pursuant to Section 2.10.

“Alternate Currency Early Opt-in Election” shall mean the occurrence of:

 

  (1)

(i) a determination by the Administrative Agent or (ii) a notification by the Required Lenders to the Administrative Agent (with a copy to the Borrower) that the Required Lenders have determined that syndicated credit facilities denominated in the applicable Alternate Currency being executed at such time, or that include language similar to that contained in this Section 2.10, are being executed or amended, as applicable, to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark interest rate to replace the applicable Eurocurrency Rate or Daily Simple RFR, and

 

  (2)

(i) the election by the Administrative Agent or (ii) the election by the Required Lenders to declare that an Alternate Currency Early Opt-in Election has occurred and the provision, as applicable, by the Administrative Agent of written notice of such election to the Borrower and the Lenders or by the Required Lenders of written notice of such election to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.

 

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“Alternate Currency Equivalent” shall mean, at any time, with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in the applicable Alternate Currency as determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer, as the case may be, at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of such Alternate Currency with Dollars.

“Alternate Currency Letter of Credit” shall mean any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternate Currency.

“Alternate Currency Loan” shall mean any Loan denominated in an Alternate Currency.

“Alternate Currency Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” shall mean the Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement excluding the Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

“Applicable Margin” shall mean a percentage per annum equal to:

(a) until delivery of financial statements and a related Compliance Certificate for the first full fiscal quarter commencing on or after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 9.1, (1) for Eurocurrency Loans or Term SOFR Loans that are Revolving Credit Loans, 1.25%, (2) for ABR Loans that are Revolving Credit Loans, 0.25%, (3) for RFR Loans that are Revolving Credit Loans, 1.2826% and (4) for Letter of Credit Fees, 1.25% per annum; and

(b) thereafter, in connection with Revolving Credit Loans and Letter of Credit Fees, the percentages per annum set forth in the table below, based upon the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.1:

 

Status

   Letter of
Credit Fees
  ABR Loans   Eurocurrency
Loans or
Term SOFR
Loans
  RFR Loans

Level I Status

   1.75%   0.75%   1.75%   1.7826%

Level II Status

   1.50%   0.50%   1.50%   1.5326%

Level III Status

   1.25%   0.25%   1.25%   1.2826%

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Margin for Revolving Credit Loans and Letter of Credit Fees resulting from a change in the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 9.1(d).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the Applicable Margin in respect of any Class of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or any Extended Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans made pursuant to any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments shall be the applicable percentages per annum set forth in the relevant Extension Amendment and (b) the Applicable Margin in respect of any Class of Replacement Term Loans shall be the applicable percentages per annum set forth in the relevant agreement.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above in this definition or elsewhere in this Agreement, if it is subsequently determined that the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio set forth in any Compliance Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent is inaccurate at any time and the result thereof is that the Lenders received interest or fees for any period based on an Applicable Margin that is less than that which would have been applicable had the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio been accurately determined, then, for all purposes of this Agreement, the Applicable Margin for any day occurring within the period covered by such Compliance Certificate shall retroactively be deemed to be the relevant percentage as based upon the accurately determined Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio for such period, and any shortfall in the interest or fees theretofore paid by the Borrower for the relevant period as a result of the miscalculation of the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio shall be deemed to be (and shall be) due and payable, at the time the interest or fees for such period were required to be paid; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as an Event of Default described in Section 11.5 has not occurred (solely with respect to Holdings or the Borrower), such shortfall shall be due and payable within five Business Days following the written demand thereof by the Administrative Agent and no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of such non-payment until the expiration of such five Business Day period. In addition, at the option of the Required Revolving Credit Lenders, at any time during which the Borrower shall have failed to deliver any of the Section 9.1 Financials by the applicable date required under Section 9.1, then the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio shall be deemed to be Level I Status, in each case, for the purposes of determining the Applicable Margin (but only for so long as such failure continues, after which such ratio and Status shall be determined based on the then-existing Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio). It is acknowledged and agreed that, except as expressly set forth in the proviso to the first sentence of this paragraph, nothing in this definition will limit the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under the Credit Documents, including Article VII herein.

“Approved Foreign Bank” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Cash Equivalent.”

“Approved Fund” shall mean any Fund that is administered or managed by (i) a Lender, (ii) an Affiliate of a Lender, or (iii) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers, advises or manages a Lender.

“ASC” shall mean the Financial Accounting Standards Codification Topic.

“Asset Sale” shall mean:

(i) 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 Leaseback) (each a “disposition”) of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, or

(ii) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than preferred stock of Restricted Subsidiaries issued in compliance with Section 10.1), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, in each case, other than:

(a) any disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or obsolete, worn out or surplus property or property (including leasehold property interests) that is no longer economically practical in its business or commercially desirable to maintain or no longer used or useful equipment in the ordinary course of business or any disposition of inventory, immaterial assets, or goods (or other assets) in the ordinary course of business;

(b) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Holdings or the Borrower in a manner permitted pursuant to Section 10.3(a);

(c) the incurrence of Liens that are permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 10.2 or the making of any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted to be made, and is made, pursuant to Section 10.5, in each case, other than by reference to this clause;

(d) any disposition of assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Borrower or any Parent Entity of the Borrower) in any transaction or series of transactions with an aggregate Fair Market Value of less than the greater of (a) $57,000,000 and (b) 10.0% of Consolidated EBITDA at the time of such disposition; (e) (A) any disposition of property or assets or issuance of securities (other than Equity Interests) by (1) a Restricted Subsidiary to Holdings or (2) by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary to another Restricted Subsidiary or (B) any issuance of Equity Interests by (1) a Restricted Subsidiary to Holdings or (2) by a Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Borrower or any Parent Entity of the Borrower) to another Restricted Subsidiary;

 

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(f) to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Code, or any comparable or successor provision, any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon) for use in a Similar Business;

(g) any issuance, sale or pledge of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness, or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the primary assets of which are cash and/or Cash Equivalents);

(h) foreclosures, condemnation, casualty or any similar action on assets (including dispositions in connection therewith);

(i) sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, and related assets in connection with any Receivables Facility;

(j) any financing transaction with respect to property or inventory built or acquired by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date, including Sale Leasebacks and asset securitizations permitted by this Agreement;

(k) (1) any surrender or waiver of contractual rights or the settlement, release, or surrender of contractual rights or other litigation claims, (2) the termination or collapse of cost sharing agreements with Holdings or any Subsidiary and the settlement of any crossing payments in connection therewith, or (3) the settlement, discount, write off, forgiveness, or cancellation of any Indebtedness owing by any present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, consultants or independent contractors of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings) or any Subsidiary or any of their successors or assigns;

(l) the disposition or discount of inventory, accounts receivable, or notes receivable in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice or the conversion of accounts receivable to notes receivable;

(m) the licensing, cross-licensing or sub-licensing of Intellectual Property or other general intangibles (whether pursuant to franchise agreements or otherwise) in the ordinary course of business or on a non-exclusive basis;

(n) the unwinding of any Hedging Obligations or obligations in respect of Cash Management Services;

(o) sales, transfers, and other dispositions of Investments in joint ventures to the extent required by, or made pursuant to, customary buy/sell arrangements between the joint venture parties set forth in joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements;

(p) the expiration, lapse or abandonment of Intellectual Property rights in the ordinary course of business, which (i) in the reasonable business judgment of the Borrower is not material to the conduct of the business of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (ii) is at the end of the applicable statutory term for such Intellectual Property right;

 

8


(q) the issuance of directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals as required by applicable law; (r) dispositions of property to the extent that (1) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property that is promptly purchased or (2) the proceeds of such disposition are reasonably promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property (which replacement property is actually reasonably promptly purchased);

(s) leases, assignments, subleases, licenses, or sublicenses which do not materially interfere with the business of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(t) [reserved];

(u) dispositions of assets acquired pursuant to any Permitted Investment, which assets are not used or useful to the core or principal business of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(v) the settlement or early termination of any Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction and the settlement or early termination of any Permitted Warrant Transaction; and

(w) the lease, assignment, sub-lease, license or sub-license of, or any transfer related to a “reverse build to suit” or similar transaction in respect of, any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business;

provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this definition shall be subject to Section 10.8.

“Assignment and Acceptance” shall mean (i) an assignment and acceptance substantially in the form of Exhibit H, or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent and (ii) in the case of any assignment of Term Loans in connection with a Permitted Debt Exchange conducted in accordance with Section 2.15, such form of assignment (if any) as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.15(a).

“Assignment Taxes” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Other Taxes.”

“Auction Agent” shall mean (i) the Administrative Agent or (ii) any other financial institution or advisor employed by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary (whether or not an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent) to act as an arranger in connection with any Permitted Debt Exchange pursuant to Section 2.15; provided that Holdings shall not designate the Administrative Agent as the Auction Agent without the written consent of the Administrative Agent (it being understood that the Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to agree to act as the Auction Agent); provided, further, that neither Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries may act as the Auction Agent.

“Authorized Officer” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any individual holding the position of chairman of the board (if an officer), the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Controller, the Vice President-Finance, a Senior Vice President, a Director, a Manager, the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary or any other senior officer or agent with express authority to act on behalf of such Person designated as such by the board of directors or other managing authority of such Person.

“Auto-Extension Letter of Credit” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.2(d).

“Available Amount” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.5(a)(4)(ii).

“Available Commitment” shall mean an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment over (ii) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of (a) all Revolving Credit Loans then outstanding and (b) the aggregate Letters of Credit Outstanding at such time.

“Bail-In Action” shall mean the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.

 

9


“Bail-In Legislation” shall mean, (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).

“Bankruptcy Code” shall have the meaning provided in Section 11.5.

“Beneficial Ownership Certification” shall mean a certification regarding beneficial ownership required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, in form and substance substantially the same as the form of Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners of Legal Entity Customers published jointly, in May 2018, by the Loan Syndications and Trading Association and Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.

“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” shall mean 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

“Benefit Plan” shall mean any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan.”

“Benefited Lender” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.8(a).

“BHC Act Affiliate” of a party shall mean an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

“Board” shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (or any successor).

“Bona Fide Debt Fund” shall mean any Affiliate of such entities mentioned in clauses (a) or (b) of the definition of “Disqualified Lenders” that is a Fund and whose managers are not involved with the management of any equity investment in such Competitor or Affiliate and do not, directly or indirectly, possess the power to direct or cause the direction of the investment policies with respect to such Competitor or Affiliate, as applicable.

“Borrower” shall have the meaning provided in the preamble hereto.

“Borrower Investment Policy” shall mean the investment policy of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as in effect on the Original Closing Date and provided to the Administrative Agent together with any amendments, supplements or other modifications thereto as may be approved from time to time by the board of directors (or any authorized committee thereof) of Holdings; provided that, following receipt by the Borrower of a written request therefor from the Administrative Agent from time to time, the Borrower shall provide a copy of such investment policy then in effect; provided, further, that without the prior written consent of the Required Lenders, the Borrower Investment Policy may not include investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries, crypto or alternative currencies that are not Cash or Cash Equivalents or any other investment in which other Persons in the Borrower’s industry are not generally making investments.

“Borrower Materials” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.17(b).

“Borrowing” shall mean Loans of the same Class and Type, made, converted, or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurocurrency Loans or Term SOFR Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

 

10


“Business Day” shall mean any day excluding Saturday, Sunday, and any other day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized by law or other governmental actions to close; provided that (a) with respect to RFR Loans and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such RFR Loan, or any other dealings of such RFR Loan, any such day shall also be an RFR Business Day and (b) with respect to Term SOFR Loans and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such Term SOFR Loan or any other dealings of such Term SOFR Loan, any such day shall also be a U.S. Government Securities Business Day. With respect to any Alternate Currency, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in deposits in such Alternate Currency in the principal financial center of the country of such Alternate Currency.

“BVI Share Charge” shall mean that certain British Virgin Islands law governed share charge, in which Wayfair International LLC provides a charge to the Administrative Agent over no more than 65% of its outstanding voting Equity Interests and 100% of its outstanding non-voting Equity Interests in Windsor (BVI) Holdings 1 Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands.

“Capital Lease” shall mean, as applied to any Person, any lease of any property (whether real, personal, or mixed) by that Person as lessee that, in conformity with GAAP, is, or is required to be, accounted for as a capital lease or finance lease on the balance sheet of that Person; provided that all leases of any Person that are or would be characterized as operating leases in accordance with GAAP immediately prior to December 15, 2019 (whether or not such operating leases were in effect on such date) shall continue to be accounted for as operating leases (and not as Capital Leases) for purposes of this Agreement regardless of any change in GAAP following the date that would otherwise require such leases or any portion thereof to be recharacterized as Capital Leases.

“Capital Stock” shall mean (i) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock, (ii) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights, or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, (iii) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited), and (iv) 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 (it being understood and agreed, for the avoidance of doubt, that “cash-settled phantom appreciation programs” in connection with employee benefits that do not require a dividend or distribution shall not constitute Capital Stock).

“Capitalized Lease Obligation” shall mean, 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 that all obligations of any Person that are or would be characterized as operating lease obligations in accordance with GAAP immediately prior to December 15, 2019 (whether or not such operating lease obligations were in effect on such date) shall continue to be accounted for as operating lease obligations (and not as Capitalized Lease Obligations) for purposes of this Agreement regardless of any change in GAAP following the date that would otherwise require such obligations to be recharacterized as Capitalized Lease Obligations.

“Capitalized Software Expenditures” shall mean, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by Holdings 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 Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

“Cash Collateralize” shall mean to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of one or more of the Letter of Credit Issuer or the Lenders, as collateral for L/C Obligations or obligations of the Revolving Credit Lenders to fund participations in respect of L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances or, if the Administrative Agent and the Letter of Credit Issuer shall agree in their sole discretion, other credit support. “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” shall mean:

(i) Dollars,

(ii) (a) Euro, Pounds Sterling, Yen, Swiss Francs, Canadian Dollars, or any national currency of any Participating Member State in the European Union or (b) local currencies held from time to time in the ordinary course of business, (iii) securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any country that is a member state of the European Union 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 36 months or less from the date of acquisition,

 

11


(iv) certificates of deposit, time deposits, and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of 36 months 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 $100,000,000,

(v) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (iii), (iv), and (ix) entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (iv) above,

(vi) commercial paper rated at least P-2 by Moody’s or at least A-2 by S&P and in each case with average maturities of 36 months or less from the date of creation thereof,

(vii) 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 ratings agency) and in each case with average maturities of 36 months or less from the date of creation or acquisition thereof,

(viii) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, commonwealth, or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof having one of the two highest rating categories obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P with maturities of 36 months or less from the date of acquisition,

(ix) Indebtedness or preferred stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A2” or higher from Moody’s with maturities of 36 months or less from the date of acquisition,

(x) solely with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary: (a) 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 with average maturities of 36 months or less from the date of acquisition, (b) 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 (any such bank being an “Approved Foreign Bank”), and in each case with maturities of not more than 24 months from the date of acquisition, and (c) the equivalent of demand deposit accounts which are maintained with an Approved Foreign Bank, in each case, customarily used by corporations for cash management purposes in any jurisdiction outside the United States to the extent reasonably required in connection with any business conducted by such Foreign Subsidiary organized in such jurisdiction,

(xi) in the case of investments by any Foreign Subsidiary or investments made in a country outside the United States, Cash Equivalents shall also include investments of the type and maturity described in clauses (i) through (ix) above of foreign obligors, which investments have ratings, described in such clauses or equivalent ratings from comparable foreign rating agencies,

(xii) investment funds investing 90% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (i) through (ix) above, and

(xiii) investments made pursuant to the Borrower Investment Policy.

 

12


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

For the avoidance of doubt, any items identified as Cash Equivalents under this definition will be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for all purposes under the Credit Documents regardless of the treatment of such items under GAAP.

“Cash Management Agreement” shall mean any agreement or arrangement to provide Cash Management Services.

“Cash Management Bank” shall mean (i) any Person that, at the time it enters into a Cash Management Agreement with Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings, is an Agent or a Lender or an Affiliate of an Agent or a Lender or (ii) with respect to any Cash Management Agreement with Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings entered into prior to the Closing Date, any Person that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender on the Closing Date.

“Cash Management Services” shall mean any one or more of the following types of services or facilities: (i) commercial credit cards, merchant card services, purchase or debit cards, including non-card e-payables services, employee credit card programs or electronic funds transfer services, (ii) treasury management services (including controlled disbursement, overdraft automatic clearing house fund transfer services, return items, and interstate depository network services), (iii) any other demand deposit or operating account relationships or other cash management services, including pursuant to any Cash Management Agreements and (iv) other services related, ancillary or complementary to the foregoing.

“CFC” shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code.

“CFC Holding Company” shall mean a Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower substantially all of the assets of which consist of equity or debt of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs.

“Change in Law” shall mean (i) the adoption of any law, treaty, order, policy, rule, or regulation after the Closing Date, (ii) any change in any law, treaty, order, policy, rule, or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the Closing Date or (iii) compliance by any Lender with any guideline, request, directive, or order issued or made after the Closing Date by any central bank or other Governmental Authority or quasi-Governmental Authority (whether or not having the force of law), including, for avoidance of doubt any such adoption, change or compliance in respect of (a) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, regulations, guidelines, or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (b) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements, 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 pursuant to Basel III, in each case to the extent issued or becoming effective after the Closing Date shall be deemed to have gone into effect after the Closing Date, regardless of the date of the enabling or underlying legislation or agreements.

“Change of Control” shall mean and be deemed to have occurred if (a) prior to any merger of SK Retail, Inc. with and into, or any liquidation of SK Retail, Inc. into, Holdings or the Borrower in accordance with a transaction permitted by Section 10.3, Holdings shall cease to beneficially own, directly, 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of SK Retail, Inc. (whether voting or non-voting), (b) SK Retail, Inc. (or, to the extent SK Retail, Inc. is merged with and into, or liquidated into, Holdings or the Borrower in accordance with a transaction permitted by Section 10.3, Holdings) shall cease to beneficially own, directly, 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower (whether voting or non-voting) or (c) any Person, entity, or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), other than the Permitted Holders or a “group” that is controlled by the Permitted Holders, shall at any time have acquired direct or indirect beneficial ownership of a percentage of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock of Holdings that exceeds 40.0% thereof, unless the Permitted Holders have, at such time, the right or the ability by voting power, contract, or otherwise to elect or designate for election at least a majority of the board of directors (or other similar governing body) of Holdings.

 

13


For purposes of this definition, (i) “beneficial ownership” shall be as defined in Rules 13(d)-3 and 13(d)-5 under the Securities Exchange Act, (ii) the phrase Person or “group” is within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such Person or “group” and its subsidiaries and any Person acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan, and (iii) a Person or group shall not be deemed to beneficially own Voting Stock subject to a stock or asset purchase agreement, merger agreement, option agreement, warrant agreement or similar agreement (or voting or option or similar agreement related thereto) until the consummation of the acquisition of such Voting Stock in connection with the transactions contemplated by such agreement.

“Claims” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Environmental Claims.”

“Class” (i) when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, shall refer to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Credit Loans, Incremental Revolving Credit Loans, Incremental Term Loans, Extended Term Loans (of the same Extension Series), Replacement Term Loans, Extended Revolving Credit Loans (of the same Extension Series), and (ii) when used in reference to any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Revolving Credit Commitment, an Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment, an Extended Revolving Credit Commitment (of the same Extension Series) or an Incremental Term Loan Commitment.

“Closing Date” shall mean March 13, 2025.

“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

“Collateral” shall mean all property pledged or mortgaged or purported to be pledged or mortgaged pursuant to the Security Documents, excluding in all events Excluded Property.

“Collateral Agent” shall mean Citibank, N.A., as collateral agent under the Credit Documents, or any successor collateral agent pursuant to Section 12.9.

“Commitments” shall mean, with respect to each Lender (to the extent applicable), such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment, Extended Revolving Credit Commitment and/or Incremental Term Loan Commitment.

“Commodity Exchange Act” shall mean the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

“Communications” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.17.

“Competitor” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Disqualified Lenders”.

“Compliance Certificate” shall mean a certificate of a responsible financial or accounting officer of Holdings or the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 9.1(d) for the applicable Test Period substantially in the form of Exhibit L.

“Confidential Information” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.16.

“Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense” shall mean 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, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees, and expenses, capitalized expenditures (including Capitalized Software Expenditures), customer acquisition costs, the amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance or incurrence of Indebtedness at less than par and incentive payments, conversion costs, and contract acquisition costs 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 EBITDA” shall mean, with respect to any Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period:

(i) increased (without duplication) by:

(a) provision for Taxes based on income, revenue or profits or capital, including, without limitation, U.S. federal, state, non-U.S., franchise, excise, value added, and similar Taxes and foreign withholding Taxes of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries paid or accrued during such period, including any penalties and interest related to such Taxes or arising from any Tax examinations, in each case to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus

(b) Fixed Charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period (including (1) net losses on Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk and (2) costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities, in each case, to the extent included in Fixed Charges), together with items excluded from the definition of “Consolidated Interest Expense” and any non-cash interest expense, in each case to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus

(c) Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus

(d) any expenses, fees, charges, or losses (other than depreciation or amortization expense) related to any Equity Offering, Permitted Investment, Restricted Payments, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization, or the incurrence of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by this Agreement (including a refinancing thereof) or, with respect to applicable periods prior to the Closing Date, the Original Credit Agreement (whether or not consummated and including any such transaction consummated prior to the Closing Date), including (1) such fees, expenses, or charges related to the incurrence of the Loans hereunder and/or the loans under the Original Credit Agreement and all Transaction Expenses, (2) such fees, expenses, or charges related to the Credit Documents and the Credit Facilities or any other credit facilities or Indebtedness, including the credit facilities under the Original Credit Agreement, and (3) any amendment or other modification of the Credit Documents and the Credit Facilities or any other credit facilities or Indebtedness, including the credit facilities under the Original Credit Agreement, and, in each case, deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income, plus

(e) any other non-cash charges, including any write offs (including write offs of inventory related to supplier financings), write downs, expenses, losses, any effects of adjustments resulting from the application of purchase accounting, purchase price accounting (including any step-up in inventory and loss of profit on the acquired inventory) or other items to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; provided that if any such non-cash charges represents an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, (i) such Person may, in its sole discretion, determine not to add back such non-cash charges in the current period and (ii) to the extent such Person does decide to add back such non-cash charges, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be deducted from Consolidated EBITDA to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period, plus

(f) the amount of any net income attributable to non-controlling interests in any non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary deducted (and not added back) in such period in calculating Consolidated Net Income, plus

(g) costs, expenses, accruals or reserves in connection with implementing and operating a trade finance program with suppliers, plus

 

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(h) costs of surety bonds incurred in such period, plus (i) the amount of “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions and cost synergies related to mergers and other business combinations, acquisitions, investments, dispositions, restructurings, discontinuance of activities or operations and other specified transactions, restructurings, integration, operating improvements, cost savings or business optimization initiatives and other initiatives, actions or events that are reasonably identifiable, factually supportable and projected by such Person in good faith to result from actions either taken or expected to be taken within 24 full months of the determination to take such action, net of the amount of actual benefits realized prior to or during such period from such actions (which cost savings, operating expense reductions and cost synergies shall be calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions or cost synergies had been realized on the first day of such period); provided that the aggregate amount added to Consolidated Net Income pursuant to this clause (i), together with any Pro Forma Adjustments made pursuant to the definition of “Pro Forma Adjustment” or Section 1.12(b), in any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters shall not exceed 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period (determined after giving effect to all such amounts added to Consolidated Net Income); provided that such cap shall not apply to any pro forma adjustments determined on a basis consistent with Article 11 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Exchange Act and as interpreted by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any successor agency), plus

(j) the amount of loss or discount on sale of receivables and related assets to the Receivables Subsidiary in connection with a Receivables Facility, plus

(k) any costs or expense, including related taxes, incurred by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to any equity incentive plan, management equity plan or stock option or phantom equity plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such cost or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of such Person or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of such Person (other than Disqualified Stock), plus

(l) the amount of expenses, including related taxes, relating to payments made to option, phantom equity or profits interest holders of such Person or any direct or indirect parent company of such Person in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to shareholders of such Person or its direct or indirect parent companies, which payments are being made to compensate such option, phantom equity or profits interest holders as though they were shareholders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution, in each case to the extent permitted under this Agreement and expenses relating to distributions made to equity holders of such Person or its direct or indirect parent companies resulting from the application of Financial Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718— Compensation – Stock Compensation (formerly Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 123 (Revised 2004)), plus

(m) with respect to any joint venture that is not a Restricted Subsidiary, an amount equal to the proportion of those items described in clauses (a) and (c) above relating to such joint venture corresponding to such Person’s or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person’s proportionate share of such joint venture’s Consolidated Net Income (determined as if such joint venture were a Restricted Subsidiary), plus

(n) 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 Public Company Costs, plus

(o) cash receipts (or any netting arrangements resulting in reduced cash expenses) not included in Consolidated EBITDA in any period solely to the extent that the corresponding non-cash gains relating to such receipts were deducted in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to paragraph (ii) below for any previous period and not added back, plus

 

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(p) to the extent not already included in Consolidated Net Income, (1) any expenses and charges that are reimbursed by indemnification or other similar provisions in connection with any investment or any sale, conveyance, transfer, or other Asset Sale of assets permitted hereunder and (2) to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as such Person 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 the determination by such Person that there exists 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, plus

(q) [reserved], plus

(r) expenses consisting of costs that are expensed (x) during the period but could have been capitalized under alternative accounting policies in accordance with GAAP or (y) as a result of changes in any operational, financial, reporting or information technology systems, in each case, calculated on a pro forma basis as though such costs had been expensed on the first day of such period, plus

(s) to the extent covered by insurance or indemnification and actually reimbursed, or, so long as such Person has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer or indemnifying party and only to the extent that such amount is (a) not denied by the applicable carrier or indemnifying party in writing within 180 days and (b) in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of the determination by such Person that there exists such evidence (with a deduction for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within 365 days), losses and expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption shall be excluded;

(ii) decreased by (without duplication):

(a) non-cash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, excluding any non-cash gains which represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges that reduced Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period other than non-cash gains relating to the application of Financial Accounting Standards Codification Topic 840— Leases (formerly Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 13); provided that, to the extent non-cash gains are deducted pursuant to this clause (ii)(a) for any previous period and not otherwise added back to Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated EBITDA shall be increased by the amount of any cash receipts (or any netting arrangements resulting in reduced cash expenses) in respect of such non-cash gains received in subsequent periods to the extent not already included therein; and

(b) the amount of any loss attributable to non-controlling interests in non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries; and

(iii) increased or decreased by (without duplication):

(a) any net gain or loss resulting in such period from currency gains or losses related to Indebtedness, intercompany balances, and other balance sheet items, plus or minus, as the case may be; and

(b) any net gain or loss resulting in such period from Hedging Obligations, and the application of Financial Accounting Standards Codification Topic 815—Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815) (formerly Financing Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 133), and its related pronouncements and interpretations, or the equivalent accounting standard under GAAP or an alternative basis of accounting applied in lieu of GAAP.

 

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For the avoidance of doubt:

(i) to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income of any Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any period, there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period any adjustments resulting from the application of ASC 815 and its related pronouncements and interpretations, or the equivalent accounting standard under GAAP or an alternative basis of accounting applied in lieu of GAAP,

(ii) there shall be included in determining Consolidated EBITDA of any Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any period, without duplication, (1) the Acquired EBITDA of any Person or business, or attributable to any property or asset acquired by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (but not the Acquired EBITDA of any related Person or business or any Acquired EBITDA attributable to any assets or property, in each case to the extent not so acquired) to the extent not subsequently sold, transferred, abandoned, or otherwise disposed by such Person or any of such Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (each such Person, business, property, 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 or conversion) and (2) 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); and

(iii) to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income of any Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any period, there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period the Disposed EBITDA of any Person, property, business, or asset sold, transferred, abandoned, or otherwise disposed of, closed or classified as discontinued operations by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries 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 or conversion); provided that for the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding any classification under GAAP of any Person or business in respect of which a definitive agreement for the disposition thereof has been entered into as discontinued operations, the Disposed EBITDA of such Person or business shall not be excluded pursuant to this paragraph until such disposition shall have been consummated.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Consolidated EBITDA (a) for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024, shall be deemed to be $102,842,000, (b) for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2024, shall be deemed to be $192,735,000, (c) for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2024, shall be deemed to be $147,057,000 and (d) for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2024, shall be deemed to be $125,343,000, in each case, subject to adjustment pursuant to this definition.

“Consolidated Interest Expense” shall mean the sum of (1) cash interest expense (including that attributable to Capitalized Lease Obligations), 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 all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs under hedging agreements, plus (2) non-cash interest expense resulting solely from the net amortization of original issue discount and original issuance premium from the issuance or incurrence of Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding any Indebtedness borrowed under this Agreement in connection with the Transactions and any permitted refinancing thereof) but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, (a) amortization of deferred financing costs, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and any other amounts of non-cash interest other than referred to in clause (2) above (including as a result of the effects of acquisition method accounting or pushdown accounting), (b) non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement of the mark-to-market valuation of Indebtedness or obligations under Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 815—Derivatives and Hedging, (c) any one-time cash costs associated with breakage in respect of hedging agreements for interest rates, (d) commissions, discounts, yield, make-whole premium and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) incurred in connection with any Receivables Facility, (e) any “additional interest” owing pursuant to a registration rights agreement with respect to any securities, (f) any payments with respect to make-whole premiums or other breakage costs of any Indebtedness, including, without limitation, any Indebtedness issued in connection with the Transactions, (g) penalties and interest relating to Taxes, (h) accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities not constituting Indebtedness, (i) interest expense attributable to a direct or indirect parent entity resulting from push-down accounting, (j) any expense resulting from the discounting of Indebtedness in connection with the application of recapitalization or purchase accounting, and (k) any interest expense attributable to the exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential), with respect thereto and with respect to the Transactions, any acquisition or Investment permitted hereunder, all as calculated on a consolidated basis.

 

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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.

“Consolidated Net Income” shall mean, with respect to any Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any period, Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that, without duplication,

(i) (a) extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains (less all fees and expenses related thereto) or expenses, charges, costs, accruals, reserves or losses (including any of the foregoing related to any one-time event (other than the COVID-19 pandemic)), including any accruals or reserves in respect of any of the foregoing and (b) expenses, charges, costs, accruals and reserves related to restructuring (including in connection with acquisitions and dispositions), integration, transition or insourcing initiatives, operating improvements, or cost savings or other business optimization initiatives, actions or events (including those related to or constituting severance, consulting fees, facilities’ or bases’ closing, relocation or consolidation costs or opening or pre-opening costs (including related to new product introductions and other strategic initiatives), reconstruction, decommissioning, recommissioning or reconfiguration of facilities and fixed assets for alternative uses, exiting, winding down or termination of lines of business, settlement costs, customer disputes, distribution networks or sales channels and the establishment, integration, implementation, replacement, development, transition or upgrade of operational, financial, reporting and information technology systems and technology initiatives, signing costs, retention or completion bonuses, other executive recruiting and retention costs, transition costs, and curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement or post-employment employee benefit plans (including any settlement of pension liabilities and charges resulting from changes in estimates, valuations and judgments), but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any expenses, charges, costs, accruals and reserves related to customer disputes, distribution networks or sales channels, in each case, that are not incurred in connection with an initiative, action or event described in this clause (b)), shall be excluded,

(ii) the Net Income for such period shall not include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period,

(iii) any gain (loss) (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) on asset sales, disposals or abandonments (other than asset sales, disposals or abandonments in the ordinary course of business) or discontinued operations (but if such operations are classified as discontinued due to the fact that they are subject to an agreement to dispose of such operations, only when and to the extent such operations are actually disposed of), shall be excluded,

 

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(iv) any after-Tax effect of gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) attributable to asset dispositions or abandonments other than in the ordinary course of business, as determined in good faith by the board of directors of Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, shall be excluded, (v) the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of such first Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be excluded; provided that Consolidated Net Income of such first Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments that are actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash or Cash Equivalents) to such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of such period,

(vi) [reserved],

(vii) effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) in any line item in such Person’s consolidated financial statements required or permitted by Financial Accounting Standards Codification Topic 805 – Business Combinations and Topic 350 – Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (ASC 805 and ASC 350) (formerly Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement Nos. 141 and 142, respectively) resulting from the application of purchase accounting, including in relation to the Transactions and any acquisition that is consummated after the Original Closing Date or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof, net of Taxes, shall be excluded,

(viii) (a) any after-Tax effect of income (loss) from the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments (including deferred financing costs written off and premiums paid), (b) any non-cash income (or loss) related to currency gains or losses related to Indebtedness, intercompany balances, and other balance sheet items and to Hedging Obligations pursuant to ASC 815 (or such successor provision), and (c) any non-cash expense, income, or loss attributable to the movement in mark to market valuation of foreign currencies, Indebtedness, or derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP, shall be excluded,

(ix) any impairment charge, asset write-off, or write-down pursuant to ASC 350 and Financial Accounting Standards Codification Topic 360 – Impairment and Disposal of Long-Lived Assets (ASC 360) (formerly Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement Nos. 142 and 144, respectively) and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to ASC 805 shall be excluded,

(x) (a) any non-cash compensation expense recorded from or in connection with any share-based compensation arrangements and any related taxes, including grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, incentive equity, phantom equity, stock options units, restricted stock, capital or profits interests or other rights to employees, directors, officers, managers, consultants or independent contractors and (b) non-cash income (loss) attributable to deferred compensation plans or trusts, shall be excluded,

(xi) any fees and expenses incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, Investment, recapitalization, Asset Sale, issuance, or repayment of Indebtedness, issuance of Equity Interests, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt instrument (in each case, including any such transaction consummated prior to the Original Closing Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed) and any charges or non-recurring merger costs incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction shall be excluded,

(xii) accruals and reserves (including contingent liabilities) that are established or adjusted within twelve months after the Closing Date that are so required to be established as a result of the Transactions in accordance with GAAP, or changes as a result of adoption or modification of accounting policies, shall be excluded, and

(xiii) 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 allowance related to such items, shall be excluded.

“Consolidated Senior Secured Debt” shall mean, as of any date of determination, Consolidated Total Debt that is secured by a lien on the assets of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

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“Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Senior Secured Debt as of such date of determination, minus unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents (excluding Reserved Proceeds) of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (provided that, if such difference is less than zero, such difference shall be deemed to be zero) to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the Test Period ended on such date.

“Consolidated Total Assets” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the amount that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total assets” (or any like caption) on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date.

“Consolidated Total Debt” shall mean, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to the sum of the aggregate amount of all outstanding Indebtedness of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis consisting of (i) Indebtedness for borrowed money, (ii) Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money debt to the extent in excess of $300,000,000 (and limited to amounts in excess of such threshold), (iii) Unpaid Drawings under Letters of Credit to the extent not satisfied within three Business Days following the due date for payment thereof and (iv) debt obligations evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments (and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Hedging Obligations).

“Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Total Debt as of such date of determination, minus unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (for the avoidance of doubt, including Reserved Proceeds) (provided that, if such difference is less than zero, such difference shall be deemed to be zero) to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the Test Period ended on such date.

“Contingent Obligations” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends, or other payment obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent, (i) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (ii) 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 (iii) 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.

“Contractual Requirement” shall have the meaning provided in Section 8.3.

“Converted Restricted Subsidiary” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”

“Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”

“Covered Entity” shall mean 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).

“Covered Party” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.23.

“Credit Documents” shall mean this Agreement, each Joinder Agreement, the Guarantees, the Security Documents, the Guaranty and Security Reaffirmation Agreement, and any promissory notes issued by the Borrower pursuant hereto.

 

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“Credit Event” shall mean and include the making (but not the conversion or continuation) of a Loan and the issuance of a Letter of Credit.

“Credit Facilities” shall mean, collectively, each category of Commitments and each extension of credit hereunder.

“Credit Facility” shall mean a category of Commitments and extensions of credit thereunder.

“Credit Party” shall mean Holdings, the Borrower and the other Guarantors.

“Currencies” shall mean Dollars and each Alternate Currency, and “Currency” shall mean any of such Currencies.

“Daily Simple RFR” shall mean, 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) SONIA for the day (such day “i”) that is five (5) RFR Business Days prior to (A) if such RFR Rate Day is an RFR Business Day, such RFR Rate Day or (B) 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, and (ii) 0.00%. If by 5:00 pm (local time for the applicable RFR) on the second (2nd) RFR Business Day immediately following any day “i”, the RFR in respect of such day “i” has not been published on the applicable RFR Administrator’s Website and an Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the applicable Daily Simple RFR has not occurred, then the RFR for such day “i” will be the RFR as published in respect of the first preceding RFR Business Day for which such RFR was published on the RFR Administrator’s Website; provided that any RFR determined pursuant to this sentence shall be utilized for purposes of calculation of Daily Simple RFR for no more than three (3) consecutive RFR Rate Days. Any change in 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.

“Daily Simple SOFR” shall mean for any day (a “SOFR Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) SOFR for the day (such day the “SOFR Determination Date”) that is five U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to (i) if such SOFR Determination Date is a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, such SOFR Determination Date or (ii) if such SOFR Determination Date is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately preceding such SOFR Determination Date, in each case, as such SOFR is published by the SOFR Administrator on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Website, and (b) the USD Floor. If by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the second U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately following any SOFR Determination Date, SOFR in respect of such SOFR Determination Date has not been published on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Website and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Daily Simple SOFR has not occurred, then SOFR for such SOFR Determination Date will be the SOFR as published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such SOFR was published on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Website; provided that any SOFR determined pursuant to this sentence shall be utilized for purposes of calculation of Daily Simple SOFR for no more than three consecutive U.S. Government Securities Business Days.

“Default” shall mean any event, act, or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

“Default Rate” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.8(c).

“Default Right” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

“Defaulting Lender” shall mean any Lender whose acts or failure to act, whether directly or indirectly, cause it to meet any part of the definition of “Lender Default.”

 

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“Designated Non-Cash Consideration” shall mean the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to a certificate of an Authorized Officer of Holdings or the Borrower, setting forth the basis of such valuation, executed by either a senior vice president or the principal financial officer of Holdings or the Borrower, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of or collection on or other disposition of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration. A particular item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration will no longer be considered to be outstanding when and to the extent it has been paid, redeemed or otherwise retired or sold or otherwise disposed of in compliance with Section 10.4.

“Designated Preferred Stock” shall mean preferred stock of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings (in each case other than Disqualified Stock) that is issued after the Closing Date for cash (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries) to the extent designated promptly following the issuance thereof as Designated Preferred Stock pursuant to a certificate of an Authorized Officer of Holdings or the Borrower, the cash proceeds of which are excluded in calculating the Available Amount.

“Disposed EBITDA” shall mean, 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 Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary, all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary, as the case may be.

“disposition” shall have the meaning assigned such term in clause (i) of the definition of “Asset Sale.”

“Disqualified Lenders” shall mean such Persons (i) that have been specified in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners prior to the Closing Date as being Disqualified Lenders, (ii) who are competitors of Holdings and its Subsidiaries that are separately identified in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent from time to time (collectively, “Competitors”), and (iii) in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), any of their Affiliates (other than Bona Fide Debt Funds) that are either (a) identified in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent from time to time or (b) clearly identifiable solely on the basis of similarity of such Affiliate’s name; provided that any additional designation permitted by the foregoing shall not become effective until five Business Days following delivery to the Administrative Agent by email and shall not apply retroactively to any prior assignment or participation interest or to any trade to acquire such participation interest.

“Disqualified Stock” shall mean, 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 puttable or exchangeable, or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Stock), other than as a result of a change of control, asset sale, condemnation event or similar event, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Stock), other than as a result of a change of control, asset sale, condemnation event or similar event, in whole or in part, in each case, prior to the date that is 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date hereunder; provided that if such Capital Stock is issued to any plan for the benefit of employees of Holdings or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by Holdings or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death, or disability.

“Distressed Person” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Lender-Related Distress Event.”

“Dollar Equivalent” shall mean, at any time, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, such amount, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in any Alternate Currency, the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent or relevant Letter of Credit Issuer, as applicable, at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date or other applicable date of determination) for the purchase of Dollars with such Alternate Currency.

“Dollars” and “$” shall mean dollars in lawful currency of the United States.

“Domestic Subsidiary” shall mean each Subsidiary of Holdings that is organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia.

 

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“EEA Financial Institution” shall mean (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

“EEA Member Country” shall mean any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

“EEA Resolution Authority” shall mean 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.

“Environment” shall mean ambient air, indoor air, surface water, groundwater, soil, land surface and subsurface strata and natural resources such as flora, fauna, or wetlands.

“Environmental Claims” shall mean any and all actions, suits, orders, decrees, demand letters, claims, notices of noncompliance or potential responsibility or violation, or proceedings pursuant to any Environmental Law or any permit issued, or any approval given, under any such Environmental Law (hereinafter, “Claims”), including, without limitation, (i) any and all Claims by governmental or regulatory authorities for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial, or other actions or damages pursuant to any Environmental Law and (ii) any and all Claims by any third party seeking damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation, or injunctive relief relating to the presence Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to health or safety (to the extent relating to human exposure to Hazardous Materials), or the Environment.

“Environmental Law” shall mean any applicable federal, state, foreign, or local statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, and rule of common law now or hereafter in effect and in each case as amended, and any binding judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any binding judicial or administrative order, consent decree, or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of the Environment, or protection of human health or safety (to the extent relating to human exposure to Hazardous Materials) and including those relating to the generation, storage, treatment, transport, Release, or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials.

“Equity Interest” shall mean 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 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Permitted Convertible Indebtedness).

“Equity Offering” shall mean any public or private sale of common stock or preferred stock of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings (excluding Disqualified Stock), other than: (i) public offerings with respect to the Borrower or any of their direct or indirect parent company’s (including Holdings’) common stock registered on Form S-8, (ii) issuances to any Subsidiary of Holdings, and (iii) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution.

“ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“ERISA Affiliate” shall mean any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with any Credit Party, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 (b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

 

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“ERISA Event” shall mean (i) the failure of any Plan to comply with any provisions of ERISA and/or the Code (and applicable regulations under either) or with the terms of such Plan; (ii) the existence with respect to any Plan of a non-exempt Prohibited Transaction; (iii) any Reportable Event; (iv) the failure of any Credit Party or ERISA Affiliate to make by its due date a required installment under Section 430(j) of the Code with respect to any Pension Plan or any failure by any Pension Plan to satisfy the minimum funding standards (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) applicable to such Pension Plan, whether or not waived; (v) a determination that any Pension Plan is in “at risk” status (within the meaning of Section 430 of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA); (vi) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Pension Plan; (vii) the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or the incurrence by any Credit Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Pension Plan, including but not limited to the imposition of any Lien in favor of the PBGC or any Pension Plan; (viii) the receipt by any Credit Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice to terminate any Pension Plan or to appoint a trustee to administer any Pension Plan under Section 4042 of ERISA; (ix) the failure by any Credit Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; (x) the incurrence by any Credit Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Pension Plan (or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA) or Multiemployer Plan; (xi) the receipt by any Credit Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any notice concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, Insolvent, in “endangered” or “critical” status (within the meaning of Section 432 of the Code or Section 305 of ERISA), or terminated (within the meaning of Section 4041A of ERISA); or (xii) the failure by any Credit Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates to pay when due (after expiration of any applicable grace period) any installment payment with respect to Withdrawal Liability under Section 4201 of ERISA.

“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” shall mean the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

“EURIBOR Interpolated Rate” shall mean, at any time, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in Euros and for any Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the EURIBOR Screen Rate) determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the EURIBOR Screen Rate for the longest period (for which the EURIBOR Screen Rate is available for Euros) that is shorter than the Impacted EURIBOR Rate Interest Period; and (b) the EURIBOR Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which the EURIBOR Screen Rate is available for Euros) that exceeds the Impacted EURIBOR Rate Interest Period, in each case, at such time; provided that if the EURIBOR Interpolated Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.

“EURIBOR Screen Rate” shall mean the euro interbank offered rate administered by the European Money Markets Institute (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant period displayed (before any correction, recalculation or republication by the administrator) on page EURIBOR01 of the Thomson Reuters screen (or any replacement Thomson Reuters page which displays that rate) or on the appropriate page of such other information service which publishes that rate from time to time in place of Thomson Reuters as of 11:00 a.m. Brussels time two TARGET days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period. If such page or service ceases to be available, the Administrative Agent may specify another page or service displaying the relevant rate after consultation with the Borrower. If the EURIBOR Screen Rate shall be less than zero, the EURIBOR Screen Rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

“Eurocurrency Loan” shall mean any Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate.

“Eurocurrency Rate” shall mean:

(a) in the case of any Eurocurrency Loan denominated in Euros, for any Interest Period, the EURIBOR Screen Rate; provided that, if the EURIBOR Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for such Interest Period (an “Impacted EURIBOR Rate Interest Period”) with respect to Euros then the Eurocurrency Rate shall be the EURIBOR Interpolated Rate;

(b) [reserved]; and

(c) in the case of any Eurocurrency Loan denominated in any Alternate Currency other than Euros or Pounds Sterling, for any Interest Period, the rate per annum equal to the offered rate administered by ICE Benchmark Administration or successor rate, which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for deposits in such Alternate Currency (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; “Event of Default” shall have the meaning provided in Section 11.

 

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provided that if the applicable Eurocurrency Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.

“Excluded Contribution” shall mean net cash proceeds or the Fair Market Value of marketable securities received after the Closing Date by Holdings from (i) contributions to its common equity capital and (ii) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of Holdings or to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of Holdings) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of Holdings, in each case, to the extent designated promptly following receipt thereof as Excluded Contributions pursuant to a certificate of an Authorized Officer of Holdings or the Borrower, the cash proceeds of which are excluded in calculating the Available Amount. For the avoidance of doubt, the issuance of any Equity Interests in connection with the convertible indebtedness shall not constitute Excluded Contributions.

“Excluded Property” shall have the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

“Excluded Stock and Stock Equivalents” shall mean (i) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (as agreed to in writing), the cost or other consequences of pledging such Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents in favor of the Secured Parties under the Security Documents shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom, (ii) solely in the case of any pledge of Capital Stock and Stock Equivalents of any Foreign Subsidiary or any CFC Holding Company, any Voting Stock or Stock Equivalents of any class of such Foreign Subsidiary or such CFC Holding Company in excess of 65.0% of the outstanding Voting Stock of such class, (iii) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC or a CFC Holding Company, (iv) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents to the extent the pledge thereof would violate any applicable law (including any legally effective requirement to obtain the consent of any Governmental Authority unless such consent has been obtained) (in each case, after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law), (v) in the case of (A) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date to the extent such Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents are subject to a Lien permitted by clause (ix) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” or (B) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary that is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Holdings and its Subsidiaries at the time such Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary, any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of each such Subsidiary described in clause (A) or (B) to the extent (I) that a pledge thereof to secure the Obligations is prohibited by any applicable Contractual Requirement permitted under this Agreement and binding on such Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents (other than customary non-assignment provisions which are ineffective under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law and other than proceeds thereof the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law notwithstanding such prohibition or restriction), (II) any such Contractual Requirement prohibits such a pledge without the consent of any other party; provided that this clause (II) shall not apply if (x) such other party is a Credit Party or Wholly-Owned Subsidiary or (y) consent has been obtained to consummate such pledge (it being understood that the foregoing shall not be deemed to obligate Holdings or any Subsidiary to obtain any such consent) and for so long as such Contractual Requirement or replacement or renewal thereof is in effect (other than customary non-assignment provisions which are ineffective under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law and other than proceeds thereof the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law notwithstanding such prohibition or restriction), or (III) a pledge thereof to secure the Obligations would give any other party (other than a Credit Party or Wholly-Owned Subsidiary) to any contract, agreement, instrument, or indenture governing such Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents permitted under this Agreement the right to terminate its obligations thereunder, (vi) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary of Holdings to the extent that the pledge of such Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents would result in materially adverse Tax consequences to Holdings or any Subsidiary as reasonably determined by the Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, (vii) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents that are margin stock, and (viii) any Capital Stock and Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary that is not a Material Subsidiary (except to the extent a security interest therein can be perfected by filing of a UCC-1 financing statement) or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, a captive insurance Subsidiary, an SPV or any special purpose entity.

 

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“Excluded Subsidiary” shall mean (i) each Subsidiary, in each case, for so long as any such Subsidiary does not (on a consolidated basis with its Restricted Subsidiaries) constitute a Material Subsidiary, (ii) each Subsidiary that is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary on any date such Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary (for so long as such Subsidiary remains a non-Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary), (iii) any CFC Holding Company, (iv) any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC, (v) any Foreign Subsidiary, (vi) each Subsidiary that is prohibited by any applicable Contractual Requirement permitted under the Credit Documents not entered into to circumvent the guarantee requirements under the Credit Documents or in contemplation of such acquisition or any applicable law from guaranteeing the Obligations at the time such Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary and for so long as such restriction or any replacement or renewal thereof is in effect or would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to guarantee or the Obligations (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received), (vii) each Subsidiary with respect to which, as reasonably determined by the Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, the consequence of providing a Guarantee of the Obligations would materially adversely affect the ability of Holdings and its Subsidiaries to satisfy applicable law, (viii) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, (a) in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, as agreed in writing, the cost or other consequences of providing a Guarantee of the Obligations shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom or (b) providing such a Guarantee would result in material adverse Tax consequences as reasonably determined by the Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, (ix) each Unrestricted Subsidiary, (x) any Receivables Subsidiary, (xi) each other Subsidiary acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted hereunder and financed with assumed secured Indebtedness permitted hereunder, and each Restricted Subsidiary acquired in such Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted hereunder that guarantees such Indebtedness, in each case to the extent that, and for so long as, the documentation relating to such Indebtedness to which such Subsidiary is a party prohibits such Subsidiary from guaranteeing the Obligations and such prohibition was not created in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted hereunder, (xii) each SPV (so long as such SPV is not created in contemplation of circumventing guarantee requirements under the Credit Documents) or not-for-profit Subsidiary and captive insurance Subsidiary and (xiii) any Massachusetts Security Corporation. For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Borrower nor any Parent Entity of the Borrower shall constitute an Excluded Subsidiary.

“Excluded Swap Obligation” shall mean, with respect to any Credit Party, (a) any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Obligations of such Credit Party of, or the grant by such Credit Party of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Obligations 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) or (b) any other Swap Obligation designated as an “Excluded Swap Obligation” of such Guarantor as specified in any agreement between the relevant Credit Parties and Hedge Bank applicable to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a Master Agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Obligation or security interest is or becomes illegal or unlawful.

“Excluded Taxes” shall mean, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party hereunder or under any other Credit Document, (i) Taxes imposed on or measured by its net income, net profits, or branch profits (however denominated, and including (for the avoidance of doubt) any backup withholding in respect thereof under Section 3406 of the Code or any similar provision of state, local, or foreign law), and franchise (and similar) Taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income Taxes), in each case by a jurisdiction (including any political subdivision thereof) as a result of such recipient being organized in, having its principal office in, or in the case of any Lender, having its applicable lending office in, such jurisdiction, or as a result of any other present or former connection with such jurisdiction (other than any such connection arising solely from this Agreement or any other Credit Documents or any transactions contemplated thereunder), (ii) in the case of a Lender, any U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed on any payment by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party hereunder or under any other Credit Document pursuant to laws in force at the time such Lender acquires an interest in any Credit Document (or designates a new lending office), other than in the case of a Lender that is an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 13.7 (or that designates a new lending office pursuant to a request by the Borrower), except to the extent that such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, immediately prior to the designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Credit Parties with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 5.4, (iii) any Taxes attributable to a recipient’s failure to deliver the documentation described in Section 5.4(e), or (iv) any withholding Tax imposed under FATCA.

 

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“Existing Class” shall mean any Existing Term Loan Class and any Existing Revolving Credit Class.

“Existing Convertible Indebtedness” shall mean any Indebtedness outstanding under any Existing Convertible Notes.

“Existing Convertible Notes” shall mean, collectively, the 2025 Convertible Notes, the 2026 Convertible Notes, the 2027 Convertible Notes and the 2028 Convertible Notes.

“Existing Credit Facilities” shall mean the revolving credit and letter of credit facilities under the Original Credit Agreement.

“Existing Letter of Credit” shall mean each Letter of Credit set forth on Schedule 1.1(c).

“Existing Revolving Credit Class” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(g)(ii).

“Existing Revolving Credit Commitment” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(g)(ii).

“Existing Revolving Credit Loans” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(g)(ii).

“Existing Term Loan Class” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(g)(i).

“Extended Repayment Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.5(c).

“Extended Revolving Credit Commitments” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(g)(ii).

“Extended Revolving Credit Loans” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(g)(ii).

“Extended Revolving Loan Maturity Date” shall mean the date on which any tranche of Extended Revolving Credit Loans matures.

“Extended Term Loan Repayment Amount” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.5(c).

“Extended Term Loans” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(g)(i).

“Extending Lender” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(g)(iii).

“Extension Amendment” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(g)(iv).

“Extension Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(g)(v).

“Extension Election” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(g)(iii).

“Extension Request” shall mean a Term Loan Extension Request.

“Extension Series” shall mean all Extended Term Loans and Extended Revolving Credit Commitments that are established pursuant to the same Extension Amendment (or any subsequent Extension Amendment to the extent such Extension Amendment expressly provides that the Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, provided for therein are intended to be a part of any previously established Extension Series) and that provide for the same interest margins, extension fees, and amortization schedule.

 

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“Fair Market Value” shall mean with respect to any asset or group of assets on any date of determination, the value of the consideration obtainable in a sale of such asset at such date of determination assuming a sale by a willing seller to a willing purchaser dealing at arm’s length and arranged in an orderly manner over a reasonable period of time having regard to the nature and characteristics of such asset, as determined in good faith by the Borrower.

“FATCA” shall mean Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version described above), and any intergovernmental agreements (or related legislation or official administrative rules or practices) implementing the foregoing.

“FCPA” shall have the meaning provided in Section 8.19(b).

“Federal Funds Effective Rate” shall mean, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions, as determined in such manner as shall be set forth on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the effective federal funds rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Effective Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.

“Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Website” shall mean the website of the NYFRB at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.

“Fees” shall mean all amounts payable pursuant to, or referred to in, Section 4.1.

“First Lien Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean that certain First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of October 8, 2024, among, inter alios, the Borrower, Holdings, the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent and the 2029 Senior Secured Notes Collateral Agent, as supplemented by Joinder No. 1, dated as of the Closing Date, delivered by the 2030 Senior Secured Notes Collateral Agent and the Credit Parties, and as may be further amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“First Lien Obligations” shall mean the Obligations and the Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations that are secured by Liens on the Collateral on an equal priority basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations.

“Fixed Basket” shall have the meaning provided in Section 1.11(a).

“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the Test Period then last ended to (ii) the Fixed Charges of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such Test Period. In the event that Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs, assumes, guarantees, redeems, retires, or extinguishes any Indebtedness or issues or redeems Disqualified Stock, preferred stock (including any Designated Preferred Stock) or any Refunding Capital Stock subsequent to the commencement of the Test Period but prior to or simultaneously with the date of determination, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, retirement, or extinguishment of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of Disqualified Stock, preferred stock (including any Designated Preferred Stock) or any Refunding Capital Stock (in each case, including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the Test Period.

“Fixed Charges” shall mean, with respect to any Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the sum of:

(i) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period,

(ii) all cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of preferred stock (including any Designated Preferred Stock) or any Refunding Capital Stock of such Person made during such period, and (iii) all cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Disqualified Stock made during such period.

 

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“Flood Insurance Laws” shall mean, collectively, (i) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (iii) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (iv) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto and (v) the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto.

“Foreign Benefit Arrangement” shall mean any employee benefit arrangement mandated by non-U.S. law that is maintained or contributed to by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Foreign Plan” shall mean each employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA) that is not subject to U.S. law and is maintained or contributed to by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Foreign Plan Event” shall mean, with respect to any Foreign Plan or Foreign Benefit Arrangement, (i) the failure to make or, if applicable, accrue in accordance with normal accounting practices, any employer or employee contributions required by applicable law or by the terms of such Foreign Plan or Foreign Benefit Arrangement; (ii) the failure to register or loss of good standing (if applicable) with applicable regulatory authorities of any such Foreign Plan or Foreign Benefit Arrangement required to be registered; or (iii) the failure of any Foreign Plan or Foreign Benefit Arrangement to comply with any provisions of applicable law or regulations or with the terms of such Foreign Plan or Foreign Benefit Arrangement.

“Foreign Subsidiary” shall mean each Subsidiary of Holdings that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

“Fronting Exposure” shall mean, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, with respect to the Letter of Credit Issuer, such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the outstanding L/C Obligations other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof.

“Fronting Fee” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.1(d).

“Fund” shall mean any Person (other than a natural Person) that is primarily engaged or advises funds or other investment vehicles that are primarily engaged in making, purchasing, holding, or investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course.

“GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect from time to time; provided, however, that if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the Closing Date in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision, 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. Furthermore, at any time after the Closing Date, Holdings may elect to apply International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) accounting principles in lieu of GAAP and, upon any such election, references herein to GAAP and GAAP concepts shall thereafter be construed to refer to IFRS and corresponding IFRS concepts (except as otherwise provided in this Agreement); provided any such election, once made, shall be irrevocable; provided, further, that any calculation or determination in this Agreement that requires the application of GAAP for periods that include fiscal quarters ended prior to Holdings’ election to apply IFRS shall remain as previously calculated or determined in accordance with GAAP. The Borrower shall give written notice of any such election made in accordance with this definition to the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, 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”.

 

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“Governmental Authority” shall mean any nation, sovereign, or government, any state, province, territory, or other political subdivision thereof, and any entity or authority exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory, or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, including a central bank or stock exchange (including any supranational bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

“Granting Lender” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.6(g).

“Guarantee” shall mean (i) the Guarantee made by Holdings and each other Guarantor in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto and dated as of the Original Closing Date and (ii) any other guarantee of the Obligations made by a Restricted Subsidiary in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in each case as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“guarantee obligations” shall mean, as to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing or intended to guarantee any Indebtedness of any primary obligor in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent, (i) to purchase any such Indebtedness or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (ii) to advance or supply funds (a) for the purchase or payment of any such Indebtedness 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, (iii) to purchase property, securities, or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such Indebtedness of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such Indebtedness, or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of such Indebtedness against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that the term guarantee obligations shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations or product warranties in effect on the Closing Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness). The amount of any guarantee obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the Indebtedness in respect of which such guarantee obligation is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such Person in good faith.

“Guarantors” shall mean (i) Holdings, (ii) each Subsidiary of Holdings that is party to the Guarantee on the Closing Date and (iii) each Subsidiary of Holdings that becomes a party to the Guarantee after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 9.11 or otherwise; provided that in no event shall any Excluded Subsidiary be required to become a Guarantor (unless such Subsidiary is no longer an Excluded Subsidiary).

“Guaranty and Security Reaffirmation Agreement” shall mean that certain Reaffirmation Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the Administrative Agent, the Borrower, Holdings and the other Guarantors party thereto.

“Hazardous Materials” shall mean (i) any petroleum or petroleum products, radioactive materials, friable asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, and radon gas; (ii) any chemicals, materials, or substances defined as or included in the definition of “hazardous substances,” “hazardous waste,” “hazardous materials,” “extremely hazardous waste,” “restricted hazardous waste,” “toxic substances,” “toxic pollutants,” “contaminants,” or “pollutants,” or words of similar import, under any Environmental Law; and (iii) any other chemical, material, or substance, which is prohibited, limited, or regulated due to its dangerous or deleterious properties or characteristics by, any Environmental Law.

“Hedge Agreements” shall mean (i) 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 (ii) 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.

 

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“Hedge Bank” shall mean any Person that, at the time it enters into a Hedge Agreement with Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings, is a Lender, an Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Agent.

“Hedging Obligations” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under any Hedge Agreements.

“Historical Financial Statements” shall mean the audited consolidated balance sheets of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2024 and the related audited consolidated statements of income and cash flow of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2024.

“Holdings” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

“ICC” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “UCP.”

“IFRS” shall have the meaning given such term in the definition of “GAAP.”

“Impacted EURIBOR Rate Interest Period” has the meaning assigned to it in the definition of “Eurocurrency Rate.”

“Increased Amount Date” shall mean, with respect to any Incremental Loan Commitments, the date on which such Incremental Loan Commitments shall be effective.

“Incremental Loan Commitments” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(a).

“Incremental Loans” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(c).

“Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(a).

“Incremental Revolving Credit Loan” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(b).

“Incremental Revolving Loan Lender” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(b).

“Incremental Term Loan” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(c).

“Incremental Term Loan Administrative Agent” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(a).

“Incremental Term Loan Amendment” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(a).

“Incremental Term Loan Commitments” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(a).

“Incremental Term Loan Lender” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(c).

“incur” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.1.

“incurrence” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.1.

 

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“Indebtedness” shall mean, with respect to any Person, (i) any indebtedness (including principal and premium) of such Person, whether or not contingent (a) in respect of borrowed money, (b) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures, or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without double counting, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), (c) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property (including Capitalized Lease Obligations), or (d) representing any Hedging Obligations, if and to the extent that any of the foregoing Indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a net liability upon a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided that Indebtedness of any direct or indirect parent company appearing upon the balance sheet of Holdings solely by reason of push down accounting under GAAP shall be excluded, (ii) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, on the obligations of the type referred to in clause (i) of another Person (whether or not such items would appear upon the balance sheet of such obligor or guarantor), other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) to the extent not otherwise included, the obligations of the type referred to in clause (i) of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (1) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (2) obligations under or in respect of Receivables Facilities, (3) prepaid or deferred revenue arising in the ordinary course of business and deferred tax obligations, (4) purchase price holdbacks arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warrants or other unperformed obligations of the seller of such asset, (5) any balance that constitutes a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor, accrued in the ordinary course of business, (6) any earn-out obligation until such obligation, within 60 days after becoming due and payable, has not been paid and such obligation is reflected as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP, (7) any obligations attributable to the exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect thereto, (8) accrued expenses and royalties, (9) asset retirement obligations and obligations in respect of workers’ compensation (including pensions and retiree medical care), employment, early retirement or termination arrangements, deferred compensation arrangements, employee or director equity plans, pension fund obligations or contributions or similar claims, obligations or contributions, or social security or wage taxes, (10) deferred obligations associated with customer prepayments and deposits, accrued obligations in respect of transfer pricing and accruals for payroll and other operating expenses, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business, (11) obligations associated with operating leases, (12) obligations associated with non-compete or consulting arrangements, (13) intercompany liabilities between Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are eliminated on the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and (14) indebtedness that constitutes “Indebtedness” merely by virtue of a pledge of an Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The amount of Indebtedness of any Person for purposes of clause (iii) above shall (unless such Indebtedness has been assumed by such Person) be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (x) the aggregate unpaid amount of such Indebtedness and (y) the Fair Market Value of the property encumbered thereby as determined by such Person in good faith. For the avoidance of doubt, and without limitation of the foregoing, Permitted Convertible Indebtedness shall at all times prior to the repurchase, conversion or payment thereof be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof and shall not include any reduction or appreciation in value of the shares and/or cash deliverable upon conversion thereof.

“Indemnified Liabilities” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.5(a).

“Indemnified Persons” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.5(a).

“Indemnified Taxes” shall mean all Taxes imposed on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party hereunder or under any other Credit Document, other than Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes.

“Initial Revolving Credit Commitments” shall mean the Revolving Credit Commitments in effect on the Closing Date.

“Initial Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date” shall mean March 13, 2030 (as extended in accordance with this Agreement from time to time).

“Initial Springing Maturity Test Date” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Springing Maturity Test Date.”

“Insolvent” shall mean, with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the condition that such Multiemployer Plan is insolvent within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA.

 

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“Intellectual Property” shall mean U.S. and foreign intellectual property, including all (i) (a) patents, inventions, processes, developments, technology, and know-how; (b) copyrights and works of authorship in any media, including graphics, advertising materials, labels, package designs, and photographs; (c) trademarks, service marks, trade names, brand names, corporate names, domain names, logos, trade dress, and other source indicators, and the goodwill of any business symbolized thereby; and (d) trade secrets, confidential, proprietary, or non-public information and (ii) all registrations, issuances, applications, renewals, extensions, substitutions, continuations, continuations-in-part, divisions, re-issues, re-examinations, foreign counterparts, or similar legal protections related to the foregoing.

“Interest Period” shall mean, with respect to any Loan, the interest period applicable thereto, as determined pursuant to Section 2.9.

“Investment” shall mean, 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, commission, travel, and similar advances to officers and employees, 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 Holdings 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; provided that Investments shall not include, in the case of Holdings, and its Restricted Subsidiaries, intercompany loans (including guarantees), advances, or Indebtedness either (i) 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 (ii) arising from cash management, Tax and/or accounting operations and made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice.

For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 10.5,

(i) Investments shall include the portion (proportionate to Holdings’ equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of Holdings at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, Holdings shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount (if positive) equal to (a) Holdings’ Investment in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less (b) the portion (proportionate to Holdings’ equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

(ii) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer.

The amount of any Investment outstanding at any time shall be the original cost of such Investment, reduced by any dividend, distribution, interest payment, return of capital, repayment, or other amount received by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Investment (provided that, with respect to amounts received other than in the form of Cash Equivalents, such amount shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of such consideration).

“Investment Grade Rating” shall mean 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 nationally recognized statistical rating organization.

“Investment Grade Securities” shall mean:

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

(ii) debt securities or debt instruments with an Investment Grade Rating, but excluding any debt securities or instruments constituting loans or advances among Holdings and its Subsidiaries, (iii) investments in any fund that invest at least 90% in investments of the type described in clauses (i) and (ii) which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment or distribution, and

 

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

“ISDA Definitions” shall mean the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any successor thereto, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet for interest rate derivatives published from time to time by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or such successor thereto.

“ISP” shall mean, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

“Issuer Documents” shall mean with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Request, and any other document, agreement, and instrument entered into by the Letter of Credit Issuer and the Borrower (or Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary) or in favor of the Letter of Credit Issuer and relating to such Letter of Credit.

“Joinder Agreement” shall mean an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A, which may include additional provisions to ensure fungibility of the Loans and to provide for mechanics for borrowings in currencies other than Dollars.

“Latest Maturity Date” shall mean, at any date of determination, the latest maturity or expiration date applicable to any Term Loan or Revolving Commitment hereunder at such time, including the latest maturity or expiration date of any Incremental Term Loan, any Extended Term Loan, any Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment or any Extended Revolving Credit Commitment, in each case as extended in accordance with this Agreement from time to time.

“L/C Borrowing” shall mean an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Borrowing. All L/C Borrowings shall be denominated in Dollars or any Alternate Currency.

“L/C Facility Maturity Date” shall mean the date that is five Business Days prior to the Initial Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date (or, if earlier, the date that is the Springing Maturity Date); provided that the L/C Facility Maturity Date may be extended beyond such date with the consent of the Letter of Credit Issuers.

“L/C Obligations” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unpaid Drawings, including all L/C Borrowings. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the International Standby Practices (ISP98), such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time.

“L/C Participant” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.3(a).

“L/C Participation” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.3(a).

“LCT Election” shall have the meaning provided in Section 1.12(b).

“LCT Test Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 1.12(b).

“Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners” shall mean Citibank, N.A., Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Barclays Bank PLC, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. and RBC Capital Markets.

 

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“Lender” shall have the meaning provided in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Lender Default” shall mean (i) the refusal or failure of any Lender to make available its portion of any incurrence of Loans or Reimbursement Obligations, which refusal or failure is not cured within two Business Days after the date of such refusal or failure, unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such refusal or failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in writing) has not been satisfied, (ii) the failure of any Lender to pay over to the Administrative Agent, any Letter of Credit Issuer or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, (iii) a Lender has notified, in writing, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations under this Agreement or has made a public statement to that effect with respect to its funding obligations under this Agreement or a Lender has publicly announced that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations under other loan agreements, credit agreements or similar facilities generally, (iv) a Lender has failed to confirm within three (3) Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its funding obligations under this Agreement (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (iv) upon the Administrative Agent’s receipt of such written confirmation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) or (v) a Distressed Person has admitted in writing that it is insolvent or such Distressed Person becomes subject to a Lender-Related Distress Event or (vi) a Lender has become the subject of a Bail-In Action.

“Lender-Related Distress Event” shall mean, with respect to any Lender or any other Person that directly or indirectly controls such Lender (each, a “Distressed Person”), a voluntary or involuntary case with respect to such Distressed Person under any debt relief law, or a custodian, conservator, receiver, or similar official is appointed for such Distressed Person or any substantial part of such Distressed Person’s assets, or such Distressed Person, or any Person that directly or indirectly controls such Distressed Person or is subject to a forced liquidation or such Distressed Person makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or is otherwise adjudicated as, or determined by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Distressed Person to be, insolvent or bankrupt; provided that a Lender-Related Distress Event shall not be deemed to have occurred solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interests in any Lender or any Person that directly or indirectly controls such Lender by a Governmental Authority or an instrumentality thereof 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 attachments on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.

“Letter of Credit” shall mean each letter of credit issued pursuant to Section 3.1(a), including any Alternate Currency Letter of Credit.

“Letter of Credit Commitment” shall mean, initially (a) with respect to each Letter of Credit Issuer, the commitment of such Letter of Credit Issuer to issue Letters of Credit up to the amount set forth opposite the name of such Letter of Credit Issuer on Schedule 1.1(b) hereto, with such commitments totaling $200,000,000 in the aggregate (calculated, in the case of Alternate Currency Letters of Credit, based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof), as the same may be reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 3.1 and (b) after the addition of any other Letter of Credit Issuer as referenced in the definition of “Letter of Credit Issuers,” the percentage agreed to between such additional Letter of Credit Issuer and the Borrower (with a corresponding reduction to the Letter of Credit Issuer Commitments of each pre-existing Letter of Credit Issuer as elected by the Borrower in consultation with each such pre-existing Letter of Credit Issuer).

“Letter of Credit Expiration Date” shall mean the day that is five Business Days prior to the scheduled Maturity Date then in effect for the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

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“Letter of Credit Exposure” shall mean, with respect to any Lender, at any time, the sum of (i) the amount of the principal amount of any Unpaid Drawings in respect of which such Lender has made (or is required to have made) payments to the Letter of Credit Issuer pursuant to Section 3.4(a) at such time (calculated, in the case of Alternate Currency Letters of Credit, based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof) and (ii) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the Letters of Credit Outstanding at such time (excluding the portion thereof consisting of Unpaid Drawings in respect of which the Lenders have made (or are required to have made) payments to the Letter of Credit Issuer pursuant to Section 3.4(a)) (calculated, in the case of Alternate Currency Letters of Credit, based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof).

“Letter of Credit Fee” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.1(b).

“Letter of Credit Issuer” shall mean (i) Citibank, N.A., (ii) Goldman Sachs Bank USA, (iii) any of their respective Affiliates or branches and (iv) any other Revolving Credit Lender that becomes an Letter of Credit Issuer in accordance with Section 3.6, in each case, in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any replacement or successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder; provided that no Letter of Credit Issuer shall be obligated to issue any Letter of Credit other than a standby Letter of Credit (unless otherwise agreed by such Letter of Credit Issuer). In the event that there is more than one Letter of Credit Issuer at any time, references herein and in the other Credit Documents to the Letter of Credit Issuer shall be deemed to refer to the Letter of Credit Issuer in respect of the applicable Letter of Credit or to all Letter of Credit Issuers, as the context requires.

“Letter of Credit Request” shall mean a notice executed and delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.2, and substantially in the form of Exhibit F or another form which is acceptable to the relevant Letter of Credit Issuer in its reasonable discretion.

“Letters of Credit Outstanding” shall mean, at any time the sum of, without duplication, (i) the aggregate Stated Amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit and (ii) the aggregate amount of the principal amount of all Unpaid Drawings.

“Level I Status” shall mean, on any date, the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio is greater than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00 as of such date.

“Level II Status” shall mean, on any date, the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio is less than 3.00 to 1.00 but greater than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00 as of such date.

“Level III Status” shall mean, on any date, the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio is less than 2.50 to 1.00 as of such date.

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

“Limited Condition Transaction” shall mean any transaction by one or more of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing.

“Liquidity”, as of any date, shall mean the difference between (x) the sum of (1) unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents (excluding Reserved Proceeds) of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of such date, (2) the Total Revolving Credit Commitments as of such date and (3) the aggregate amount of any other undrawn and available committed revolving credit commitments of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date and (y) the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of all Revolving Credit Lenders as of such date.

“Loan” shall mean any Revolving Loan, Term Loan, Extended Term Loan, Incremental Term Loan, or any other loan made by any Lender pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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“Massachusetts Security Corporation” shall mean a Person that qualifies as a Massachusetts “security corporation” under Mass. Gen. L. c. 63, §38B, but only to the extent, and during the time period, it so qualifies.

“Master Agreement” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Hedge Agreements.”

“Material Adverse Effect” shall mean a material adverse effect on (i) the business, assets, operations, properties, or financial condition of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of Holdings and the other Credit Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their payment obligations under this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents or (iii) the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under the Credit Documents.

“Material Intellectual Property” shall mean Intellectual Property that is material to the business of the Credit Parties, taken as a whole, as determined by the Borrower in good faith.

“Material Permitted Acquisition” shall mean any Permitted Acquisition having a purchase price in excess of $100,000,000.

“Material Subsidiary” shall mean, at any date of determination, each Restricted Subsidiary (i) whose total assets at the last day of the Test Period ending on the last day of the most recent fiscal period for which Section 9.1 Financials have been delivered were equal to or greater than 5.0% of the Consolidated Total Assets of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date or (ii) whose revenues during such Test Period were equal to or greater than 5.0% of the consolidated revenues of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that if, at any time and from time to time after the Closing Date, Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Material Subsidiaries (other than Subsidiaries that are Excluded Subsidiaries by virtue of any of clauses (ii) through (xii) of the definition of “Excluded Subsidiary”) have, in the aggregate, (a) total assets at the last day of such Test Period equal to or greater than 10.0% of the Consolidated Total Assets of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date or (b) revenues during such Test Period equal to or greater than 10.0% of the consolidated revenues of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP, then Holdings shall, on the date on which financial statements for such quarter are delivered pursuant to this Agreement, designate in writing to the Administrative Agent one or more of such Restricted Subsidiaries as Material Subsidiaries for each fiscal period until this proviso is no longer applicable.

“Maturity Date” shall mean the Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date, the maturity date of an Extended Term Loan, the maturity date of an Extended Revolving Credit Loan, the maturity date of an Incremental Term Loan, or the maturity date of an Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment as applicable.

“Maximum Incremental Facilities Amount” shall mean, at the time of establishment of the commitments in respect of any Indebtedness to be incurred in reliance on this definition (or, at the option of the Borrower, at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness (other than revolving indebtedness)) the sum of:

(i) the greater of (x) $568,000,000 and (y) 100.0% of Consolidated EBITDA, plus

(ii) the aggregate amount of voluntary prepayments, redemptions or repurchases of long-term Indebtedness or permanent commitment reductions in respect of any credit facility, in each case, that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Revolving Credit Loans (including purchases of Indebtedness by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at or below par, in the amount of the principal amount of such Indebtedness so purchased), in each case, other than from proceeds of the incurrence of long-term Indebtedness (other than revolving loans), plus

(iii) [reserved], plus

(iv) an unlimited amount so long as, after giving effect to the establishment or incurrence of any commitment or amount then being established or incurred, as applicable, in reliance on this clause (iv) (assuming any undrawn revolving commitments being established at such time in reliance on this clause (iv) are fully drawn) and the use of proceeds thereof on a pro forma basis (but without netting the cash proceeds of any amounts then being incurred in reliance on this clause (iv)), Holdings would be in compliance on a pro forma basis with a Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio of 3.00 to 1.00, minus (v) the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 2.14(a) or Section 10.1(cc) in reliance on clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of this definition prior to such date.

 

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“Minimum Borrowing Amount” shall mean (i) with respect to a Borrowing of Eurocurrency Loans, Term SOFR Loans and RFR Loans, $500,000 or the Alternate Currency Equivalent (or, if less, the entire remaining applicable Commitments at the time of such Borrowing), and (ii) with respect to a Borrowing of ABR Loans, $100,000 (or, if less, the entire remaining applicable Commitments at the time of such Borrowing).

“Minimum Collateral Amount” shall mean, at any time, (i) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or Cash Equivalents or deposit account balances provided to reduce or eliminate Fronting Exposure during the existence of a Defaulting Lender, an amount equal to 103% of the Fronting Exposure of the Letter of Credit Issuer with respect to Letters of Credit issued and outstanding at such time and (ii) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or Cash Equivalents or deposit account balances provided in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.8(a)(i), (a)(ii), or (a)(iii), an amount equal to 103% of the outstanding amount of all L/C Obligations.

“Minimum Tender Condition” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.15(b).

“Moody’s” shall mean Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor by merger or consolidation to its business.

“Multiemployer Plan” shall mean a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any Credit Party or ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the five preceding calendar years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

“Net Cash Proceeds” shall mean, with respect to any Asset Sale, (i) the gross cash proceeds (including payments from time to time in respect of installment obligations, if applicable, but only as and when received and excluding any interest payments) received by or on behalf of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of such Asset Sale, as the case may be, less (ii) the sum of:

(a) the amount, if any, of all Taxes (including in connection with any repatriation of funds) paid or estimated to be payable by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such Asset Sale;

(b) the amount of any reasonable reserve established in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities (other than any Taxes deducted pursuant to clause (a) above) (1) associated with the assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale and (2) retained by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the amount of any subsequent reduction of such reserve (other than in connection with a payment in respect of any such liability) shall be deemed to be Net Cash Proceeds of such an Asset Sale occurring on the date of such reduction;

(c) the amount of any Indebtedness (other than the Loans) secured by a Lien on the assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale to the extent that the instruction creating or evidencing such Indebtedness requires that such Indebtedness be repaid upon consummation of such Asset Sale;

 

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(d) in the case of any Asset Sale by a non-Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary, the pro rata portion of the Net Cash Proceeds thereof (calculated without regard to this clause (d)) attributable to minority interests and not available for distribution to or for the account of the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary as a result thereof; (e) in the case of any Asset Sale, any funded escrow established pursuant to the documents evidencing any such sale or disposition to secure any indemnification obligations or adjustments to the purchase price associated with any such sale or disposition; provided that the amount of any subsequent reduction of such escrow (other than in connection with a payment in respect of any such liability) shall be deemed to be Net Cash Proceeds of such an Asset Sale occurring on the date of such reduction solely to the extent that Holdings and/or any Restricted Subsidiaries receives cash in an amount equal to the amount of such reduction; and

(f) all fees and out-of-pocket expenses paid by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any of the foregoing (for the avoidance of doubt, including, attorney’s fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and recording charges, transfer Taxes, deed and mortgage recording Taxes, underwriting discounts and commission, other customary expenses, and brokerage, consultant, accountant, and other customary fees),

in each case only to the extent not already deducted in arriving at the amount referred to in clause (i) above.

“Net Income” shall mean, with respect to any Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any period, the net income (loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends.

“Non-Bank Tax Certificate” shall have the meaning provided in Section 5.4(e)(ii)(B)(3).

“Non-Consenting Lender” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.7(b).

“Non-Defaulting Lender” shall mean and include each Lender other than a Defaulting Lender.

“Non-Extension Notice Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.2(d).

“Non-Fixed Basket” shall have the meaning provided in Section 1.11(a).

“Non-U.S. Lender” shall mean any Lender that is not a “United States person” as defined by Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

“Notice of Borrowing” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.3(b).

“Notice of Conversion or Continuation” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.6(a).

“NYFRB” shall mean the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

“NYFRB Rate” shall mean, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day (or for any day that is not a Business Day, for the immediately following Business Day); provided that if none of such rates are published for any day that is a Business Day, the term “NYFRB Rate” shall mean the rate for a federal funds transaction quoted at 11:00 a.m. on such day received by the Administrative Agent from a federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; provided, further, that if any of the aforesaid rates as so determined be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

“Obligations” shall mean all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants, and duties of, any Credit Party (and in the case of a Secured Cash Management Agreement or Secured Hedge Agreement, any Restricted Subsidiary) arising under any Credit Document or otherwise with respect to any Revolving Credit Commitment, Loan, or Letter of Credit or under any Secured Cash Management Agreement, Secured Hedge Agreement (other than with respect to any Credit Party’s obligations that constitute Excluded Swap Obligations solely with respect to such Credit Party), in each case, entered into with Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, 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 expenses that accrue after the commencement by or against any Credit Party or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any bankruptcy or insolvency law naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest; fees and expenses are allowed claims in such proceeding.

 

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Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of the Credit Parties under the Credit Documents (and any of their Subsidiaries to the extent they have obligations under the Credit Documents) include the obligation (including guarantee obligations) to pay principal, interest, charges, expenses, fees, attorney costs, indemnities, and other amounts payable by any Credit Party under any Credit Document.

“OFAC” shall have the meaning provided in Section 8.19(c).

“Original Closing Date” shall mean March 24, 2021.

“Original Credit Agreement” shall mean that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of the Original Closing Date, among Holdings, the Borrower, the lending institutions party thereto, and Citibank, N.A., as the administrative agent, the collateral agent, the swingline lender and a letter of credit issuer, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the Closing Date.

“Original Revolving Credit Commitments” shall mean all Revolving Credit Commitments, Existing Revolving Credit Commitments, and Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, other than any Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments (and any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments related thereto).

“Other Taxes” shall mean all present or future stamp, registration, court or documentary Taxes or any other excise, property, intangible, mortgage recording, filing or similar Taxes arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Credit Document or from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Credit Document; provided that such term shall not include (i) any Taxes that result from an assignment, grant of a participation pursuant to Section 13.6(c) or transfer or assignment to or designation of a new lending office or other office for receiving payments under any Credit Document (“Assignment Taxes”) to the extent such Assignment Taxes are imposed as a result of a connection between the assignor/participating Lender and/or the assignee/Participant and the taxing jurisdiction (other than a connection arising solely from any Credit Documents or any transactions contemplated thereunder), except to the extent that any such action described in this proviso is requested or required by Holdings or (ii) Excluded Taxes.

“Overnight Bank Funding Rate” shall mean, for any day, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Effective Rate and (ii) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable Letter of Credit 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 Alternate Currency, the rate of interest per annum at which overnight deposits in the applicable Alternate 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 the Administrative Agent in the applicable offshore interbank market for such currency to major banks in such interbank market.

“Parent Entity” shall mean any Person that is a direct or indirect parent company (which may be organized as, among other things, a partnership), including any managing member, of Holdings and/or the Borrower, as applicable.

“Participant” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.6(c)(i).

“Participant Register” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.6(c)(ii).

“Participating Member State” shall mean any member state of the European Union that adopts or has adopted the Euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to economic and monetary union.

“Patriot Act” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.18.

“PBGC” shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

 

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“Pension Plan” shall mean any employee pension benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, but excluding any Multiemployer Plan) in respect of which any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4062 or Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

“Perfection Exceptions” shall mean that, except as otherwise elected by the Borrower in its sole discretion, no Credit Party shall be required, to (i) except as otherwise provided herein with regard to Cash Collateral in respect of Letters of Credit, enter into control agreements with respect to, or otherwise perfect any security interest granted under the Security Documents by “control” (or similar arrangements) over, commodities accounts, securities accounts, deposit accounts, futures accounts, other bank accounts, cash and cash equivalents and accounts related to the clearing, payment processing and similar operations of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, (ii) perfect the security interest granted under the Security Documents in the following other than by the filing of a UCC financing statement: (1) letter-of-credit rights (as defined in the UCC), (2) commercial tort claims (as defined in the UCC), (3) Fixtures (as defined in the UCC) related to real property and (4) assigned agreements, (iii) send notices to account debtors or other contractual third-parties unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (iv) enter into any security documents to be governed by the law of any jurisdiction in which assets are located other than the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia (other than the BVI Share Charge), (v) deliver or provide (or take any actions with respect to obtaining) any leasehold mortgages, mortgages (with respect to any real property), landlord waivers, estoppels or collateral access letters or (vi) enter into any source code escrow agreement or register any Intellectual Property.

“Periodic Term SOFR Determination Date” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Term SOFR.”

“Permitted Acquisition” shall have the meaning provided in clause (iii) of the definition of “Permitted Investments.”

“Permitted Asset Swap” shall mean the concurrent purchase and sale or exchange of Related Business Assets or a combination of Related Business Assets and cash or Cash Equivalents between Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary and another Person; provided that any cash or Cash Equivalents received must be applied in accordance with Section 10.4.

“Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction” shall mean any call or capped call option (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) on Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Holdings purchased by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the issuance of any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness to hedge Holdings’ or such Restricted Subsidiary’s obligations to deliver shares of Holding’s Equity Interests under such Permitted Convertible Indebtedness, in each case on terms that are customary for “capped call” or “call spread” transactions entered into in connection with the issuance of convertible indebtedness (as determined by the Borrower in good faith); provided that the purchase price for such Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction, less the proceeds received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary from the sale of any Permitted Warrant Transaction entered into substantially concurrently with such Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction, does not exceed the net proceeds received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary from the sale of such Permitted Convertible Indebtedness issued in connection with the Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction.

“Permitted Convertible Indebtedness” shall mean (a) Indebtedness that is (i) either (A) a debt security issued by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary which is convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Holdings and cash in lieu of fractional shares and/or cash (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such Qualified Stock) or (B) sold as units with call options, warrants or rights to purchase (or substantially equivalent derivative transactions) that are exercisable for Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Holdings and/or cash (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such Equity Interests) and (ii) permitted to be incurred hereunder and (b) Existing Convertible Indebtedness.

“Permitted Debt Exchange” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.15(a).

“Permitted Debt Exchange Notes” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.15(a).

 

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“Permitted Debt Exchange Offer” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.15(a).

“Permitted Holders” shall mean (a) Niraj Shah, (b) Steven Conine and (c) any Permitted Transferee of either of the foregoing.

“Permitted Investments” shall mean:

(i) any Investment in Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(ii) any Investment in cash, Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities at the time such Investment is made;

(iii) any Investment by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in a Person that is engaged in a Similar Business if as a result of such Investment (a “Permitted Acquisition”), (1) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or (2) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged, consolidated, or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary, and, in each case, any Investment held by such Person so long as, in the case of any Investment held by such Person as of the date of such acquisition, merger, consolidation or transfer, such Investment was not made by such Person in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, consolidation or transfer;

(iv) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting cash, Cash Equivalents, or Investment Grade Securities and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to Section 10.4 or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale (other than pursuant to clause (c) of such definition);

(v) (a) any Investment existing or contemplated on the Closing Date and, in each case, listed on Schedule 10.5 and (b) Investments consisting of any modification, replacement, renewal, reinvestment, or extension of any such Investment; provided that the amount of any such Investment is not increased from the amount of such Investment on the Closing Date except pursuant to the terms of such Investment (including in respect of any unused commitment), plus any accrued but unpaid interest (including any portion thereof which is payable in kind in accordance with the terms of such modified, extended, renewed, or replaced Investment) and premium payable by the terms of such Indebtedness thereon and fees and expenses associated therewith as of the Closing Date;

(vi) any Investment acquired by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (a) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by Holdings or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization, or recapitalization of Holdings of such other Investment or accounts receivable or (b) as a result of a foreclosure by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(vii) Hedging Obligations permitted under clause (j) of Section 10.1 and Cash Management Services;

(viii) any Investments in connection with a Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or Permitted Structured Repurchase Transaction; provided that to the extent such Investment constitutes a Restricted Payment described in clauses (1), (2) or (3) of the first paragraph of Section 10.5, such Restricted Payment is permitted by Section 10.5;

(ix) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings (exclusive of Disqualified Stock); provided that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available under the Available Amount; (x) guarantees of Indebtedness of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary permitted under Section 10.1; provided that such guarantee is permitted to be incurred by the applicable guarantor under Section 10.1;

 

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(xi) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted and made in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.9 (except transactions described in clauses (b), (d)(y), (e), (f)(ii), (k), (m) and (o) of such paragraph);

(xii) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material, equipment, or other similar assets in the ordinary course of business;

(xiii) additional Investments having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (xiii) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (a) $170,000,000 and (b) 30.0% of Consolidated EBITDA at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (xiii) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (i) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (xiii) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(xiv) Investments relating to any Receivables Subsidiary that, in the good faith determination of the board of directors of Holdings, are necessary or advisable to effect a Receivables Facility or any repurchases in connection therewith;

(xv) advances to, or guarantees of Indebtedness of, employees, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (xv) that are at that time outstanding, not in excess of the greater of (a) $37,000,000 and (b) 6.50% of Consolidated EBITDA at the time of such Investment;

(xvi) (a) loans and advances to officers, directors, managers, and employees for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses, and other similar expenses, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practices or to fund such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent company thereof and (b) promissory notes received from stockholders of Holdings, any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings or any Subsidiary in connection with the exercise of stock options in respect of the Equity Interests of Holdings, any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings and the Subsidiaries and (c) advances of payroll payments to employees in the ordinary course of business;

(xvii) Investments consisting of extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business;

(xviii) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of Uniform Commercial Code Article 3 endorsements for collection or deposit and Uniform Commercial Code Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practices;

(xix) non-cash Investments in connection with Tax planning and reorganization activities; provided that after giving effect to any such activities, the guarantees of the Obligations and the security interests of the Lenders in the Collateral, taken as a whole, would not be materially impaired;

(xx) Investments made in the ordinary course of business in connection with obtaining, maintaining or renewing client, franchisee and customer contracts and loans or advances made to, and guarantees with respect to obligations of, franchisees, distributors, suppliers, licensors and licensees in the ordinary course of business;

(xxi) the licensing and contribution of Intellectual Property (i) pursuant to joint development, joint venture or joint marketing arrangements with other Persons or (ii) otherwise on a non-exclusive basis, in each case, in the ordinary course of business; (xxii) contributions to a “rabbi” trust for the benefit of employees, directors, officers, managers, consultants, independent contractors or other service providers or other grantor trust subject to claims of creditors in the case of a bankruptcy of the Borrower;

 

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(xxiii) 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 transaction was not entered into in contemplation of such redesignation;

(xxiv) Investments consisting of (i) prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection, bid, performance, workers’ compensation and other similar deposits made in the ordinary course of business or (ii) lease, utility and other similar deposits made in the ordinary course of business;

(xxv) Investments consisting of deposits, prepayments and other advances made in the ordinary course of business to distributors, suppliers, licensors and licensees; and

(xxvi) Investments in joint ventures of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (xxvi) that are at that time outstanding, not in excess of the greater of (a) $85,000,000 and (b) 15.0% of Consolidated EBITDA at the time of such Investment;

provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this definition shall be subject to Section 10.8.

“Permitted Liens” shall mean, with respect to any Person:

(i) pledges or deposits by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws, or similar legislation, 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 or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for the payment of rent or deposits made to secure obligations arising from contractual or warranty refunds, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(ii) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s, landlords’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, and mechanics’ or other like Liens, in each case for sums not yet overdue for a period of more than 60 days or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

(iii) Liens for Taxes, assessments, or other governmental charges not yet overdue for a period of more than 60 days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP, or for property Taxes on property Holdings or one of its Subsidiaries has determined to abandon if the sole recourse for such Tax, assessment, charge, levy, or claim is to such property;

(iv) 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 pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business;

 

 

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(v) 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, without limitation, minor defects or 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 adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person; (vi) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be outstanding pursuant to clause (a), (d), (m) (to the extent relating to another clause of Section 10.1 set forth in this clause (vi)), (n) (to the extent such Indebtedness is permitted to be secured by such clause), (r), (w), (aa), (cc) or (ee) of Section 10.1; provided that (a) in the case of clause (d) of Section 10.1, such Lien may not extend to any property or equipment (or assets affixed or appurtenant thereto) other than the property or equipment being financed or refinanced under such clause (d) of Section 10.1, replacements of such property, equipment or assets, and additions and accessions and in the case of multiple financings of equipment provided by any lender, other equipment financed by such lender; (b) in the case of clause (r) of Section 10.1, such Lien may not extend to any assets other than the assets owned by non-Credit Parties; and (c) in the case of clauses (n) and (cc) of Section 10.1, the secured parties in respect of such Indebtedness (or a representative thereof on behalf of such secured parties) shall enter into security documents with terms and conditions not materially more restrictive to the Credit Parties, taken as a whole, than the terms and conditions of the Security Documents and (1) in the case of Indebtedness constituting First Lien Obligations, the representative for the secured parties in respect of such other Indebtedness shall have entered into the First Lien Credit Agreement or, to the extent the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement is not in effect, another Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with clause (a) of such definition and (2) in the case of Indebtedness secured by Liens that are junior to the Obligations, (x) the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent and the representative for the secured parties in respect of such other Indebtedness shall have entered into an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with clause (b) of such definition and (y) to the extent any applicable Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement referred to in clause (x) is in effect, in the case of subsequent issuances of Indebtedness that is secured by Liens that rank junior to the Obligations, the representative for the secured parties in respect of such Permitted Other Indebtedness shall have become a party to the applicable Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement entered into in accordance with the foregoing clause (x) or another Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement;

(vii) subject to Section 9.14, Liens existing on the Closing Date; provided that any Lien securing Indebtedness or other obligations in excess of $10,000,000 shall be listed on Schedule 10.2 and, in each case, any modifications, replacements, renewals, or extensions thereof;

(viii) Liens on property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming a Subsidiary; provided, further, however, that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than, with respect to such Person, any replacements of such property or assets and additions and accessions thereto, after-acquired property subject 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 of such Person, and the proceeds and the products thereof and customary security deposits in respect thereof and in the case of multiple financings of equipment provided by any lender, other equipment financed by such lender, 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);

(ix) Liens on property at the time Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or the designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition, merger, consolidation, or designation; provided, further, however, that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than, with respect to such property, any replacements of such property or assets and additions and accessions thereto, after-acquired property subject 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, and the proceeds and the products thereof and customary security deposits in respect thereof and in the case of multiple financings of equipment provided by any lender, other equipment financed by such lender, 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); (x) Liens on property of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party, which Liens secure Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary or another Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party, in each case, to the extent permitted under Section 10.1;

 

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(xi) Liens securing Hedging Obligations and Cash Management Services so long as the related Indebtedness is, and is permitted hereunder to be, secured by a Lien on the same property securing such Hedging Obligations and Cash Management Services;

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

(xiii) leases, subleases, licenses, or sublicenses (including of Intellectual Property) granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary and do not secure any Indebtedness;

(xiv) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases or consignments entered into by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(xv) Liens in favor of Holdings, the Borrower or any other Guarantor;

(xvi) Liens on equipment of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary granted in the ordinary course of business to Holdings’ or such Restricted Subsidiary’s client at which such equipment is located;

(xvii) Liens on accounts receivable and related assets incurred in connection with a Receivables Facility;

(xviii) 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 clauses (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x), and (xv) of this definition of Permitted Liens; 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 shall be secured on an equal or lesser priority, and (b) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (1) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x), and (xv) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Agreement, and (2) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums and accrued and unpaid interest, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal, or replacement;

(xix) deposits made or other security provided to secure liabilities to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements in the ordinary course of business;

(xx) other Liens securing obligations (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) which do not exceed the greater of (a) $170,000,000 and (b) 30.0% of Consolidated EBITDA at the time of the incurrence of such Lien;

(xxi) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 11.5 or Section 11.10;

 

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(xxii) 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; (xxiii) Liens (a) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code or any comparable or successor provision on items in the course of collection, (b) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (c) in favor of banking or other financial institutions or other electronic payment service providers 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 or finance industry;

(xxiv) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 10.1; provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those that are the subject of such repurchase agreement;

(xxv) 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;

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

(xxvii) Liens (a) solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted under this Agreement or (b) consisting of an agreement to dispose of any property pursuant to a disposition permitted hereunder;

(xxviii) rights reserved or vested in any Person by the terms of any lease, license, franchise, grant, or permit held by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries 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;

(xxix) restrictive covenants affecting the use to which real property may be put; provided that the covenants are complied with;

(xxx) 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;

(xxxi) zoning by-laws and other land use restrictions, including, without limitation, site plan agreements, development agreements, and contract zoning agreements;

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

(xxxiii) Liens arising under the Security Documents;

(xxxiv) Liens on goods purchased in the ordinary course of business the purchase price of which is financed by a documentary letter of credit issued for the account of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

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(xxxv) (a) Liens on Equity Interests in joint ventures; provided that any such Lien is in favor of a creditor of such joint venture and such creditor is not an Affiliate of any partner to such joint venture and (b) purchase options, call, and similar rights of, and restrictions for the benefit of, a third party with respect to Equity Interests held by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in joint ventures; (xxxvi) Liens on cash and Cash Equivalents that are earmarked to be used to satisfy or discharge Indebtedness; provided (a) such cash and/or Cash Equivalents are deposited into an account from which payment is to be made, directly or indirectly, to the Person or Persons holding the Indebtedness that is to be satisfied or discharged, (b) such Liens extend solely to the account in which such cash and/or Cash Equivalents are deposited and are solely in favor of the Person or Persons holding the Indebtedness (or any agent or trustee for such Person or Persons) that is to be satisfied or discharged, and (c) the satisfaction or discharge of such Indebtedness is expressly permitted hereunder;

(xxxvii) with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary, other Liens and privileges arising mandatorily by any Requirements of Law;

(xxxviii) to the extent pursuant to a Requirements of Law, Liens on cash or Permitted Investments securing Swap Obligations in the ordinary course of business;

(xxxix) Liens arising by operation of law in the United States under Article 2 of the U.C.C. in favor of a reclaiming seller of goods or buyer of goods; and

(xxxx) customary Liens on funds in a trustee’s possession and granted in favor of such trustee to secure fees and other amounts owing to such trustee in its capacity as such, under the Indentures or other similar instruments pursuant to which any Indebtedness is issued.

For purposes of this definition, the term “Indebtedness” shall be deemed to include interest on, and fees, expenses and other obligations payable with respect to, such Indebtedness.

“Permitted Other Indebtedness” shall mean any senior or subordinated Indebtedness; provided that (i) such Indebtedness shall be secured by a Lien on the Collateral that ranks pari passu (but without regard to the control of remedies) with or junior to the Lien on the Collateral securing the First Lien Obligations or be unsecured, (ii) such Indebtedness shall not be issued or incurred by, or guaranteed by, any Person that is not a Credit Party or does not become a Credit Party substantially concurrently with the incurrence of such Indebtedness, (iii) there shall be no assets securing any such Indebtedness that do not constitute Collateral, (iv) except for such Indebtedness incurred in the form of customary bridge loans, the Indebtedness into which it converts or is exchanged into otherwise complies with this clause (iv), such Indebtedness shall not mature earlier than the date that is six months after the Initial Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date, (v) such Indebtedness has a weighted average life to maturity at the time of incurrence or issuance which is not less than the weighted average life to maturity of any then-existing Term Loan (and if there are no then-existing Term Loans shall not require any scheduled amortization or other scheduled prepayments other than customary amortization for a customary “term loan B” facility or a customary “term loan A” facility), (vi) to the extent such Indebtedness is secured by a Lien on the Collateral, (A) with respect to Permitted Other Indebtedness constituting First Lien Obligations, the representative of the holders of such Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations shall have entered into the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or, to the extent the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement is not in effect, an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with clause (a) of such definition or (B) with respect to Permitted Other Indebtedness secured by Liens on the Collateral that are junior to the Obligations, the representative of the holders of such Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations shall have entered into an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with clause (b) of such definition, in each case, with respect to such Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations, (vii) such Indebtedness shall not include any mandatory prepayments or offers to purchase other than (x) customary mandatory prepayments or offers to purchase in connection with asset sales, casualty or condemnation events, excess cash flow, incurrences of Indebtedness that is not permitted and certain refinancing indebtedness, a fundamental change, a change of control or other customary events, (y) with respect to Permitted Convertible Indebtedness, mandatory prepayments or offers to purchase by way of a conversion or exchange of such Indebtedness into or for Qualified Stock of Holdings and cash in lieu of fractional shares and/or cash or (z) mandatory prepayments or offers to purchase that would apply no earlier than the date that is twelve months after the Initial Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date and (viii) to the extent the terms and conditions of such Indebtedness are not substantially identical to the terms and conditions of any then-existing Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, such terms and conditions shall not be materially more restrictive to Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries (as determined in good faith by the Borrower), when taken as a whole, than the terms of any then-existing Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments (it being understood that (1) to the extent that any such more favorable terms are added for the benefit of any corresponding Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, such materially more restrictive terms shall be permitted and (2) any materially more restrictive terms that are only applicable after the Latest Maturity Date shall be permitted); provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, this clause (viii) shall not apply to (x) terms addressed in the other clauses of this definition or (y) pricing, interest rate margins, discounts, voluntary prepayment terms and premiums, rate floors, fees and currency types and denominations; provided, further, that a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five Business Days (or such shorter period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree) prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that the 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 two Business Days after receipt of such certificate that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonable description of the basis upon which it disagrees).

 

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“Permitted Other Indebtedness Documents” shall mean any document or instrument (including any guarantee, security agreement, or mortgage and which may include any or all of the Credit Documents) issued or executed and delivered with respect to any Permitted Other Indebtedness by any Credit Party.

“Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations” shall mean, if any Permitted Other Indebtedness is issued or incurred, all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants, and duties of, any Credit Party arising under any Permitted Other Indebtedness Document, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising, and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Credit Party or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any bankruptcy or insolvency law naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations of the applicable Credit Parties under the Permitted Other Indebtedness Documents (and any of their Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent they have obligations under the Permitted Other Indebtedness Documents) include the obligation (including guarantee obligations) to pay principal, interest, charges, expenses, fees, attorney costs, indemnities, and other amounts payable by any such Credit Party under any Permitted Other Indebtedness Document.

“Permitted Other Provision” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(g)(i).

“Permitted Sale Leaseback” shall mean any Sale Leaseback consummated by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date; provided that any such Sale Leaseback not between Holdings and a Restricted Subsidiary is consummated for fair value as determined at the time of consummation in good faith by (i) Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) in the case of any Sale Leaseback (or series of related Sales Leasebacks) the aggregate proceeds of which exceed the greater of (x) $99,000,000 and (y) 17.5% of Consolidated EBITDA, the board of directors (or analogous governing body) of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary (which such determination may take into account any retained interest or other Investment of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, and any other material economic terms of, such Sale Leaseback).

“Permitted Structured Repurchase Transaction” shall mean any forward purchase or accelerated share repurchase transaction (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) relating to Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Holdings for which Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary is the purchaser, a call or capped call option (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) relating to Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Holdings purchased by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, and/or a put or put spread option (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) relating to Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Holdings sold by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary and/or any other structured equity repurchase transaction similar to any of the foregoing in respect of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Holdings, in each case, entered into by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case (a) presented to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders by Holdings and to which the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders have consented and (b) entered into by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary with a leading dealer in the market in respect of such transactions (each, a “Structured Repurchase Dealer”); provided that such transaction is a Swap Agreement and will be entered into between Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary and a Structured Repurchase Dealer under or otherwise pursuant to an ISDA Master Agreement and there shall be no “Credit Support Annex”, “Credit Support Document”, “Credit Support Provider”, security, Guarantee or other credit support with respect thereto, in each case provided by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their respective Affiliates.

 

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“Permitted Transferee” shall mean, with respect to any Person that is a natural person (and any Permitted Transferee of such person), (a) such Person’s immediate family, including his or her spouse, ex-spouse, children, step-children and their respective lineal descendants, (b) the estate of Steven K. Conine, (c) the estate of Niraj Shah and (d) any other trust or other legal entity the beneficiary of which is such person’s immediate family, including his or her spouse, ex-spouse, children, step-children or their respective lineal descendants.

“Permitted Warrant Transaction” shall mean, any call option, warrant or contractual right to purchase (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) Equity Interests of Holdings sold by Holdings substantially concurrently with any purchase by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of a Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction in each case on terms that are customary for “call spread” transactions entered in connection with the issuance of convertible indebtedness.

“Person” shall mean any individual, partnership, joint venture, firm, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust, or other enterprise or any Governmental Authority.

“Plan” shall mean, other than any Multiemployer Plan, any employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA), including any employee welfare benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA), any employee pension benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), and any plan which is both an employee welfare benefit plan and an employee pension benefit plan, and in respect of which any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4062 or Section 4069 of ERISA be reasonably likely to be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

“Platform” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.17(a).

“Pledge Agreement” shall mean the Pledge Agreement, entered into by the Credit Parties party thereto and the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit D and dated as of the Original Closing Date, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Post-Acquisition Period” shall mean, with respect to any Permitted Acquisition, the period beginning on the date such Permitted Acquisition is consummated and ending on the date that is twenty-four full months following the date on which such Permitted Acquisition is consummated.

“primary obligations” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Contingent Obligations.”

“primary obligor” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Contingent Obligations.”

“Prime Rate” shall mean the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the U.S. or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent). Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced or quoted as being effective.

“Pro Forma Adjustment” shall mean, for any Test Period that includes all or any part of the twenty-four full month period included in any Post-Acquisition Period, with respect to the Acquired EBITDA of the applicable Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary or the Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the pro forma increase or decrease in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, projected by Holdings in good faith as a result of (i) actions taken during such Post-Acquisition Period for the purposes of realizing reasonably identifiable and factually supportable cost savings or (ii) any additional costs incurred during such Post-Acquisition Period, in each case in connection with the combination of the operations of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary with the operations of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that (a) at the election of Holdings, 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 $50,000,000 and (b) so long as such actions are taken during such Post-Acquisition Period or such costs are incurred during such Post-Acquisition Period, as applicable, it may be assumed, for purposes of projecting such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, that the applicable amount of such cost savings will be realizable during the entirety of such Test Period, or the applicable amount of such additional costs, as applicable, will be incurred during the entirety of such Test Period; provided, further, that any such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, shall be without duplication for cost savings or additional costs already included in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, for such Test Period and, in the case of cost savings, shall be subject to the 25.0% cap set forth in clause (i) of the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”; provided that such cap shall not apply to any pro forma adjustments determined on a basis consistent with Article 11 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Exchange Act and as interpreted by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any successor agency).

 

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“Pro Forma Entity” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Acquired EBITDA.”

“Prohibited Transaction” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975(c) of the Code.

“PTE” shall mean 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” shall mean costs relating to compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as applicable to companies with equity or debt securities held by the public, the rules of national securities exchange companies with listed equity or debt securities, directors’ or managers’ compensation, fees and expense reimbursement, costs relating to investor relations, shareholder meetings and reports to shareholders or debtholders, directors’ and officers’ insurance and other executive costs, legal and other professional fees, subscription costs, listing fees and other expenses arising out of or incidental to an entity’s status as a reporting company.

“QFC” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).

“QFC Credit Support” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.23.

“Qualified Stock” of any Person shall mean Capital Stock of such Person other than Disqualified Stock of such Person.

“Real Estate” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.1(f).

“Receivables Facility” shall mean any of one or more receivables financing facilities (and any guarantee of such financing facility), as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated, or refunded from time to time, the obligations of which are non-recourse (except for customary representations, warranties, covenants, and indemnities made in connection with such facilities) to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Receivables Subsidiary) pursuant to which Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary sells, directly or indirectly, grants a security interest in or otherwise transfers its accounts receivable to either (i) a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) a Receivables Subsidiary that in turn funds such purchase by purporting to sell its accounts receivable to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or by borrowing from such a Person or from another Receivables Subsidiary that in turn funds itself by borrowing from such a Person.

“Receivables Fee” shall mean distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any accounts receivable or participation interest issued or sold in connection with, and other fees paid to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, any Receivables Facility.

“Receivables Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary formed for the purpose of facilitating or entering into one or more Receivables Facilities, and in each case engages only in activities reasonably related or incidental thereto or another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in a Receivables Facility in which Holdings or any Subsidiary makes an Investment and to which Holdings or any Subsidiary transfers accounts receivables and related assets.

 

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“Recipient” shall mean (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender or (c) any Letter of Credit Issuer, as applicable.

“Refinance” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.1(m).

“Refinanced Term Loans” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.1.

“Refinancing Convertible Indebtedness” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.1(b).

“Refinancing Indebtedness” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.1(m).

“Refunding Capital Stock” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.5(b)(2).

“Register” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.6(b)(iv).

“Regulation D” shall mean Regulation D of the Board as from time to time in effect and any successor to all or a portion thereof establishing margin requirements.

“Regulation T” shall mean Regulation T of the Board as from time to time in effect and any successor to all or a portion thereof establishing margin requirements.

“Regulation U” shall mean Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and any successor to all or a portion thereof establishing margin requirements.

“Regulation X” shall mean Regulation X of the Board as from time to time in effect and any successor to all or a portion thereof establishing margin requirements.

“Reimbursement Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.4(a).

“Reimbursement Obligations” shall mean the Borrower’s obligations to reimburse Unpaid Drawings pursuant to Section 3.4(a).

“Reinvestment Period” shall means 365 days following the date of receipt of Net Cash Proceeds of an Asset Sale or, 545 days if Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary has entered into a binding agreement to invest such Net Cash Proceeds in assets useful for the business of Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries within such 365 day period.

“Related Business Assets” shall mean assets (other than cash or Cash Equivalents) used or useful in a Similar Business; provided that any assets received by Holdings or the Restricted Subsidiaries in exchange for assets transferred by Holdings 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.

“Related Fund” shall mean, with respect to any Lender that is a Fund, any other Fund that is advised or managed by (a) such Lender, (b) an Affiliate of such Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of such entity that administers, advises or manages such Lender.

“Related Parties” shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, and advisors of such Person and any Person that possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.

“Release” shall mean any release, spill, emission, discharge, disposal, escaping, leaking, pumping, pouring, dumping, emptying, injection, or leaching into the Environment.

 

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“Relevant Governmental Body” shall mean (i) (a) with respect to a USD Benchmark Replacement in respect of Loans denominated in Dollars, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor thereto and (b) with respect to an Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement in respect of Loans denominated in any Alternate Currency, (1) the central bank for the 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 Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement or (B) the administrator of such Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement or (2) any working group or committee officially endorsed or convened by (A) the central bank for the Currency in which such Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement is denominated, (B) any central bank or other supervisor that is responsible for supervising either (i) such Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement or (ii) the administrator of such Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement, (C) a group of those central banks or other supervisors or (D) the Financial Stability Board or any part thereof.

“Relevant Screen Rate” shall mean, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in Euros, the EURIBOR Screen Rate, as applicable.

“Removal Effective Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.9(b).

“Repayment Amount” shall mean the Term Loan Repayment Amount or an Extended Term Loan Repayment Amount with respect to any Extension Series, as applicable.

“Replacement Term Loan Commitment” shall mean the commitments of the Lenders to make Replacement Term Loans.

“Replacement Term Loans” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.1.

“Reportable Event” shall mean any “reportable event,” as defined in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, with respect to a Pension Plan (other than a Pension Plan maintained by an ERISA Affiliate that is considered an ERISA Affiliate only pursuant to subsection (m) or (o) of Section 414 of the Code), other than those events as to which notice is waived pursuant to PBGC Reg. § 4043.

“Required Lenders” shall mean, at any date (i) Non-Defaulting Lenders having or holding a majority of the sum of (a) the Adjusted Total Revolving Credit Commitment at such date, (b) the Adjusted Total Term Loan Commitment at such date, and (c) the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans (excluding Term Loans held by Defaulting Lenders) at such date or (ii) if the Total Revolving Credit Commitment and the Total Term Loan Commitment have been terminated or for the purposes of acceleration pursuant to Section 11, Non-Defaulting Lenders having or holding a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Loans and Letter of Credit Exposure (excluding the Loans and Letter of Credit Exposure of Defaulting Lenders) in the aggregate at such date.

“Required Revolving Credit Lenders” shall mean, at any date Non-Defaulting Lenders holding a majority of the Adjusted Total Revolving Credit Commitment at such date (or, if the Total Revolving Credit Commitment has been terminated at such time, a majority of the Revolving Credit Exposure (excluding Revolving Credit Exposure of Defaulting Lenders) at such time).

“Requirements of Law” shall mean, as to any Person, the certificate of incorporation and by-laws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule, or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or assets or to which such Person or any of its property or assets is subject.

“Reserved Proceeds” shall mean any net cash proceeds of any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock incurred or issued in reliance on clause (b) of the second paragraph of Section 10.1 and not re-designated as incurred or issued in reliance on another available exception in accordance with Section 1.11.

“Resignation Effective Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.9(a).

 

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“Resolution Authority” shall mean an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.

“Restricted Investment” shall mean an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

“Restricted Payment” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.5(a).

“Restricted Person” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.16.

“Restricted Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary of Holdings other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that any reference herein to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower shall mean any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

“Retired Capital Stock” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.5(b)(2).

“Revaluation Date” shall mean (a) with respect to any Alternate Currency Letter of Credit, each of the following: (i) each date of issuance, extension or renewal of an Alternate Currency Letter of Credit, (ii) each date of an amendment of any Alternate Currency Letter of Credit having the effect of increasing the amount thereof, (iii) each date of any payment by the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer under any Alternate Currency Letter of Credit, and (iv) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent or the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer shall determine or the Required Lenders shall require and (b) with respect to any Alternate Currency Loans, each of the following: (i) each date of a Borrowing of an RFR Loan or Eurocurrency Loans denominated in an Alternate Currency, (ii) each date of a continuation of an RFR Loan or Eurocurrency Loan denominated in an Alternate Currency pursuant to Section 2.9, and (iii) any other date reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, the Required Lenders or the Borrower.

“Revolving Credit Commitment” shall mean, as to each Revolving Credit Lender, its obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1(b), in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1(b) under the heading “Revolving Credit Commitment” or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement (including Section 2.14). The aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all Revolving Credit Lenders on the Closing Date is $500,000,000.

“Revolving Credit Commitment Fee” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.1(a).

“Revolving Credit Commitment Fee Rate” shall mean 0.15% per annum.

“Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage” shall mean at any time, for each Lender, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment at such time by (ii) the amount of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment at such time; provided that at any time when the Total Revolving Credit Commitment shall have been terminated, each Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage shall be the percentage obtained by dividing (a) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure at such time by (b) the Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders at such time.

“Revolving Credit Exposure” shall mean, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans of such Lender then outstanding (calculated, in the case of Alternate Currency Loans, based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof) and (ii) such Lender’s Letter of Credit Exposure at such time.

“Revolving Credit Facility” shall mean, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitments at such time.

“Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date” shall mean the earlier of (x) the Initial Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date; provided that, if such date is not a Business Day, the Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day and (y) the Springing Maturity Date.

 

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“Revolving Credit Lender” shall mean, at any time, any Lender that has a Revolving Credit Commitment, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment or Extended Revolving Credit Commitment at such time.

“Revolving Credit Loan” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.1(b).

“Revolving Credit Termination Date” shall mean the date on which the Revolving Credit Commitments shall have terminated, no Revolving Credit Loans shall be outstanding and the Letters of Credit Outstanding shall have been reduced to zero or Cash Collateralized.

“Revolving Loan” shall mean, collectively or individually as the context may require, any (i) Revolving Credit Loan, (ii) Extended Revolving Credit Loan and (iii) Incremental Revolving Credit Loan, in each case made pursuant to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

“RFR” shall mean, for any Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in, or calculated with respect to, Pounds Sterling, SONIA.

“RFR Administrator” shall mean the SONIA Administrator.

“RFR Borrowing” shall mean, as to any Borrowing, the RFR Loans comprising such Borrowing.

“RFR Business Day” shall mean, 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.

“RFR Loan” shall mean a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on Daily Simple RFR.

“RFR Rate Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple RFR”.

“S&P” shall mean Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services or any successor by merger or consolidation to its business.

“Sale Leaseback” shall mean any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of any real or tangible personal property, which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person in contemplation of such leasing.

“Sanctions” shall mean economic sanctions administered or enforced by the United States Government (including without limitation, sanctions enforced by OFAC) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or His Majesty’s Treasury.

“SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

“Section 2.14 Additional Amendment” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(g)(iv).

“Section 9.1 Financials” shall mean the financial statements delivered, or required to be delivered, pursuant to Section 9.1(a) or (b) together with the accompanying officer’s certificate delivered, or required to be delivered, pursuant to Section 9.1(d).

“Secured Cash Management Agreement” shall mean any Cash Management Agreement that is entered into by and between Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries and any Cash Management Bank, which is specified in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent as constituting a Secured Cash Management Agreement hereunder.

“Secured Cash Management Obligations” shall mean Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements.

 

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“Secured Hedge Agreement” shall mean any Hedge Agreement that is entered into by and between the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Hedge Bank, which is specified in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent as constituting a “Secured Hedge Agreement” hereunder. For purposes of the preceding sentence, a Borrower may deliver one notice designating all Hedge Agreements entered into pursuant to a specified Master Agreement as “Secured Hedge Agreements.” Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, a Hedge Agreement entered into by a Restricted Subsidiary shall remain a Secured Hedge Agreement notwithstanding that such Restricted Subsidiary is subsequently designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary (but not any Hedge Agreement entered into after the date of such designation), unless otherwise agreed between such Restricted Subsidiary and Hedge Bank.

“Secured Hedge Obligations” shall mean Obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements.

“Secured Parties” shall mean the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer, each Lender, each Hedge Bank that is party to any Secured Hedge Agreement with the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, each Cash Management Bank that is party to a Secured Cash Management Agreement with Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary and each sub-agent pursuant to Section 12 appointed by the Administrative Agent with respect to matters relating to the Credit Facilities or the Collateral Agent with respect to matters relating to any Security Document.

“Security Agreement” shall mean the Security Agreement entered into by the Borrower, the other grantors party thereto, and the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit E and dated as of the Original Closing Date, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Security Documents” shall mean, collectively, the Pledge Agreement, the BVI Share Charge, the Security Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and, if executed, each other intercreditor agreement contemplated to be entered into pursuant to the terms hereof and entered into by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms hereof in respect of Indebtedness permitted to be secured by Liens on the Collateral on a pari passu or junior basis with the obligations, and each other security agreement or other instrument or document executed and delivered pursuant to Sections 9.11, 9.12, or 9.14 or pursuant to any other such Security Documents to secure the Obligations or to govern the lien priorities of the holders of Liens on the Collateral.

“Similar Business” shall mean any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date or any business that is similar, reasonably related, synergistic, incidental, or ancillary thereto.

“SK Retail, Inc.” shall mean SK Retail, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

“SOFR” shall mean a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.

“SOFR Administrator” shall mean the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

“SOFR Determination Date” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.

“SOFR Rate Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.

“Sold Entity or Business” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”

“Solvent” shall mean, after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions, (i) the sum of the liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, does not exceed the present fair saleable value of the present assets of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis; (ii) the fair value of the property of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, is greater than the total amount of liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis; (iii) the capital of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, is not unreasonably small in relation to their business as contemplated on the date hereof; and (iv) Holdings and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, have not incurred and do not intend to incur, or believe that they will incur, debts including current obligations beyond their ability to pay such debts as they become due (whether at maturity or otherwise).

 

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“SONIA” shall mean a rate equal to the Sterling Overnight Index Average as administered by the SONIA Administrator.

“SONIA Administrator” shall mean the Bank of England (or any successor administrator of the Sterling Overnight Index Average).

“SONIA Administrator’s Website” shall mean 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.

“Specified Earlier Maturity Debt” shall mean the Existing Convertible Notes and the 2029 Senior Secured Notes, and any Indebtedness that refinances, replaces or extends any of the foregoing if such refinancing, replacement or extended Indebtedness, as applicable, has a maturity date that is earlier than the date that is 91 days after the Initial Revolving Facility Maturity Date.

“Specified Existing Revolving Credit Commitment” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(g)(ii).

“Specified Springing Debt” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Springing Maturity Test Date”.

“Specified Threshold” shall mean $50,000,000.

“Specified Transaction” shall mean (1) any contribution of capital, including as a result of an Equity Offering, to Holdings, (2) any designation of operations or assets of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary as discontinued operations (as defined under GAAP); provided that operations or assets of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that are held for sale or are subject to an agreement to dispose of such operations or assets, may, at the Borrower’s election (in its sole discretion), be designated as discontinued operations under this clause (2) only when and to the extent such operations are actually disposed of, (3) any Permitted Acquisition, investment or other similar transaction, in each case, that results in a Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, (4) any designation of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with this Agreement, (5) any purchase or other acquisition of a business of any Person or of assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of any Person, (6) any Asset Sale (a) that results in a Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary of the Borrower or (b) of a business, business unit, line of business or division of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or otherwise, (7) any incurrence or repayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other retirement of Indebtedness, (8) any borrowing of Incremental Loans, Permitted Other Indebtedness or other Indebtedness requiring a financial ratio or test to be calculated on a pro forma basis, or (9) any Restricted Payment or other transaction that by the terms of this Agreement requires a financial ratio or test to be calculated on a pro forma basis.

“Spot Rate” for any currency shall mean the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate quoted by the Administrative Agent as the spot rate for the purchase by the Administrative Agent of such currency with another currency through its principal foreign exchange trading office at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date two Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made; provided that the Administrative Agent may obtain such spot rate from another financial institution designated by the Administrative Agent if it does not have as of the date of determination a spot buying rate for any such currency.

“Springing Maturity Condition” shall mean a condition that is triggered if, on any Springing Maturity Test Date with respect to the applicable Specified Springing Debt, Liquidity as of such date is less than the sum of (x) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Specified Earlier Maturity Debt with an individual aggregate principal amount in excess of the Specified Threshold outstanding as of such date that has a final stated maturity date that is on or prior to the date that is 91 days after such Springing Maturity Test Date (excluding any Specified Earlier Maturity Debt that will be repaid, redeemed, defeased, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or otherwise retired for value with Reserved Proceeds) and (y) $200,000,000.

 

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“Springing Maturity Date” shall mean the first Springing Maturity Test Date on which the Springing Maturity Condition is satisfied.

“Springing Maturity Test Date” shall mean (x) each date that is 91 days prior to the final stated maturity date (the “Initial Springing Maturity Test Date”) applicable to any class or series of Specified Earlier Maturity Debt (such Specified Earlier Maturity Debt, the “Specified Springing Debt”), (y) the last Business Day of each calendar week during the period commencing with the first full calendar week after the Initial Springing Maturity Test Date and ending on the maturity date of such Specified Springing Debt and (z) the maturity date of such Specified Springing Debt, in each case of clauses (x), (y) and (z), so long as the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Specified Springing Debt on such date exceeds the Specified Threshold; provided that (1) if such date is not a Business Day, the Springing Maturity Test Date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day and (2) if, on any date during the period commencing on the Initial Springing Maturity Test Date and ending on the maturity date of such Specified Springing Debt, so long as the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Specified Springing Debt on such date exceeds the Specified Threshold, an Authorized Officer of Holdings or the Borrower, without responsibility for further investigation, has actual knowledge that Liquidity as of such date is less than the sum of (x) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Specified Earlier Maturity Debt with an individual aggregate principal amount in excess of the Specified Threshold outstanding as of such date that has a final stated maturity date that is on or prior to the date that is 91 days after such date (excluding any Specified Earlier Maturity Debt that will be repaid, redeemed, defeased, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or otherwise retired for value with Reserved Proceeds) and (y) $200,000,000, such date shall constitute a Springing Maturity Test Date.

“SPV” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.6(g).

“Stated Amount” of any Letter of Credit shall mean the maximum amount from time to time available to be drawn thereunder, determined without regard to whether any conditions to drawing could then be met; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the Stated Amount shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

“Status” shall mean the existence of Level I Status, Level II Status or Level III Status, as the case may be, on such date. Changes in Status resulting from changes in the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio shall become effective as of the first day following each date that (i) Section 9.1 Financials for the first fiscal quarter ended after the Closing Date are delivered to the Administrative Agent under Section 9.1 and (ii) an officer’s certificate is delivered by Holdings or the Borrower to the Administrative Agent setting forth, with respect to such Section 9.1 Financials, the then-applicable Status, and shall remain in effect until the next change to be effected pursuant to this definition; provided that each determination of the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio pursuant to this definition shall be made as of the end of the Test Period ending at the end of the fiscal period covered by the relevant Section 9.1 Financials.

“Statutory Reserve Rate” shall mean a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentage (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Federal Reserve Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities” in Regulation D). Such reserve percentage shall include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D. Eurocurrency Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

“Step-Up” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.7.

 

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“Stock Equivalents” shall mean all securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock and all warrants, options, or other rights to purchase or subscribe for any Capital Stock, whether or not presently convertible, exchangeable, or exercisable.

“Structured Repurchase Dealer” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Permitted Structured Repurchase Transaction.”

“Subject Lien” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.2.

“Subordinated Indebtedness” shall mean Indebtedness of Holdings, the Borrower or any other Guarantor that is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the obligations of Holdings, the Borrower or such Guarantor, as applicable, under this Agreement or the Guarantee, as applicable.

“Subsidiary” of any Person shall mean and include (i) any corporation more than 50.0% of whose Capital Stock of any class or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time Capital Stock of any class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time owned by such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries, or (ii) any limited liability company, partnership, association, joint venture, or other entity of which such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries has more than a 50.0% equity interest at the time. Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references herein to a Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary of Holdings.

“Successor Entity” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.3(a).

“Supported QFC” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.23.

“Swap Agreement” shall mean any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, spot, future, credit default or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions, including, without limitation, any Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction, any Permitted Warrant Transaction or any Permitted Structured Repurchase Transaction.

“Swap Obligation” shall mean, with respect to any Credit Party, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract, or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1(a)(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

“Taxes” shall mean any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, assessments, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), fees, or other similar charges imposed by any Governmental Authority and any interest, fines, penalties, or additions to tax with respect to the foregoing.

“Term Loan Commitment” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Incremental Term Loan Commitment and Replacement Term Loan Commitment.

“Term Loan Extension Request” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14 (g)(i).

“Term Loan Repayment Amount” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.5(b).

“Term Loans” shall mean any Incremental Term Loans, any Replacement Term Loans, and any Extended Term Loans, collectively.

“Term SOFR” shall mean,

 

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(a) for any calculation with respect to a Term 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 USD 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 Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day, and

(b) for any calculation with respect to an ABR Loan on any day, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor of one month on the day (such day, the “ABR 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 ABR Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a USD 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 ABR Term SOFR Determination Day.

“Term SOFR Adjustment” shall mean a percentage equal to 0.00% per annum.

“Term SOFR Administrator” shall mean CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (CBA) (or a successor administrator of the Term SOFR Reference Rate selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion).

“Term SOFR Borrowing” shall mean, as to any Borrowing, the Loans bearing interest at a rate based on Adjusted Term SOFR comprising such Borrowing other than pursuant to clause (c) of the definition of “ABR”.

“Term SOFR Loan” shall mean a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on Adjusted Term SOFR other than pursuant to clause (c) of the definition of “ABR”.

“Term SOFR Reference Rate” shall mean the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR.

“Test Period” shall mean, for any determination under this Agreement, the four consecutive fiscal quarters of Holdings then last ended and for which Section 9.1 Financials shall have been delivered (or were required to be delivered) to the Administrative Agent (or, before the first delivery of Section 9.1 Financials, the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are available).

“Total Credit Exposure” shall mean, at any date, the sum, without duplication, of (i) the Total Revolving Credit Commitment at such date (or, if the Total Revolving Credit Commitment shall have terminated on such date, the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders at such date), (ii) the Total Term Loan Commitment at such date, and (iii) without duplication of clause (ii), the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Term Loans at such date.

“Total Revolving Credit Commitment” shall mean the sum of the Revolving Credit Commitments of all the Lenders.

“Total Term Loan Commitment” shall mean the sum of the Incremental Term Loan Commitments of all the Lenders.

 

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“Transaction Expenses” shall mean any fees, costs, or expenses incurred or paid by Holdings or any of its respective Affiliates in connection with the Transactions, this Agreement, and the other Credit Documents, and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

“Transactions” shall mean, collectively, (i) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to occur on the Closing Date, including the replacement of the Existing Credit Facilities with the Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Loans hereunder, (ii) the incurrence of the 2030 Senior Secured Notes, (iii) the consummation of any other transactions in connection with the foregoing (including any repayment, repurchase, prepayment or defeasance of Indebtedness of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries in connection therewith) and (iv) the payment of the fees and expenses incurred in connection with any of the foregoing (including the Transaction Expenses).

“Transferee” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.6(e).

“Type” shall mean (i) as to any Term Loan, its nature as an ABR Loan, RFR Loan, Term SOFR Loan or a Eurocurrency Loan and (ii) as to any Revolving Loan, its nature as an ABR Loan, RFR Loan, Term SOFR Loan or a Eurocurrency Loan.

“UCP” shall mean, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”) Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

“UK Financial Institution” shall mean any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended form time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.

“UK Resolution Authority” shall mean the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.

“Uniform Commercial Code” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State of New York; provided, however, that, in the event that, by reason of any provisions of law, any of the attachment, perfection or priority of the Collateral Agent’s and the Secured Parties’ security interest in any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the term “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in such other jurisdiction for purposes

“Unpaid Drawing” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.4(a).

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” shall mean (i) any Subsidiary of Holdings which at the time of determination is an Unrestricted Subsidiary (as designated by the board of directors of Holdings, as provided below) and (ii) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The board of directors of Holdings may designate any Subsidiary of Holdings (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, Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings (other than any Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated or an Unrestricted Subsidiary); provided that:

(a) such designation complies with Section 10.5;

(b) each of (1) the Subsidiary to be so designated and (2) its Subsidiaries has not at the time of designation, and does not thereafter, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee, or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary except for Indebtedness that could otherwise be incurred by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary hereunder and, if such Indebtedness is secured, the Liens securing such Indebtedness are permitted to be incurred by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary hereunder (provided that any such Indebtedness shall be deemed incurred hereunder by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be); (c) each of (1) the Subsidiary to be so designated and (2) its Subsidiaries does not at the time of designation own any Material Intellectual Property;

 

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(d) immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(e) after giving pro forma effect to such designation, the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio shall be less than or equal to the maximum Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio permitted under Section 10.7 (determined after giving effect to any applicable Step-Up as if such Step-Up had been effective as of the last day of the then most recently ended Test Period).

The board of directors of Holdings may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and, after giving pro forma effect to such designation, the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio shall be less than or equal to the maximum Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio permitted under Section 10.7 (determined after giving effect to any applicable Step-Up as if such Step-Up had been effective as of the last day of the then most recently ended Test Period).

For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Borrower nor any Parent Entity of the Borrower shall be an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Any such designation by the board of directors of Holdings shall be notified by Holdings to the Administrative Agent by promptly delivering to the Administrative Agent a copy of the Board resolution giving effect to such designation and a certificate of an Authorized Officer of Holdings certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

“U.S.” and “United States” shall mean the United States of America.

“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” shall mean 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.

“U.S. Lender” shall have the meaning provided in Section 5.4(e)(ii)(A).

“U.S. Special Resolution Regimes” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.23.

“USD Available Tenor” shall mean, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current USD Benchmark, as applicable, (x) if such USD Benchmark is a term rate, any tenor for such USD 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 USD Benchmark (or component thereof) that is or may be used for determining any frequency of making payments of interest calculated with reference to such USD Benchmark, in each case, as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such USD Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to Section 2.10(f).

“USD Benchmark” shall mean, initially, with respect to Term SOFR Loans, the Term SOFR Reference Rate; provided that if a USD Benchmark Transition Event has occurred with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate or the then-current Benchmark for Dollars, then “USD Benchmark” means the applicable USD Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such USD Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to clause (c) of Section 2.10.

 

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“USD Benchmark Replacement” shall mean, for any then-current USD Benchmark, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable USD Benchmark Replacement Date:

(a) the sum of (i) Daily Simple SOFR and (ii) 0.10% per annum; or

(b) the sum of: (i) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the replacement for such USD 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 Dollars at such time and (ii) the related USD Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

If the USD Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (a) or (b) above would be less than the USD Floor, the USD Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the USD Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

“USD Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” shall mean, with respect to any replacement of any then-current USD Benchmark with a USD 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 USD Benchmark with the applicable USD 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 USD Benchmark with the applicable USD Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for syndicated credit facilities denominated in Dollars at such time.

“USD Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” shall mean, with respect to the use, administration, adoption or implementation of any USD Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “ABR” (if applicable), the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “U.S. 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 2.11 and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides 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 decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of any such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents).

“USD Benchmark Replacement Date” shall mean the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current USD Benchmark:

(a) in the case of clause (a) or (b) of the definition of “USD 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 USD Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all USD Available Tenors of such USD Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

(b) in the case of clause (c) of the definition of “USD Benchmark Transition Event”, the first date on which all USD Available Tenors of such USD Benchmark (or such component thereof) have been determined and announced by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such USD 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).

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, the “USD Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (a) or (b) with respect to any USD Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current USD Available Tenors of such USD Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

“USD Benchmark Transition Event” shall mean, with respect to the then-current USD Benchmark, the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to such USD Benchmark:

(a) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such USD Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all USD Available Tenors of such USD Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any USD Available Tenor of such USD Benchmark (or such component thereof);

(b) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such USD 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 Currency applicable to such USD Benchmark, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such USD Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such USD Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such USD Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of such USD Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide such USD Benchmark (or such component thereof) or, if such USD Benchmark is a term rate, all USD Available Tenors of such USD 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 USD Benchmark (or such component thereof) or, if such USD Benchmark is a term rate, any USD Available Tenor of such USD Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

(c) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such USD Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such USD Benchmark (or such component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, all USD Available Tenors of such USD 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 USD Benchmark is a term rate, a “USD Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any USD Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current USD Available Tenor of such USD Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

“USD Benchmark Unavailability Period” shall mean, with respect to any then-current USD Benchmark, the period (if any) (a) beginning at the time that a USD Benchmark Replacement Date has occurred if, at such time, no USD Benchmark Replacement has replaced such USD Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Credit Document in accordance with Section 2.10 and (b) ending at the time that a USD Benchmark Replacement has replaced such USD Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Credit Document in accordance with Section 2.10.

“USD Floor” shall mean a rate of interest equal to 0.00%.

“USD Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” shall mean the applicable USD Benchmark Replacement excluding the related USD Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

“Voting Stock” shall mean, with respect to any Person as of any date, 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.

 

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“Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary” of any Person shall mean a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” of any Person shall mean a Subsidiary of such Person, 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

“Withdrawal Liability” shall mean liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Title IV of ERISA.

“Withholding Agent” shall mean any Credit Party, the Administrative Agent and, in the case of any U.S. federal withholding Tax, any other applicable withholding agent.

“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” shall mean, (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.

1.2 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Credit Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Credit 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 Credit Document shall refer to such Credit Document as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.

(c) Section, Exhibit, and Schedule references are to the Credit 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 Credit Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Credit Document.

(h) The words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

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(i) All references to “knowledge” or “awareness” of any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof means the actual knowledge of an Authorized Officer of such Credit Party or such Restricted Subsidiary.

1.3 Accounting Terms.

(a) Except as expressly provided herein, 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 consistent manner.

(b) Where reference is made to “Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis” or similar language, such consolidation shall not include any Subsidiaries of Holdings other than Restricted Subsidiaries.

1.4 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by Holdings pursuant to this Agreement (or required to be satisfied in order for a specific action to be permitted under this Agreement) shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number.

1.5 References to Agreements Laws, Etc. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to organizational documents, agreements (including the Credit Documents), and other Contractual Requirements shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, amendment, and restatements, extensions, supplements, modifications, replacements, refinancings, renewals, or increases, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, amendment, and restatements, extensions, supplements, modifications, replacements, refinancings, renewals, or increases are permitted by any Credit Document; and (b) references to any Requirement of Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing, or interpreting such Requirement of Law.

1.6 Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents.

(a) Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of any determination under Section 2.14, Section 9, Section 10 or Section 11 or any determination under any other provision of this Agreement expressly requiring the use of a current exchange rate, all amounts incurred, outstanding, or proposed to be incurred or outstanding in currencies other than Dollars shall be translated into Dollars at the Spot Rate; provided, however, that for purposes of determining compliance with Section 2.14 or Section 10 with respect to the amount of any Indebtedness, Restricted Investment, Lien, Asset Sale, or Restricted Payment in a currency other than Dollars, no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of changes in rates of exchange occurring after the time such Indebtedness, Lien or Restricted Investment is incurred or Asset Sale or Restricted Payment made; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.6 shall otherwise apply to such Sections, including with respect to determining whether any Indebtedness, Lien, or Investment may be incurred or Asset Sale or Restricted Payment made at any time under such Sections. For purposes of any determination of Consolidated Total Debt, amounts in currencies other than Dollars shall be translated into Dollars at the currency exchange rates used in preparing the most recently delivered Section 9.1 Financials.

(b) Wherever in this Agreement in connection with a Borrowing, conversion, continuation or prepayment of an RFR Loan or Eurocurrency 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 RFR Loan or Eurocurrency Loan or Letter of Credit is denominated in an Alternate Currency, such amount shall be the Alternate Currency Equivalent of such Dollar amount (rounded to the nearest unit of such Alternate Currency, with 0.5 of a unit being rounded upward), as determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer, as applicable.

1.7 Rates.

 

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The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, (a) the continuation of, administration of, submission of, calculation of or any other matter related to ABR, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Adjusted Term SOFR, Term SOFR, Daily Simple RFR, Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate, the Eurocurrency Rate, any other USD Benchmark or any other Alternate Currency Benchmark, or any component definition thereof or rates referred to in the definition thereof, or any alternative, successor or replacement rate thereto (including any USD Benchmark Replacement or Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement), including whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any USD Benchmark Replacement or Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement), will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, or have the same volume or liquidity as, ABR, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Adjusted Term SOFR, Term SOFR, any Daily Simple RFR, the Eurocurrency Rate, Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate, such USD Benchmark or any other USD Benchmark or such Alternate Currency Benchmark or any other Alternate Currency Benchmark prior to its discontinuance or unavailability, or (b) the effect, implementation or composition of any USD Conforming Changes or Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of ABR, a USD Benchmark or an Alternate Currency Benchmark, any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any USD Benchmark Replacement or Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement) 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 any interest rate used in this Agreement, 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 the 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.

1.8 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

1.9 Timing of Payment or Performance. Except as otherwise provided herein, when the payment of any obligation or the performance of any covenant, duty, or obligation is stated to be due or performance required on (or before) 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, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

1.10 Certifications. All certifications to be made hereunder by an officer or representative of a Credit Party shall be made by such a Person in his or her capacity solely as an officer or a representative of such Credit Party, on such Credit Party’s behalf and not in such Person’s individual capacity.

1.11 Classification and Re-Classification; Certain Calculations.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document, in the event any Lien, Indebtedness (including any Incremental Loans, Incremental Loan Commitments or Permitted Other Indebtedness), Disqualified Stock, preferred stock, Asset Sale, Investment or Restricted Payment meets the criteria of one or more than one of the categories of any amount, threshold, exception or value (including by reference to Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Total Assets, a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, a Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio or a Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio) permitted or prescribed with respect to any Lien, Indebtedness, Asset Sale, Investment or Restricted Payment (any such amount, threshold, exception or value, a “Basket”) under this Agreement (including within any defined terms), including any Basket that is subject to a fixed dollar limit (including by reference to Consolidated EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets) (each, a “Fixed Basket”) and/or any Basket that is subject to compliance with a financial ratio or test (including the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio or the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio) (each, a “Non-Fixed Basket”), as applicable, the Borrower shall be permitted, in its sole discretion, to divide and classify and to later, at any time and from time to time, re-divide and re-classify (including to re-classify utilization of any Fixed Basket as being incurred under any Non-Fixed Basket or other Fixed Basket or utilization of any Non-Fixed Basket as being incurred under any Fixed Basket or other Non-Fixed Basket) on one or more occasions (based on circumstances existing on the date of any such re-division and re-classification) any such Lien, Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, preferred stock, Asset Sale, Investment or Restricted Payment, in whole or in part, among one or more than one applicable Baskets under this Agreement (in the case of re-classification or re-division, so long as the amount so re-classified or re-divided is re-classified or re-divided only within the same negative covenant and permitted at the time of such re-classification or re-division to be incurred pursuant to the applicable Basket into which such amount is re-classified or re-divided at such time) so long as the incurrence of such Lien or Indebtedness, issuance of Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, consummation of such Asset Sale, Investment or Restricted Payment would be permitted to be made pursuant to such Basket at such time.

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, the amount of any Lien, Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, preferred stock, Asset Sale, Investment or Restricted Payment shall be determined by the Borrower at the time of such division, classification, re-division or re- classification, as applicable. If any Lien, Indebtedness (including any Incremental Loans, Incremental Loan Commitments or Permitted Other Indebtedness), Disqualified Stock, preferred stock, Asset Sale, Investment or Restricted Payment (or any portion of the foregoing) previously divided and classified (or re-divided and re-classified) as set forth above under any Fixed Basket, could subsequently be re-divided and re-classified under a Non-Fixed Basket, such re-division and re-classification shall be deemed to occur automatically at such time, in each case, unless otherwise elected by the Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Indebtedness incurred under this Agreement (including on the Closing Date) will, at all times, be classified as being incurred under clause (a) of the second paragraph of Section 10.1 and may not be re-classified. For the avoidance of doubt, Restricted Payments (other than Restricted Investments) may not be classified or re-classified as Permitted Investments.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document, in calculating any Non-Fixed Basket (including the Basket set forth in clause (iv) of the “Maximum Incremental Facilities Amount”), any amounts incurred, or transactions consummated substantially concurrently, in reliance on a Fixed Basket (including the Baskets set forth in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of the definition of “Maximum Incremental Facilities Amount”), in connection therewith or in connection with any transaction or series of related transactions with the amount incurred, or transaction consummated substantially concurrently therewith, under the applicable Non-Fixed Basket, in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), shall be disregarded in the calculation of such Non-Fixed Basket; provided that full pro forma effect shall be given to all applicable and related transactions (including the use of proceeds of all applicable Indebtedness incurred and any repayments, repurchases and redemptions of Indebtedness) and all other adjustments as to which pro forma effect may be given under Section 1.12.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document, if any Lien, Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, preferred stock, Asset Sale, Investment or Restricted Payment, is incurred, issued, taken or consummated in reliance on categories of Baskets measured by reference to a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA, and any Lien, Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, preferred stock, Asset Sale, Investment or Restricted Payment would subsequently exceed the applicable percentage of Consolidated EBITDA if calculated based on the Consolidated EBITDA on a later date (including the date of any refinancing or re-classification), such percentage of Consolidated EBITDA will be deemed not to be exceeded (so long as, in the case of refinancing any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock (and any related Lien), the principal amount or the liquidation preference of such newly incurred or issued Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock does not exceed the outstanding principal amount or liquidation preference of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased).

1.12 Pro Forma Calculations; Limited Condition Transactions.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document, financial ratios and tests (including the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio or the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio), Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated Total Assets shall be calculated in the manner prescribed by this Section 1.12; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in clauses (b), (c) or (e) of this Section 1.12, when calculating the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio for purposes of determining (i) the “Applicable Margin” or (ii) actual compliance (as opposed to compliance on a pro forma basis) with the maximum Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio permitted under Section 10.7, the events described in this Section 1.12 that occurred subsequent to the end of the applicable Test Period shall not be given pro forma effect.

(b) For purposes of calculating any financial ratio or test (including the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio or the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio), Consolidated EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets, Specified Transactions that have been consummated during the applicable Test Period or after the end of such Test Period and on or prior to or substantially concurrently with the event for which the calculation of such financial ratio or test is made shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Specified Transactions (and any increase or decrease in Consolidated EBITDA and the component financial definitions used therein attributable to any Specified Transaction) had occurred on the first day of the applicable Test Period (or, in the case of Consolidated Total Assets, on the last day of the applicable Test Period).

 

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If since the beginning of any applicable Test Period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such Test Period and on or prior to the date of any calculation under this Agreement shall have consummated any Specified Transaction that would have required adjustment pursuant to this Section 1.12, then such financial ratio or test shall be calculated to give pro forma effect thereto in accordance with this Section 1.12; provided that with respect to any pro forma calculations to be made in connection with any acquisition or investment in respect of which financial statements for the relevant target are not available for the same Test Period for which internal financial statements of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries are available, the Borrower shall determine such pro forma calculations on the basis of the available financial statements (even if for differing periods) or such other basis as determined on a commercially reasonable basis by the Borrower.

(c) Whenever pro forma effect is to be given to a Specified Transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of a Borrower (and may include, for the avoidance of doubt and without duplication, cost savings, operating expense reductions and cost synergies; provided that such costs savings, operating expense reductions and cost synergies are made in compliance with the definition of “Pro Forma Adjustment” and “Consolidated EBITDA”).

(d) If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of the event for which the calculation of such financial ratio or test is made had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account for such entire period, any Hedging Obligation applicable to such Indebtedness with a remaining term of 12 months or longer, and in the case of any Hedging Obligation applicable to such Indebtedness with a remaining term of less than 12 months, taking into account such Hedging Obligation to the extent of its remaining term). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of Holdings to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period (or, if lower, the greater of (i) maximum commitments under such revolving credit facilities as of the date of determination and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of loans outstanding under such a revolving credit facilities on such date). Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Borrower may designate.

(e) In connection with any action being taken solely in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, for purposes of:

(i) determining compliance with any provision of this Agreement which requires the calculation of any financial ratio or test (including the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio or the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio), Consolidated EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets;

(ii) determining the accuracy of representations and warranties set forth or referenced herein and/or whether a Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result therefrom; or

(iii) testing availability under baskets set forth in this agreement (including baskets measured as a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets);

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 action is permitted hereunder, shall be deemed to be the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Transaction are entered into (the “LCT Test Date”), 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; provided that, for the purpose of determining whether a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing under Section 11, such condition shall be deemed to be satisfied to the extent that on the date of consummation of the relevant Limited Condition Transaction, no Event of Default under Section 11.1 or Section 11.5 has occurred and is continuing.

 

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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 EBITDA of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries 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. If the Borrower has made an LCT Election for any Limited Condition Transaction, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio (other than the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio set forth in Section 10.7) 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 (i) the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated or (ii) the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such ratio (other than the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio set forth in Section 10.7) or basket shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 1.12 or in any classification under GAAP of any Person, business, assets or operations in respect of which a definitive agreement for the disposition thereof has been entered into, at the election of the Borrower, no pro forma effect shall be given to any discontinued operations (and the EBITDA attributable to any such Person, business, assets or operations shall not be excluded for any purposes hereunder) until such disposition shall have been consummated.

(g) Any determination of Consolidated Total Assets shall be made by reference to the last day of the Test Period most recently ended on or prior to the relevant date of determination for which Section 9.1 Financials have been or were required to be delivered. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent compliance with a financial ratio or test is calculated prior to the date financial statements are first delivered under Section 9.1, such calculation shall use the latest financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.9.

(h) Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, all computations of Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Total Assets, the Available Amount, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio, the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio and other financial ratios and financial calculations (and all definitions (including accounting terms) used in determining any of the foregoing) and all computations and all definitions (including accounting terms) used in determining compliance with Section 10.7 shall be calculated, in each case, with respect to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

1.13 Divisions. For all purposes under the Credit Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized and acquired on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.

1.14 Additional Alternate Currencies.

(a) The Borrower may from time to time request that Revolving Credit Loans that are Eurocurrency Loans be made and/or Letters of Credit be issued under the Revolving Credit Facility in a currency other than those specifically listed in the definition of “Alternate Currency”; provided that such requested currency is a lawful currency (other than Dollars) that is readily available and freely transferable and convertible into Dollars. In the case of any such request with respect to the making of Eurocurrency 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 under the Revolving Credit Facility, such request shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and each Letter of Credit Issuer.

 

 

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(b) Any such request shall be made to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., ten (10) Business Days prior to the date of the desired Credit Event (or such other time or date as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent and, in the case of any such request pertaining to Letters of Credit, the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer, in its or their sole discretion). In the case of any such request pertaining to Revolving Credit Loans that are Eurocurrency Loans, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each applicable Lender thereof; and in the case of any such request pertaining to Letters of Credit, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer thereof. Each applicable Lender (in the case of any such request pertaining to Revolving Credit Loans that are Eurocurrency Loans) or the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer (in the case of a request pertaining to Letters of Credit) shall notify the Administrative Agent, not later than 12:00 p.m. (New York City time), five (5) Business Days (or such other period of time as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) after receipt of such request whether it consents, in its sole discretion, to the making of Revolving Credit Loans that are Eurocurrency Loans or the issuance of Letters of Credit, as the case may be, in such requested currency.

(c) Any failure by any applicable Lender or any applicable Letter of Credit Issuer, as the case may be, to respond to such request within the time period specified in the preceding paragraph (b) shall be deemed to be a refusal by such Lender or such Letter of Credit Issuer, as the case may be, to permit Revolving Credit Loans that are Eurocurrency Loans to be made or Letters of Credit to be issued in such requested currency. If the Administrative Agent and all applicable Lenders consent to making Revolving Credit Loans that are Eurocurrency 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 Alternate Currency under the applicable facility hereunder for purposes of any borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans that are Eurocurrency Loans; and if the Administrative Agent and such Letter of Credit Issuer consent to the issuance of Letters of Credit in such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Borrower Agent and such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Alternate Currency hereunder for purposes of any Letter of Credit issuances. If the Administrative Agent shall fail to obtain consent of all applicable Lenders to any request for an additional currency under this Section 1.14, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Borrower.

Section 2. Amount and Terms of Credit.

2.1 Commitments.

(a) [Reserved].

(b) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Credit Loans denominated in an Agreed Currency to the Borrower from its applicable lending office (each, a “Revolving Credit Loan”) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, provided that any such Revolving Credit Loans (A) shall be made available at any time and from time to time on and after the Closing Date and prior to the Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date, (B) may, at the option of the Borrower, be incurred and maintained as, and/or converted into, ABR Loans, RFR Loans, Term SOFR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans (provided that Revolving Credit Loans made in (1) any Alternate Currency (other than Pounds Sterling) must be Eurocurrency Loans and (2) Pounds Sterling must be RFR Loans) that are Revolving Credit Loans; provided that all Revolving Credit Loans made by each of the Lenders pursuant to the same Borrowing shall, unless otherwise specifically provided herein, consist entirely of Revolving Credit Loans of the same Type, (C) may be repaid (without premium or penalty) and reborrowed in accordance with the provisions hereof, (D) shall not, for any Lender at any time, after giving effect thereto and to the application of the proceeds thereof, result in such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure in respect of any Class of Revolving Loans at such time exceeding such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment in respect of such Class of Revolving Loan at such time and (E) shall not, after giving effect thereto and to the application of the proceeds thereof, result at any time in the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Lenders’ Revolving Credit Exposures at such time exceeding the Total Revolving Credit Commitment then in effect or the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Lenders’ Revolving Credit Exposures of any Class of Revolving Loans at such time exceeding the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment with respect to such Class.

 

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2.2 Minimum Amount of Each Borrowing; Maximum Number of Borrowings. The aggregate principal amount of each Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans shall be in a minimum amount of at least the Minimum Borrowing Amount for such Type of Loans and in a multiple of $100,000 or the Alternate Currency Equivalent in excess thereof. More than one Borrowing may be incurred on any date; provided that at no time shall there be outstanding more than ten Borrowings of Eurocurrency Loans, Term SOFR Loans and RFR Loans that are Revolving Credit Loans under this Agreement.

2.3 Notice of Borrowing.

(a) [Reserved].

(b) Whenever the Borrower desires to incur Revolving Credit Loans (other than to repay Unpaid Drawings), the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office written notice (i) prior to 12:00 noon (New York City Time) at least three Business Days prior to each Borrowing of Eurocurrency Loans (other than Eurocurrency Loans denominated in Hong Kong Dollars), Term SOFR Loans or RFR Loans that are Revolving Credit Loans, 12:00 noon (New York City Time) at least four Business Days prior to each Borrowing of Eurocurrency Loans denominated in Hong Kong Dollars and (iii) prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day of each Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans that are ABR Loans. Each such notice (a “Notice of Borrowing”), except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 2.10, shall specify (x) the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans to be made pursuant to such Borrowing, (y) the date of Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day) and (z) whether the respective Borrowing shall consist of ABR Loans, Term SOFR Loans, RFR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans that are Revolving Credit Loans and, if Term SOFR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans that are Revolving Credit Loans, the Interest Period to be initially applicable thereto. If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified in any such notice, then the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period with respect to any Borrowing of Term SOFR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans is specified in any such notice, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. The Administrative Agent shall promptly give each Revolving Credit Lender written notice of each proposed Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans, of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage thereof, of the identity of the Borrower, and of the other matters covered by the related Notice of Borrowing.

(c) [Reserved].

(d) [Reserved].

(e) Borrowings to reimburse Unpaid Drawings shall be made upon the notice specified in Section 3.4(a).

(f) Without in any way limiting the obligation of the Borrower to confirm in writing any notice they shall give hereunder by telephone (which obligation is absolute), the Administrative Agent may act prior to receipt of written confirmation without liability upon the basis of such telephonic notice believed by the Administrative Agent in good faith to be from an Authorized Officer of Holdings or the Borrower.

2.4 Disbursement of Funds.

(a) No later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date specified in each Notice of Borrowing, each Lender shall make available its pro rata portion, if any, of each Borrowing requested to be made on such date in the manner provided below; provided that on the Closing Date, such funds may be made available at such earlier time as may be agreed among the Lenders, Holdings, and the Administrative Agent for the purpose of consummating the Transactions.

(b) Each Lender shall make available all amounts it is to fund to the Borrower under any Borrowing for its applicable Commitments, and in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office and the Administrative Agent will (except in the case of Borrowings to repay Unpaid Drawings) make available to the Borrower, by depositing to an account designated by Holdings or the Borrower to the Administrative Agent the aggregate of the amounts so made available in Dollars.

 

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Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by any Lender prior to the date of any such Borrowing that such Lender does not intend to make available to the Administrative Agent its portion of the Borrowing or Borrowings to be made on such date, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amount available to the Administrative Agent on such date of Borrowing, and the Administrative Agent, in reliance upon such assumption, may (in its sole discretion and without any obligation to do so) make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. If such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to the Administrative Agent by such Lender and the Administrative Agent has made available such amount to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount from such Lender. If such Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Borrower shall immediately pay such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent in Dollars. The Administrative Agent shall also be entitled to recover from such Lender or the Borrower interest on such corresponding amount in respect of each day from the date such corresponding amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower to the date such corresponding amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent, at a rate per annum equal to (i) if paid by such Lender, the Overnight Bank Funding Rate or (ii) if paid by the Borrower, the then-applicable rate of interest or fees, calculated in accordance with Section 2.8, for the respective Loans.

(c) Nothing in this Section 2.4 shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to, fulfill its commitments hereunder or to prejudice any rights that the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder (it being understood, however, that no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to fulfill its commitments hereunder).

2.5 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.

(a) The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders, on the Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date, the then outstanding Revolving Credit Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders, on each Extended Revolving Loan Maturity Date, the then outstanding amount of Extended Revolving Credit Loans.

(b) [Reserved].

(c) In the event that any Incremental Term Loans are made or any Extended Term Loans are established, such Incremental Term Loans or Extended Term Loans, as applicable, shall, subject to Section 2.14(g), be repaid by the Borrower in the amounts (each such amount with respect to any Extended Repayment Date, an “Extended Term Loan Repayment Amount”) and on the dates (each, an “Extended Repayment Date”) set forth in the applicable Extension Amendment and Incremental Term Loan Amendment.

(d) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the Indebtedness of the Borrower to the appropriate lending office of such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such lending office of such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such lending office of such Lender from time to time under this Agreement.

(e) The Administrative Agent shall maintain the Register pursuant to Section 13.6(b), and a subaccount for each Lender, in which Register and subaccounts (taken together) shall be recorded (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, whether such Loan is an Incremental Term Loan or Revolving Credit Loan, as applicable, the Type of each Loan made, the name of the Borrower and the Interest Period, if any, applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder, and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower and each Lender’s share thereof.

(f) The entries made in the Register and accounts and subaccounts maintained pursuant to clauses (d) and (e) of this Section 2.5 shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrower therein recorded; provided, however, that in the event of any inconsistency between the Registrar and any such account or subaccount, the Registrar shall govern, provided, further, that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such account, such Register or subaccount, as applicable, or any error therein, shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay (with applicable interest) the Loans made to the Borrower by such Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

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(g) The Borrower hereby agrees that, upon request of any Lender at any time and from time to time after the Borrower have made an initial borrowing hereunder, the Borrower shall provide to such Lender, at the Borrower’s own expense, a promissory note, substantially in the form of Exhibit I-1 or Exhibit I-2, as applicable, evidencing the Incremental Term Loans, Revolving Credit Loans and Revolving Credit Commitments, respectively, owing to such Lender. Thereafter, unless otherwise agreed to by the applicable Lender, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 13.6) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the payee named therein (or, if requested by such payee, to such payee and its registered assigns).

2.6 Conversions and Continuations.

(a) Subject to the penultimate sentence of this clause (a), (x) the Borrower shall have the option on any Business Day to convert all or a portion equal to the Minimum Borrowing Amount for Revolving Credit Loans of one Type into a Borrowing or Borrowings of another Type and (y) the Borrower shall have the option on any Business Day to continue the outstanding principal amount of any Term SOFR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans as Term SOFR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans, as applicable, for an additional Interest Period; provided that (i) no partial conversion of Term SOFR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans shall reduce the outstanding principal amount of Term SOFR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans, as applicable, made pursuant to a single Borrowing to less than the Minimum Borrowing Amount, (ii) ABR Loans and RFR Loans may not be converted into Term SOFR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans if an Event of Default is in existence on the date of the conversion and the Administrative Agent has or the Required Lenders have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such conversion, (iii) Term SOFR Loans and Eurocurrency Loans may not be continued as Term SOFR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans, as applicable, for an additional Interest Period if an Event of Default is in existence on the date of the proposed continuation and the Administrative Agent has or the Required Lenders have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such continuation, and (iv) Borrowings resulting from conversions pursuant to this Section 2.6 shall be limited in number as provided in Section 2.2. Each such conversion or continuation shall be effected by the Borrower by giving the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office prior to 12:00 noon (New York City time) at least (i) three Business Days prior, in the case of a continuation of or conversion to Eurocurrency Loans (other than Eurocurrency Loans denominated in Hong Kong Dollars), Term SOFR Loans or RFR Loans, (ii) four Business Days prior, in the case of a continuation of or conversion to Eurocurrency Loans denominated in Hong Kong Dollars or (iii) one Business Day prior in the case of a conversion into ABR Loans (each, a “Notice of Conversion or Continuation” substantially in the form of Exhibit K) specifying the Loans to be so converted or continued, the Type of Loans to be converted or continued into and, if such Loans are to be converted into or continued as Term SOFR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans, the Interest Period to be initially applicable thereto. If no Interest Period is specified in any such notice delivered to the Administrative Agent three (3) Business Days, prior to such conversion or continuation with respect to any conversion to or continuation as a Term SOFR Loan or Eurocurrency Loan, the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. The Administrative Agent shall give each applicable Lender notice as promptly as practicable of any such proposed conversion or continuation affecting any of its Loans.

(b) If any Event of Default is in existence at the time of any proposed continuation of any Term SOFR Loans and the Administrative Agent has or the Required Lenders have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such continuation, such Term SOFR Loans shall be automatically converted on the last day of the current Interest Period into ABR Loans. If upon the expiration of any Interest Period in respect of Term SOFR Loans, the Borrower has failed to elect a new Interest Period to be applicable thereto as provided in clause (a) above, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to convert such Borrowing of Term SOFR Loans into a Borrowing of ABR Loans, effective as of the expiration date of such current Interest Period. With respect to Eurocurrency Loans denominated in Alternate Currencies, in connection with the occurrence of any of the events described in the preceding two sentences, at the expiration of the then current Interest Period each such Borrowing shall be automatically continued as a Borrowing of Eurocurrency Loans with an Interest Period of one month. With respect to RFR Loans denominated in Alternate Currencies, if (x) upon the interest payment date in respect of such RFR Loans, the Borrower has failed to deliver a Notice of Conversion or Continuation in respect of such RFR Loans or (y) any Event of Default is in existence as of the interest payment date in respect of such RFR Loans, then, unless such RFR Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, such RFR Borrowing shall automatically be continued as a Borrowing of RFR Loans bearing interest at a rate based upon the Daily Simple RFR as of such interest payment date.

 

 

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2.7 Pro Rata Borrowings. Each Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans under this Agreement shall be made by the Revolving Credit Lenders pro rata on the basis of their then-applicable Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages. Each Borrowing of Incremental Term Loans under this Agreement shall be made by the Lenders pro rata on the basis of their then-applicable Incremental Term Loan Commitments. Each Borrowing of Incremental Revolving Credit Loans under this Agreement shall be made by the Revolving Credit Lenders pro rata on the basis of their then-applicable Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments. It is understood that (a) no Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in its obligation to make Loans hereunder and that each Lender severally but not jointly shall be obligated to make the Loans provided to be made by it hereunder, regardless of the failure of any other Lender to fulfill its commitments hereunder and (b) other than as expressly provided herein with respect to a Defaulting Lender, failure by a Lender to perform any of its obligations under any of the Credit Documents shall not release any Person from performance of its obligation, under any Credit Document.

2.8 Interest.

(a) The unpaid principal amount of each ABR Loan shall bear interest from the date of the Borrowing thereof until maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise) at a rate per annum that shall at all times be the Applicable Margin for ABR Loans plus the ABR, in each case, in effect from time to time. The unpaid principal amount of each RFR Loan shall bear interest from the date of the Borrowing thereof until maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise) at a rate per annum that shall at all times be the Applicable Margin for RFR Loans plus the Daily Simple RFR, in each case, in effect from time to time.

(b) The unpaid principal amount of each Eurocurrency Loan shall bear interest from the date of the Borrowing thereof until maturity thereof (whether by acceleration or otherwise) at a rate per annum that shall at all times be the Applicable Margin for Eurocurrency Loans plus the relevant Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate. The unpaid principal amount of each Term SOFR Loan shall bear interest from the date of the Borrowing thereof until maturity thereof (whether by acceleration or otherwise) at a rate per annum that shall at all times be the Applicable Margin for Term SOFR Loans plus the relevant Adjusted Term SOFR.

(c) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under Section 11.1 or Section 11.5 hereto, if all or a portion of (i) the principal amount of any Loan or (ii) any interest payable thereon or any other amount payable hereunder shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), such overdue amount shall bear interest at a rate per annum (the “Default Rate”) that is (x) in the case of overdue principal, the rate that would otherwise be applicable thereto plus 2.00% or (y) in the case of any other overdue amount, including overdue interest, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the rate described in Section 2.8(a) for the applicable Class plus 2.00% per annum from the date of such non-payment to the date on which such amount is paid in full (after as well as before judgment).

(d) Interest on each Loan shall accrue from and including the date of any Borrowing to but excluding the date of any repayment thereof and shall be payable in the same currency in which the Loan is denominated; provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same date on which it is made shall bear interest for one day. Except as provided below, interest shall be payable (i) in respect of each ABR Loan, quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, (ii) in respect of each Eurocurrency Loan and Term SOFR Loan, on the last day of each Interest Period applicable thereto and, in the case of an Interest Period in excess of three months, on each date occurring at three-month intervals after the first day of such Interest Period, (iii) in respect of each RFR Loan, each date that is on the numerically corresponding day in each calendar month that is one months after the Borrowing of such Loan; provided that, as to any such RFR Loan, (A) if any such date would be a day other than an RFR Business Day, such date shall be extended to the next succeeding RFR Business Day unless such next succeeding RFR Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such date shall be the next preceding RFR Business Day and (B) the interest payment date with respect to any Borrowing that occurs on the last RFR Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in any applicable calendar month) shall be the last RFR Business Day of any such succeeding applicable calendar month, (iv) in respect of each Loan, (A) on any prepayment in respect thereof, (B) at maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise), and (C) after such maturity, on demand, and (v) in the event of any conversion of any Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing or Term SOFR Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period therefor, on the effective date of such conversion; provided that, for purposes of this clause (d), the date of a Borrowing of a Loan initially shall be the date on which such Loan 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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(e) All computations of interest hereunder shall be made in accordance with Section 5.5.

(f) The Administrative Agent, upon determining the interest rate for any Borrowing of Eurocurrency Loans, Term SOFR Loans, ABR Loans and RFR Loans, shall promptly notify the Borrower and the relevant Lenders thereof. Each such determination shall, absent clearly demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding on all parties hereto.

2.9 Interest Periods. At the time the Borrower gives a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion or Continuation in respect of the making of, or conversion into or continuation as, a Borrowing of Term SOFR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans in accordance with Section 2.6(a), the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent written notice of the Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing, which Interest Period shall, at the option of the Borrower be a one, three or six month period (or if available to all Lenders making such Term SOFR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans as determined by such Lenders in good faith based on prevailing market conditions, a twelve month or shorter period).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above:

(a) the initial Interest Period for any Borrowing of Term SOFR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans shall commence on the date of such Borrowing (including the date of any conversion from a Borrowing of ABR Loans) and each Interest Period occurring thereafter in respect of such Borrowing shall commence on the day on which the next preceding Interest Period expires;

(b) if any Interest Period relating to a Borrowing of Term SOFR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans begins on the last Business Day, as applicable, of a calendar month or begins on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period;

(c) if any Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall expire on the next succeeding Business Day; provided that if any Interest Period in respect of a Term SOFR Loan or Eurocurrency Loan would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day, but is a day of the month after which no further Business Day occurs in such month, such Interest Period shall expire on the immediately following Business Day; and

(d) the Borrower shall not be entitled to elect any Interest Period in respect of any Term SOFR Loan or Eurocurrency Loan if such Interest Period would extend beyond the Maturity Date of such Loan.

2.10 Increased Costs, Illegality, Alternate Rate of Interest, Benchmark Replacement Setting, Etc.

(a) With respect to Eurocurrency Loans and Term SOFR Loans, subject to clauses (c), (d), (e), (f), (h) and (i) of this Section 2.10, if prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Borrowing of Eurocurrency Loans or Term SOFR Loans:

(i) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining Adjusted Term SOFR, Term SOFR, Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate or the Eurocurrency Rate, as applicable (including because the Relevant Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis), for the applicable Agreed Currency and such Interest Period; provided that no USD Benchmark Transition Event or Alternate Currency Benchmark Transition Event, as applicable, shall have occurred at such time; or

 

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(ii) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that Adjusted Term SOFR, Term SOFR, Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate or the Eurocurrency Rate, as applicable, for the applicable Agreed Currency and such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for the applicable Agreed Currency and such Interest Period; then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone, telecopy or electronic mail as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (A) any Notice of Conversion or Continuation that requests the conversion of any Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans to, or continuation of any Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans as, a Borrowing of Eurocurrency Loans or Term SOFR Loans, as applicable, shall be ineffective, (B) if any Notice of Borrowing requests a Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans which shall be Term SOFR Loans denominated in Dollars, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing and (C) if any Notice of Borrowing requests a Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans in an Alternate Currency, then such request shall be ineffective; provided that, if the circumstances giving rise to such notice affect only one Type of Borrowings, then the other Type of Borrowings shall be permitted. Furthermore, if any Eurocurrency Loan in any Alternate Currency or any Term SOFR Loan is outstanding on the date of the Borrower’s receipt of the notice from the Administrative Agent referred to in this Section 2.10(a) with respect to the Eurocurrency Rate applicable to such Eurocurrency Loan or Term SOFR applicable to such Term SOFR Loan, then such Loan shall, on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day, if such day is not a Business Day), at the Borrower’s election prior to such day: (A) be prepaid by the Borrower on such day or (B) be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and (subject to the remainder of this subclause (B)) shall constitute, an ABR Loan denominated in Dollars (in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent of such Agreed Currency) on such day (it being understood and agreed that if the Borrower does not so prepay such Loan on such day by 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) the Administrative Agent is authorized to effect such conversion of such Eurocurrency Loan or such Term SOFR Loan, as applicable, into an ABR Loan denominated in Dollars), and, in the case of such subclause (B), upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent that the circumstances giving rise to the aforementioned notice no longer exist, such ABR Loan denominated in Dollars shall then be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, a Eurocurrency Loan denominated in such original Agreed Currency (in an amount equal to the Alternate Currency Equivalent of such Agreed Currency) or a Term SOFR Loan, as applicable, on the day of such notice being given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent.

(b) With respect to Loans that are not Eurocurrency Loans or Term SOFR Loans, subject to clauses (c), (d), (e), (f), (h) and (i) of this Section 2.10, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that the Daily Simple RFR cannot be determined pursuant to the definition thereof, the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone, telecopy or electronic mail as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, any Notice of Conversion or Continuation that requests the conversion of any Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans to, or continuation of any Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans as, a Borrowing of RFR Loans shall be ineffective. Furthermore, if any RFR Loan in any Alternate Currency is outstanding on the date of the Borrower’s receipt of the notice from the Administrative Agent referred to in this Section 2.10(b) with respect to the RFR applicable to such RFR Loan, then such Loan shall on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding RFR Business Day if such day is not an RFR Business Day), at the Borrower’s election prior to such day: (A) be prepaid by the Borrower on such day or (B) be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and (subject to the remainder of this subclause (B)) shall constitute, an ABR Loan denominated in Dollars (in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent of such Agreed Currency) on such day (it being understood and agreed that if the Borrower does not so prepay such Loan on such day by 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) the Administrative Agent is authorized to effect such conversion of such RFR Loan into an ABR Loan denominated in Dollars), and, in the case of such subclause (B), upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent that the circumstances giving rise to the aforementioned notice no longer exist, such ABR Loan denominated in Dollars shall then be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, an RFR Loan denominated in such original Agreed Currency (in an amount equal to the Alternate Currency Equivalent of such Agreed Currency) on the day of such notice being given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document (and any Swap Agreement shall be deemed not to be a “Credit Document” for purposes of this Section 2.10), if a USD Benchmark Transition Event and its related USD Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to any setting of the then-current USD Benchmark, then (x) if a USD Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (a) of the definition of “USD Benchmark Replacement” for such USD Benchmark Replacement Date, such USD Benchmark Replacement will replace such USD Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Credit Document in respect of such USD Benchmark setting and subsequent USD Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Credit Document and (y) if a USD Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (b) of the definition of “USD Benchmark Replacement” for such USD Benchmark Replacement Date, such USD Benchmark Replacement will replace such USD Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Credit Document in respect of any USD 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 USD Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Credit Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such USD Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders. If the USD Benchmark Replacement is Daily Simple SOFR, all interest payments will be payable on a monthly basis.

 

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(d) In connection with the implementation of a USD Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make USD Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document, any amendments implementing such USD Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Credit Document.

(e) The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (i) any USD Benchmark Replacement Date and the related USD Benchmark Replacement, (ii) the effectiveness of any USD Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (iii) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a USD Benchmark pursuant to Section 2.10(f) and (iv) the commencement of any USD Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 2.10, 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 Credit Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.10.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a USD Benchmark Replacement), (i) if any then-current USD Benchmark is a term rate (including the Term SOFR Reference Rate) and either (A) any tenor for such USD Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (B) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such USD Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such USD 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 USD 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 USD Benchmark (including a USD 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 USD Benchmark (including a USD Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for all USD Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.

(g) Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a USD Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to a given USD Benchmark, (i) the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Term SOFR Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term SOFR Loans to be made, converted or continued during any USD Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for an ABR Borrowing or conversion to ABR Loans in the amount specified therein and (ii) any outstanding affected Term SOFR Loans, if applicable, will be deemed to have been converted into ABR Loans at the end of the applicable Interest Period. During a USD Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to any USD Benchmark or at any time that a tenor for any then-current USD Benchmark is not a USD Available Tenor, the component of ABR based upon the then-current USD Benchmark that is the subject of such USD Benchmark Unavailability Period or such tenor for such USD Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of ABR.

 

 

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(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document, upon the occurrence of an Alternate Currency Benchmark Transition Event or an Alternate Currency Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend this Agreement to replace the Eurocurrency Rate with an Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement. Any such amendment with respect to an Alternate Currency Benchmark Transition Event will become effective at 5:00 p.m. on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the Administrative Agent has posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrower so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such amendment from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders. Any such amendment with respect to an Alternate Currency Early Opt-in Election will become effective on the date that Lenders comprising the Required Lenders of each Class have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders accept such amendment. No replacement of the Eurocurrency Rate with an Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement pursuant to this Section 2.10 will occur prior to the applicable Alternate Currency Benchmark Transition Start Date.

(i) In connection with the implementation of an Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document, any amendments implementing such Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement.

(j) The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (i) any occurrence of an Alternate Currency Benchmark Transition Event or an Alternate Currency Early Opt-In Election, as applicable, and its related Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement Date and Alternate Currency Benchmark Transition Start Date, (ii) the implementation of any Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement, (iii) the effectiveness of any Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes and (iv) the commencement or conclusion of any Alternate Currency Benchmark Unavailability Period. For the avoidance of doubt, any notice required to be delivered by the Administrative Agent as set forth in this Section 2.10 may be provided, at the option of the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld), in one or more notices and may be delivered together with, or as part of any amendment which implements any Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement or Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 2.10, 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 Credit Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.10.

(k) Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of an Alternate Currency Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to a given Alternate Currency Benchmark, the Borrower may revoke any request for a Eurocurrency Loan Borrowing or RFR Borrowing, as applicable, of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Loans or RFR Loans, as applicable, to be made, converted or continued during any Alternate Currency Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, any Eurocurrency Loan Borrowing or RFR Borrowing, as applicable, denominated in an Alternate Currency shall be ineffective. Furthermore, if any Eurocurrency Loan or RFR Loan, as applicable, in any Alternate Currency is outstanding on the date of the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of an Alternate Currency Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to a Eurocurrency Rate or RFR applicable to such Eurocurrency Loan or RFR Loan, as applicable, then if such Eurocurrency Loan or RFR Loan, as applicable, is denominated in any Alternate Currency, then such Loan shall, on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day), at the Borrower’s election prior to such day: (A) be prepaid by the Borrower on such day or (B) be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and (subject to the remainder of this subclause (B)) shall constitute, an ABR Loan denominated in Dollars (in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent of such Alternate Currency) on such day (it being understood and agreed that if the Borrower does not so prepay such Loan on such day by 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) the Administrative Agent is authorized to effect such conversion of such Eurocurrency Loan or RFR Loan, as applicable, into an ABR Loan denominated in Dollars), and, in the case of such subclause (B), upon any subsequent implementation of an Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement in respect of such Alternate Currency pursuant to this Section 2.10, such ABR Loan denominated in Dollars shall then be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, a Eurocurrency Loan or RFR Loan, as applicable, denominated in such original Alternate Currency (in an amount equal to the Alternate Currency Equivalent of such Alternate Currency) on the day of such implementation, giving effect to such Alternate Currency Benchmark Replacement in respect of such Alternate Currency.

 

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(l) If, after the Closing Date, any Change in Law relating to capital adequacy or liquidity of any Lender or compliance by any Lender or its parent with any Change in Law relating to capital adequacy or liquidity occurring after the Closing Date, has or would have the effect of reducing the actual rate of return on such Lender’s or its parent’s or its Affiliate’s capital or assets as a consequence of such Lender’s commitments or obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Lender or its parent or its Affiliate could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or its parent’s policies with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity), then from time to time, promptly after demand by such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such actual additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or its parent for such actual reduction, it being understood and agreed, however, that a Lender shall not be entitled to such compensation as a result of such Lender’s compliance with, or pursuant to any request or directive to comply with, any law, rule or regulation as in effect on the Closing Date or to the extent such Lender is not imposing such charges on, or requesting such compensation from, borrowers (similarly situated to the Borrower hereunder) under comparable syndicated credit facilities similar to the Credit Facilities. Each Lender, upon determining in good faith that any additional amounts will be payable pursuant to this Section 2.10(l), will give prompt written notice thereof to the Borrower, which notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis of the calculation of such additional amounts, although the failure to give any such notice shall not, subject to Section 2.13, release or diminish the Borrower’s obligations to pay additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.10(l) promptly following receipt of such notice.

(m) [Reserved].

(n) If any Lender shall determine (which determination shall, upon notice thereof to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, be conclusive and binding on the Borrower) that the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any law makes it unlawful, or any central bank or other Governmental Authority asserts that it is unlawful, for such Lender to make, continue or maintain any Loan as, or to convert any Loan into, a Eurocurrency Loan, Term SOFR Loan or RFR Loan, the obligations of such Lender to make, continue, maintain or convert any such Eurocurrency Loan, Term SOFR Loan or RFR Loan shall, upon such determination, forthwith be suspended until such Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist. All outstanding Eurocurrency Loans, Term SOFR Loans or RFR Loans of such Lender shall (a) automatically convert into ABR Loans or (b) be prepaid by the Borrower, in each case, at the end of the then current Interest Periods with respect thereto or sooner, if required by such law or assertion. With respect to any determination of the ABR for ABR Loans incurred pursuant to this Section, the ABR will be determined without reference to the Term SOFR component of the ABR.

(o) If any Change in Law shall:

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except the Statutory Reserve Requirement) or any Letter of Credit Issuer;

(ii) subject any Recipient (as defined below) to any Taxes (other than (i) Indemnified Taxes and (ii) Taxes described in clauses (ii) through (iv) of the definition of “Excluded Taxes”) on its credit extensions or Commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or

(iii) impose on any Recipient or, with respect to Eurocurrency Loans, the applicable offshore interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement (other than Taxes), any Loan or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Recipient of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan, or to increase the cost to such Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Recipient (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Recipient, the Borrower will pay to such Recipient such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Recipient for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered. A certificate of such Recipient delivered to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) as to such additional amount or amounts that are necessary to compensate such Recipient as aforesaid shall, absent manifest error, be conclusive and binding on the Borrower and shall be payable within 10 days after receipt thereof by the Borrower.

 

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Failure or delay on the part of any Recipient to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Recipient’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate any Recipient pursuant to this Section 2.10(o) for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Recipient notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Recipient’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

2.11 Compensation.

(a) If (a) any payment of principal of any Eurocurrency Loan is made by the Borrower to or for the account of a Lender other than on the last day of the Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Loan as a result of a payment or conversion pursuant to Sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.10, 5.1, 5.2 or 13.7, as a result of acceleration of the maturity of the Loans pursuant to Section 11 or for any other reason, (b) any Borrowing of Eurocurrency Loans is not made as a result of a withdrawn Notice of Borrowing or a failure to satisfy borrowing conditions, (c) any ABR Loan, Term SOFR Loan or RFR Loan is not converted into a Eurocurrency Loan as a result of a withdrawn Notice of Conversion or Continuation, (d) any Eurocurrency Loan is not continued as a Eurocurrency Loan, as the case may be, as a result of a withdrawn Notice of Conversion or Continuation or (e) any prepayment of principal of any Eurocurrency Loan is not made as a result of a withdrawn notice of prepayment pursuant to Sections 5.1 or 5.2, the Borrower shall, after receipt of a written request by such Lender (which request shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount), promptly pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender any amounts required to compensate such Lender for any additional losses, costs or expenses that such Lender may reasonably incur as a result of such payment, failure to convert, failure to continue or failure to prepay, including any loss, cost or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits) actually incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by any Lender to fund or maintain such Eurocurrency Loan. For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurocurrency Loan made by it at the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the applicable offshore interbank market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurocurrency Loan was in fact so funded. A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender as specified in this Section 2.11 and setting forth in reasonable detail the manner in which such amount or amounts were determined shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. Without limiting the foregoing, in connection with each request for compensation by any Lender the Borrower shall also pay such Lender with respect to each affected Eurocurrency Loan reasonable and customary administrative fees requested by such Lender.

(b) If (a) any payment of principal of any RFR Loan is made by the Borrower to or for the account of a Lender other than on the interest payment date for such RFR Loan as a result of a payment or conversion pursuant to Sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.10, 5.1, 5.2 or 13.7, as a result of acceleration of the maturity of the Loans pursuant to Section 11 or for any other reason, (b) any Borrowing of RFR Loans is not made as a result of a withdrawn Notice of Borrowing or a failure to satisfy borrowing conditions, (c) any ABR Loan, Term SOFR Loan or Eurocurrency Loan is not converted into an RFR Loan as a result of a withdrawn Notice of Conversion or Continuation, (d) any RFR Loan is not continued as an RFR Loan, as the case may be, as a result of a withdrawn Notice of Conversion or Continuation or (e) any prepayment of principal of any RFR Loan is not made as a result of a withdrawn notice of prepayment pursuant to Sections 5.1 or 5.2, the Borrower shall, after receipt of a written request by such Lender (which request shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount), promptly pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender any amounts required to compensate such Lender for any additional losses, costs or expenses that such Lender may reasonably incur as a result of such payment, failure to convert, failure to continue or failure to prepay, including any loss, cost or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits) actually incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by any Lender to fund or maintain such RFR Loan. A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender as specified in this Section 2.11 and setting forth in reasonable detail the manner in which such amount or amounts were determined shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. Without limiting the foregoing, in connection with each request for compensation by any Lender the Borrower shall also pay such Lender with respect to each affected RFR Loan reasonable and customary administrative fees requested by such Lender.

 

 

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(c) If (a) any payment of principal of any Term SOFR Loan is made by the Borrower to or for the account of a Lender other than on the last day of the Interest Period for such Term SOFR Loan as a result of a payment or conversion pursuant to Sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.10, 5.1, 5.2 or 13.7, as a result of acceleration of the maturity of the Loans pursuant to Section 11 or for any other reason, (b) any Borrowing of Term SOFR Loans is not made as a result of a withdrawn Notice of Borrowing or a failure to satisfy borrowing conditions, (c) any ABR Loan, Eurocurrency Loan or RFR Loan is not converted into a Term SOFR Loan as a result of a withdrawn Notice of Conversion or Continuation, (d) any Term SOFR Loan is not continued as a Term SOFR Loan, as the case may be, as a result of a withdrawn Notice of Conversion or Continuation or (e) any prepayment of principal of any Term SOFR Loan is not made as a result of a withdrawn notice of prepayment pursuant to Sections 5.1 or 5.2, the Borrower shall, after receipt of a written request by such Lender (which request shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount), promptly pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender any amounts required to compensate such Lender for any additional losses, costs or expenses that such Lender may reasonably incur as a result of such payment, failure to convert, failure to continue or failure to prepay, including any loss, cost or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits) actually incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by any Lender to fund or maintain such Term SOFR Loan. A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender as specified in this Section 2.11 and setting forth in reasonable detail the manner in which such amount or amounts were determined shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. Without limiting the foregoing, in connection with each request for compensation by any Lender the Borrower shall also pay such Lender with respect to each affected Term SOFR Loan reasonable and customary administrative fees requested by such Lender.

2.12 Change of Lending Office. Each Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Sections 2.10(a)(ii), 2.10(a)(iii), 2.10(o), 3.5 or 5.4 with respect to such Lender, it will, if requested by the Borrower, use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Lender) to designate another lending office for any Loans affected by such event; provided that such designation is made on such terms that such Lender and its lending office suffer no unreimbursed cost or other material economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, with the object of avoiding the consequence of the event giving rise to the operation of any such Section. Nothing in this Section 2.12 shall affect or postpone any of the obligations of the Borrower or the right of any Lender provided in Sections 2.10, 3.5 or 5.4.

2.13 Notice of Certain Costs. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent any notice required by Sections 2.10, 2.11, 3.5 or 5.4 is given by any Lender more than 120 days after such Lender has knowledge (or should have had knowledge) of the occurrence of the event giving rise to the additional cost, reduction in amounts, loss, or other additional amounts described in such Sections, such Lender shall not be entitled to compensation under Sections 2.10, 2.11, 3.5 or 5.4, as the case may be, for any such amounts incurred or accruing prior to the 121st day prior to the giving of such notice to the Borrower.

2.14 Incremental Facilities.

(a) The Borrower may by written notice to Administrative Agent elect to request the establishment of one or more (x) tranches of term loans or increases in Term Loans of any Class (the commitments thereto, the “Incremental Term Loan Commitments”) and/or (y) increases in Revolving Credit Commitments of any Class (the “Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments” and, together with the Incremental Term Loan Commitments, the “Incremental Loan Commitments”), by an aggregate amount not in excess of the Maximum Incremental Facilities Amount in the aggregate and not less than $5,000,000 individually (or such lesser amount as (x) may be approved by the Administrative Agent or (y) shall constitute the difference between the Maximum Incremental Facilities Amount and all such Incremental Loan Commitments obtained on or prior to such date). The Borrower may approach any Lender or any Person (other than a natural Person) to provide all or a portion of the Incremental Loan Commitments; provided that any Lender offered or approached to provide all or a portion of the Incremental Loan Commitments may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide an Incremental Loan Commitment.

 

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In each case, such Incremental Loan Commitments shall become effective as of the applicable Increased Amount Date; provided that, subject to Section 1.12, (i) no Event of Default (or, if incurred in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, no Event of Default under Section 11.1 or Section 11.5) shall exist on such Increased Amount Date before or after giving effect to such Incremental Loan Commitments, as applicable, (ii) the representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Credit Party contained in Section 8 or any other Credit Document shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, with respect to representations and warranties modified by a materiality or Material Adverse Effect standard, in all respects) on and as of the Increased Amount Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects (or, with respect to representations and warranties modified by a materiality or Material Adverse Effect standard, in all respects) as of such earlier date, (iii)(A) the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments shall be effected pursuant to one or more Joinder Agreements executed and delivered by the Borrower and Administrative Agent, and each of which shall be recorded in the Register and shall be subject to the requirements set forth in Section 5.4(e) and (B) the Incremental Term Loan Commitments shall be effected pursuant to one or more amendments (an “Incremental Term Loan Amendment”) to this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Credit Documents, executed by the Borrower, each Lender agreeing to provide such Incremental Term Loan Commitments, if any, the Administrative Agent and, to the extent applicable, the administrative agent in respect of the Incremental Term Loans (the “Incremental Term Loan Administrative Agent”) such Incremental Term Loan Amendment may, without the need for the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, and if applicable, the Incremental Term Loan Administrative Agent and the Borrower, in order to give effect to the provisions of this Section 2.14, and (iii) the Borrower shall make any payments required pursuant to Section 2.11 in connection with the Incremental Loan Commitments, as applicable. No Lender shall have any obligation to provide any Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.14(a). Any Incremental Term Loans shall, at the election of the Borrower and agreed to by the Lenders providing such Incremental Term Loans, be designated as (a) a separate series (a “Series”) of Incremental Term Loans for all purposes of this Agreement or (b) as part of a Series of existing Term Loans for all purposes of this Agreement.

(b) Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments shall be subject to the satisfaction of the following terms and conditions: (a) each of the Lenders with Revolving Credit Commitments of such Class shall assign to each Lender with an Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment (each, an “Incremental Revolving Loan Lender”) and each of the Incremental Revolving Loan Lenders shall purchase from each of the Lenders with Revolving Credit Commitments of such Class, at the principal amount thereof, such interests in the Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on such Increased Amount Date as shall be necessary in order that, after giving effect to all such assignments and purchases, the Revolving Credit Loans of such Class will be held by existing Revolving Credit Lenders and Incremental Revolving Loan Lenders ratably in accordance with their Revolving Credit Commitments of such Class after giving effect to the addition of such Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments to the Revolving Credit Commitments, and (b) (i) each Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment shall be deemed for all purposes a Revolving Credit Commitment and, each Loan made under an Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment (an “Incremental Revolving Credit Loan”) shall be deemed, for all purposes, Revolving Credit Loans and (ii) each Incremental Revolving Loan Lender shall become a Lender with respect to the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment and all matters relating thereto; provided that the Administrative Agent and the Letter of Credit Issuer shall have consented (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to such Lender’s or Incremental Revolving Loan Lender’s providing such Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment to the extent such consent, if any, would be required under Section 13.6(b) for an assignment of Revolving Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, to such Lender or Incremental Revolving Loan Lender.

(c) Incremental Term Loan Commitments of any Series shall be subject to the satisfaction of the following terms and conditions: (i) each Lender with an Incremental Term Loan Commitment (each, a “Incremental Term Loan Lender”) of any Series shall make a Loan to the Borrower (a “Incremental Term Loan” and, together with the Incremental Revolving Credit Loans, the “Incremental Loans”) in an amount equal to its Incremental Term Loan Commitment of such Series, and (ii) each Incremental Term Loan Lender of any Series shall become a Lender hereunder with respect to the Incremental Term Loan Commitment of such Series and the Incremental Term Loans of such Series made pursuant thereto.

(d) The terms and provisions of the Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Term Loan Commitments of any Series shall be on terms and documentation set forth in the Incremental Term Loan Amendment as determined by the Borrower and the Incremental Term Loan Lenders providing such Incremental Term Loans and/or Incremental Term Loan Commitments; provided that:

 

 

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(i) (A) any such Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Term Loan Commitments shall not be guaranteed by any Person that is not a Credit Party or does not become a Credit Party substantially concurrently with the incurrence of such Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Term Loan Commitments and (B) such Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Term Loan Commitments shall be secured only by Collateral and such Liens shall be secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Revolving Credit Loans,

(ii) except with respect to any Incremental Term Loans incurred in the form of customary bridge loans, any such Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Term Loan Commitments shall not mature earlier than the date that is twelve months after the Initial Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date,

(iii) such Incremental Term Loans shall not require any mandatory prepayments or offers to purchase other than customary mandatory prepayments or offers to purchase in connection with asset sales, casualty or condemnation events, excess cash flow, incurrences of Indebtedness that is not permitted and certain refinancing indebtedness, a change of control or other customary events,

(iv) the weighted average life to maturity of any such Incremental Term Loans at the time of incurrence shall be no shorter than the weighted average life to maturity of the then-existing Term Loans (and if there are no then-existing Term Loans shall not require any scheduled amortization other than customary amortization for a customary “term loan B” facility or a customary “term loan A” facility),

(v) subject to clauses (ii) and (iv) above, the pricing, interest rate margins, discounts, prepayment terms and premiums, rate floors, fees, currency types and denominations, maturity date and amortization schedule applicable to any Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Term Loan Commitments shall be determined by the Borrower and the Incremental Term Loan Lenders thereunder, and

(vi) to the extent the terms and conditions of such Indebtedness are not substantially identical to the terms and conditions of any then-existing Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, such terms and conditions shall not be materially more restrictive to Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries (as determined in good faith by the Borrower), when taken as a whole, than the terms of any then-existing Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments (it being understood that (1) to the extent that any such more favorable terms are added for the benefit of any corresponding Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, such materially more restrictive terms shall be permitted and (2) any materially more restrictive terms that are only applicable after the Latest Maturity Date shall be permitted); provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, this clause (vi) shall not apply to (x) terms addressed in the other clauses of this Section 2.14(d) or (y) pricing, interest rate margins, discounts, voluntary prepayment terms and premiums, rate floors, fees and currency types and denominations; provided, further, that a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five Business Days (or such shorter period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree) prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that the 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 two Business Days after receipt of such certificate that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonable description of the basis upon which it disagrees).

(e) Other than with respect to upfront or similar fees, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments and Incremental Revolving Credit Loans shall have the same terms and conditions as the Initial Revolving Credit Commitments and the related Revolving Credit Loans (it being understood that pricing, interest rate margins, rate floors and undrawn commitment fees on the Revolving Credit Commitments being increased may be increased for all applicable existing Revolving Credit Lenders and additional upfront or similar fees may be payable to the lenders providing the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments (without any requirement to pay such fees to any existing Revolving Credit Lenders)).

(f) Each Joinder Agreement and Incremental Term Loan Amendment, as applicable, may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect technical and corresponding amendments to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provision of this Section 2.14. Citibank N.A. shall not be required to act as administrative agent or collateral agent in respect of any Incremental Term Loans without its prior written consent.

 

 

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(g) (i) The Borrower may at any time and from time to time request that all or a portion of the Term Loans of any Class (an “Existing Term Loan Class”) be converted to extend the scheduled maturity date(s) of any payment of principal with respect to all or a portion of any principal amount of such Term Loans (any such Term Loans which have been so converted, “Extended Term Loans”) and to provide for other terms consistent with this Section 2.14(g). In order to establish any Extended Term Loans, the Borrower shall provide a notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall provide a copy of such notice to each of the Lenders of the applicable Existing Term Loan Class which such request shall be offered equally to all such Lenders) (a “Term Loan Extension Request”) setting forth the proposed terms of the Extended Term Loans to be established, which shall not be materially more restrictive to the Credit Parties (as determined in good faith by the Borrower), when taken as a whole, than the terms of the Term Loans of the Existing Term Loan Class unless (x) the Lenders of the Term Loans of such applicable Existing Term Loan Class receive the benefit of such more restrictive terms or (y) any such provisions apply after the Latest Maturity Date applicable to any then-existing Term Loans (a “Permitted Other Provision”); provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (v) such Extended Term Loans shall not be guaranteed by any Person that is not a Credit Party, (w) there shall be no assets securing any such Extended Term Loans that do not constitute Collateral, (x) the scheduled final maturity date shall be extended and all or any of the scheduled amortization payments of principal of the Extended Term Loans may be delayed to later dates than the scheduled amortization of principal of the Term Loans of such Existing Term Loan Class (with any such delay resulting in a corresponding adjustment to the scheduled amortization payments reflected in Section 2.5 or in the Incremental Term Loan Amendment, as the case may be, with respect to the Existing Term Loan Class from which such Extended Term Loans were converted, in each case as more particularly set forth in paragraph (iv) of this Section 2.14(g) below), (y) (A) the interest margins with respect to the Extended Term Loans may be higher or lower than the interest margins for the Term Loans of such Existing Term Loan Class and/or (B) additional fees, premiums or applicable high-yield discount obligation payments may be payable to the Lenders providing such Extended Term Loans in addition to or in lieu of any increased margins contemplated by the preceding clause (A), in each case, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment and to the extent that any Permitted Other Provision (including a financial maintenance covenant) is added for the benefit of any such Indebtedness, no consent shall be required by the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders if such Permitted Other Provision is also added for the benefit of any corresponding Loans remaining outstanding after the issuance or incurrence of such Indebtedness or if such Permitted Other Provision applies only after the maturity date set forth in any applicable Incremental Term Loan Amendment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.14 or otherwise, no Extended Term Loans may be optionally prepaid prior to the date on which the Existing Term Loan Class from which they were converted is repaid in full, except in accordance with the last sentence of Section 5.1. No Lender shall have any obligation to agree to have any of its Term Loans of any Existing Term Loan Class converted into Extended Term Loans pursuant to any Extension Request. Any Extended Term Loans of any Extension Series shall constitute a separate Class of Term Loans from the Existing Term Loan Class from which they were converted.

(ii) The Borrower may at any time and from time to time request that all or a portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments of any Class, any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and/or any Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, each existing at the time of such request (each, an “Existing Revolving Credit Commitment” and any related Revolving Credit Loans thereunder, “Existing Revolving Credit Loans”; each Existing Revolving Credit Commitment and related Existing Revolving Credit Loans together being referred to as an “Existing Revolving Credit Class”) be converted to extend the termination date thereof and the scheduled maturity date(s) of any payment of principal with respect to all or a portion of any principal amount of Loans related to such Existing Revolving Credit Commitments (any such Existing Revolving Credit Commitments which have been so extended, “Extended Revolving Credit Commitments” and any related Loans, “Extended Revolving Credit Loans”) and to provide for other terms consistent with this Section 2.14(g).

 

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In order to establish any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, the Borrower shall provide a notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall provide a copy of such notice to each of the Lenders of the applicable Class of Existing Revolving Credit Commitments which such request shall be offered equally to all such Lenders) setting forth the proposed terms of the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments to be established, which shall not be materially more restrictive to the Credit Parties (as determined in good faith by the Borrower), when taken as a whole, than the terms of the applicable Existing Revolving Credit Commitments (the “Specified Existing Revolving Credit Commitment”) unless (x) the Lenders providing existing Revolving Credit Loans receive the benefit of such more restrictive terms or (y) any such provisions apply after the Revolving Credit Termination Date, in each case, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment; provided, however, that (w) all or any of the final maturity dates of such Extended Revolving Credit Commitments may be delayed to later dates than the final maturity dates of the Specified Existing Revolving Credit Commitments, (x) (A) the interest margins with respect to the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments may be higher or lower than the interest margins for the Specified Existing Revolving Credit Commitments and/or (B) additional fees and premiums may be payable to the Lenders providing such Extended Revolving Credit Commitments in addition to or in lieu of any increased margins contemplated by the preceding clause (A) and (y) the revolving credit commitment fee rate with respect to the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments may be higher or lower than the Revolving Credit Commitment Fee Rate for the Specified Existing Revolving Credit Commitment; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.14(g) or otherwise, (1) the borrowing and repayment (other than in connection with a permanent repayment and termination of commitments) of Loans with respect to any Original Revolving Credit Commitments shall be made on a pro rata basis with all other Original Revolving Credit Commitments and Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and (2) assignments and participations of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and Extended Revolving Credit Loans shall be governed by the same assignment and participation provisions applicable to Revolving Credit Commitments and the Revolving Credit Loans related to such Commitments set forth in Section 13.6. No Lender shall have any obligation to agree to have any of its Revolving Credit Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments of any Existing Revolving Credit Class converted into Extended Revolving Credit Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to any Extension Request. Any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments of any Extension Series shall constitute a separate Class of revolving credit commitments from the Specified Existing Revolving Credit Commitments and from any other Existing Revolving Credit Commitments (together with any other Extended Revolving Credit Commitments so established on such date).

(iii) Any Lender (an “Extending Lender”) wishing to have all or a portion of its Term Loans, Revolving Credit Commitments, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment or Extended Revolving Credit Commitment of the Existing Class or Existing Classes subject to such Extension Request converted into Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, shall notify the Administrative Agent (an “Extension Election”) on or prior to the date specified in such Extension Request of the amount of its Term Loans, Revolving Credit Commitments, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment or Extended Revolving Credit Commitment of the Existing Class or Existing Classes subject to such Extension Request that it has elected to convert into Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable. In the event that the aggregate amount of Term Loans, Revolving Credit Commitments, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment or Extended Revolving Credit Commitment of the Existing Class or Existing Classes subject to Extension Elections exceeds the amount of Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, requested pursuant to the Extension Request, Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments of the Existing Class or Existing Classes subject to Extension Elections shall be converted to Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, on a pro rata basis based on the amount of Term Loans, Revolving Credit Commitments, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment or Extended Revolving Credit Commitment included in each such Extension Election. Notwithstanding the conversion of any Existing Revolving Credit Commitment into an Extended Revolving Credit Commitment, such Extended Revolving Credit Commitment shall be treated identically to all other Original Revolving Credit Commitments for purposes of the obligations of a Revolving Credit Lender in respect of Letters of Credit under Section 3, except that the applicable Extension Amendment may provide that the L/C Facility Maturity Date may be extended and the related obligations to issue Letters of Credit may be continued so long as the Letter of Credit Issuer, as applicable, has consented to such extensions in their sole discretion (it being understood that no consent of any other Lender shall be required in connection with any such extension).

(iv) Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, shall be established pursuant to an amendment (an “Extension Amendment”) to this Agreement (which, except to the extent expressly contemplated by the penultimate sentence of this Section 2.14(g)(iv) and notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 13.1, shall not require the consent of any Lender other than the Extending Lenders with respect to the Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, established thereby) executed by the Credit Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Extending Lenders. No Extension Amendment shall provide for any tranche of Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments in an aggregate principal amount that is less than $5,000,000.

 

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In addition to any terms and changes required or permitted by Section 2.14(g)(i), each Extension Amendment (x) shall amend the scheduled amortization payments pursuant to the applicable Incremental Term Loan Amendment with respect to the Existing Term Loan Class from which the Extended Term Loans were converted to reduce each scheduled Repayment Amount for the Existing Term Loan Class in the same proportion as the amount of Term Loans of the Existing Term Loan Class is to be converted pursuant to such Extension Amendment (it being understood that the amount of any Repayment Amount payable with respect to any individual Term Loan of such Existing Term Loan Class that is not an Extended Term Loan shall not be reduced as a result thereof) and (y) may, but shall not be required to, impose additional requirements (not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement in effect at such time) with respect to the final maturity and weighted average life to maturity of Incremental Term Loans incurred following the date of such Extension Amendment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.14(g) and without limiting the generality or applicability of Section 13.1 to any Section 2.14 Additional Amendments, any Extension Amendment may provide for additional terms and/or additional amendments other than those referred to or contemplated above (any such additional amendment, a “Section 2.14 Additional Amendment”) to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents; provided that such Section 2.14 Additional Amendments are within the requirements of Section 2.14(g)(i) and do not become effective prior to the time that such Section 2.14 Additional Amendments have been consented to (including, without limitation, pursuant to (1) consents applicable to holders of Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments provided for in any Joinder Agreement or Incremental Term Loan Amendment, as applicable and (2) consents applicable to holders of any Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments provided for in any Extension Amendment) by such of the Lenders, Credit Parties and other parties (if any) as may be required in order for such Section 2.14 Additional Amendments to become effective in accordance with Section 13.1.

(v) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, (A) on any date on which any Existing Class is converted to extend the related scheduled maturity date(s) in accordance with clauses (i) and/or (ii) above (an “Extension Date”), (I) in the case of the existing Term Loans of each Extending Lender, the aggregate principal amount of such existing Term Loans shall be deemed reduced by an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Extended Term Loans so converted by such Lender on such date, and the Extended Term Loans shall be established as a separate Class of Term Loans (together with any other Extended Term Loans so established on such date), and (II) in the case of the Specified Existing Revolving Credit Commitments of each Extending Lender, the aggregate principal amount of such Specified Existing Revolving Credit Commitments shall be deemed reduced by an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments so converted by such Lender on such date, and such Extended Revolving Credit Commitments shall be established as a separate Class of revolving credit commitments from the Specified Existing Revolving Credit Commitments and from any other Existing Revolving Credit Commitments (together with any other Extended Revolving Credit Commitments so established on such date) and (B) if, on any Extension Date, any Loans of any Extending Lender are outstanding under the applicable Specified Existing Revolving Credit Commitments, such Loans (and any related participations) shall be deemed to be allocated as Extended Revolving Credit Loans (and related participations) and Existing Revolving Credit Loans (and related participations) in the same proportion as such Extending Lender’s Specified Existing Revolving Credit Commitments to Extended Revolving Credit Commitments.

(vi) The Administrative Agent and the Lenders (other than the Letter of Credit Issuer to the extent such consent is expressly required by this Section 2.14) hereby consent to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.14 (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 such terms as may be set forth in the relevant Extension Amendment) and hereby waive the requirements of any provision of this Agreement (including, without limitation, any pro rata payment or amendment section) or any other Credit Document that may otherwise prohibit or restrict any such extension or any other transaction contemplated by this Section 2.14.

2.15 Permitted Debt Exchanges.

 

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(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, pursuant to one or more offers (each, a “Permitted Debt Exchange Offer”) made from time to time by the Borrower, the Borrower may from time to time following the Closing Date consummate one or more exchanges of Term Loans for Permitted Other Indebtedness in the form of notes (such notes, “Permitted Debt Exchange Notes,” and each such exchange a “Permitted Debt Exchange”), so long as the following conditions are satisfied: (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time the final offering document in respect of a Permitted Debt Exchange Offer is delivered to the relevant Lenders, (ii) the aggregate principal amount (calculated on the face amount thereof) of Term Loans exchanged shall equal no more than the aggregate principal amount (calculated on the face amount thereof) of Permitted Debt Exchange Notes issued in exchange for such Term Loans; provided that the aggregate principal amount of the Permitted Debt Exchange Notes may include accrued interest and premium (if any) under the Term Loans exchanged and underwriting discounts, fees, commissions and expenses in connection with the issuance of such Permitted Debt Exchange Notes, (iii) the aggregate principal amount (calculated on the face amount thereof) of all Term Loans exchanged under each applicable Class by the Borrower pursuant to any Permitted Debt Exchange shall automatically be cancelled and retired by the Borrower on the 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 Acceptance, 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 Debt Exchange to the Borrower for immediate cancellation), (iv) if the aggregate principal amount of all Term Loans of a given Class (calculated on the face amount thereof) tendered by Lenders in respect of the relevant Permitted Debt 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 Debt Exchange Offer, then the Borrower shall exchange Term Loans subject to such Permitted Debt Exchange Offer tendered by such Lenders ratably up to such maximum amount based on the respective principal amounts so tendered, (v) all documentation in respect of such Permitted Debt 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 Auction Agent, and (vi) any applicable Minimum Tender Condition shall be satisfied.

(b) With respect to all Permitted Debt Exchanges effected by any of the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.15, (i) such Permitted Debt Exchanges (and the cancellation of the exchanged Term Loans in connection therewith) shall not constitute voluntary or mandatory payments or prepayments for purposes of Section 5.1 or 5.2, and (ii) such Permitted Debt Exchange Offer shall be made for not less than $5,000,000 in an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans; provided that subject to the foregoing clause (ii) the Borrower may at its election specify as a condition (a “Minimum Tender Condition”) to consummating any such Permitted Debt Exchange that a minimum amount (to be determined and specified in the relevant Permitted Debt Exchange Offer in the Borrower’s discretion) of Term Loans of any or all applicable Classes be tendered.

(c) In connection with each Permitted Debt Exchange, the Borrower and the Auction Agent shall mutually agree to such procedures as may be necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Section 2.15 and without conflict with Section 2.15(d); provided that the terms of any Permitted Debt Exchange Offer shall provide that the date by which the relevant Lenders are required to indicate their election to participate in such Permitted Debt Exchange shall be not less than a reasonable period (in the discretion of the Borrower and the Auction Agent) of time following the date on which the Permitted Debt Exchange Offer is made.

(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 Debt Exchange, it being understood and agreed that (x) none of the Auction Agent, the Administrative Agent nor any Lender assumes any responsibility in connection with the Borrower’s compliance with such laws in connection with any Permitted Debt Exchange and (y) 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

2.16 Defaulting Lenders.

(a) Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable law:

(i) Waivers and Amendments. Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of “Required Lenders” and Section 13.1.

 

 

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(ii) Defaulting Lender Waterfall. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Section 11 or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 13.8 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Letter of Credit Issuer hereunder; third, to Cash Collateralize the Letter of Credit Issuer’s Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 3.8; fourth, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the Letter of Credit Issuer’s future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 3.8; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower, the Lenders, the Letter of Credit Issuer as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower, any Lender, the Letter of Credit Issuer against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and seventh, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or L/C Borrowings in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 7 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C Obligations owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Obligations owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in L/C Obligations are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv). Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.16(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(iii) Certain Fees.

(A) No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any fee payable under Section 4 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).

(B) Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive Letter of Credit Fees for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its applicable percentage of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 3.8.

(C) With respect to any Letter of Credit Fee not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (A) or (B) above, the Borrower shall (x) pay to each Non-Defaulting Lender that portion of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (iv) below, (y) pay to the Letter of Credit Issuer the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such Letter of Credit’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (z) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.

(iv) Reallocation of Applicable Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure. All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) but only to the extent that such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Commitment. Subject to Section 14, no reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

 

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(v) Cash Collateral. If the reallocation described in clause (a)(iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to them hereunder or under applicable law, Cash Collateralize the Letter of Credit Issuers’ Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.8.

(b) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, and the Letter of Credit Issuer agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Revolving Credit Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages (without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv)), whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

Section 3. Letters of Credit

3.1 Letters of Credit.

(a) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth, at any time and from time to time after the Closing Date and prior to the L/C Facility Maturity Date, the Letter of Credit Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Revolving Credit Lenders set forth in this Section 3, to issue from time to time from the Closing Date through the L/C Facility Maturity Date for the account of the Borrower (or, so long as the Borrower is the primary obligor, for the account of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Borrower)) letters of credit (the “Letters of Credit” and each, a “Letter of Credit”) in such form as may be approved by the Letter of Credit Issuer in its reasonable discretion. On the Closing Date, (i) each Existing Letter of Credit shall be automatically and without further action by the parties thereto converted to Letters of Credit issued pursuant to this Section 3 for the account of the Borrower and subject to the provisions hereof, and for this purpose the fees specified in Section 4.1(b) shall be payable (in substitution for any fees set forth in the applicable letter of credit reimbursement agreements or applications relating to such Existing Letters of Credit) as if such Existing Letters of Credit had been issued on the Closing Date, (ii) the issuing banks of such Existing Letters of Credit shall be “Letter of Credit Issuers” hereunder for the purpose of maintaining such Existing Letters of Credit, for purposes of Section 5.4 relating to the obligation to provide the appropriate forms, certificates and statements to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and any updates required by Section 5.4 and for purposes of Section 13.6(b)(iv) relating to the entries to be made in the Register and (iii) all liabilities of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to such Existing Letters of Credit shall constitute Obligations.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) no Letter of Credit shall be issued the Stated Amount of which, when added to the Letters of Credit Outstanding at such time, would exceed the Letter of Credit Commitment then in effect (or with respect to any Letter of Credit Issuer, exceed such Letter of Credit Issuer’s Letter of Credit Commitment); (ii) no Letter of Credit shall be issued the Stated Amount of which would cause (A) the aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Credit Exposures at the time of the issuance thereof to exceed the Total Revolving Credit Commitment then in effect or (B) the aggregate amount of any Revolving Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure at the time of issuance thereof to exceed such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment); (iii) each Letter of Credit shall have an expiration date occurring no later than one year after the date of issuance thereof (except as set forth in Section 3.2(d)), provided that in no event shall such expiration date occur later than the L/C Facility Maturity Date, in each case, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Administrative Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer and, unless such Letter of Credit has been Cash Collateralized or backstopped (in the case of a backstop only, on terms reasonably satisfactory to such Letter of Credit Issuer), the Revolving Credit Lenders; (iv) the Letter of Credit shall be denominated in Dollars or any Alternate Currency; (v) no Letter of Credit shall be issued if it would be illegal under any applicable law for the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit to have a Letter of Credit issued in its favor; and (vi) no Letter of Credit shall be issued by the Letter of Credit Issuer after it has received a written notice from any Credit Party or the Administrative Agent or the Required Revolving Credit Lenders stating that a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing until such time as the Letter of Credit Issuer shall have received a written notice of (x) rescission of such notice from the party or parties originally delivering such notice or (y) the waiver of such Default or Event of Default in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.1.

 

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(c) Upon at least two Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and the Letter of Credit Issuer (which notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to each of the Lenders), the Borrower shall have the right, on any day, permanently to terminate or reduce the Letter of Credit Commitment in whole or in part; provided that, after giving effect to such termination or reduction, the Letters of Credit Outstanding shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Commitment (or with respect to a Letter of Credit Issuer, the Letters of Credit outstanding with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Letter of Credit Issuer shall not exceed such Letter of Credit Issuer’s Letter of Credit Commitment).

(d) The Letter of Credit Issuer shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

(i) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms enjoin or restrain the Letter of Credit Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any law applicable to the Letter of Credit Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the Letter of Credit Issuer shall prohibit, or request that the Letter of Credit Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the Letter of Credit Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (in each case, for which the Letter of Credit Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon the Letter of Credit Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which the Letter of Credit Issuer in good faith deems material to it;

(ii) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the Letter of Credit Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;

(iii) except as otherwise agreed by the Letter of Credit Issuer, such Letter of Credit is in an initial Stated Amount less than $50,000, in the case of a commercial Letter of Credit, or $10,000, in the case of a standby Letter of Credit;

(iv) such Letter of Credit is denominated in a currency other than Dollars or any Alternate Currency; provided that no Letter of Credit Issuer shall be obligated to issue an Alternate Currency Letter of Credit if such Letter of Credit Issuer does not otherwise issue letters of credit in such Alternate Currency;

(v) such Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of the Stated Amount after any drawing thereunder; or

(vi) a default of any Revolving Credit Lender’s obligations to fund under Section 3.3 exists or any Revolving Credit Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender hereunder, unless, in each case, the Borrower has entered into arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Letter of Credit Issuer to eliminate the Letter of Credit Issuer’s risk with respect to such Revolving Credit Lender or such risk has been reallocated in accordance with Section 2.16.

(e) The Letter of Credit Issuer shall not increase the Stated Amount of any Letter of Credit if the Letter of Credit Issuer would not be permitted at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof.

(f) The Letter of Credit Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) the Letter of Credit 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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(g) The Letter of Credit Issuer shall act on behalf of the Revolving Credit Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith and the Letter of Credit Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Section 13 with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the Letter of Credit Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Section 13 included the Letter of Credit Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to the Letter of Credit Issuer.

3.2 Letter of Credit Requests.

(a) Whenever the Borrower desires that a Letter of Credit be issued for its account or amended, the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent and the Letter of Credit Issuer a Letter of Credit Request by no later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) at least four Business Days (or such other period as may be agreed upon by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Letter of Credit Issuer) prior to the proposed date of issuance or amendment. Each Letter of Credit Request shall be executed by the Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Request may be sent by facsimile, by United States mail, by overnight courier, by electronic transmission using the system provided by the Letter of Credit Issuer, by personal delivery or by any other means acceptable to the Letter of Credit Issuer.

(b) In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Request shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Letter of Credit Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the Stated Amount thereof in Dollars or an Alternate Currency; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (G) the identity of the applicant; and (H) such other matters as the Letter of Credit Issuer may reasonably require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Request shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Letter of Credit Issuer (I) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (II) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (III) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (IV) such other matters as the Letter of Credit Issuer may reasonably require. Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to the Letter of Credit Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as the Letter of Credit Issuer or the Administrative Agent may reasonably require.

(c) Unless the Letter of Credit Issuer has received written notice from any Revolving Credit Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Credit Party, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Sections 6 (solely with respect to any Letter of Credit issued on the Closing Date) and 7 shall not then be satisfied to the extent required thereby, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Letter of Credit Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower (or, so long as the Borrower is the primary obligor, for the account of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary) or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with the Letter of Credit Issuer’s usual and customary business practices.

(d) If the Borrower so requests in any Letter of Credit Request, the Letter of Credit 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 Letter of Credit 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 and the Borrower 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 Letter of Credit Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the Letter of Credit Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the Letter of Credit Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the L/C Facility Maturity Date, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the Letter of Credit Issuer; provided, however, that the Letter of Credit Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the Letter of Credit Issuer has reasonably determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (b) of Section 3.1 or otherwise), or (B) it has received written notice on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Sections 6 and 7 are not then satisfied, and in each such case directing the Letter of Credit Issuer not to permit such extension.

 

 

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(e) 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 Letter of Credit Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment. On the first Business Day of each month, the Letter of Credit Issuer shall provide the Administrative Agent a list of all Letters of Credit issued by it that are outstanding at such time.

(f) The making of each Letter of Credit Request shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Borrower that the Letter of Credit may be issued in accordance with, and will not violate the requirements of, Section 3.1(b).

3.3 Letter of Credit Participations.

(a) Immediately upon the issuance by the Letter of Credit Issuer of any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Issuer shall be deemed to have sold and transferred to each Revolving Credit Lender (each such Revolving Credit Lender, in its capacity under this Section 3.3, an “L/C Participant”), and each such L/C Participant shall be deemed irrevocably and unconditionally to have purchased and received from the Letter of Credit Issuer, without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation (each an “L/C Participation”), to the extent of such L/C Participant’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage in each Letter of Credit (calculated, in the case of Alternate Currency Letters of Credit, based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof), each substitute therefor, each drawing made thereunder and the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement with respect thereto, and any security therefor or guaranty pertaining thereto; provided that the Letter of Credit Fees will be paid directly to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the L/C Participants as provided in Section 4.1(b) and the L/C Participants shall have no right to receive any portion of any Fronting Fees.

(b) In determining whether to pay under any Letter of Credit, the relevant Letter of Credit Issuer shall have no obligation relative to the L/C Participants other than to confirm that any documents required to be delivered under such Letter of Credit have been delivered and that they appear to comply on their face with the requirements of such Letter of Credit. Any action taken or omitted to be taken by the relevant Letter of Credit Issuer under or in connection with any Letter of Credit issued by it, if taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined in the final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, shall not create for the Letter of Credit Issuer any resulting liability.

(c) In the event that the Letter of Credit Issuer makes any payment under any Letter of Credit issued by it and the Borrower shall not have repaid such amount in full to the respective Letter of Credit Issuer through the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 3.4(a), the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each L/C Participant of such failure, and each L/C Participant shall promptly and unconditionally pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Letter of Credit Issuer, the amount of such L/C Participant’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of such unreimbursed payment in Dollars (or, in the case of an Alternate Currency Letter of Credit, the Dollar Equivalent thereof) and in immediately available funds. If and to the extent such L/C Participant shall not have so made its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the amount of such payment available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Letter of Credit Issuer, such L/C Participant agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Letter of Credit Issuer, forthwith on demand, such amount, together with interest thereon for each day from such date until the date such amount is paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Letter of Credit Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the Overnight Bank Funding Rate from time to time then in effect, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees that are reasonably and customarily charged by the Letter of Credit Issuer in connection with the foregoing. The failure of any L/C Participant to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Letter of Credit Issuer its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of any payment under any Letter of Credit shall not relieve any other L/C Participant of its obligation hereunder to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Letter of Credit Issuer its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of any payment under such Letter of Credit on the date required, as specified above, but no L/C Participant shall be responsible for the failure of any other L/C Participant to make available to the Administrative Agent such other L/C Participant’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of any such payment.

 

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(d) Whenever the Administrative Agent receives a payment in respect of an unpaid Reimbursement Obligation as to which the Administrative Agent has received for the account of the Letter of Credit Issuer any payments from the L/C Participants pursuant to clause (c) above, the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to each L/C Participant that has paid its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of such Reimbursement Obligation, in Dollars and in immediately available funds, an amount equal to such L/C Participant’s share (based upon the proportionate aggregate amount originally funded by such L/C Participant to the aggregate amount funded by all L/C Participants) of the amount so paid in respect of such Reimbursement Obligation and interest thereon accruing after the purchase of the respective L/C Participations at the Overnight Bank Funding Rate.

(e) The obligations of the L/C Participants to make payments to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Letter of Credit Issuer with respect to Letters of Credit shall be irrevocable and not subject to counterclaim, set-off or other defense or any other qualification or exception whatsoever and shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement under all circumstances.

(f) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the Letter of Credit Issuer pursuant to Section 3.3(c) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 13.20 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Letter of Credit Issuer in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Letter of Credit Issuer its Revolving Credit Commitment 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 applicable Overnight Bank Funding Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

3.4 Agreement to Repay Letter of Credit Drawings.

(a) The Borrower hereby agrees to reimburse the Letter of Credit Issuer, by making payment with respect to any drawing under any Letter of Credit in the same currency in which such drawing was made unless the Letter of Credit Issuer (at its option) shall have specified in the notice of drawing that it will require reimbursement in Dollars. Any such reimbursement shall be made by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds for any payment or disbursement made by the Letter of Credit Issuer under any Letter of Credit (each such amount so paid until reimbursed, an “Unpaid Drawing”) no later than the date that is one Business Day after the date on which the Borrower receives written notice of such payment or disbursement (the “Reimbursement Date”), with interest on the amount so paid or disbursed by the Letter of Credit Issuer, to the extent not reimbursed prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Reimbursement Date, from the Reimbursement Date to the date the Letter of Credit Issuer is reimbursed therefor at a rate per annum that shall at all times be (i) with respect to a Letter of Credit denominated in Dollars, the Applicable Margin for ABR Loans that are Revolving Credit Loans plus the ABR as in effect from time to time, (ii) with respect to a Letter of Credit denominated in Pounds Sterling, the Applicable Margin for RFR Loans that are Revolving Credit Loans plus the Daily Simple RFR as in effect from time to time and (iii) with respect to a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternate Currency (other than Pounds Sterling), the Applicable Margin for Eurocurrency Loans that are Revolving Credit Loans plus the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate as in effect from time to time; provided that, notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, (i) unless the Borrower shall have notified the Administrative Agent and the relevant Letter of Credit Issuer prior to 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Reimbursement Date that the Borrower intends to reimburse the relevant Letter of Credit Issuer for the amount of such drawing with funds other than the proceeds of Loans, the Borrower shall be deemed to have given a Notice of Borrowing requesting that, with respect to Letters of Credit, the Revolving Credit Lenders make Revolving Credit Loans (which shall be denominated in Dollars and which shall be ABR Loans) on the Reimbursement Date in the amount of such drawing and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each L/C Participant of such drawing and the amount of its Revolving Credit Loan to be made in respect thereof, and each L/C Participant shall be irrevocably obligated to make a Revolving Credit Loan to the Borrower in Dollars in the manner deemed to have been requested in the amount of its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the applicable Unpaid Drawing by 3:00 p.m. (New York City time) on such Reimbursement Date by making the amount of such Revolving Credit Loan available to the Administrative Agent. Such Revolving Credit Loans shall be made without regard to the Minimum Borrowing Amount. The Administrative Agent shall use the proceeds of such Revolving Credit Loans solely for purpose of reimbursing the Letter of Credit Issuer for the related Unpaid Drawing.

 

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In the event that the Borrower fails to Cash Collateralize any Letter of Credit that is outstanding on the L/C Facility Maturity Date, the full amount of the Letters of Credit Outstanding in respect of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be an Unpaid Drawing subject to the provisions of this Section 3.4 except that the Letter of Credit Issuer shall hold the proceeds received from the L/C Participants as contemplated above as Cash Collateral for such Letter of Credit to reimburse any Unpaid Drawing under such Letter of Credit and shall use such proceeds first, to reimburse itself for any Unpaid Drawings made in respect of such Letter of Credit following the L/C Facility Maturity Date, second, to the extent such Letter of Credit expires or is returned undrawn while any such cash collateral remains, to the repayment of obligations in respect of any Revolving Credit Loans that have not been paid at such time and third, to the Borrower or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction. Nothing in this Section 3.4(a) shall affect the Borrower’s obligation to repay all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans when due in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(b) The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the Letter of Credit Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit 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 this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents;

(ii) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right that the Borrower may have at any time against a beneficiary named in a Letter of Credit, any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such transferee may be acting), the Administrative Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer, any Lender or other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, the transactions contemplated herein or any unrelated transactions (including any underlying transaction between the Borrower and the beneficiary named in any such Letter of Credit);

(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) waiver by the Letter of Credit Issuer of any requirement that exists for the Letter of Credit Issuer’s protection and not the protection of the Borrower (or Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary) or any waiver by the Letter of Credit Issuer which does not in fact materially prejudice the Borrower (or Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary);

(v) any payment made by the Letter of Credit Issuer in respect of an otherwise complying item presented after the date specified as the expiration date of, or the date by which documents must be received under, such Letter of Credit if presentation after such date is authorized by the UCC, the ISP or the UCP, as applicable;

(vi) any payment by the Letter of Credit Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the Letter of Credit 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 the Bankruptcy Code;

(vii) honor of a demand for payment presented electronically even if such Letter of Credit requires that demand be in the form of a draft;

(viii) any adverse change in any relevant exchange rates or in the relevant currency markets generally; or

(ix) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower (or Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary) (other than the defense of payment or performance).

 

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(c) The Borrower shall not be obligated to reimburse the Letter of Credit Issuer for any wrongful payment made by the Letter of Credit Issuer under the Letter of Credit issued by it as a result of acts or omissions constituting willful misconduct or gross negligence on the part of the Letter of Credit Issuer as determined in the final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

3.5 Increased Costs. If after the Closing Date, the adoption of any applicable law, treaty, rule, or regulation, or any change therein, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or actual compliance by the Letter of Credit Issuer or any L/C Participant with any request or directive made or adopted after the Closing Date (whether or not having the force of law), by any such authority, central bank or comparable agency shall either (x) impose, modify or make applicable any reserve, deposit, capital adequacy or similar requirement against letters of credit issued by the Letter of Credit Issuer, or any L/C Participant’s L/C Participation therein, or (y) impose on the Letter of Credit Issuer or any L/C Participant any other conditions or costs affecting its obligations under this Agreement in respect of Letters of Credit or L/C Participations therein or any Letter of Credit or such L/C Participant’s L/C Participation therein, and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the actual cost to the Letter of Credit Issuer or such L/C Participant of issuing, maintaining or participating in any Letter of Credit, or to reduce the actual amount of any sum received or receivable by the Letter of Credit Issuer or such L/C Participant hereunder (including any increased costs or reductions attributable to Taxes, other than any increase or reduction attributable to Indemnified Taxes, Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes) in respect of Letters of Credit or L/C Participations therein, then, promptly after receipt of written demand to the Borrower by the Letter of Credit Issuer or such L/C Participant, as the case may be (a copy of which notice shall be sent by the Letter of Credit Issuer or such L/C Participant to the Administrative Agent (with respect to a Letter of Credit issued on account of the Borrower (or Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary))), the Borrower shall pay to the Letter of Credit Issuer or such L/C Participant such actual additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Letter of Credit Issuer or such L/C Participant for such increased cost or reduction, it being understood and agreed, however, that the Letter of Credit Issuer or an L/C Participant shall not be entitled to such compensation as a result of such Person’s compliance with, or pursuant to any request or directive to comply with, any such law, rule or regulation as in effect on the Closing Date. A certificate submitted to the Borrower by the relevant Letter of Credit Issuer or an L/C Participant, as the case may be (a copy of which certificate shall be sent by the Letter of Credit Issuer or such L/C Participant to the Administrative Agent), setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for the determination of such actual additional amount or amounts necessary to compensate the Letter of Credit Issuer or such L/C Participant as aforesaid shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower absent clearly demonstrable error.

3.6 New or Successor Letter of Credit Issuer.

(a) The Letter of Credit Issuer may resign as the Letter of Credit Issuer upon 60 days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, Holdings and the Borrower. The Borrower may replace the Letter of Credit Issuer for any reason upon written notice to the Administrative Agent and the Letter of Credit Issuer. The Borrower may add Letter of Credit Issuers at any time upon notice to the Administrative Agent. If the Letter of Credit Issuer shall resign or be replaced, or if the Borrower shall decide to add a new Letter of Credit Issuer under this Agreement, then the Borrower may appoint from among the Lenders a successor issuer of Letters of Credit or a new Letter of Credit Issuer, as the case may be, or, with the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), another successor or new issuer of Letters of Credit, whereupon such successor issuer accepting such appointment shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of the replaced or resigning Letter of Credit Issuer under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, or such new issuer of Letters of Credit accepting such appointment shall be granted the rights, powers and duties of the Letter of Credit Issuer hereunder, and the term Letter of Credit Issuer shall mean such successor or such new issuer of Letters of Credit effective upon such appointment. At the time such resignation or replacement shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay to the resigning or replaced Letter of Credit Issuer all accrued and unpaid fees applicable to the Letters of Credit pursuant to Sections 4.1(b) and 4.1(d). The acceptance of any appointment as the Letter of Credit Issuer hereunder whether as a successor issuer or new issuer of Letters of Credit in accordance with this Agreement, shall be evidenced by an agreement entered into by such new or successor issuer of Letters of Credit, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and, from and after the effective date of such agreement, such new or successor issuer of Letters of Credit shall become the Letter of Credit Issuer hereunder. After the resignation or replacement of the Letter of Credit Issuer hereunder, the resigning or replaced Letter of Credit Issuer shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of the Letter of Credit Issuer under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such resignation or replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.

 

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In connection with any resignation or replacement pursuant to this clause (a) (but, in case of any such resignation, only to the extent that a successor issuer of Letters of Credit shall have been appointed), either (i) the Borrower, the resigning or replaced Letter of Credit Issuer and the successor issuer of Letters of Credit shall arrange to have any outstanding Letters of Credit issued by the resigning or replaced Letter of Credit Issuer replaced with Letters of Credit issued by the successor issuer of Letters of Credit or (ii) the Borrower shall cause the successor issuer of Letters of Credit, if such successor issuer is reasonably satisfactory to the replaced or resigning Letter of Credit Issuer, to issue “back-stop” Letters of Credit naming the resigning or replaced Letter of Credit Issuer as beneficiary for each outstanding Letter of Credit issued by the resigning or replaced Letter of Credit Issuer, which new Letters of Credit shall be denominated in the same currency as, and shall have a face amount equal to, the Letters of Credit being back-stopped and the sole requirement for drawing on such new Letters of Credit shall be a drawing on the corresponding back-stopped Letters of Credit. After any resigning or replaced Letter of Credit Issuer’s resignation or replacement as Letter of Credit Issuer, the provisions of this Agreement relating to the Letter of Credit Issuer shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it (A) while it was the Letter of Credit Issuer under this Agreement or (B) at any time with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Letter of Credit Issuer.

(b) To the extent there are, at the time of any resignation or replacement as set forth in clause (a) above, any outstanding Letters of Credit, nothing herein shall be deemed to impact or impair any rights and obligations of any of the parties hereto with respect to such outstanding Letters of Credit (including, without limitation, any obligations related to the payment of Fees or the reimbursement or funding of amounts drawn), except that the Borrower, the resigning or replaced Letter of Credit Issuer and the successor issuer of Letters of Credit shall have the obligations regarding outstanding Letters of Credit described in clause (a) above.

3.7 Role of Letter of Credit Issuer. Each Lender and the Borrower agrees that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the Letter of Credit Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Affiliates nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the Letter of Credit 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 Revolving Credit Lenders; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined in the final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document. 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 pursuit of such rights and remedies as they may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the Letter of Credit Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Affiliates nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the Letter of Credit Issuer shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in Section 3.3(b); provided that anything in such Section to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against the Letter of Credit Issuer, and the Letter of Credit 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 which the Borrower proves were caused by the Letter of Credit Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or the Letter of Credit Issuer’s willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit in each case as determined in the final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the Letter of Credit 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 the Letter of Credit Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.

The Letter of Credit Issuer may send a Letter of Credit or conduct any communication to or from the beneficiary via the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication message or overnight courier, or any other commercially reasonable means of communicating with a beneficiary.

 

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3.8 Cash Collateral.

(a) Certain Credit Support Events. Upon the written request of the Administrative Agent or the Letter of Credit Issuer, if (i) as of the L/C Facility Maturity Date, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, (ii) the Borrower shall be required to provide Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 11.13, or (iii) the provisions of Section 2.16(a)(v) are in effect, the Borrower shall immediately (in the case of clause (ii) above) or within one Business Day (in all other cases) following any written request by the Administrative Agent or the Letter of Credit Issuer, provide Cash Collateral in an amount not less than the applicable Minimum Collateral Amount (determined in the case of Cash Collateral provided pursuant to clause (iii) above, after giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).

(b) Grant of Security Interest. The Borrower, and to the extent provided by any Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender, hereby grants to (and subject to the control of) the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer and the Lenders, and agree to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein as described in Section 3.8(a), and all other property so provided as collateral pursuant hereto, and in all proceeds of the foregoing, all as security for the obligations to which such Cash Collateral may be applied pursuant to Section 3.8(c). If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent or the Letter of Credit Issuer as herein provided, other than Permitted Liens, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the Minimum Collateral Amount (including, without limitation, as a result of exchange rate fluctuations), the Borrower will, promptly upon written demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency. Cash Collateral shall be maintained in blocked, interest bearing deposit accounts with the Administrative Agent. The Borrower shall pay on demand therefor from time to time all customary account opening, activity and other administrative fees and charges in connection with the maintenance and disbursement of Cash Collateral.

(c) Application. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under any of this Section 3.8 or Sections 2.16, 5.2, or 11.13 in respect of Letters of Credit shall be held and applied to the satisfaction of the specific L/C Obligations, obligations to fund participations therein (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) and other obligations for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may otherwise be provided for herein.

(d) Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce Fronting Exposure or to secure other obligations shall be released promptly following (i) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure or other obligations giving rise thereto (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender (or, as appropriate, its assignee following compliance with Section 13.6(b)(ii)) or there is no longer existing an Event of Default) or (ii) the determination by the Administrative Agent and the Letter of Credit Issuer that there exists excess Cash Collateral.

3.9 Applicability of ISP and UCP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the Letter of Credit Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued, (i) the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit, and (ii) the rules of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, as most recently published by the International Chamber of Commerce at the time of issuance, shall apply to each commercial Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Letter of Credit Issuer shall not be responsible to the Borrower for, and the Letter of Credit Issuer’s rights and remedies against the Borrower shall not be impaired by, any action or inaction of the Letter of Credit 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 applicable law or any order of a jurisdiction where the Letter of Credit 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—International Financial Services Association (BAFT-IFSA), or the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, whether or not any Letter of Credit chooses such law or practice.

3.10 Conflict with Issuer Documents. In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control and any grant of security interest in any Issuer Documents shall be void.

 

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3.11 Letters of Credit Issued for Restricted Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the Letter of Credit Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary inures to the benefit of the Borrower and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

3.12 Provisions Related to Extended Revolving Credit Commitments. If the Letter of Credit Expiration Date in respect of any tranche of Revolving Credit Commitments occurs prior to the expiry date of any Letter of Credit, then (i) if consented to by the Letter of Credit Issuer which issued such Letter of Credit, if one or more other tranches of Revolving Credit Commitments in respect of which the Letter of Credit Expiration Date shall not have so occurred are then in effect, such Letters of Credit for which consent has been obtained shall automatically be deemed to have been issued (including for purposes of the obligations of the Revolving Credit Lenders to purchase participations therein and to make Revolving Credit Loans and payments in respect thereof pursuant to Sections 3.3 and 3.4) under (and ratably participated in by Lenders pursuant to) the Revolving Credit Commitments in respect of such non-terminating tranches up to an aggregate amount not to exceed the aggregate amount of the unutilized Revolving Credit Commitments thereunder at such time (it being understood that no partial face amount of any Letter of Credit may be so reallocated) and (ii) to the extent not reallocated pursuant to immediately preceding clause (i), the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize any such Letter of Credit in accordance with Section 3.8. Upon the maturity date of any tranche of Revolving Credit Commitments, the sublimit for Letters of Credit may be reduced as agreed between the Letter of Credit Issuer and the Borrower, without the consent of any other Person.

Section 4. Fees

4.1 Fees.

(a) Without duplication, the Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent in Dollars, for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender (in each case pro rata according to the respective Revolving Credit Commitments of all such Lenders), a commitment fee (the “Revolving Credit Commitment Fee”) for each day from the Closing Date to the Revolving Credit Termination Date. Each Revolving Credit Commitment Fee shall be payable (x) quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower (for the quarterly period (or portion thereof) ended on such day for which no payment has been received) and (y) on the Revolving Credit Termination Date (for the period ended on such date for which no payment has been received pursuant to clause (x) above), and shall be computed for each day during such period at the Revolving Credit Commitment Fee Rate on the Available Commitment in effect on such day.

(b) Without duplication, the Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent in Dollars for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders pro rata on the basis of their respective Letter of Credit Exposure, a fee in respect of each Letter of Credit issued on the Borrower’s or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries’ behalf (the “Letter of Credit Fee”), for the period from the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit to the termination date of such Letter of Credit computed at the per annum rate for each day equal to the Applicable Margin for Revolving Credit Loans that are Term SOFR Loans. Except as provided below, such Letter of Credit Fees shall be due and payable (x) quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower and (y) on the date upon which the Total Revolving Credit Commitment terminates and the Letters of Credit Outstanding shall have been reduced to zero.

(c) Without duplication, the Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent in Dollars, for its own account, administrative agent fees as have been previously agreed in writing or as may be agreed in writing from time to time.

(d) Without duplication, the Borrower agrees to pay to each Letter of Credit Issuer a fee in Dollars in respect of each Letter of Credit issued by it on the Borrower’s behalf (the “Fronting Fee”), for the period from the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit to the termination date of such Letter of Credit, computed at the rate for each day equal to 0.125% per annum on the average daily Stated Amount of such Letter of Credit (or at such other rate per annum as agreed in writing between the Borrower and the Letter of Credit Issuer). Such Fronting Fees shall be due and payable (x) quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and (y) on the date upon which the Total Revolving Credit Commitment terminates and the Letters of Credit Outstanding shall have been reduced to zero.

 

 

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(e) Without duplication, the Borrower agrees to pay directly to the Letter of Credit Issuer in Dollars upon each issuance or renewal of, drawing under, and/or amendment of, a Letter of Credit issued by it such amount as shall at the time of such issuance or renewal of, drawing under, and/or amendment be the processing charge that the Letter of Credit Issuer is customarily charging for issuances or renewals of, drawings under or amendments of, letters of credit issued by it.

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall not be obligated to pay any amounts to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to this Section 4.1.

4.2 Voluntary Reduction of Revolving Credit Commitments. Upon at least two Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office (which notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to each of the Lenders), the Borrower shall have the right, without premium or penalty, on any day, permanently to terminate or reduce the Revolving Credit Commitments in whole or in part; provided that (a) any such reduction shall apply proportionately and permanently to reduce the Revolving Credit Commitment of each of the Lenders of any applicable Class, except that (i) notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with the establishment on any date of any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to Section 2.14(g), the Revolving Credit Commitments of any one or more Lenders providing any such Extended Revolving Credit Commitments on such date shall be reduced in an amount equal to the amount of Revolving Credit Commitments so extended on such date (provided that (x) after giving effect to any such reduction and to the repayment of any Revolving Credit Loans made on such date, the Revolving Credit Exposure of any such Lender does not exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment thereof and (y) for the avoidance of doubt, any such repayment of Revolving Credit Loans contemplated by the preceding clause shall be made in compliance with the requirements of Section 5.3(a) with respect to the ratable allocation of payments hereunder, with such allocation being determined after giving effect to any conversion pursuant to Section 2.14(g) of Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Credit Loans into Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and Extended Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section 2.14(g) prior to any reduction being made to the Revolving Credit Commitment of any other Lender) and (ii) the Borrower may at its election permanently reduce the Revolving Credit Commitment of a Defaulting Lender to $0 without affecting the Revolving Credit Commitments of any other Lender, (b) any partial reduction pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall be in the amount of at least $5,000,000 or the Alternate Currency Equivalent, and (c) after giving effect to such termination or reduction and to any prepayments of the Loans made on the date thereof in accordance with this Agreement, the aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Credit Exposures shall not exceed the Total Revolving Credit Commitment and the aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Credit Exposures in respect of any Class shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment of such Class.

4.3 Mandatory Termination of Commitments.

(a) [Reserved].

(b) The Revolving Credit Commitment shall terminate at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date.

(c) [Reserved].

(d) The Incremental Term Loan Commitment shall, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Incremental Term Loan Amendment, terminate at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Increased Amount Date.

Section 5. Payments

5.1 Voluntary Prepayments.

 

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The Borrower shall have the right to prepay Loans, including Term Loans and Revolving Credit Loans, as applicable, in each case, without premium or penalty, in whole or in part from time to time on the following terms and conditions: (1) the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office written notice of its intent to make such prepayment, the amount of such prepayment and (in the case of Eurocurrency Loans, Term SOFR Loans and RFR Loans) the specific Borrowing(s) pursuant to which made, which notice shall be given by the Borrower no later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) (i) in the case of Eurocurrency Loans, Term SOFR Loans and RFR Loans, three Business Days prior to, or (ii) in the case of ABR Loans, one Business Day prior to, as the case may be; (2) each partial prepayment of (i) any Borrowing of Eurocurrency Loans, Term SOFR Loans and RFR Loans shall be in a minimum amount of $500,000 or the Alternate Currency Equivalent and in multiples of $100,000 or the Alternate Currency Equivalent in excess thereof and (ii) any ABR Loans shall be in a minimum amount of $500,000 and in multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof, provided that no partial prepayment of Eurocurrency Loans, Term SOFR Loans or RFR Loans made pursuant to a single Borrowing shall reduce the outstanding Eurocurrency Loans, Term SOFR Loans or RFR Loans made pursuant to such Borrowing to an amount less than the applicable Minimum Borrowing Amount for such Eurocurrency Loans, Term SOFR Loans or RFR Loans, and (3) in the case of any prepayment of Eurocurrency Loans, Term SOFR Loans or RFR Loans pursuant to this Section 5.1 on any day other than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrower shall, promptly after receipt of a written request by any applicable Lender (which request shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount), pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender any amounts required pursuant to Section 2.11. Each prepayment in respect of any Term Loans pursuant to this Section 5.1 shall be applied to the Class or Classes of Term Loans as the Borrower shall specify. Each prepayment in respect of any Term Loans pursuant to this Section 5.1 shall be (a) applied to the Class or Classes of Term Loans as the Borrower shall specify and (b) applied to reduce any Incremental Term Loan Repayment Amounts, and, subject to Section 2.14(g), Extended Term Loan Repayment Amounts, as the case may be, in each case, in such order and to such Classes as the Borrower may specify. At the Borrower’s election in connection with any prepayment pursuant to this Section 5.1, such prepayment shall not be applied to any Term Loan or Revolving Credit Loan of a Defaulting Lender.

5.2 Mandatory Prepayments.

(a) [Reserved].

(b) Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans. If on any date the aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Credit Exposures in respect of any Class of Revolving Loans for any reason exceeds 100% of the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Class then in effect, the Borrower shall forthwith repay on such date Revolving Loans of such Class in an amount equal to such excess. If after giving effect to the prepayment of all outstanding Revolving Loans of such Class, the Revolving Credit Exposures of such Class exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Class then in effect, the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize the Letters of Credit Outstanding in relation to such Class to the extent of such excess.

(c) Changes in Currency Exchange Rates. If as a result of changes in currency exchange rates, on any Revaluation Date, (x) the Letter of Credit Exposure exceeds the Letter of Credit Commitment or (y) the Stated Amount of Letters of Credit issued by a Letter of Credit Issuer exceeds such Letter of Credit Issuer’s Letter of Credit Commitment, the Borrower shall, at the request of the Administrative Agent or such Letter of Credit Issuer, within ten (10) days of such Revaluation Date (A) prepay Revolving Credit Loans or (B) Cash Collateralize the Letters of Credit Outstanding in relation to such Class to the extent of such excess.

(d) [Reserved].

(e) Application to Revolving Credit Loans. With respect to each prepayment of Revolving Credit Loans, the Borrower may designate (i) the Types of Loans that are to be prepaid and the specific Borrowing(s) pursuant to which made and (ii) the Revolving Loans to be prepaid, provided that (y) each prepayment of any Loans made pursuant to a Borrowing shall be applied pro rata among such Loans; and (z) notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding clause (y), no prepayment of Revolving Loans shall be applied to the Revolving Credit Loans of any Defaulting Lender unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Borrower. In the absence of a designation by the Borrower as described in the preceding sentence, the Administrative Agent shall, subject to the above, make such designation in its reasonable discretion with a view, but no obligation, to minimize breakage costs owing under Section 2.11.

 

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5.3 Method and Place of Payment.

(a) Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, all payments under this Agreement shall be made by the Borrower, without set-off, counterclaim or deduction of any kind, to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders entitled thereto or the Letter of Credit Issuer entitled thereto, as the case may be, not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time), in each case, on the date when due and shall be made in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office or at such other office as the Administrative Agent shall specify for such purpose by notice to the Borrower, it being understood that written or facsimile notice by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent to make a payment from the funds in the Borrower’s account at the Administrative Agent’s Office shall constitute the making of such payment to the extent of such funds held in such account. All repayments or prepayments of any Loans (whether of principal, interest or otherwise) hereunder shall be made in the currency in which such Loans are denominated and all other payments under each Credit Document shall, unless otherwise specified in such Credit Document, be made in Dollars (or, in the case of Alternate Currency Loans or Alternate Currency Letters of Credit, in the applicable Alternate Currency). The Administrative Agent will thereafter cause to be distributed on the same day (if payment was actually received by the Administrative Agent prior to 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) or, otherwise, on the next Business Day in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion) like funds relating to the payment of principal or interest or Fees ratably to the Lenders entitled thereto.

(b) Any payments under this Agreement that are made later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) may be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion for purposes of calculating interest thereon. Except as otherwise provided herein, whenever any payment to be made hereunder shall be stated to be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the due date thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day and, with respect to payments of principal, interest shall be payable during such extension at the applicable rate in effect immediately prior to such extension.

5.4 Net Payments.

(a) Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes.

(i) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall to the extent permitted by applicable laws be made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Taxes.

(ii) If any Credit Party, the Administrative Agent or any other applicable Withholding Agent shall be required by applicable law to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment, then (A) such Withholding Agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are reasonably determined by such Withholding Agent to be required by applicable law, (B) such Withholding Agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by the applicable Credit Party shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or deductions have been made (including withholding or deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 5.4) each Lender (or, in the case of a payment 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 withholding or deductions been made.

(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law or timely reimburse the Administrative Agent or any Lender for the payment of any Other Taxes.

(c) Tax Indemnifications. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) above, the Borrower shall jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 15 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 5.4) payable by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of any such payment or liability (along with a written statement setting forth in reasonable detail the basis and calculation of such amounts) delivered to the Borrower by a Lender, or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error. If the Borrower reasonably believes that any such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were not correctly or legally asserted, the Administrative Agent and/or each affected Lender will use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower in pursuing a refund of such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes so long as such efforts would not, in the sole determination of the Administrative Agent or affected Lender, result in any additional costs, expenses or risks or be otherwise disadvantageous to it.

 

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(d) Evidence of Payments. After any payment of Taxes by any Credit Party or the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 5.4, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

(e) Status of Lenders and Tax Documentation.

(i) Each Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable laws or by the taxing authorities of any jurisdiction and such other reasonably requested information as will permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, to determine (A) whether or not any payments made hereunder or under any other Credit Document are subject to Taxes, (B) if applicable, the required rate of withholding or deduction, and (C) such Lender’s entitlement to any available exemption from, or reduction of, applicable Taxes in respect of any payments to be made to such Lender by any Credit Party pursuant to any Credit Document or otherwise to establish such Lender’s status for withholding Tax purposes in the applicable jurisdiction. Any documentation and information required to be delivered by a Lender pursuant to this Section 5.4(e) (including any specific documentation set forth in subsection (ii) below) shall be delivered by such Lender (i) on or prior to the Closing Date (or on or prior to the date it becomes a party to this Agreement), (ii) on or before any date on which such documentation expires or becomes obsolete or invalid, (iii) after the occurrence of any change in the Lender’s circumstances requiring a change in the most recent documentation previously delivered by it to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (iv) from time to time thereafter if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, and each such Lender shall promptly notify in writing the Borrower and the Administrative Agent if such Lender is no longer legally eligible to provide any documentation previously provided.

(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

(A) any Lender that is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (a “U.S. Lender”) shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or such other documentation or information prescribed by applicable laws or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements;

(B) each Non-U.S. Lender that is entitled under the Code or any applicable treaty to an exemption from or reduction of U.S. federal withholding Tax with respect to any payments hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) whichever of the following is applicable:

(1) executed originals of the applicable Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 (or any successor form thereto) claiming eligibility for benefits pursuant the applicable article of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party;

(2) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or any successor form thereto); (3) in the case of a Non-U.S.

 

 

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Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit J-1 to the effect that such Non-U.S. 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” related to the Borrower, as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and that no payments under any Credit Document are effectively connected with such Non-U.S. Lender’s conduct of a United States trade or business (a “Non-Bank Tax Certificate”), and (y) executed originals of the applicable Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 (or any successor thereto);

(4) where such Lender is a partnership (for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or otherwise not a beneficial owner (e.g., where such Lender has sold a participation), Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY (or any successor thereto) accompanied by Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or W-9, as applicable, and/or other supporting documentation (including, where one or more of the underlying beneficial owner(s) is claiming the benefits of the portfolio interest exemption, a Non-Bank Tax Certificate of such beneficial owner(s) substantially in the form of Exhibit J-3 or J-4) (provided that if the Non-U.S. Lender is a partnership and not a participating Lender, the Non-Bank Tax Certificate(s), substantially in the form of Exhibit J-2, may be provided by the Non-U.S. Lender on behalf of the direct or indirect partner(s)); or

(5) executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable laws as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax together with such supplementary 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;

(C) if a payment made to a Lender under any Credit Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA, to determine whether such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (C), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement; and

(D) if the Administrative Agent is a “United States person” (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), it shall provide the Borrower with two duly completed original copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9. If the Administrative Agent is not a “United States person” (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), it shall provide the applicable Form W-8 (together with required accompanying documentation) and certify that it is a U.S. branch that has agreed to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal withholding Tax purposes with respect to payments to be received by it on behalf of the Lenders.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.4, no Lender or the Administrative Agent shall be required to deliver any documentation that it is not legally eligible to deliver.

(iv) Each Lender authorizes the Administrative Agent to deliver to the Credit Parties and to any successor Administrative Agent any documentation provided by such Lender to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 5.4(e).

(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If the Administrative Agent or any Lender determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by any Credit Party or with respect to which any Credit Party has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 5.4, the Administrative Agent or such Lender (as applicable) shall promptly pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Credit Parties under this Section 5.4 with respect to the Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including any Taxes) incurred by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.

 

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In such event, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, 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 taxing authority (provided that the Administrative Agent or such Lender may delete any information therein that it deems confidential). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (f), in no event will the Administrative Agent or any Lender be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (f) the payment of which would place the Administrative Agent or any Lender in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the Administrative Agent or any Lender would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This subsection shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to any Credit Party or any other Person.

(g) For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 5.4, the term “Lender” includes any Letter of Credit Issuer and the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.

(h) Each party’s obligations under this Section 5.4 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 the Credit Documents.

5.5 Computations of Interest and Fees.

(a) Except as provided in the next succeeding sentence, interest on Eurocurrency Loans, Term SOFR Loans and RFR Loans shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual days elapsed. Interest on ABR Loans shall be calculated on the basis of a 365- (or 366-, as the case may be) day year for the actual days elapsed.

(b) Fees and the average daily Stated Amount of Letters of Credit shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual days elapsed.

5.6 Limit on Rate of Interest.

(a) No Payment Shall Exceed Lawful Rate. Notwithstanding any other term of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be obliged to pay any interest or other amounts under or in connection with this Agreement or otherwise in respect of the Obligations in excess of the amount or rate permitted under or consistent with any applicable law, rule or regulation.

(b) Payment at Highest Lawful Rate. If the Borrower is not obliged to make a payment that it would otherwise be required to make, as a result of Section 5.6(a), the Borrower shall make such payment to the maximum extent permitted by or consistent with applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

(c) Adjustment if Any Payment Exceeds Lawful Rate. If any provision of this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents would obligate the Borrower to make any payment of interest or other amount payable to any Lender in an amount or calculated at a rate that would be prohibited by any applicable law, rule or regulation, then notwithstanding such provision, such amount or rate shall be deemed to have been adjusted with retroactive effect to the maximum amount or rate of interest, as the case may be, as would not be so prohibited by law, such adjustment to be effected, to the extent necessary, by reducing the amount or rate of interest required to be paid by the Borrower to the affected Lender under Section 2.8; provided that to the extent lawful, the interest or other amounts that would have been payable but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the maximum rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

 

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, and after giving effect to all adjustments contemplated thereby, if any Lender shall have received from the Borrower an amount in excess of the maximum permitted by any applicable law, rule or regulation, then the Borrower shall be entitled, by notice in writing to the Administrative Agent to obtain reimbursement from that Lender in an amount equal to such excess, and pending such reimbursement, such amount shall be deemed to be an amount payable by that Lender to the Borrower.

Section 6. Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness of Agreement.Section 7.

The effectiveness of this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent, except as otherwise agreed between Holdings and the Administrative Agent.

6.1 Credit Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received:

(a) this Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly Authorized Officer of Holdings, the Borrower and each Lender;

(b) [reserved];

(c) [reserved];

(d) the Guaranty and Security Reaffirmation Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly Authorized Officer of the Borrower and each other Guarantor;

(e) the results of customary UCC, Tax, judgement and intellectual property lien searches each of a recent date listing all effective financing statements, lien notices or comparable documents; and

(f) a completed perfection certificate executed and delivered by a duly Authorized Officer of each Credit Party, together with all attachments contemplated thereby.

6.2 Collateral. Except for any items referred to on Schedule 9.14:

(a) to the extent not pledged prior to the Closing Date, all outstanding equity interests in whatever form of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary that is directly owned by or on behalf of any Credit Party and required to be pledged pursuant to the Security Documents shall have been pledged pursuant thereto;

(b) to the extent not held by the Collateral Agent prior to the Closing Date, the Collateral Agent shall have received the certificates and instruments representing Equity Interests of the Borrower and of each Credit Party’s Restricted Subsidiaries and Pledged Debt (as defined in the Pledge Agreement) to the extent required to be delivered under the Security Documents and pledged under the Security Documents to the extent certificated, accompanied by instruments of transfer and undated stock powers or note endorsed in blank; and

(c) to the extent not in effect prior to the Closing Date, all Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and United States Copyright Office required to be filed, registered or recorded to perfect and/or maintain the perfection of the Liens created by the Security Documents to the extent required by, and with the priority required by, such Security Document, if any, shall have been delivered to the Collateral Agent, and shall be in proper form, for filing, registration or recording.

6.3 Legal Opinions. The Administrative Agent shall have received the executed legal opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, special counsel to the Borrower. The Borrower, the other Credit Parties and the Administrative Agent hereby instruct such counsel to deliver such legal opinions.

6.4 Closing Certificates. The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received a certificate of each of the Borrower and each Guarantor, dated the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit G, with appropriate insertions, executed by any Authorized Officer (or in the case of Holdings, any Director or authorized agent of Holdings) and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Borrower and each Guarantor, as applicable, and attaching the documents referred to in Section 6.5.

 

 

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6.5 Authorization of Proceedings of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties; Corporate Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a copy of the resolutions of the board of directors or other managers of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties (or a duly authorized committee thereof) authorizing (a) the execution, delivery, and performance of the Credit Documents (and any agreements relating thereto) to which it is a party and (b) in the case of the Borrower, the extensions of credit contemplated hereunder, (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws, Certificate of Formation and Operating Agreement or other comparable organizational documents, as applicable, of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties, (iii) certificates of Good Standing of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties issued and certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as applicable, and (iv) signature and incumbency certificates (or other comparable documents evidencing the same) of the Authorized Officers of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties executing the Credit Documents to which it is a party.

6.6 Fees. The Agents and Lenders shall have received fees in the amounts previously agreed in writing to be received on the Closing Date and, to the extent invoiced at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date (except as otherwise reasonably agreed by the Borrower), reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in the amounts previously agreed in writing to be paid on the Closing Date.

6.7 Solvency Certificate. On the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from the Chief Executive Officer, President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Vice President-Finance, or any other senior financial officer of Holdings or the Borrower to the effect that after giving effect to the Transactions, Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis are Solvent.

6.8 Patriot Act. The Administrative Agent shall have received at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, (i) a Beneficial Ownership Certification for the Borrower and (ii) such other documentation and information as is reasonably requested in writing at least ten Business Days prior to the Closing Date by the Administrative Agent about the Credit Parties to the extent the Administrative Agent and Holdings in good faith mutually agree is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Patriot Act.

6.9 Financial Statements. The Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners shall have received the Historical Financial Statements.

6.10 No Default; Representations and Warranties. On the Closing Date, (a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (b) all representations and warranties made by any Credit Party contained herein or in the other Credit Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects; provided that any such representations and warranties which are qualified by materiality, Material Adverse Effect or similar language shall be true and correct in all respects.

6.11 [Reserved].

6.12 Officer’s Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received from an Authorized Officer of the Borrower an officer’s certificate certifying that the conditions set forth in Section 6.10 are satisfied as of the Closing Date.

For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 6 on the Closing Date, 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.

Section 7. Conditions Precedent to All Credit Events.

 

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The agreement of each Lender to make any Loan requested to be made by it on any date (excluding Revolving Credit Loans required to be made by the Revolving Credit Lenders in respect of Unpaid Drawings pursuant to Sections 3.3 and 3.4) and the obligation of the Letter of Credit Issuer to issue Letters of Credit on any date is subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by the applicable Lenders) of the following conditions precedent:

7.1 No Default; Representations and Warranties. At the time of each Credit Event and also after giving effect thereto (other than any Loan made pursuant to Section 2.14 or 2.15) (a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (b) all representations and warranties made by any Credit Party contained herein or in the other Credit Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (provided that any such representations and warranties which are qualified by materiality, Material Adverse Effect or similar language shall be true and correct in all respects) with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date of such Credit Event (except where such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects (provided that any such representations and warranties which are qualified by materiality, Material Adverse Effect or similar language shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date).

7.2 Notice of Borrowing; Letter of Credit Request.

(a) [Reserved].

(b) Prior to the making of each Revolving Credit Loan (other than any Revolving Credit Loan made pursuant to Section 3.4(a)), the Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing meeting the requirements of Section 2.3.

(c) Prior to the issuance of each Letter of Credit, the Administrative Agent and the Letter of Credit Issuer shall have received a Letter of Credit Request meeting the requirements of Section 3.2(a).

The acceptance of the benefits of each Credit Event shall constitute a representation and warranty by each Credit Party to each of the Lenders that all the applicable conditions specified in Section 7 above have been satisfied as of that time.

Section 8. Representations and Warranties

In order to induce the Lenders to enter into this Agreement, to make the Loans and issue or participate in Letters of Credit as provided for herein, Holdings and the Borrower make the following representations and warranties to the Lenders, all of which shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Loans and the issuance of the Letters of Credit (it being understood that the following representations and warranties shall be deemed made with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary only to the extent relevant under applicable law):

8.1 Corporate Status. Each Credit Party (a) is a duly organized and validly existing corporation, limited liability company or other entity in good standing (if applicable) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has the corporate, limited liability company or other organizational power and authority to own its property and assets and to transact the business in which it is engaged and (b) has duly qualified and is authorized to do business and is in good standing (if applicable) in all jurisdictions where it is required to be so qualified, except where the failure to be so qualified would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

8.2 Corporate Power and Authority. Each Credit Party has the corporate or other organizational power and authority to execute, deliver and carry out the terms and provisions of the Credit Documents to which it is a party and has taken all necessary corporate or other organizational action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents to which it is a party. Each Credit Party has duly executed and delivered each Credit Document to which it is a party and each such Credit Document constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of such Credit Party enforceable in accordance with its terms (provided that, with respect to the creation and perfection of security interests with respect to Indebtedness, Capital Stock and Stock Equivalents of Foreign Subsidiaries, only to the extent enforceability of such obligation with respect to which Capital Stock and Stock Equivalents of Foreign Subsidiaries is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code), except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity.

 

 

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8.3 No Violation. Neither the execution, delivery or performance by any Credit Party of the Credit Documents to which it is a party nor compliance with the terms and provisions thereof nor the other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby will (a) contravene any applicable provision of any material law, statute, rule, regulation, order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or governmental instrumentality, (b) result in any breach of any of the terms, covenants, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of (or the obligation to create or impose) any Lien upon any of the property or assets of such Credit Party or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Liens created under the Credit Documents or Permitted Liens) pursuant to, the terms of any material indenture, loan agreement, lease agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, agreement or other material instrument to which such Credit Party or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of its property or assets is bound (any such term, covenant, condition or provision, a “Contractual Requirement”) other than any such breach, default or Lien that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (c) violate any provision of the certificate of incorporation, by-laws, articles or other organizational documents of such Credit Party or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries.

8.4 Litigation. There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower, threatened in writing against Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

8.5 Margin Regulations. None of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of buying or carrying margin stock, and no portion of the proceeds of any credit extension hereunder shall be used in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, that causes or could reasonably be expected to cause, such credit extension or the application of such proceeds to violate Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X of the Board of Governors or any other regulation thereof or to violate the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

8.6 Governmental Approvals. The execution, delivery and performance of each Credit Document does not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or other action by, any Governmental Authority, except for (i) such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (ii) filings, consents, approvals, registrations and recordings in respect of the Liens created pursuant to the Security Documents (and to release existing Liens), and (iii) such licenses, approvals, authorizations, registrations, filings or consents the failure of which to obtain or make would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

8.7 Investment Company Act. None of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries is an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

8.8 True and Complete Disclosure.

(a) None of the written factual information and written data (taken as a whole) heretofore or contemporaneously furnished by or on behalf of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their respective authorized representatives to the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners, and/or any Lender on or before the Closing Date for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated herein contained any untrue statement of any material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary to make such information and data (taken as a whole) not materially misleading at such time in light of the circumstances under which such information or data was furnished (after giving effect to all supplements and updates), it being understood and agreed that for purposes of this Section 8.8(a), such factual information and data shall not include pro forma financial information, projections, estimates (including financial estimates, forecasts, and other forward-looking information) or other forward looking information and information of a general economic or general industry nature.

(b) The projections (including financial estimates, budgets, forecasts, and other forward-looking information) contained in the information and data referred to in paragraph (a) above were based on good faith estimates and assumptions believed by such Persons to be reasonable at the time made, it being recognized by the Lenders that such projections as to future events are not to be viewed as facts and are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Borrower’s control, that no assurance can be given that any particular projections will be realized and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such projections may differ from the projected results and such differences may be material.

 

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8.9 Financial Condition; Financial Statements.

(a) The Historical Financial Statements, in each case present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of Holdings and its Subsidiaries at the respective dates of said information, statements and results of operations for the respective periods covered thereby. As of the Closing Date, neither Holdings nor any Restricted Subsidiary has any material guarantee obligations or contingent liabilities or unusual forward or long-term commitments, in each case, that are not reflected in the most recent financial statements referred to in this paragraph, except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) There has been no Material Adverse Effect since December 31, 2019.

Each Lender and the Administrative Agent hereby acknowledges and agrees that Holdings 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 or an Event of Default under the Credit Documents.

8.10 Compliance with Laws. Each Credit Party is in compliance with all Requirements of Law applicable to it or its property, except where the failure to be so in compliance would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

8.11 Tax Matters. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) Holdings, the Borrower and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries has filed all Tax returns required to be filed by it and has timely paid all Taxes payable by it (whether or not shown on a Tax return and including in its capacity as a withholding agent) that have become due, other than those being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted if it has maintained adequate reserves (in the good faith judgment of management of Holdings, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable) with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (b) Holdings, the Borrower and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries has paid, or has provided adequate reserves (in the good faith judgment of management of Holdings, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable) in accordance with GAAP for the payment of all Taxes not yet due and payable. There is no current or proposed Tax assessment, deficiency or other claim against Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

8.12 Compliance with ERISA.

(a) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) each Credit Party and each of their respective ERISA Affiliates is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the provisions of the Code relating to Pension Plans and the regulations and the published interpretation thereunder and (ii) no ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur.

(b) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no Foreign Plan Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur.

8.13 Subsidiaries. Schedule 8.13 lists each Subsidiary of Holdings (and the direct and indirect ownership interest of Holdings therein), in each case existing on the Closing Date after giving effect to the Transactions.

8.14 Intellectual Property. Each of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries owns or has the right to use all Intellectual Property that is used in or otherwise necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted, except where the failure of the foregoing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The operation of their respective businesses by each of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries does not infringe upon, misappropriate, violate or otherwise conflict with the Intellectual Property of any third party, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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8.15 Environmental Laws.

(a) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) each of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective operations and properties are in compliance with all Environmental Laws; (ii) none of Holdings nor any Restricted Subsidiary has received written notice of any Environmental Claim; (iii) none of Holdings nor any Restricted Subsidiary is conducting any investigation, removal, remedial or other corrective action pursuant to any Environmental Law at any location; and (iv) to the knowledge of the Borrower, no underground or above ground storage tank or related piping, or any impoundment or other disposal area containing Hazardous Materials is located at, on or under any Real Estate currently owned or leased by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries.

(b) None of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries has treated, stored, transported, released or arranged for disposal or transport for disposal or treatment of Hazardous Materials at, on, under or from any currently or, formerly owned or operated property nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower, has there been any other Release of Hazardous Materials at, on, under or from any such properties, in each case, in a manner that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

8.16 Properties. Each of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries has good and valid record title to, valid leasehold interests in, or rights to use, all properties that are necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted, free and clear of all Liens (other than any Liens permitted by this Agreement) and except where the failure to have such good title or interest would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

8.17 Solvency. On the Closing Date (after giving effect to the Transactions) immediately following the making of the Loans and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of such Loans, Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be Solvent.

8.18 Patriot Act. On the Closing Date, Holdings and the Borrower have provided to the Administrative Agent all information related to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including but not limited to names, addresses and tax identification numbers (if applicable)) reasonably requested in writing by the Administrative Agent and mutually agreed to be required by the Patriot Act to be obtained by the Administrative Agent or any Lender and the use of proceeds of the Loans will not violate the Patriot Act in any material respect.

8.19 OFAC and FCPA.

(a) Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not, directly or, to the knowledge of Holdings, indirectly, use the proceeds of the Loans, to lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, for the purpose of unlawfully funding (i) any activities of or business with any Person that, at the time of such funding, is the target of Sanctions, (ii) any business with or involving any country or territory that, the time of such funding, is itself the target of comprehensive Sanctions (including Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the Crimea region of Ukraine, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic and the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic), or (iii) any other transaction that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transactions, whether as a underwriter, advisor, investor, lender or otherwise) of Sanctions.

(b) Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not use the proceeds of the Loans directly, or, to the knowledge of Holdings, 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 (the “FCPA”).

(c) Except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, none of Holdings, the Borrower, the Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their respective directors, officers or, to the knowledge of Holdings, employees, Affiliates or agents, in each case, has, in the past three years, committed a violation of applicable regulations of the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), Title III of the Patriot Act or the FCPA or any other anti-corruption law applicable to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

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(d) None of Holdings, the Borrower, the Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their respective directors, officers or, to the knowledge of Holdings, employees, Affiliates or agents, in each case, is an individual or entity currently included on OFAC’s list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons or is the target of Sanctions administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State, nor is the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary located, organized or resident in a country or territory that itself is the subject of comprehensive Sanctions.

Section 9. Affirmative Covenants.

Each of Holdings and the Borrower hereby covenants and agrees that on the Closing Date and thereafter, until the Commitments and each Letter of Credit have terminated or been collateralized in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Loans and Unpaid Drawings, together with interest, Fees and all other Obligations incurred hereunder (other than contingent indemnity obligations, Secured Hedge Obligations and Secured Cash Management Obligations and Letters of Credit collateralized in accordance with the terms of this Agreement), are paid in full:

9.1 Information Covenants. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly make such information available to the Lenders in accordance with its customary practice):

(a) Annual Financial Statements. As soon as available and in any event within five days after the date on which such financial statements are required to be filed with the SEC (after giving effect to any permitted extensions), the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries as at the end of each fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth comparative consolidated and/or combined figures for the preceding fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, and, in each case, certified by independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing whose opinion shall not be qualified as to the scope of audit or as to the status of Holdings or any of the Material Subsidiaries (or group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Material Subsidiary) as a going concern (other than any exception, explanatory paragraph or qualification, that is expressly solely with respect to, or expressly resulting solely from, (i) an upcoming maturity date under any Indebtedness, (ii) any potential inability to satisfy a financial maintenance covenant on a future date or in a future period or (iii) the activities, operations, financial results, assets or liabilities of any Unrestricted Subsidiary).

(b) Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as available and in any event within five days after the date on which such financial statements are required to be filed with the SEC (after giving effect to any permitted extensions) with respect to each of the first three quarterly accounting periods in each fiscal year of Holdings, the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarterly period and the related consolidated statements of operations for such quarterly accounting period and for the elapsed portion of the fiscal year ended with the last day of such quarterly period, and the related consolidated statement of cash flows for the elapsed portion of the fiscal year ended with the last day of the applicable quarterly period, and setting forth comparative consolidated and/or combined figures for the related periods in the prior fiscal year or, in the case of such consolidated balance sheet, for the last day of the related period in the prior fiscal year, all of which shall be certified by an Authorized Officer of Holdings as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries as at such date and for such periods in accordance with GAAP (except as noted therein), subject to changes resulting from normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

(c) Beneficial Ownership Certification. Promptly following any request therefor, information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

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(d) Officer’s Certificates. Not later than five Business Days after the delivery of the financial statements provided for in Sections 9.1(a) and (b), a certificate of an Authorized Officer of Holdings or the Borrower to the effect that no Default or Event of Default exists or, if any Default or Event of Default does exist, specifying the nature and extent thereof, as the case may be, which certificate shall set forth (i) a specification of any change in the identity of the Restricted Subsidiaries and the Unrestricted Subsidiaries as at the end of the fiscal year or the fiscal quarter, as the case may be, from the Restricted Subsidiaries and the Unrestricted Subsidiaries, respectively, identified to the Lenders on the Closing Date or in the most recent certificate delivered pursuant to this clause (d) in which any such changes were disclosed, as the case may be, and (ii) the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio as of the last day of the applicable Test Period (together with supporting calculations) and the then applicable Status.

(e) Notice of Default or Litigation. Promptly after an Authorized Officer of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries obtains knowledge thereof, notice of (i) the occurrence of any event that constitutes a Default or Event of Default, which notice shall specify the nature thereof, the period of existence thereof and what action Holdings proposes to take with respect thereto and (ii) any litigation or governmental proceeding pending against Holdings or any of the Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to be determined adversely and, if so determined, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(f) Environmental Matters. Promptly after an Authorized Officer of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries obtains knowledge of any one or more of the following environmental matters, unless such environmental matters would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, notice of:

(i) any pending or threatened Environmental Claim against any Credit Party or any Real Estate; and

(ii) the conduct of any investigation, or any removal, remedial or other corrective action in response to the actual or alleged presence, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Material on, at, under or from any Real Estate.

All such notices shall describe in reasonable detail the nature of the claim, investigation or removal, remedial or other corrective action in response thereto. The term “Real Estate” shall mean land, buildings, facilities and improvements owned or leased by any Credit Party.

(g) [Reserved].

(h) Other Information. Promptly upon filing thereof, copies of any filings (including on Form 10-K, 10-Q or 8-K) or registration statements (other than drafts of pre-effective versions of registration statements) with, and reports to, the SEC or any analogous Governmental Authority in any relevant jurisdiction by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than amendments to any registration statement (to the extent such registration statement, in the form it becomes effective, is delivered to the Administrative Agent), exhibits to any registration statement and, if applicable, any registration statements on Form S-8) and copies of all financial statements, proxy statements, notices, and reports that Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall send to the holders of any publicly issued debt of Holdings and/or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, in their capacity as such holders, lenders or agents (in each case to the extent not theretofore delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement) and, with reasonable promptness, such other information (financial or otherwise) as the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of any Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent) may reasonably request in writing from time to time; provided, that none of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries will be required to disclose, permit the inspection, examination or making copies or abstracts of, 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 contractors) is prohibited by law or any agreement binding on a third-party, (iii) that is subject to attorney client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product or (iv) that is otherwise subject to Section 13.16.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 9.1 may be satisfied with respect to financial information of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries by furnishing (A) the applicable financial statements of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings or (B) Holdings’ (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), as applicable, Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC; provided that, with respect to each of subclauses (A) and (B) of this paragraph, to the extent such information relates to a parent of Holdings, such information is accompanied by consolidating or other information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such parent, on the one hand, and the information relating to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand.

 

 

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Documents required to be delivered pursuant to clauses (a), (b), and (h) of this Section 9.1 (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the earliest date on which (i) Holdings posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on Holdings’ website on the Internet; (ii) such documents are posted on Holdings’ behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another 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 (iii) such financial statements and/or other documents are posted on the SEC’s website on the internet at www.sec.gov; provided, that the Borrower shall, at the request of the Administrative Agent, continue to deliver copies (which delivery may be by electronic transmission ) of such documents to the Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such documents from the Administrative Agent and maintaining its copies of such documents.

Each Credit Party hereby acknowledges and agrees that, unless the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent in advance, all financial statements and certificates furnished pursuant to Sections 9.1(a), (b) and (d) above are hereby deemed to be suitable for distribution, and to be made available, to all Lenders and may be treated by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as not containing any material nonpublic information.

9.2 Books, Records, and Inspections. Holdings will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, permit officers and designated representatives of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders to visit and inspect any of the properties or assets of Holdings and any such Subsidiary in whomsoever’s possession to the extent that it is within such party’s control to permit such inspection (and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such inspection to be permitted to the extent that it is not within such party’s control to permit such inspection), and to examine the books and records of Holdings and any such Subsidiary and discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of Holdings and of any such Subsidiary with, and be advised as to the same by, its and their officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and intervals and to such reasonable extent as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may desire (and subject, in the case of any such meetings or advice from such independent accountants, to such accountants’ customary policies and procedures); provided that, excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, (a) only the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Required Lenders may exercise rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Section 9.2, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more than one time in any calendar year, which such visit will be at Holdings’ expense, and (c) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.2, none of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries will be required to disclose, permit the inspection, examination or making copies or abstracts of, 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) is prohibited by law or any agreement binding on a third-party or (iii) that is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product; provided, further, that when an Event of Default exists, the Administrative Agent (or any of its respective representatives or independent contractors) or any representative of the Required Lenders may do any of the foregoing at the expense of Holdings at any time during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice. The Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders shall give Holdings the opportunity to participate in any discussions with Holdings’ independent public accountants.

9.3 Maintenance of Insurance. Holdings will, and will cause each Material Subsidiary to, at all times maintain in full force and effect, pursuant to self-insurance arrangements or with insurance companies that Holdings believes (in the good faith judgment of the management of Holdings) are financially sound and responsible at the time the relevant coverage is placed or renewed, insurance in at least such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance which Holdings believes (in the good faith judgment of management of Holdings) is reasonable and prudent in light of the size and nature of its business and the availability of insurance on a cost-effective basis) and against at least such risks (and with such risk retentions) as Holdings believes (in the good faith judgment of management of Holdings) is reasonable and prudent in light of the size and nature of its business and the availability of insurance on a cost-effective basis; and will furnish to the Administrative Agent, promptly following written request from the Administrative Agent, information presented in reasonable detail as to the insurance so carried.

 

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Each such policy of general liability (including excess and umbrella general liability), property or casualty insurance shall (i) in the case of each general liability (including excess and umbrella general liability) insurance policy, name the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties as an additional insured thereunder as its interests may appear and (ii) in the case of each property or casualty insurance policy, contain a loss payable clause or endorsement that names the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties as the loss payee thereunder; provided that, unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing subject to Section 5.2, (A) all proceeds from insurance policies shall be paid to the Borrower or applicable Guarantor, (B) to the extent the Collateral Agent receives any proceeds, the Collateral Agent shall, promptly following receipt of an Officer’s Certificate of the Borrower certifying that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, turn over to the Borrower any amounts received by it as an additional insured or loss payee under any property insurance maintained by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and (C) the Collateral Agent agrees that Holdings and its Subsidiaries shall have the sole right to adjust or settle any claims under such insurance.

9.4 Payment of Taxes. Except (i) as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) Taxes that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted for which adequate reserves have been made with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP, Holdings will pay and discharge, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, all material Taxes imposed upon it (including in its capacity as a withholding agent) or upon its income or profits, or upon any properties belonging to it, prior to the date on which material penalties attach thereto, and all lawful material claims in respect of any Taxes imposed, assessed or levied that, if unpaid, would reasonably be expected to become a material Lien upon any properties of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries.

9.5 Preservation of Existence; Consolidated Corporate Franchises. Holdings will, and will cause each Material Subsidiary to, take all actions necessary (a) to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, organizational rights and authority and (b) to maintain its rights, privileges (including its good standing (if applicable)), permits, licenses and franchises necessary in the normal conduct of its business, in each case, except to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided, however, that Holdings and its Subsidiaries may consummate any transaction permitted under Permitted Investments and Sections 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, or 10.5.

9.6 Compliance with Statutes, Regulations, Etc. Holdings will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, (a) comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and orders applicable to it or its property, including, without limitation, applicable laws administered by OFAC, the FCPA and the Patriot Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and all governmental approvals or authorizations required to conduct its business, and to maintain all such governmental approvals or authorizations in full force and effect, (b) comply with, and use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure compliance by all tenants and subtenants, if any, with, all Environmental Laws, and obtain and comply with and maintain, and use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that all tenants and subtenants obtain and comply with and maintain, any and all licenses, approvals, notifications, registrations or permits required by Environmental Laws, and (c) conduct and complete all investigations, studies, sampling and testing, and all remedial, removal, and other actions required under Environmental Laws and promptly comply with all lawful orders and directives of all Governmental Authorities regarding Environmental Laws, other than such orders and directives which are being timely contested in good faith by proper proceedings, except in each case of clauses (a), (b), and (c) of this Section 9.6, where the failure to so act would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

9.7 ERISA. (a) Holdings will furnish to the Administrative Agent promptly following receipt thereof, copies of any documents described in Sections 101(k) or 101(l) of ERISA that any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan to which a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries is obligated to contribute; provided that if the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries have not requested such documents or notices from the administrator or sponsor of the applicable Multiemployer Plan, then, upon reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, the Credit Parties shall promptly make a request for such documents or notices from such administrator or sponsor and the Borrower shall provide copies of such documents and notices to the Administrative Agent promptly after receipt thereof; provided, further, that the rights granted to the Administrative Agent in this Section 9.7(a) shall be exercised not more than once with respect to the same Multiemployer Plan during any applicable plan year, and (b) Holdings will notify the Administrative Agent promptly following the occurrence of any ERISA Event or Foreign Plan Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events or Foreign Plan Events that have occurred, would reasonably be expected to result in liability of any Credit Party that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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9.8 Maintenance of Properties. Holdings will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear, casualty, and condemnation excepted, except to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

9.9 Transactions with Affiliates. Holdings will conduct, and cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to conduct, all transactions with any of its Affiliates (other than Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of the greater of (x) $43,000,000 and (y) 7.5% of Consolidated EBITDA for any individual transaction or series of related transactions on terms that are at least substantially as favorable to Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary as it would obtain in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate, as determined by the board of directors of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary in good faith; provided that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to (a) [reserved], (b) transactions permitted by Section 10.5, (c) the consummation of the Transactions and the payment of the Transaction Expenses, (d) the issuance of Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of (x) Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or (y) any of its Subsidiaries not otherwise prohibited by the Credit Documents, (e) loans, advances and other transactions between or among Holdings, any Restricted Subsidiary or any joint venture (regardless of the form of legal entity) in which Holdings or any Subsidiary has invested (and which Subsidiary or joint venture would not be an Affiliate of Holdings but for Holdings’ or a Subsidiary’s ownership of Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents in such joint venture or Subsidiary) to the extent permitted under Section 10 (other than to the extent permitted by reference to this Section 9.9), (f) (i) employment and severance arrangements between Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective employees, directors, officers, managers, consultants or independent contractors (including management and employee benefit plans or agreements, stock option plans and other compensatory arrangements) in the ordinary course of business (including loans and advances in connection therewith) and (ii) any subscription agreement or similar agreement pertaining to the repurchase of Capital Stock pursuant to put/call rights or similar rights with current, former or future officers, directors, employees, managers, consultants and independent contractors of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, (g) transactions with joint ventures for the purchase or sale of goods, equipment and services entered into in the ordinary course of business, (h) the payment of customary fees and reasonable out-of-pocket costs to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, employees, directors, officers, managers, consultants or independent contractors of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) and the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of Holdings and the Subsidiaries, (i) transactions undertaken pursuant to membership in a purchasing consortium, (j) transactions pursuant to any agreement or arrangement as in effect as of the Closing Date, or any amendment, modification, supplement or replacement thereto (so long as any such amendment, modification, supplement or replacement is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Lenders when taken as a whole as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect on the Closing Date as determined by the Borrower in good faith), (k) subject to Section 10.8, (i) intellectual property licenses in the ordinary course of business and (ii) intercompany intellectual property licenses and research and development agreements in the ordinary course of business, (l) the existence and performance of agreements and transactions with any Unrestricted Subsidiary that were entered into prior to the designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as such Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent that the transaction was permitted at the time that it was entered into with such Restricted Subsidiary and transactions entered into by an Unrestricted Subsidiary with an Affiliate prior to the redesignation of any such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such transaction was not entered into in contemplation of such designation or redesignation, as applicable, (m) Affiliate repurchases of the Loans or Commitments to the extent permitted hereunder and the holding of such Loans or Commitments and the payments and other transactions contemplated herein in respect thereof, (n) any customary transactions with a Receivables Subsidiary effected as part of a Receivables Facility and (o) transactions that have been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the board of directors of Holdings, as evidenced by resolutions adopted by the board of directors of Holdings and delivered to the Administrative Agent.

9.10 End of Fiscal Years. Holdings will, for financial reporting purposes, cause each of its, and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries’, fiscal years to end on dates consistent with past practice; provided, however, that Holdings may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent change the financial reporting convention specified above to (x) align the dates of such fiscal year and for any Restricted Subsidiary whose fiscal years end on dates different from those of Holdings or (y) any other financial reporting convention (including a change of fiscal year) reasonably acceptable (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to the Administrative Agent, in which case Holdings 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.

 

 

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9.11 Additional Guarantors and Grantors. Subject to the Perfection Exceptions and any applicable limitations set forth in the Security Documents, Holdings will cause each direct or indirect Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) formed or otherwise purchased or acquired after the Original Closing Date (including pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition), and each other Subsidiary that ceases to constitute an Excluded Subsidiary, within 60 days from the date of such formation, acquisition or cessation, as applicable (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion), and Holdings may at its option cause any Domestic Subsidiary, to execute a supplement to each of the Guarantee, the Pledge Agreement and the Security Agreement in order to become a Guarantor under the Guarantee and a grantor under such Security Documents or, to the extent reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent, enter into a new Security Document substantially consistent with the analogous existing Security Documents and otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and take all other action reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to grant a perfected security interest in its assets to substantially the same extent as created and perfected by the Credit Parties on the Closing Date and pursuant to Section 9.14(d) in the case of such Credit Parties. Except with respect to the BVI Share Charge, no Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary shall be required to take any action outside the United States to perfect any security interest in the Collateral (including the execution of any agreement, document or other instrument governed by the law of any jurisdiction other than the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia).

9.12 Pledge of Additional Stock and Evidence of Indebtedness. Subject to the Perfection Exceptions and any applicable limitations set forth in the Security Documents and other than (x) when in the reasonable determination of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (as agreed to in writing), the cost or other consequences of doing so would be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom or (y) to the extent doing so would reasonably be expected to result in material adverse Tax consequences as reasonably determined by the Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, Holdings will and will cause (i) all certificates representing Capital Stock and Stock Equivalents of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Stock and Stock Equivalents) held directly by Holdings or any other Credit Party, (ii) all evidences of Indebtedness in excess of the greater of (x) $11,000,000 and (y) 2.0% of Consolidated EBITDA received by Holdings or any of the Guarantors in connection with any disposition of assets pursuant to Section 10.4, and (iii) any promissory notes executed after the Closing Date evidencing Indebtedness in excess of the greater of (x) $11,000,000 and (y) 2.0% of Consolidated EBITDA that is owing to Holdings or any other Credit Party, in each case, to be delivered to the Collateral Agent as security for the Obligations accompanied by undated instruments of transfer executed in blank pursuant to the terms of the Security Documents. Notwithstanding the foregoing any promissory note among Holdings and/or its Subsidiaries need not be delivered to the Collateral Agent so long as (i) a global intercompany note superseding such promissory note has been delivered to the Collateral Agent, (ii) such promissory note is not delivered to any other party other than Holdings or any other Credit Party, in each case, owed money thereunder, and (iii) such promissory note indicates on its face that it is subject to the security interest of the Collateral Agent.

9.13 Use of Proceeds.

(a) [Reserved].

(b) The Borrower will use Letters of Credit and Revolving Loans for working capital and general corporate purposes (including any transaction not prohibited by the Credit Documents and the payment of the Transaction Expenses).

9.14 Further Assurances.

(a) Subject to the Perfection Exceptions and the terms of Sections 9.11 and 9.12, this Section 9.14 and the Security Documents, Holdings will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements, and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings, mortgages, deeds of trust, and other documents) that may be required under any applicable law, or that the Collateral Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request, in order to grant, preserve, protect, and perfect the validity and priority of the security interests created or intended to be created by the applicable Security Documents, all at the expense of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

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(b) Subject to the Perfection Exceptions and any applicable limitations set forth in the Security Documents and other than (x) when in the reasonable determination of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (as agreed to in writing), the cost or other consequences of doing so would be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom or (y) to the extent doing so would result in material adverse Tax consequences as reasonably determined by the Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, if any assets (other than Excluded Property) (including any real estate or improvements thereto or any interest therein but excluding Capital Stock and Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary and excluding any real estate which the Borrower or applicable Credit Party intends to dispose of pursuant to a Permitted Sale Leaseback so long as actually disposed of within 270 days of acquisition (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree)) with a book value in excess of $45,000,000 (at the time of acquisition) are acquired by Holdings or any other Credit Party after the Closing Date (other than assets constituting Collateral under a Security Document that become subject to the Lien of the applicable Security Document upon acquisition thereof) that are of a nature secured by a Security Document, Holdings will notify the Collateral Agent, and, if requested by the Collateral Agent, Holdings will cause such assets to be subjected to a Lien securing the Obligations and will take, and cause the other applicable Credit Parties to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent, as soon as commercially reasonable but in no event later than 90 days, unless extended by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, to grant and perfect such Liens consistent with the applicable requirements of the Security Documents, including actions described in clause (a) of this Section 9.14.

(c) [Reserved].

(d) Post-Closing Covenant. Holdings agrees that it will, or will cause its relevant Subsidiaries to, complete each of the actions described on Schedule 9.14 as soon as commercially reasonable and by no later than the date set forth in Schedule 9.14 with respect to such action or such later date as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree.

9.15 Lines of Business. Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will not fundamentally and substantively alter the character of their business, taken as a whole, from the business conducted by Holdings and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, on the Closing Date and other business activities which are extensions thereof or otherwise incidental, synergistic, reasonably related, or ancillary to any of the foregoing (and non-core incidental businesses acquired in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or Permitted Investment).

Section 10. Negative Covenants

Each of Holdings and the Borrower hereby covenants and agrees that on the Closing Date and thereafter, until the Commitments and each Letter of Credit have terminated or been collateralized in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Loans and Unpaid Drawings, together with interest, Fees, and all other Obligations incurred hereunder (other than contingent indemnity obligations, Secured Hedge Obligations and Secured Cash Management Obligations and Letters of Credit, collateralized in accordance with the terms of this Agreement), are paid in full:

10.1 Limitation on Indebtedness. Holdings will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable, contingently or otherwise (collectively, “incur” and collectively, an “incurrence”) with respect to any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) and Holdings will not issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or, in the case of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, preferred stock; provided that Holdings, the Borrower and their Restricted Subsidiaries may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and any Restricted Subsidiary may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock and issue shares of preferred stock, if, after giving effect thereto (and any other related transactions) on a pro forma basis (but without netting the cash proceeds of any amounts then being incurred in reliance on this first paragraph of Section 10.1), the Borrower is in compliance with a Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio of 6.00 to 1.00; provided, further, that (x) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness (other than Acquired Indebtedness), Disqualified Stock and preferred stock incurred or issued pursuant to this first paragraph of Section 10.1 by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, together with the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness (other than Acquired Indebtedness), Disqualified Stock and preferred stock incurred or issued pursuant Section 10.1(n)(x) by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, shall not exceed the greater of (x) $170,000,000 and (y) 30.0% of Consolidated EBITDA at the time of incurrence and (y) such Indebtedness otherwise complies with clauses (iv), (v), (vi), (vii) and (viii) of the definition of “Permitted Other Indebtedness”.

 

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The foregoing limitations will not apply to:

(a) Indebtedness arising under the Credit Documents;

(b) the incurrence or issuance by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock the net cash proceeds of which will be used to refinance, replace, refund, redeem, repurchase, retire, extend, renew or defease (collectively, “Refinance”) Permitted Convertible Indebtedness (“Refinancing Convertible Indebtedness”); provided that (1) the initial principal amount of such Refinancing Convertible Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness to be refinanced, plus any accrued and unpaid interest, plus the amount of any defeasance costs and any reasonable fees, costs and expenses incurred or payable or projected in good faith to be incurred or payable in connection therewith or the incurrence or issuance of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any premiums or similar fees, costs and expenses), (2) such Refinancing Convertible Indebtedness has a maturity date and weighted average life to maturity at the time such Refinancing Convertible Indebtedness is incurred or issued which is not earlier than the maturity date of or less than the remaining weighted average life to maturity of, the Permitted Convertible Indebtedness to be refinanced, (3) such Refinancing Convertible Indebtedness is unsecured and the obligors thereof shall be Credit Parties, (4) within 180 days following the date such Refinancing Convertible Indebtedness is incurred or issued, (x) the net cash proceeds of such Refinancing Convertible Indebtedness are applied to Refinance Permitted Convertible Indebtedness and/or pay any reasonable fees, costs and expenses incurred or payable in connection therewith or (y) such Refinancing Convertible Indebtedness is re-designated as incurred or issued in reliance on another available exception in accordance with Section 1.11, and (5) to the extent the terms and conditions of such Refinancing Convertible Indebtedness are not substantially identical to the terms and conditions of the applicable Refinanced Permitted Convertible Indebtedness, such terms and conditions shall not be materially more restrictive to Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries (as determined in good faith by the Borrower), when taken as a whole, than the terms of such Refinanced Permitted Convertible Indebtedness (it being understood that (A) to the extent that any such more favorable terms are added for the benefit of any then-existing Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, such materially more restrictive terms shall be permitted and (B) any materially more restrictive terms that are only applicable after the Latest Maturity Date shall be permitted); provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, this clause (5) shall not apply to (x) terms addressed in the other clauses of this clause (b) or (y) pricing, interest rate margins, discounts, voluntary prepayment terms and premiums, rate floors, fees and currency types and denominations; provided, further, that a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five Business Days (or such shorter period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree) prior to the incurrence of such Refinancing Convertible Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Refinancing Convertible 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 two Business Days after receipt of such certificate that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonable description of the basis upon which it disagrees);

 

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(c) (i) Indebtedness (including any unused commitment) outstanding on the Closing Date listed on Schedule 10.1 and (ii) intercompany Indebtedness (including any unused commitment) outstanding on the Closing Date listed on Schedule 10.1 (other than intercompany Indebtedness owed by a Credit Party to another Credit Party); (d) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations), Disqualified Stock and preferred stock incurred by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, to finance the purchase, lease, construction, installation, maintenance, repair, replacement 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 Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets and Indebtedness arising from the conversion of the obligations of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary under or pursuant to any “synthetic lease” transactions to on-balance sheet Indebtedness of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary, in an aggregate principal amount which, when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and preferred stock then outstanding and incurred pursuant to this clause (d) and all Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance any other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and preferred stock incurred pursuant to this clause (d), does not exceed the greater of (x) $284,000,000 and (y) 50.0% of Consolidated EBITDA at the time of incurrence; provided that Capitalized Lease Obligations incurred by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to this clause (d) in connection with a Permitted Sale Leaseback in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $85,000,000 and (y) 15.0% of Consolidated EBITDA at any time outstanding shall not be subject to the foregoing limitation so long as the proceeds of such Permitted Sale Leaseback are used by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 10.4;

(e) Indebtedness incurred by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (including letter of credit obligations consistent with past practice constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business), in respect of workers’ compensation claims, deferred compensation, performance or surety bonds, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement or indemnification type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims, deferred compensation, performance or surety bonds, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance;

(f) Indebtedness arising from agreements of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, earnout or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary or other Person, 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;

(g) Indebtedness of Holdings to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not the Borrower or a Guarantor is subordinated in right of payment to Holdings’ Guarantee; provided, further, 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 of any such Indebtedness (except to another Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause;

(h) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the Borrower or a Guarantor incurs such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not the Borrower or a Guarantor, such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations and to the Guarantee of such Guarantor as the case may be; provided, further, that any subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to Holdings or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause;

(i) shares of preferred stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to Holdings 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 of any such shares of preferred stock (except to Holdings or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed in each case to be an issuance of such shares of preferred stock not permitted by this clause;

 

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(j) Hedging Obligations (excluding Hedging Obligations entered into for speculative purposes); (k) obligations in respect of self-insurance, performance, bid, appeal, and surety bonds and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, trade letters of credit, warehouse receipts, customs bonds or similar instruments issued to support performance obligations (other than obligations in respect of Indebtedness) or similar instruments related thereto, in each case, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(l) (i) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and preferred stock of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference up to 100% of the net cash proceeds received by Holdings since immediately after the Closing Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests (excluding the issuance of Equity Interests with respect to any convertible indebtedness) of Holdings or cash contributed to the capital of Holdings (in each case, other than Excluded Contributions or proceeds of Disqualified Stock or sales of Equity Interests to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries) as determined in accordance with Sections 10.5(a)(iii)(B) and 10.5(a)(iii)(C) to the extent such net cash proceeds or cash have not been applied pursuant to such clauses to make Restricted Payments or to make other Investments, payments or exchanges pursuant to Section 10.5(b) or to make Permitted Investments (other than Permitted Investments specified in clauses (i) and (iii) of the definition thereof) and (ii) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise permitted hereunder 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 or issued pursuant to this clause (l)(ii), does not at any one time outstanding exceed the greater of (x) $170,000,000 and (y) 30.0% of Consolidated EBITDA at the time of incurrence;

(m) the incurrence or issuance by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock which serves to Refinance any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock incurred as permitted under the first paragraph of this Section 10.1 and clause (c), clause (d) and clause (l)(i) above, this clause (m), clause (n) below and/or clause (ee) below or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock issued to so Refinance such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock (the “Refinancing Indebtedness”) prior to its respective maturity; provided, that such Refinancing Indebtedness (1) has a maturity date and weighted average life to maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred which is not earlier than or less than the remaining weighted average life to maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being refinanced, (2) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (i) Indebtedness that is unsecured, such Refinancing Indebtedness is unsecured, (ii) Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien on the assets of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, such Liens shall not encumber assets that did not secure the Indebtedness being refinanced and such Liens rank equal to or junior to the Liens securing the Indebtedness being refinanced, (iii) Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness must be Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, respectively, and (iv) Indebtedness subordinated to the Obligations, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated to the Obligations at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness being refinanced and (3) shall have the same borrowers, issuers and guarantors as the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being Refinanced;

(n) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of (x) Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary incurred or issued to finance an acquisition, merger, or consolidation; provided that (1) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness (other than Acquired Indebtedness), Disqualified Stock and preferred stock incurred or issued pursuant to this clause (n)(x) by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, together with the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness (other than Acquired Indebtedness), Disqualified Stock and preferred stock incurred or issued pursuant the first paragraph of Section 10.1 by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, shall not exceed the greater of (x) $170,000,000 and (y) 30.0% of Consolidated EBITDA at the time of incurrence and (2) such Indebtedness otherwise complies with the definition of “Permitted Other Indebtedness” (excluding clause (ii) and (iii) of such definition and only in the case of clause (2) of the proviso below excluding clause (i) of such definition), or (y) Persons that are acquired by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into or consolidated with Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms hereof (including designating an Unrestricted Subsidiary a Restricted Subsidiary) and, with respect to clause (y), to the extent not incurred or issued in contemplation of such acquisition, designation, merger or consolidation; provided, further, that after giving pro forma effect to any such acquisition, merger, consolidation or designation described in the foregoing clauses (x) and (y) of this clause (n) and any other related transaction (but without netting the cash proceeds of any amounts then being incurred in reliance on this clause (n)): (1) in the case of any Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien on the assets of Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries, the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio shall be less than or equal to 3.00:1.00 or (2) in the case of any unsecured Indebtedness, the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio shall be less than or equal to 6.00:1.00;

 

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(o) 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;

(p) (i) Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary supported by a letter of credit, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit so long as such letter of credit is otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to this Section 10.1 or (ii) obligations in respect of letters of support, guarantees or similar obligations issued, made or incurred for the benefit of any Subsidiary of Holdings to the extent required by law or in connection with any statutory filing or the delivery of audit opinions performed in jurisdictions other than within the United States;

(q) (1) any guarantee by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of any Restricted Subsidiary so long as in the case of a guarantee of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor such Indebtedness could have been incurred directly by the Restricted Subsidiary providing such guarantee or (2) any guarantee by a Credit Party of Indebtedness of Holdings;

(r) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock incurred or issued by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference that, when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and preferred stock then outstanding and incurred or issued pursuant to this clause (r), does not to exceed the greater of (x) $170,000,000 and (y) 30.0% of Consolidated EBITDA at any one time outstanding;

(s) Indebtedness of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take or pay obligations contained in supply arrangements in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(t) (i) Indebtedness of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries undertaken in connection with cash management and related activities with respect to any Subsidiary or joint venture in the ordinary course of business, including with respect to financial accommodations of the type described in the definition of “Cash Management Services” and (ii) Indebtedness owed on a short term basis of no longer than 30 days to banks and other financial institutions incurred in the ordinary course of business of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries with such banks or financial institutions that arises in connection with ordinary banking arrangements to manage cash balances of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(u) Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to future, current or former officers, directors, managers and employees thereof, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings to the extent described in clause (4) of Section 10.5(b);

(v) Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings that is incurred in connection with lease agreements where such entity is considered the owner for accounting purposes only, or build-to-suit leases, to the extent such entity is involved in the construction of structural improvements or takes construction risk prior to commencement of a lease where such entity does not meet the sale-leaseback criteria for derecognition of the building assets and liability, incurred in the ordinary course of business, and which in all cases is characterized on Holdings’ balance sheet as “Lease Financing Obligations” or any replacement term in accordance with GAAP;

(w) Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with incentive or other economic development programs provided or offered by any Governmental Authority, including, without limitation, tax credit programs, tax-exempt bonds and notes and forgivable loan programs incurred in the ordinary course of business; (x) Indebtedness incurred in connection with “bonds-for-title” or “bond-lease” transactions in the ordinary course of business under Georgia law;

 

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(y) Existing Convertible Indebtedness;

(z) (i) guarantees incurred in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations to suppliers, customers, franchisees, lessors, licenses, sub-licenses and distribution partners and (ii) Indebtedness incurred by Holdings or any Subsidiary as a result of operating leases entered into by the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower in the ordinary course of business;

(aa) (i) Indebtedness in respect of Permitted Debt Exchange Notes incurred pursuant to a Permitted Debt Exchange in accordance with Section 2.15 (and which does not generate any additional proceeds) and (ii) any refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension of any Indebtedness specified in subclause (i) above; provided that (x) the principal amount of any such Indebtedness is not increased above the principal amount thereof outstanding immediately prior to such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension (except for any original issue discount thereon and the amount of fees, expenses, and premium and accrued and unpaid interest in connection with such refinancing) and (y) such Indebtedness otherwise complies with the definition of “Permitted Other Indebtedness”; provided that such Indebtedness may be unsecured or subordinated Indebtedness;

(bb) Indebtedness in respect of any Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or Permitted Warrant Transaction;

(cc) (i) Permitted Other Indebtedness; provided that the aggregate principal amount of all such Permitted Other Indebtedness issued or incurred pursuant to this clause (cc) shall not exceed the Maximum Incremental Facilities Amount at any one time outstanding (provided that, if the applicable Permitted Other Indebtedness then being issued or incurred is unsecured and issued or incurred in reliance on clause (iv) of the definition of “Maximum Incremental Facilities Amount”, then, solely for purposes of determining compliance with this proviso, such Indebtedness shall be deemed to be secured by a lien on the assets of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries) and (ii) any refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension of any Indebtedness specified in subclause (i) above; provided that (x) the principal amount of any such Indebtedness is not increased above the principal amount thereof outstanding immediately prior to such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension (except for any original issue discount thereon and the amount of fees, expenses and premium and accrued and unpaid interest in connection with such refinancing) and (y) such Indebtedness otherwise complies with the definition of “Permitted Other Indebtedness”;

(dd) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock incurred or issued on behalf, or representing guarantees of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock incurred or issued by, joint ventures in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference that, when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and preferred stock then outstanding and incurred or issued pursuant to this clause (dd), does not to exceed the greater of (x) $85,000,000 and (y) 15.0% of Consolidated EBITDA at any one time outstanding; and

(ee) (i) Indebtedness in respect of the 2029 Senior Secured Notes and (ii) Indebtedness in respect of the 2030 Senior Secured Notes.

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 will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock for purposes of this covenant. Any Refinancing Convertible Indebtedness, Refinancing Indebtedness and any Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clauses (a) and (l)(i) above shall be deemed to include additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock incurred to pay premiums (including reasonable tender premiums), defeasance costs, fees, and expenses in connection with such refinancing.

 

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For purposes of determining compliance with any Dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in another 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 another currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable Dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such 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 and accrued and unpaid interest incurred in connection with such refinancing.

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.

This Agreement will not treat (1) unsecured Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to secured Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured or (2) senior Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to any other senior Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority with respect to the same collateral.

10.2 Limitation on Liens.

(a) Holdings will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any property or assets of any kind (real or personal, tangible or intangible) of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (each, a “Subject Lien”), except:

(i) if such Subject Lien is a Permitted Lien; and

(ii) in the case of any asset or property that, but for this clause (ii), does not constitute Collateral, any Subject Lien if the Obligations are equally and ratably secured with (or on a senior basis to, in the case such Subject Lien secures any Subordinated Debt) the obligations secured by such Subject Lien.

(b) Any Lien created for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to clause (ii) in the preceding paragraph shall provide by its terms that such Lien shall be automatically and unconditionally be released and discharged upon the release and discharge of the Subject Lien that gave rise to the obligation to so secure the Obligations.

10.3 Limitation on Fundamental Changes. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any merger, consolidation or amalgamation, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of, all or substantially all its business units, assets or other properties, except that:

(a) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, any Subsidiary of Holdings or any other Person may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into Holdings, SK Retail, Inc. or the Borrower; provided that (A) Holdings, SK Retail, Inc. or the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or (B) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation is not Holdings, SK Retail, Inc. or the Borrower (such other Person, the “Successor Entity”), (1) the Successor Entity shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof, (2) the Successor Entity shall expressly assume all the obligations of Holdings, SK Retail, Inc.

 

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or the Borrower, as applicable, but in any event if the Borrower is a party thereto, the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto or in a form otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (3) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, shall have by a supplement to the Guarantee confirmed that its guarantee thereunder shall apply to any Successor Entity’s obligations under this Agreement, (4) each Subsidiary grantor and each Subsidiary pledgor, unless it is the other party to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, shall have by a supplement to any applicable Security Document affirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to its Guarantee as reaffirmed pursuant to clause (3), (5) [reserved] and (6) the Successor Entity shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent (x) an officer’s certificate stating that such merger, amalgamation, or consolidation and such supplements preserve the enforceability of the Guarantee and the perfection and priority of the Liens under the applicable Security Documents and (y) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, an opinion of counsel to the effect that such merger, amalgamation, or consolidation does not violate this Agreement or any other Credit Document and that the provisions set forth in the preceding clauses (3) through (5) preserve the enforceability of the Guarantee and the perfection of the Liens created under the applicable Security Documents (it being understood that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Entity will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Borrower under this Agreement); provided, further, that the Borrower agrees to provide any documentation and other information about the Successor Entity as shall have been reasonably requested in writing by any Lender through the Administrative Agent that such Lender shall have reasonably determined is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation;

(b) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, any Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Borrower or any Parent Entity of the Borrower) may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into any one or more Subsidiaries of Holdings; provided that (i) in the case of any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving one or more Restricted Subsidiaries of Holdings, (A) a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings shall be the continuing or surviving Person or (B) Holdings shall cause the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation (if other than a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings) to become a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings, (ii) in the case of any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving one or more Guarantors, a Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation and if the surviving Person is not already a Guarantor, such Person shall execute a supplement to the Guarantee and the relevant Security Documents in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in order to become a Guarantor and pledgor, mortgagor and grantor, as applicable, thereunder for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and (iii) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate stating that such merger, amalgamation or consolidation and any such supplements to any Security Document preserve the enforceability of the Guarantees and the perfection and priority of the Liens under the applicable Security Documents;

(c) any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Borrower or any Parent Entity of the Borrower) may merge, dissolve, liquidate, amalgamate, consolidate with or into another Person or dispose of its assets if (i) such transaction is undertaken in good faith to improve the tax efficiency of Holdings and its Subsidiaries and (ii) after giving effect to such transaction, each of the security interest of the Collateral Agent in the Collateral, taken as a whole, and the value of the Guarantees, taken as a whole, is not materially impaired;

(d) (i) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party may convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or dissolution or otherwise) to the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) any Credit Party (other than the Borrower, Holdings or any Parent Entity of the Borrower) may convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or dissolution or otherwise) to any other Credit Party;

(e) (i) any Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Borrower or any Parent Entity thereof) may convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or dissolution or otherwise) to a Credit Party; provided that the consideration for any such disposition by any Person other than a Guarantor shall not exceed the fair value of such assets and (ii) SK Retail, Inc. may convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or dissolution or otherwise) to the Borrower or Holdings; provided that the requirements set forth in clause (a) above, to the extent applicable, are complied with as if SK Retail, Inc.

 

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had been merged with or into Holdings or the Borrower; (f) any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Borrower or any Parent Entity of the Borrower) may liquidate or dissolve if (i) Holdings determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of Holdings and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders and (ii) to the extent such Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings is a Credit Party, any assets of such Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings not otherwise disposed of or transferred in accordance with Section 10.4 or 10.5 or, in the case of any such business, not discontinued, shall be transferred to, or otherwise owned or conducted by, a Credit Party after giving effect to such liquidation or dissolution;

(g) Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries may consummate a merger, dissolution, liquidation, consolidation, investment or conveyance, sale, lease, assignment or disposition, the purpose of which is to effect an Asset Sale permitted by Section 10.4 (or conveyance, sale, lease, assignment or disposition that does not constitute an Asset Sale pursuant to the definition of “Asset Sale”) or an investment permitted pursuant to Section 10.5 or an investment that constitutes a Permitted Investment, in each case, other than in respect of a disposition (or series of related dispositions) or similar transaction (or series of related transactions) that results in the sale, conveyance or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of Holdings, the Borrower or any Parent Entity of the Borrower; and

(h) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and such change would not have a material adverse effect on the guarantees or the Obligations or the Collateral securing the Obligations, Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings may change its legal form.

10.4 Limitation on Sale of Assets. Holdings will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, consummate an Asset Sale, unless:

(a) Holdings 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 at the time of contractually agreeing to such Asset Sale) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of;

(b) except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, at least 75.0% of the consideration therefor received by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

(i) any liabilities (as reflected on Holdings’ most recent consolidated balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto, or if incurred or accrued subsequent to the date of such balance sheet, such liabilities that would have been reflected on Holdings’ consolidated balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto if such incurrence or accrual had taken place on or prior to the date of such balance sheet, as determined in good faith by Holdings) of Holdings, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Loans, that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets (or are otherwise extinguished in connection with the transactions relating to such Asset Sale) and for which Holdings and all such Restricted Subsidiaries have been validly released by all applicable creditors in writing;

(ii) any securities, notes or other obligations or assets received by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents, or by their terms are required to be satisfied for cash or Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received), in each case, within 180 days following the closing of such Asset Sale;

 

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(iii) Indebtedness, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Loans, that are of any Restricted Subsidiary that is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Asset Sale, to the extent that Holdings and all Restricted Subsidiaries have been validly released from any Guarantee of payment of such Indebtedness in connection with such Asset Sale; and (iv) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by Holdings 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 (iv) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $37,000,000 and (y) 6.5% of Consolidated EBITDA at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration, with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value, shall be deemed to be cash for purposes of this Section 10.4 of this provision and for no other purpose.

(c) any Net Cash Proceeds of such Asset Sale that, when taken together with any Net Cash Proceeds received by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of all other Asset Sales consummated during the same fiscal year and not applied or reinvested in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10.4(c), are in excess of the greater of (x) $85,000,000 and (y) 15% of Consolidated EBITDA are used by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary within the Reinvestment Period to either (i) repay, repurchase or otherwise redeem Indebtedness and/or (ii) invest such Net Cash Proceeds in assets useful for the business of Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the Borrower may elect to deem expenditures that otherwise would be permissible reinvestments that occur prior to receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds to have been reinvested in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10.4(c) (it being understood that such deemed expenditures shall have been made no earlier than the earliest of notice of the contemplated Asset Sale to the Administrative Agent, execution of a definitive agreement for such Asset Sale and consummation of such Asset Sale).

10.5 Limitation on Restricted Payments.

(a) Holdings will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any payment or distribution on account of Holdings’ or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Equity Interests, including any dividend or distribution payable in connection with any merger or consolidation, other than:

(A) dividends or distributions by Holdings payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Holdings or in options, warrants or other rights to purchase such Equity Interests, or

(B) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, Holdings 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 Holdings or any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings, including in connection with any merger 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 of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, other than (A) Indebtedness permitted under clauses (g) and (h) of Section 10.1 or (B) the purchase, repurchase or other acquisition of Subordinated Indebtedness purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of purchase, repurchase or acquisition; or

(4) make any Restricted Investment;

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

 

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(i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof (or in the case of a Restricted Investment, no Event of Default under Section 11.1 or 11.5 (solely with respect to Holdings or the Borrower) shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof); and

(ii) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by clause (1) of Section 10.5(b) below, but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by Section 10.5(b)), is less than the sum of (without duplication) (the sum of the amounts attributable to clauses (A) through (E) below is referred to herein as the “Available Amount”):

(A) the greater of (x) $142,000,000 and (y) 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA, plus

(B) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the Fair Market Value of marketable securities or other property received by Holdings since immediately after the Closing Date (other than to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock pursuant to clause (l)(i) of Section 10.1) from the issue or sale of (x) Equity Interests of Holdings (excluding the issuance of Equity Interests with respect to any convertible indebtedness), including Retired Capital Stock, but excluding cash proceeds and the Fair Market Value of marketable securities or other property received from the sale of (A) Equity Interests to any employee, director, officer, manager, consultant or independent contractor of Holdings, any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings and Holdings’ Subsidiaries after the Closing Date to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with clause (4) of Section 10.5(b) below, and (B) Designated Preferred Stock, and, to the extent such net cash proceeds are actually contributed to Holdings, Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings (excluding contributions of the proceeds from the sale of Designated Preferred Stock of such companies or contributions to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with clause (4) of Section 10.5(b) below) or (y) Indebtedness of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary (excluding convertible indebtedness) that has been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings; provided that this clause (B) shall not include the proceeds from (a) Refunding Capital Stock, (b) Equity Interests or Indebtedness that has been converted or exchanged for Equity Interests of Holdings sold to a Restricted Subsidiary or Holdings, as the case may be, (c) Disqualified Stock or Indebtedness that has been converted or exchanged into Disqualified Stock or (d) Excluded Contributions, plus

(C) 100% of the aggregate amount of cash and the Fair Market Value of marketable securities or other property contributed to the capital of Holdings following the Closing Date (other than Equity Interests issued upon conversion of convertible indebtedness or to the extent such net cash proceeds (i) have been used to incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock pursuant to clause (l)(i) of Section 10.1), (ii) are contributed by a Restricted Subsidiary or (iii) constitute Excluded Contributions, plus

(D) 100% of the aggregate amount received in cash and the Fair Market Value of marketable securities or other property received by means of (A) the sale or other disposition (other than to Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary) of Restricted Investments made by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries and repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries and repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constitute Restricted Investments made by Holdings or the Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, after the Closing Date; or (B) the sale (other than to Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than in each case to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (7) of Section 10.5(b) below or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment) or a dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date, plus (E) in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date, the Fair Market Value of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of the redesignation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, other than to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (7) of Section 10.5(b) below or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment.

 

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(b) The foregoing provisions of Section 10.5(a) will not prohibit:

(1) the payment of any dividend or distribution or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof or the giving of such irrevocable notice, as applicable, if at the date of declaration or the giving of such notice such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Agreement;

(2) (a) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“Retired Capital Stock”) or Subordinated Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings, in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Equity Interests of Holdings or any direct or indirect Parent Entity or management investment vehicle to the extent contributed to Holdings (in each case, other than any Disqualified Stock) (“Refunding Capital Stock”) and (b) if immediately prior to the retirement of Retired Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividends thereon was permitted under clause (6) of this Section 10.5(b), the declaration and payment of dividends on the Refunding Capital Stock (other than Refunding Capital Stock the proceeds of which were used to redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings) in an aggregate amount per year no greater than the aggregate amount of dividends per annum that was declarable and payable on such Retired Capital Stock immediately prior to such retirement;

(3) the prepayment, redemption, defeasance, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement for value of Subordinated Indebtedness of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, new Indebtedness of Holdings, or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, which is incurred in compliance with Section 10.1 so long as: (A) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of (or accreted value, if applicable), plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, defeased, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired for value, plus the amount of any premium (including reasonable tender premiums), defeasance costs and any reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, (B) if such Subordinated Indebtedness is subordinated to the Obligations, such new Indebtedness is subordinated to the Obligations or the applicable Guarantee at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness so purchased, exchanged, redeemed, defeased, repurchased, acquired or retired for value, (C) such new Indebtedness has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, defeased, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired, (D) if such Subordinated Indebtedness so purchased, exchanged, redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired for value is (i) unsecured then such new Indebtedness shall be unsecured or (ii) secured by a Lien ranking junior to the Liens securing the Obligations then such new Indebtedness shall be unsecured or secured by a Lien ranking junior to the Liens securing the Obligations, and (E) such new Indebtedness has a weighted average life to maturity equal to or greater than the remaining weighted average life to maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, defeased, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired;

 

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(4) a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings or management investment vehicle held by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager, consultant or independent contractor of Holdings, any of its Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect Parent Entity or management investment vehicle, or their estates, descendants, family, spouse or former spouse pursuant to any equity incentive plan, management equity plan or stock option or phantom equity plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement, or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any principal and interest payable on any notes issued by Holdings or any direct or indirect Parent Entity or management investment vehicle in connection with such repurchase, retirement or other acquisition), including any Equity Interests rolled over by management of Holdings or any direct or Parent Entity or management investment vehicle in connection with the Transactions; provided that, except with respect to non-discretionary purchases, the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (4) subsequent to the Closing Date do not exceed in any calendar year the greater of (x) $142,000,000 and (y) 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA (with unused amounts in any immediately preceding calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years provided the aggregate amount carried over in any calendar year shall not exceed the greater of (x) $57,000,000 and (y) 10.0% of Consolidated EBITDA); provided, further, that both before and after giving effect to any such repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value, no Event of Default shall exist or result therefrom; and provided, further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary from any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, consultants or independent contractors of Holdings, any direct or indirect Parent Entity or management investment vehicle or any Restricted Subsidiary, or their estates, descendants, family, spouse or former spouse pursuant in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of Holdings or any direct or indirect Parent Entity or management investment vehicle will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 10.5 or any other provision of this Agreement;

(5) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or any class or series of preferred stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, issued in accordance with Section 10.1; provided that, for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of such declaration and payment of dividends, after giving effect to such declaration and payment of dividends on a pro forma basis, Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis would have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00;

(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 Holdings after the Closing Date; (B) the declaration and payment of dividends to any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of such parent company issued after the Closing Date; provided that the amount of dividends paid pursuant to this clause (B) shall not exceed the aggregate amount of cash actually contributed to Holdings from the sale of such Designated Preferred Stock; or (C) the declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock in excess of the dividends declarable and payable thereon pursuant to clause (2) of this Section 10.5(b); provided 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, after giving effect to such issuance or declaration on a pro forma basis, Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis would have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00;

 

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(7) (I)(a) the payment of the premium to the hedge provider due under and determined in accordance with a Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction after giving effect to the setoff or any premium or other payments due to Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary under and determined in accordance with such Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or any Permitted Warrant Transaction or (b) any payments or deliveries to the hedge provider required under and determined in accordance with the Permitted Warrant Transaction, in each case, (i) by delivery of Holdings’ Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) upon settlement thereof or (ii) by (A) payment of an early termination amount in common stock upon any early termination thereof or (B) set-off against payments or deliveries received from the hedge provider under a Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or (II) any payments (other than any payment(s) of any premium(s), prepayment amount(s), strike price(s) or other applicable purchase price, costs, expenses or any other payments (whether absolute or contingent) for a Permitted Structured Repurchase Transaction at the time of entry into such Permitted Structured Repurchase Transaction) or deliveries to a Structured Repurchase Dealer required under and determined in accordance with a Permitted Structured Repurchase Transaction, in each case, (i) by delivery of Holdings’ Equity Interests upon settlement thereof or (ii) by payment of an early termination amount in common stock upon any early termination thereof; (8) (i) payments made or expected to be made by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of withholding or similar Taxes payable or expected to be payable by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager, consultant or independent contractor of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings (or their respective Affiliates, management investment vehicles, estates, descendants, family members, spouses and former spouses and any trusts, limited liability companies, corporations, partnerships or other entities for the benefit of, or controlled by, any of the foregoing) in connection with the exercise of stock options or the grant, vesting or delivery of Equity Interests (including, without limitation, restricted stock units) of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings) and repurchases of Equity Interests (including, without limitation, restricted stock units) deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options or the grant, vesting or delivery of Equity Interests to the extent the Equity Interests subject to such repurchase represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants, (ii) payments or other adjustments to outstanding Equity Interests in accordance with any incentive equity plan, management equity plan, stock option plan or any other similar employee benefit plan, agreement or arrangement in connection with any Restricted Payment and (iii) so long as any Restricted Subsidiary is a member of a consolidated, combined or unitary group of which Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent entity of Holdings) is the parent for foreign, federal, state, provincial or local income Tax purposes, payments the proceeds of which will be used to pay the Tax liability to each foreign, federal, state, provincial or local jurisdiction in respect of which such a consolidated, combined, unitary or affiliated income Tax return is filed by Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent entity of Holdings) that includes the Restricted Subsidiary, to the extent such Tax liability is attributable to the taxable income of such Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (x) for each taxable period, the amount of such payments made with respect to such taxable period shall not exceed the amount that the relevant Restricted Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries would have been required to pay as a stand-alone Tax group; and (y) the permitted payment pursuant to this clause (iii) with respect to the Taxes of any Unrestricted Subsidiary for any taxable period shall be limited to the amount actually paid by such Unrestricted Subsidiary to Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for the purpose of paying such consolidated, combined, unitary or affiliated Taxes;

(9) [reserved];

(10) Restricted Payments in an amount that does not exceed the amount of Excluded Contributions made since the Closing Date;

(11) other Restricted Payment in an aggregate amount taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (11) not to exceed the greater of (a) $142,000,000 and (b) 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA at the time made;

(12) distributions or payments of Receivables Fees;

(13) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (13) that are at the time outstanding, without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash, Cash Equivalents or marketable securities, not to exceed the greater of (x) $114,000,000 and (y) 20.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period 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);

(14) other Restricted Payments; provided that after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted Payments, the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio shall be less than or equal to the maximum Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio permitted under Section 10.7 as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period (determined after giving effect to any applicable Step-Up as if such Step-Up had been effective as of the last day of the then most recently ended Test Period);

(15) repurchases of Equity Interests of Holdings issued upon a conversion or exchange of any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness (and the payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares) with the proceeds of any other Permitted Convertible Indebtedness incurred substantially concurrently with such conversion or exchange; (16) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests of Holdings 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 Holdings, in each case, permitted under this Agreement;

 

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(17) the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the primary assets of which are cash and/or Cash Equivalents);

(18) the prepayment, redemption, defeasance, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement for value of Subordinated Debt in an aggregate amount pursuant to this clause (18) not to exceed the greater of (x) $142,000,000 and (y) 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period; and

(19) payments or distributions to satisfy dissenters’ rights, pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of assets that complies with Section 10.3;

provided that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (10) (but only if the Excluded Contribution was made more than six months prior to such time), (11), (14) and (18) above, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof (or in the case of a Restricted Investment, no Event of Default under Section 11.1 or 11.5 (solely with respect to Holdings or the Borrower) shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof).

Holdings will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the last sentence of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”. For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investment”. Such designation will be permitted only if a Restricted Payment in such amount would be permitted at such time, whether pursuant to Section 10.5(a) or under clauses (10), (11) or (13) of Section 10.5(b), or pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments”, and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”. Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Agreement.

(c) To the extent any Permitted Debt Exchange Notes are issued pursuant to Section 10.1(aa) for the purpose of consummating a Permitted Debt Exchange, (i) Holdings will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, prepay, repurchase, redeem or otherwise defease or acquire any Permitted Debt Exchange Notes unless Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary shall concurrently voluntarily prepay Term Loans pursuant to Section 5.1 on a pro rata basis among the Term Loans, in an amount not less than the product of (a) a fraction, the numerator of which is the aggregate principal amount (calculated on the face amount thereof) of such Permitted Debt Exchange Notes that are proposed to be prepaid, repurchased, redeemed, defeased or acquired and the denominator of which is the aggregate principal amount (calculated on the face amount thereof) of all Permitted Debt Exchange Notes in respect of the relevant Permitted Debt Exchange then outstanding (prior to giving effect to such proposed prepayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or acquisition) and (b) the aggregate principal amount (calculated on the face amount thereof) of Term Loans then outstanding and (ii) Holdings will not waive, amend or modify the terms of any Permitted Debt Exchange Notes or any indenture pursuant to which such Permitted Debt Exchange Notes have been issued in any manner inconsistent with the terms of Section 2.15(a), Section 10.1(aa), or the definition of “Permitted Other Indebtedness” or that would result in a Default hereunder if such Permitted Debt Exchange Notes (as so amended or modified) were then being issued or incurred.

10.6 Limitation on Subsidiary Distributions. Holdings will not permit any of the 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:

(a) (i) pay dividends or make any other distributions to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits or (ii) pay any Indebtedness owed to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary; (b) make loans or advances to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

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(c) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;

except (in each case) for such encumbrances or restrictions (x) which the Borrower has reasonably determined in good faith will not materially impair the Borrower’s ability to make payments under this Agreement when due or (y) existing under or by reason of:

(i) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Closing Date, including pursuant to this Agreement and the related documentation and related Hedging Obligations;

(ii) [reserved];

(iii) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and Capitalized Lease Obligations that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in clause (c) above on the property so acquired;

(iv) Requirements of Law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;

(v) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by or merged or consolidated with or into Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, or of an Unrestricted Subsidiary that is designated a Restricted Subsidiary, or that is assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person, in each case that is in existence at the time of such transaction (but not created in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired or designated;

(vi) contracts for the sale of assets, including customary restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary of Holdings 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 and restrictions on transfer of assets subject to Permitted Liens;

(vii) (x) secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to Sections 10.1 and 10.2 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness and (y) restrictions on transfers of assets subject to Permitted Liens (but, with respect to any such Permitted Lien, only to the extent that such transfer restrictions apply solely to the assets that are the subject of such Permitted Lien);

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

(ix) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred subsequent to the Closing Date pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.1;

(x) customary provisions in joint venture agreements or arrangements and other similar agreements or arrangements relating solely to such joint venture and the Equity Interests issued thereby;

(xi) customary provisions contained in leases, sub-leases, licenses, sub-licenses or similar agreements, in each case, entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(xii) restrictions created in connection with any Receivables Facility that, in the good faith determination of the board of directors of Holdings, are necessary or advisable to effect such Receivables Facility; and (xiii) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (a), (b), and (c) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (i) through (xii) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements, or refinancings (x) are, in the good faith judgment of Holdings’ board of directors, no more restrictive in any material respect 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 or (y) do not materially impair the Borrower’s ability to pay its respective obligations under the Credit Documents as and when due (as determined in good faith by the Borrower).

10.7 Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio. Holdings will not permit the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio as of the last day of any Test Period to be greater than 4.00 to 1.00.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the consummation of a Material Permitted Acquisition, the maximum Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio permitted under this Section 10.7 shall automatically and immediately increase to 4.50 to 1.00 (each such increase, a “Step-Up” beginning with, the last day of the fiscal quarter during which such Material Permitted Acquisition was consummated), which increase shall remain in effect through and including the last day of the fourth fiscal quarter ending after the date such Material Permitted Acquisition is consummated (for the avoidance of doubt, such Step-Up shall be applicable for four fiscal quarters).

10.8 Limitations on Dispositions and Other Transfers of Material Intellectual Property. No Credit Party shall sell, lease, sublease, dispose of or otherwise transfer (including pursuant to an Investment) any Material Intellectual Property that is owned by or exclusively licensed to a Credit Party to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Credit Parties may enter into non-exclusive intercompany intellectual property licenses and research and development arrangements in the ordinary course of business.

Section 11. Events of Default

Upon the occurrence of any of the following specified events (each an “Event of Default”):

11.1 Payments. The Borrower shall (a) default in the payment when due of any principal of the Loans or (b) default, and such default shall continue for five or more Business Days, in the payment when due of any interest on the Loans or any Fees or any Unpaid Drawings or of any other amounts owing hereunder or under any other Credit Document; or

11.2 Representations, Etc. Any representation, warranty or statement made or deemed made by any Credit Party herein or in any other Credit Document or any certificate delivered or required to be delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall prove to be untrue in any material respect on the date as of which made or deemed made, and, to the extent capable of being cured (except those in the Credit Documents made or deemed made on the Closing Date), such incorrect representation or warranty shall remain incorrect for a period of 30 days after written notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower; or

11.3 Covenants. Any Credit Party shall:

(a) default in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 9.1(e)(i), Section 9.5 (solely with respect to Holdings or the Borrower), Section 9.13, Section 9.14(d) or Section 10; or

 

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11.4 Default Under Other Agreements.

(b) default in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement (other than those referred to in Section 11.1 or 11.2 or clause (a) of this Section 11.3) contained in this Agreement or any Security Document and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of at least 30 days after receipt of written notice by Holdings from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders; or (a) Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall (i) fail to make any payment with respect to any Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) in an aggregate outstanding principal amount in excess of $125,000,000, for Holdings and such Restricted Subsidiaries, beyond the period of grace and following all required notices, if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such Indebtedness was created or (ii) default in the observance or performance of any agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event shall occur or condition exist (after giving effect to all applicable grace or cure periods and delivery of all required notices) (other than, with respect to Indebtedness consisting of any Hedge Agreements, termination events or equivalent events pursuant to the terms of such Hedge Agreements (it being understood that clause (i) above shall apply to any failure to make any payment with respect to any Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) in an aggregate outstanding principal amount in excess of $125,000,000 that is required as a result of any such termination or similar event and that is not otherwise being contested in good faith)), the effect of which default or other event or condition 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) to cause, any such Indebtedness to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity; provided that this clause (a) shall not apply to (x) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the sale, transfer or other disposition (including as a result of a casualty or condemnation event) of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness (to the extent such sale, transfer or other disposition is not prohibited under this Agreement), (y) any Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of a voluntary prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, or any refinancing thereof, permitted under this Agreement and (z) any conversion or exchange of Indebtedness that is convertible into or exchangeable for Qualified Stock of Holdings and cash in lieu of fractional shares and/or cash (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such Qualified Stock); provided that, (x) in the case of any such conversion into or exchange for cash (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such Qualified Stock), payment of such cash upon such conversion or exchange is permitted at such time by Section 10.05 and (y) such conversion or exchange is not triggered by a default or event of default under such Indebtedness.

(b) Without limiting the provisions of clause (a) above, any Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount in excess of $125,000,000 shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or as a mandatory prepayment (and, with respect to Indebtedness consisting of any Hedge Agreements, other than due to a termination event or equivalent event pursuant to the terms of such Hedge Agreements), prior to the stated maturity thereof; provided that this clause (b) shall not apply to (w) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the sale, transfer or other disposition (including as a result of a casualty or condemnation event) of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness (to the extent such sale, transfer or other disposition is not prohibited under this Agreement), (x) any Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of a voluntary prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, or any refinancing thereof, permitted under this Agreement, (y) any conversion or exchange of Indebtedness that is convertible into or exchangeable for Qualified Stock of Holdings and cash in lieu of fractional shares and/or cash (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such Qualified Stock); provided that, (x) in the case of any such conversion into or exchange for cash (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such Qualified Stock), payment of such cash upon such conversion or exchange is permitted at such time by Section 10.05 and (y) such conversion or exchange is not triggered by a default or event of default under such Indebtedness, or (z) any breach or default that is (I) remedied by Holdings or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary or (II) waived (including in the form of amendment) by the required holders of the applicable item of Indebtedness, in either case, prior to the acceleration of Loans pursuant to this Section 11.

11.5 Bankruptcy, Etc. Except as otherwise permitted by Section 10.3, Holdings, SK Retail, Inc., the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall commence a voluntary case, proceeding or action concerning itself under (a) Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy” or (b) in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary, any domestic or foreign law relating to bankruptcy, judicial management, insolvency, reorganization, administration or relief of debtors in effect in its jurisdiction of incorporation, in each case as now or hereafter in effect, or any successor thereto (collectively, the “Bankruptcy Code”); or an involuntary case, proceeding or action is commenced against Holdings, SK Retail, Inc., the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary and the petition is not dismissed within 60 days after commencement of the case, proceeding or action; or a custodian (as defined in the Bankruptcy Code), judicial manager, compulsory manager, receiver, receiver manager, trustee, liquidator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar Person is appointed for, or takes charge of, all or substantially all of the property of Holdings, SK Retail, Inc., the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary; or Holdings, SK Retail, Inc., the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary commences any other voluntary proceeding or action under any reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debt, relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency, winding-up, administration or liquidation or similar law of any jurisdiction whether now or hereafter in effect relating to Holdings, SK Retail, Inc., the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary; or there is commenced against Holdings, SK Retail, Inc., the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary any such proceeding or action that remains undismissed for a period of 60 days; or Holdings, SK Retail, Inc., the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary is adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt; or any order of relief or other order approving any such case or proceeding or action is entered; or Holdings, SK Retail, Inc., the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary suffers any appointment of any custodian receiver, receiver manager, trustee, administrator or the like for it or any substantial part of its property to continue undischarged or unstayed for a period of 60 days; or Holdings, SK Retail, Inc., the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or any corporate action is taken by Holdings, SK Retail, Inc., the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing; or

 

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11.6 ERISA. (a) An ERISA Event or a Foreign Plan Event shall have occurred, (b) a trustee shall be appointed by a United States district court to administer any Pension Plan(s), (c) the PBGC shall institute proceedings to terminate any Pension Plan(s), or (d) any Credit Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates shall have been notified by the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan that it has incurred or will be assessed Withdrawal Liability to such Multiemployer Plan and such entity does not have reasonable grounds for contesting such Withdrawal Liability or is not contesting such Withdrawal Liability in a timely and appropriate manner; and in each case in clauses (a) through (d) above, such event or condition, together with all other such events or conditions, if any, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or

11.7 Credit Documents; Guarantee. Any material provision of any Credit Document shall for any reason be asserted in writing by any Credit Party not to be a legal, valid and binding obligation of any party thereto (other than in accordance with its terms). Any Guarantee provided by any Credit Party or any material provision thereof shall cease to be in full force or effect (other than pursuant to the terms hereof and thereof) or any such Guarantor thereunder or any other Credit Party shall deny or disaffirm in writing any such Guarantor’s obligations under the Guarantee; or

11.8 Pledge Agreement. The Pledge Agreement or any other Security Document pursuant to which the Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of the Borrower, SK Retail, Inc. or any Material Subsidiary is pledged shall cease to be in full force or effect or any material portion of the Collateral pledged thereunder shall cease to be subject to a valid and perfected security interest (other than pursuant to the terms hereof or thereof, as a result of acts or omissions of the Collateral Agent or any Lender or as a result of the Collateral Agent’s failure to maintain possession of any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents that have been previously delivered to it) or any pledgor thereunder or any Credit Party shall deny or disaffirm in writing any pledgor’s obligations under any Security Document; or

11.9 Security Agreement. The Security Agreement or any other Security Document pursuant to which the assets of Holdings, SK Retail, Inc., the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary are pledged as Collateral shall cease to be in full force or effect or any material portion of the Collateral pledged thereunder shall cease to be subject to a valid and perfected security interest (other than pursuant to the terms hereof or thereof, as a result of acts or omissions of the Collateral Agent in respect of certificates, promissory notes or instruments actually delivered to it (including as a result of the Collateral Agent’s failure to file a Uniform Commercial Code continuation statement)) or any grantor thereunder or any Credit Party shall deny or disaffirm in writing any grantor’s obligations under the Security Agreement or any other Security Document; or

11.10 Judgments. One or more final judgments or decrees shall be entered against Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries involving a liability in excess of $125,000,000 in the aggregate for all such judgments and decrees for Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries (to the extent not covered by insurance or indemnities as to which the applicable insurance company or third party has not denied coverage) and any such judgments or decrees shall not have been satisfied, vacated, discharged or stayed or bonded pending appeal within 60 days after the entry thereof; or

11.11 Change of Control. A Change of Control shall occur.

 

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11.12 Remedies Upon Event of Default. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, upon the written request of the Required Lenders, by written notice to Holdings, take any or all of the following actions, without prejudice to the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to enforce its claims against Holdings and the Borrower, except as otherwise specifically provided for in this Agreement (provided that, if an Event of Default specified in Section 11.5 shall occur with respect to Holdings or the Borrower, the result that would occur upon the giving of written notice by the Administrative Agent as specified in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) below shall occur automatically without the giving of any such notice): (i) declare the Total Revolving Credit Commitment terminated, whereupon the Revolving Credit Commitment, if any, of each Lender, as the case may be, shall forthwith terminate immediately and any Fees theretofore accrued shall forthwith become due and payable without any other notice of any kind; (ii) declare the principal of and any accrued interest and fees in respect of all Loans and all Obligations to be, whereupon the same shall become, forthwith due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law; (iii) terminate any Letter of Credit that may be terminated in accordance with its terms; and/or (iv) direct the Borrower to pay (and the Borrower agree that upon receipt of such notice, or upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 11.5 with respect to Holdings or the Borrower, it will pay) to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office such additional amounts of cash, to be held as security for the Borrower’s respective Reimbursement Obligations for Unpaid Drawings that may subsequently occur thereunder, equal to the aggregate Stated Amount of all Letters of Credit issued and then outstanding.

11.13 Application of Proceeds. Subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any other Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement then in effect, any amount received by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent from any Credit Party (or from proceeds of any Collateral) following any acceleration of the Obligations under this Agreement or any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower under Section 11.5 shall be applied:

(i) first, to the payment of all reasonable and documented costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in connection with any collection or sale of the Collateral or otherwise in connection with any Credit Document, including all court costs and the reasonable fees and expenses of its agents and legal counsel, the repayment of all advances made by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Credit Document on behalf of any Credit Party and any other reasonable and documented costs or expenses incurred in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under any other Credit Document to the extent reimbursable hereunder or thereunder;

(ii) second, to the Secured Parties, an amount (x) equal to all Obligations owing to them on the date of any distribution and (y) sufficient to Cash Collateralize all Letters of Credit Outstanding on the date of any distribution, and, if such moneys shall be insufficient to pay such amounts in full and Cash Collateralize all Letters of Credit Outstanding, then ratably (without priority of any one over any other) to such Secured Parties in proportion to the unpaid amounts thereof and to Cash Collateralize the Letters of Credit Outstanding; and

(iii) third, any surplus then remaining shall be paid to the applicable Credit Parties or their successors or assigns or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct;

provided that any amount applied to Cash Collateralize any Letters of Credit Outstanding that has not been applied to reimburse the Borrower for Unpaid Drawings under the applicable Letters of Credit at the time of expiration of all such Letters of Credit shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the order specified in clauses (i) through (iii) above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, amounts received from any Guarantor that is not an “Eligible Contract Participant” (as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act) shall not be applied to its Obligations that are Excluded Swap Obligations.

Section 12. The Agents

13.1 Appointment.

(a) Each Lender hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Administrative Agent as the agent of such Lender under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent, in such capacity, to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

 

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The provisions of this Section 12 (other than Section 12.1(c) with respect to the Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners and Sections 12.1, 12.9, 12.11 and 12.12 with respect to Holdings) are solely for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders, none of Holdings or any other Credit Party shall have rights as third party beneficiary of any such provision. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, or any fiduciary relationship with any Lender, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Credit Document or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent. In performing its functions and duties hereunder, each Agent shall act solely as an agent of Lenders and does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation towards or relationship of agency or trust with or for Holdings or any of its respective Subsidiaries.

(b) The Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Letter of Credit Issuer hereby irrevocably designate and appoint the Collateral Agent as the agent with respect to the Collateral, and each of the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Letter of Credit Issuer irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent, in such capacity, to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Collateral Agent by the terms of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth herein, or any fiduciary relationship with any of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders or the Letter of Credit Issuers, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Credit Document or otherwise exist against the Collateral Agent.

(c) The Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners, in their capacities as such, shall not have any obligations, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement but shall be entitled to all benefits of this Section 12.

12.2 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may each execute any of its duties under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents by or through agents, sub-agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. Neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents, subagents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it in the absence of its gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined in the final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).

12.3 Exculpatory Provisions. No Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates shall be (a) liable for any action lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Credit Document (except for its or such Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined in the final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein), (b) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders or any participant for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Credit Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Credit Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by such Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Credit Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Credit Document, or the creation, perfection or priority of any Lien or security interest created or purported to be created under the Security Documents, or for any failure of any Credit Party to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder, or (c) responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions of this Agreement relating to Disqualified Lenders. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (x) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant is a Disqualified Institution or (y) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans, or disclosure of confidential information, to any Disqualified Lender. No Agent shall be under any obligation to any Lender 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 Credit Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Credit Party or any Affiliate thereof. The Collateral Agent shall not be under any obligation to the Administrative Agent or any Lender 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 Credit Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Credit Party.

 

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12.4 Reliance by Agents. The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telecopy, telex or teletype message, statement, order or other document or instruction 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 Holdings), independent accountants and other experts selected by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent. The Administrative Agent may deem and treat the Lender specified in the Register with respect to any amount owing hereunder as the owner thereof for all purposes unless a written notice of assignment, negotiation or transfer thereof shall have been filed with the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement or any other Credit Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense that may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents in accordance with a request of the Required Lenders, and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders and all future holders of the Loans; provided that the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or in the opinion of its counsel, may expose it to liability or that is contrary to any Credit Document or applicable law.

12.5 Notice of Default. Neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default hereunder unless the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent has received written notice from a Lender or Holdings or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” In the event that the Administrative Agent receives such a notice, it shall give notice thereof to the Lenders and the Collateral Agent. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed by the Required Lenders; provided that unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have received such directions, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Lenders except to the extent that this Agreement requires that such action be taken only with the approval of the Required Lenders or each of the Lenders, as applicable.

12.6 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, and Other Lenders. Each Lender expressly acknowledges that neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates has made any representations or warranties to it and that no act by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent hereinafter taken, including any review of the affairs of any Credit Party, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to any Lender or any Letter of Credit Issuer. Each Lender and the Letter of Credit Issuer represents to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and each other Credit Party and made its own decision to make its Loans hereunder and enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any other Lender, 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 Credit Documents, and to make such investigation as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of any of the Credit Parties. Except for notices, reports, and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent hereunder, neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, assets, operations, properties, financial condition, prospects or creditworthiness of any Credit Party that may come into the possession of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates.

 

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12.7 Indemnification. The Lenders agree to severally indemnify each Agent in its capacity as such (to the extent not reimbursed by the Credit Parties and without limiting the obligation of the Credit Parties to do so), ratably according to their respective portions of the Total Credit Exposure in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought (or, if indemnification is sought after the date upon which the Commitments shall have terminated and the Loans shall have been paid in full, ratably in accordance with their respective portions of the Total Credit Exposure in effect immediately prior to such date), from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses, or disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time (including at any time following the payment of the Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against an Agent in any way relating to or arising out of the Commitments, this Agreement, any of the other Credit Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that no Lender shall be liable to an Agent for the payment of 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 determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; provided, further, that no action taken by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the directions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be required by the Credit Documents) shall be deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section 12.7. In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time occur (including at any time following the payment of the Loans), this Section 12.7 applies whether any such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Lender or any other Person. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse each Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by such Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice rendered in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Credit Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that such Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of Holdings or the Borrower; provided that such reimbursement by the Lenders shall not affect Holdings’ or the Borrower’s continuing Reimbursement Obligations with respect thereto. If any indemnity furnished to any Agent for any purpose shall, in the opinion of such Agent, be insufficient or become impaired, such Agent may call for additional indemnity and cease, or not commence, to do the acts indemnified against until such additional indemnity is furnished; provided, in no event shall this sentence require any Lender to indemnify any Agent against any liability, obligation, loss, damage, penalty, action, judgment, suit, cost, expense or disbursement in excess of such Lender’s pro rata portion thereof; and provided, further, this sentence shall not be deemed to require any Lender to indemnify any Agent against any liability, obligation, loss, damage, penalty, action, judgment, suit, cost, expense or disbursement resulting from such Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. The agreements in this Section 12.7 shall survive the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder. The indemnity provided to each Agent under this Section 12.7 shall also apply to such Agent’s respective Affiliates, directors, officers, members, controlling persons, employees, trustees, investment advisors and agents and successors. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 12.7, the term “Lender” includes any Letter of Credit Issuer.

12.8 Agents in Their Individual Capacities. The agency hereby created shall in no way impair or affect any of the rights and powers of, or impose any duties or obligations upon, any Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender hereunder. Each Agent and its Affiliates may make loans to, accept deposits from and generally engage in any kind of business with any Credit Party as though such Agent were not an Agent hereunder and under the other Credit Documents. With respect to the Loans made by it, each Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as any Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent, and the terms Lender and Lenders shall include each Agent in its individual capacity.

12.9 Successor Agents.

(a) Each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the Letter of Credit Issuer and Holdings. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, subject to the consent of the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) so long as no Event of Default under Sections 11.1 or 11.5 (solely with respect to Holdings or the Borrower) has occurred and is continuing, to 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. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Agent may on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above (including receipt of the Borrower’s consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed)); provided that if the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice (the “Resignation Effective Date”).

 

 

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(b) If the Person serving as the Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (v) of the definition of “Lender Default”, the Required Lenders may to the extent permitted by applicable law, subject to the consent of the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person remove such Person as the Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

(c) With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable), (1) the retiring or removed agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Credit Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the Letter of Credit Issuer under any of the Credit Documents, the retiring or removed Collateral Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security as nominee until such time as a successor Collateral Agent is appointed) and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and the Letter of Credit Issuer directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Agent as provided for above in this paragraph. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, hereunder, and upon the execution and filing or recording of such financing statements, or amendments thereto, and such other instruments or notices, as may be necessary or desirable, or as the Required Lenders may request, in order to continue the perfection of the Liens granted or purported to be granted by the Security Documents, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) or removed Agent, and the retiring or removed Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Credit Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section 12.9). Except as provided above, any resignation or removal of Citibank, N.A. as the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 12.9 shall also constitute the resignation or removal of Citibank, N.A. as the Collateral Agent. The fees payable by Holdings or the Borrower (following the effectiveness of such appointment) to such Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between Holdings or the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring or removed Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Credit Documents, the provisions of this Section 12 (including Section 12.7) and Section 13.5 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed Agent was acting as an Agent.

(d) Any resignation by or removal of Citibank, N.A. as the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 12.9 shall also constitute its resignation or removal as as a Letter of Credit Issuer (if such Affiliate or Citibank, N.A. is a Letter of Credit Issuer). Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Letter of Credit Issuer, (b) the retiring Letter of Credit Issuer (if an Affiliate of Citibank, N.A. is a Letter of Credit Issuer or if Citibank, N.A. is a Letter of Credit Issuer) shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Credit Documents, and (c) the successor Letter of Credit Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring Letter of Credit Issuer (if an Affiliate of Citibank, N.A. or Citibank, N.A. is a Letter of Credit Issuer) to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring Letter of Credit Issuer (if an Affiliate or Citibank, N.A. or Citibank, N.A. is a Letter of Credit Issuer) with respect to such Letters of Credit.

12.10 Withholding Tax. To the extent required by any applicable law, the Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender under any Credit Document an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax.

 

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If the Internal Revenue Service or any authority of the United States or other jurisdiction asserts a claim that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold Tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender for any reason (including because the appropriate form was not delivered, was not properly executed, or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstances that rendered the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding Tax ineffective) or if the Administrative Agent reasonably determines that a payment was made to a Lender pursuant to this Agreement without deduction of applicable withholding Tax from such payment, such Lender shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (to the extent that the Administrative Agent has not already been reimbursed by any applicable Credit Party and without limiting the obligation of any applicable Credit Party to do so) fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as Tax or otherwise, including penalties, additions to Tax and interest, together with all expenses incurred, including legal expenses, allocated staff costs and any out-of-pocket expenses. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any other Credit Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this Section 12.10. The agreements in Section 12.10 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 the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 12.10, the term Lender includes the Letter of Credit Issuer.

12.11 Agents Under Security Documents and Guarantee. Each Secured Party hereby further authorizes the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, on behalf of and for the benefit of the Secured Parties, to be the agent for and representative of the Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral and the Security Documents. Subject to Section 13.1, without further written consent or authorization from any Secured Party, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, may execute any documents or instruments necessary to (a) release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent (or any sub-agent thereof) under any Credit Document (i) upon the termination of all Commitments and all Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized) and the payment in full (or Cash Collateralization) of all Obligations (except for contingent indemnification obligations in respect of which a claim has not yet been made and Secured Hedge Obligations and Secured Cash Management Obligations), (ii) that is sold or transferred as part of or in connection with any sale or other transfer permitted hereunder or under any other Credit Document to a Person that is not a Credit Party or in connection with the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (iii) if the property subject to such Lien is owned by a Guarantor, upon the release of such Guarantor from its Guarantee otherwise in accordance with the Credit Documents, (iv) as to the extent provided in the Security Documents, (v) that constitutes Excluded Property or Excluded Stock and Stock Equivalents or (vi) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing in accordance with Section 13.1; (b) release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guarantee if such Person ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary (or becomes an Excluded Subsidiary) as a result of a transaction or designation permitted hereunder; (c) subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under any Credit Document to the holder of any Lien permitted under clauses (vi) (solely with respect to Section 10.1(d)) or (ix) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”; or (d) enter into subordination agreement or Acceptable Intercreditor Agreements with respect to Indebtedness to the extent the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent is otherwise contemplated herein as being a party to such Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement or subordination agreement.

The Collateral Agent shall have its own independent right to demand payment of the amounts payable by the Borrower under this Section 12.11, irrespective of any discharge of the Borrower’s obligations to pay those amounts to the other Lenders resulting from failure by them to take appropriate steps in insolvency proceedings affecting the Borrower to preserve their entitlement to be paid those amounts.

Any amount due and payable by the Borrower to the Collateral Agent under this Section 12.11 shall be decreased to the extent that the other Lenders have received (and are able to retain) payment in full of the corresponding amount under the other provisions of the Credit Documents and any amount due and payable by the Borrower to the Collateral Agent under those provisions shall be decreased to the extent that the Collateral Agent has received (and is able to retain) payment in full of the corresponding amount under this Section 12.11.

12.12 Right to Realize on Collateral and Enforce Guarantee.

 

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Anything contained in any of the Credit Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, Holdings, the Agents, and each Secured Party hereby agree that (i) no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce the Guarantee, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights, and remedies hereunder may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms hereof and all powers, rights, and remedies under the Security Documents may be exercised solely by the Collateral Agent, and (ii) in the event of a foreclosure by the Collateral Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or other disposition, the Collateral Agent or any Lender 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 unless Required Lenders shall otherwise agree in writing) shall be entitled, 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 public sale, 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. No holder of Secured Hedge Obligations or Secured Cash Management Obligations shall have any rights in connection with the management or release of any Collateral or of the obligations of any Credit Party under this Agreement. No holder of Secured Hedge Obligations or Secured Cash Management Obligations that obtains the benefits of any Guarantee or any Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or of any other Credit 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 Credit Document or otherwise in respect of the Collateral (including the release or impairment of any Collateral) other than in its capacity as a Lender or Agent and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Credit Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement 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, Obligations arising under Secured Hedge Agreements and Secured Cash Management Agreements, unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice of such Obligations, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be.

12.13 Intercreditor Agreements. Each Secured Party (a) hereby agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement entered into by the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms hereof and (b) hereby authorizes and instructs the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to negotiate, execute, deliver and perform on behalf of the Secured Parties the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any intercreditor agreement or any amendment (or amendment and restatement) thereto, in each case, contemplated to be entered into pursuant to the terms hereof in connection with any incurrence of Indebtedness permitted hereunder to be secured by Liens on the Collateral on a pari passu or junior lien basis with the Obligations; provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole and reasonable discretion, elect to post any proposed intercreditor agreement or any amendment (or amendment and restatement) thereto to all Lenders and refrain from executing and delivering the same if at any time during the five Business Day period following the date such proposed intercreditor agreement or any amendment (or amendment and restatement) thereto has been posted (which period shall be calculated inclusive of the Business Day on which such proposed intercreditor agreement or any amendment (or amendment and restatement) thereto is posted if the same is posted during normal business hours) it receives a written notice from the Required Lenders stating that the Required Lenders have determined that entry by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, into such intercreditor agreement or amendment (or amendment and restatement) thereto is not permitted by this Agreement (and including a reasonably detailed description of the basis of such determination).

12.14 The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Credit Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or outstanding Letter of Credit shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, 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, Letters of Credit Outstanding 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 Letter of Credit Issuer and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the Letter of Credit Issuer and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the Letter of Credit Issuer and the Administrative Agent under Section 4 and Section 12.4) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and the Letter of Credit Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, if the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the Letter of Credit Issuer, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its Agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Section 4 and Section 12.4.

 

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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 Letter of Credit Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer or in any such proceeding.

12.15 ERISA Representation of the Lenders.

(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, the Agents and their respective Affiliates and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments, or this Agreement,

(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement,

(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of subsections (b) through (g) and subsection (k) 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, the Agents and their respective Affiliates and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that 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 Credit Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).

 

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12.16 Erroneous Distributions.

(a) If the Administrative Agent notifies a Lender, Letter of Credit Issuer, Secured Party or other recipient that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such recipient from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates were erroneously transmitted to, or otherwise erroneously or mistakenly received by, such recipient (whether or not known to such recipient) (any such funds whether as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts; a distribution or otherwise; individually and collectively, a “Payment” and any such recipient, an “Unintended Recipient”) and demands the return of such Payment (or a portion thereof), such Unintended Recipient shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made, in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Unintended Recipient to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in same day funds at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.

(b) To the extent permitted by applicable law, each party hereto and each Secured Party shall not assert any right or claim to the Payment, and hereby waives, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Payments received, including without limitation waiver of any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine.

(c) A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Unintended Recipient under clause (a) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(d) If an Unintended Recipient receives a Payment from the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates)

(i) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment or calculation statement sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such Payment (a “Payment Notice”),

(ii) that was not preceded or accompanied by a Payment Notice, or

(iii) that such Unintended Recipient otherwise becomes aware was transmitted, or received, in error or mistake (in whole or in part) or such Payment is otherwise inconsistent with such recipient’s or market expectations,

in each case, an error shall be presumed to have been made with respect to such Payment absent written confirmation from the Administrative Agent to the contrary. Upon demand from the Administrative Agent, such Unintended Recipient shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made.

(e) The Borrower and each other Credit Party hereby agrees that the receipt by an Unintended Recipient of a Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed to such Unintended Recipient by the Borrower or any other Credit Party, except to the extent such Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such Payment that is, comprised of funds of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries.

Section 13. Miscellaneous

13.1 Amendments, Waivers, and Releases. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in the Credit Documents, neither this Agreement nor any other Credit Document, nor any terms hereof or thereof, may be amended, supplemented or modified except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 13.1.

 

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Except as provided to the contrary under Section 2.10(c), (d), (h) or (i), Section 2.14 or 2.15 or the fifth and sixth paragraphs hereof in respect of Replacement Term Loans, and other than with respect to any amendment, modification or waiver contemplated in the second proviso below, which shall only require the consent of the Lenders expressly set forth therein and not the Required Lenders, the Required Lenders may, or, with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent may, from time to time, (a) enter into with the relevant Credit Party or Credit Parties written amendments, supplements or modifications hereto and to the other Credit Documents for the purpose of adding any provisions to this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or changing in any manner the rights of the Lenders or of the Credit Parties hereunder or thereunder or (b) waive in writing, on such terms and conditions as the Required Lenders or the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, may specify in such instrument, any of the requirements of this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or any Default or Event of Default and its consequences; provided, however, that each such waiver and each such amendment, supplement or modification shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; and provided, further, that no such waiver and no such amendment, supplement or modification shall (x) (i) forgive or reduce any portion of any Loan or extend the final scheduled maturity date of any Loan or reduce the stated rate (it being understood that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the “default rate” or amend Section 2.8(c)), or forgive any portion thereof, or reduce or forgive any interest or fee payable hereunder, or extend the date for the payment of any interest or fee payable hereunder (other than as a result of waiving the applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates), or extend the final expiration date of any Letter of Credit beyond the L/C Facility Maturity Date, or amend or modify any provisions of Section 4.2 (with respect to proportionately reducing Revolving Credit Commitments), Sections 5.2(e), 5.3(a) (with respect to the ratable allocation of any payments only), 11.13, 13.8(a) or 13.20, or make any Loan, interest, Fee or other amount payable in any currency other than expressly provided herein, in each case without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby; provided that a waiver of any condition precedent in Section 6 or 7 of this Agreement, the waiver of any Default, Event of Default, default interest, mandatory prepayment or reductions, any modification, waiver or amendment to the financial covenant definitions or financial ratios or any component thereof or the waiver of any other covenant shall not constitute an increase of any Commitment of a Lender, a reduction or forgiveness in the interest rates or the fees or premiums or a postponement of any date scheduled for the payment of principal, premium or interest or an extension of the final maturity of any Loan or the scheduled termination date of any Commitment, in each case for purposes of this clause (i), or (ii) consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower of its rights and obligations under any Credit Document to which it is a party (except as permitted pursuant to Section 10.3), in each case without the written consent of each Lender, or (iii) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 12 without the written consent of the then-current Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent in a manner that directly and adversely affects such Person, or (iv) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 3 with respect to any Letter of Credit without the written consent of the Letter of Credit Issuer to the extent such amendment, modification or waiver directly and adversely affects the Letters of Credit Issuer, or (v) [reserved], or (vi) change any Revolving Credit Commitment to a Term Loan Commitment, or change any Term Loan Commitment to a Revolving Credit Commitment, in each case without the prior written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, or (vii) release all or substantially all of the Guarantors under the Guarantees (except as expressly permitted by the Guarantees or this Agreement) or release all or substantially all of the Collateral under the Security Documents (except as expressly permitted by the Security Documents or this Agreement) without the prior written consent of each Lender, or (viii) contractually subordinate the Obligations (through payment subordination or through “waterfall” payments or otherwise) or, without limiting Section 12.11, the Liens securing the Obligations under this Agreement to any other Indebtedness for borrowed money or Liens securing any other Indebtedness for borrowed money, as applicable, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, or (ix) reduce the percentages specified in the definitions of the terms “Required Lenders” or “Required Revolving Credit Lenders” or amend, modify or waive any provision of this Section 13.1 that has the effect of decreasing the number of Lenders that must approve any amendment, modification or waiver, without the written consent of each Lender, (y) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in clause (x) above, (i) extend the final expiration date of any Lender’s Commitment or (ii) increase the aggregate amount of the Commitments of any Lender, in each case, without the written consent of such Lender, or (z) in connection with an amendment that addresses solely a repricing transaction in which any Class of Term Loans is refinanced with a replacement Class of Term Loans bearing (or is modified in such a manner such that the resulting Term Loans bear) a lower “Effective Yield” (as defined under the documentation related to such Class of Term Loans), only the consent of the Lenders holding Term Loans subject to such permitted repricing transaction that will continue as a Lender in respect of the repriced tranche of Term Loans or modified Term Loans.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except (x) that the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) for any such amendment, waiver or consent that treats such Defaulting Lender disproportionately and adversely from the other Lender of the same Class (other than because of its status as a Defaulting Lender).

Any such waiver and any such amendment, supplement or modification shall apply equally to each of the affected Lenders and shall be binding upon Holdings, such Lenders, the Administrative Agent and all future holders of the affected Loans. In the case of any waiver, Holdings, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder and under the other Credit Documents, and any Default or Event of Default waived shall be deemed to be cured and not continuing, it being understood that no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. In connection with the foregoing provisions, the Administrative Agent may, but shall have no obligations to, with the concurrence of any Lender, execute amendments, modifications, waivers or consents on behalf of such Lender.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, anything in this Agreement, including this Section 13.1, and the other Credit Documents may be amended (or amended and restated) pursuant to Section 2.14 to add any Incremental Term Loan Commitments or Incremental Term Loans to this Agreement and (a) 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 Credit Documents with the Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof, (b) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facility in any determination of the Required Lenders and (c) to amend other provisions of the Credit Documents so that the Incremental Term Loan Commitments or Incremental Term Loans are appropriately incorporated (including this Section 13.1).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in addition to any credit extensions and related Joinder Agreement(s) or Incremental Term Loan Amendment(s) effectuated without the consent of Lenders in accordance with Section 2.14, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent, Holdings 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 Credit Documents with the Term Loans and the Revolving Credit Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (b) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders and other definitions related to such new Term Loans and Revolving Credit Loans.

In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended with the written consent of the Administrative Agent, Holdings, the Borrower and the Lenders providing the relevant Replacement Term Loans to permit the refinancing of all outstanding Term Loans of any Class (“Refinanced Term Loans”) with a replacement term loan tranche (“Replacement Term Loans”) hereunder; provided that (a) the aggregate principal amount of such Replacement Term Loans shall not exceed the aggregate principal amount of such Refinanced Term Loans (plus an amount equal to all accrued but unpaid interest, fees, premiums, and expenses incurred in connection therewith), (b) the Applicable Margin for such Replacement Term Loans shall not be higher than the Applicable Margin for such Refinanced Term Loans, unless any such Applicable Margin applies after the Maturity Date for such Refinanced Term Loans, (c) the weighted average life to maturity of such Replacement Term Loans shall not be shorter than the weighted average life to maturity of such Refinanced Term Loans at the time of such refinancing (except to the extent of nominal amortization for periods where amortization has been eliminated as a result of prepayment of the applicable Term Loans), and (d) the covenants, events of default and guarantees shall be not materially more restrictive (taken as a whole) (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) to the Lenders providing such Replacement Term Loans than the covenants, events of default and guarantees applicable to such Refinanced Term Loans, except to the extent necessary to provide for covenants, events of default and guarantees applicable to any period after the maturity date in respect of the Refinanced Term Loans in effect immediately prior to such refinancing.

 

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The Lenders hereby irrevocably agree that the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent by the Credit Parties on any Collateral shall be automatically released (i) in full, upon the termination of this Agreement all Commitments and all Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized pursuant to arrangement reasonably satisfactory to the Letter of Credit Issuers) and the payment of all Obligations (except for (w) contingent indemnification obligations in respect of which a claim has not yet been made, (x) Secured Hedge Obligations, (y) Cash Collateralized Letters of Credit pursuant to arrangements reasonably acceptable to the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer, and (z) Secured Cash Management Obligations), (ii) upon the sale or other disposition of such Collateral (including as part of or in connection with any other sale or other disposition permitted hereunder) to any Person other than another Credit Party, to the extent such sale or other disposition is made in compliance with the terms of this Agreement (and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on a certificate to that effect provided to it by any Credit Party upon its reasonable request without further inquiry), (iii) to the extent such Collateral is comprised of property leased to a Credit Party, upon termination or expiration of such lease, (iv) if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other percentage of the Lenders whose consent may be required in accordance with this Section 13.1), (v) to the extent the property constituting such Collateral is owned by any Guarantor, upon the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under the applicable Guarantee (in accordance with the second following sentence), (vi) as required to effect any sale or other disposition of Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Documents, and (vii) if such assets constitute Excluded Property or Excluded Stock and Stock Equivalents. Any such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Obligations or any Liens (other than those being released) upon (or obligations (other than those being released) of the Credit Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Credit Parties, including the proceeds of any sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral except to the extent otherwise released in accordance with the provisions of the Credit Documents. Additionally, the Lenders hereby irrevocably agree that any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor shall be released from the Guarantees upon consummation of any transaction not prohibited hereunder resulting in such Subsidiary ceasing to constitute a Restricted Subsidiary. The Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, to execute and deliver any instruments, documents, and agreements necessary or desirable to evidence and confirm the release of any Guarantor or Collateral pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, all without the further consent or joinder of any Lender.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Credit Documents may be amended to add syndication or documentation agents and make customary changes and references related thereto with the consent of only the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement (including, without limitation, this Section 13.1) or any other Credit Document to the contrary, (i) this Agreement and the other Credit Documents may be amended to effect an incremental facility or extension facility pursuant to Section 2.14 (and the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents without the consent of any other party as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the terms of any such incremental facility or extension facility); (ii) no Lender consent is required to effect any amendment or supplement to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement or arrangement permitted under this Agreement that is for the purpose of adding the holders of any Indebtedness as expressly contemplated by the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or such other intercreditor agreement or arrangement permitted under this Agreement, as applicable (it being understood that any such amendment or supplement may make such other changes to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or other applicable intercreditor agreement as, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent (in consultation with the Borrower), are required to effectuate the foregoing; provided that such other changes are not adverse, in any material respect, to the interests of the Lenders taken as a whole); provided, further, that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise directly and adversely affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any other Credit Document without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent; (iii) any provision of this Agreement or any other Credit Document may be amended by an agreement in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to (x) cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency (as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), (y) add one or more provision to the Credit Documents that are, in the reasonable judgement of the Administrative Agent, more favorable to all of the Lenders and (z) effect administrative changes of a technical or immaterial nature (including to effect changes to the terms and conditions applicable solely to the Letter of Credit Issuer in respect of Issuances of Letters of Credit), and, in each case, such amendment shall be deemed approved by the Lenders if the Lenders shall have received at least five Business Days’ prior written notice of such change and the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five Business Days of the date of such notice to the Lenders, a written notice from the Required Lenders stating that the Required Lenders object to such amendment; and (iv) guarantees, Security Documents and related documents executed by Credit Parties in connection with this Agreement may be in a form reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and may be, together with any other Credit Document, entered into, amended, supplemented or waived, without the consent of any other Person, by the applicable Credit Party or Credit Parties and the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in its or their respective sole discretion, to (A) effect the granting, perfection, protection, expansion or enhancement of any security interest in any Collateral or additional property to become Collateral for the benefit of the Secured Parties, (B) as required by local law or advice of counsel to give effect to, or protect any security interest for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in any property or so that the security interests therein comply with applicable law, or (C) to cure ambiguities, omissions, mistakes or defects (as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower) or to cause such guarantee, collateral security document or other document to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

 

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Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Security Document to the contrary, the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, grant extensions of time for the satisfaction of any of the requirements under Sections 9.12, 9.13 and 9.14 or any Security Documents in respect of any particular Collateral or any particular Subsidiary if it determines that the satisfaction thereof with respect to such Collateral or such Subsidiary cannot be accomplished without undue expense or unreasonable effort or due to factors beyond the control of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required to be satisfied under this Agreement or any Security Document.

13.2 Notices. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other communications provided for hereunder or under any other Credit 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:

(a) if to Holdings, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Letter of Credit Issuer, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 13.2 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

(b) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to Holdings, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Letter of Credit Issuer.

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, three Business Days after deposit in the mails, postage prepaid; (C) if delivered by facsimile, when sent and receipt has been confirmed by telephone; and (D) if delivered by electronic mail, when delivered; provided that notices and other communications to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders pursuant to Sections 2.3, 2.6, 2.9, 4.2 and 5.1 shall not be effective until received.

13.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under the other Credit Documents 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 are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers, and privileges provided by law.

13.4 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder, in the other Credit Documents and in any document, certificate or statement delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Loans hereunder.

13.5 Payment of Expenses; Indemnification.

 

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(a) Holdings agrees, within thirty days after receipt of a written request therefor, together with any supporting documentation reasonably requested by Holdings, (i) to pay or reimburse each of the Agents for all their reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (without duplication) incurred in connection with the development, preparation, execution and delivery of, and any amendment, supplement, modification to, waiver and/or enforcement of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and any other documents prepared in connection herewith or therewith, and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (limited, in the case of legal fees, costs and expenses, to the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP (or such other counsel as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), Irish counsel to the Agents and, if reasonably necessary, one firm or local counsel in each relevant local jurisdiction with the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions)), (ii) to pay or reimburse each Agent or any Letter of Credit Issuer for all their reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement or preservation of any rights under this Agreement, the other Credit Documents and any such other documents (limited, in the case of legal fees, costs and expenses, to the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of one firm or counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, and, if reasonably necessary, one firm or local counsel in each relevant local jurisdiction with the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions)), (iii) to pay or reimburse all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Letter of Credit Issuer in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder (limited, in the case of legal fees, costs and expenses, to the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of one firm or counsel to the Letter of Credit Issuer, and, if reasonably necessary, one firm or local counsel in each relevant local jurisdiction with the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions)), and (iv) to pay, indemnify and hold harmless each Lender, each Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer and their respective Related Parties (without duplication) (the “Indemnified Persons”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, obligations, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses, disbursements or penalties of any kind or nature whatsoever of any such Indemnified Person, in each case, to the extent arising out of or relating to any action, claim, litigation, investigation or other proceeding (regardless of whether such Indemnified Person is a party thereto), arising out of, or with respect to the Transactions or to the execution, delivery, performance and administration of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents including any of the foregoing relating to the violation of, noncompliance with or liability under, any Environmental Law or any actual or alleged presence, Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials attributable to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries (limited, in the case of legal fees, costs and expenses, to the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of one firm or counsel to all Indemnified Persons taken as a whole (and, solely in the case of an actual or reasonably perceived conflict of interest where the Indemnified Person affected by such conflict notifies Holdings of the existence of such conflict, one additional counsel for all similarly situated and affected Indemnified Person taken as a whole), and, if reasonably necessary, one firm or local counsel in each relevant local jurisdiction with the consent of Holdings (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions)) (all the foregoing in this clause (iv), regardless of whether brought by Holdings, any of its subsidiaries or any other Person collectively, the “Indemnified Liabilities”); provided that Holdings and the Borrower shall have no obligation hereunder to any Indemnified Person with respect to Indemnified Liabilities to the extent arising from (i) the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Person or any of its Related Parties as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, (ii) a material breach of the obligations of such Indemnified Person or any of its Related Parties under the terms of this Agreement by such Indemnified Person or any of its Related Parties as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, or (iii) any proceeding between and among Indemnified Persons that does not involve an act or omission by Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided the Agents, to the extent acting in their capacity as such, shall remain indemnified in respect of such proceeding, to the extent that neither of the exceptions set forth in clause (i) or (ii) of the immediately preceding proviso applies to such person at such time. The agreements in this Section 13.5 shall survive repayment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder. This Section 13.5 shall not apply with respect to Taxes, other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, liabilities, obligations, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements arising from any non-Tax claim.

(b) No Credit Party nor any Indemnified Person shall have any liability for any special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages resulting from this Agreement or any other Credit Document or arising out of its activities in connection herewith or therewith (whether before or after the Closing Date); provided that the foregoing shall not limit Holdings’ and the Borrower’s indemnification obligations to the Indemnified Persons pursuant to Section 13.5(a) in respect of damages incurred or paid by an Indemnified Person to a third party.

 

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No Indemnified Person shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except to the extent that such damages have resulted from the willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of any Indemnified Person or any of its Related Parties as determined by a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

13.6 Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments.

(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 (i) except as expressly permitted by Section 10.3, the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section 13.6. 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 clause (c) of this Section 13.6) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer and the Lenders and each other Person entitled to indemnification under Section 13.5) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in clause (b)(ii) below and Section 13.7, any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans (including participations in L/C Obligations) at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent of (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed):

(A) the Borrower; provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for (1) an assignment of Term Loans to (X) a Lender, (Y) an Affiliate of a Lender, or (Z) an Approved Fund, (2) an assignment of Revolving Credit Commitments or Revolving Credit Loans to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, or (3) an assignment of Loans or Commitments to any assignee if an Event of Default under Section 11.1 or Section 11.5 (solely with respect to Holdings or the Borrower) has occurred and is continuing; provided, further, that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to an assignment of all or a portion of the Loans and Commitments unless it shall have objected thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten Business Days after having received written notice thereof;

(B) the Administrative Agent; provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of any Term Loan to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; and provided, further that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of any Revolving Credit Commitments or Revolving Credit Loans to a Revolving Credit Lender or an Affiliate of a Revolving Credit Lender; and

(C) in the case of an assignment of Revolving Credit Commitments or Revolving Credit Loans, each Letter of Credit Issuer.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such assignment shall be made (i) to a natural Person, Disqualified Lender or Defaulting Lender and (ii) with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments, Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions of this Agreement relating to Disqualified Lenders. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (x) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or prospective Lender is a Disqualified Institution 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. The Administrative Agent shall have the right, and the Borrower hereby expressly authorizes the Administrative Agent, to provide the list of Disqualified Lenders provided by the Borrower and any updates thereto from time to time (collectively, the “DQ List”) to each Lender requesting the same.

(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

 

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(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consents (which consents shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default under Section 11.1 or Section 11.5 has occurred and is continuing; provided, further, that contemporaneous assignments by a Lender and its Affiliates or Approved Funds shall be aggregated for purposes of meeting the minimum assignment amount requirements stated above (and simultaneous assignments to or by two or more Related Funds shall be treated as one assignment), if any;

(B) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement; provided that this clause shall not be construed to prohibit the assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of one Class of Commitments or Loans;

(C) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance via an electronic settlement system or other method reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500 (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be payable by the assignor); provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment;

(D) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an administrative questionnaire in a form approved by the Administrative Agent (the “Administrative Questionnaire”) and applicable Tax forms (as required under Section 5.4(e)).

(iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to clause (b)(v) of this Section 13.6, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, 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 Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.10, 2.11, 3.5, 5.4 and 13.5). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 13.6 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 clause (c) of this Section 13.6. For the avoidance of doubt, in case of an assignment to a new Lender pursuant to this Section 13.6, (i) the Administrative Agent, the new Lender and other Lenders shall acquire the same rights and assume the same obligations between themselves as they would have acquired and assumed had the new Lender been an original Lender signatory to this Agreement with the rights and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of the assignment and to the extent of the assignment the assigning Lender shall each be released from further obligations under the Credit Documents and (ii) the benefit of each Security Document shall be maintained in favor of the new Lender.

(iv) The Administrative Agent, acting 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 Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amount of the Loans (and stated interest amounts) and any payment made by the Letter of Credit Issuer under any Letter of Credit owing to each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer 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, the Collateral Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer, the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates and, with respect to itself, any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

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(v) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire and applicable Tax forms (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in clause (b) of this Section 13.6 and any written consent to such assignment required by clause (b) of this Section 13.6, the Administrative Agent shall promptly accept such Assignment and Acceptance and record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment, whether or not evidenced by a promissory note, shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this clause (b)(v).

(c) (i) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or the Letter of Credit Issuer, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (other than (x) a natural person, (y) Holdings and its Subsidiaries or Affiliates and (z) any Disqualified Lender provided, however, that, notwithstanding clause (y) hereof, participations may be sold to Disqualified Lenders unless a list of Disqualified Lenders has been made available to all Lenders) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer, 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. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions of this Agreement relating to Disqualified Lenders. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (x) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Participant or prospective Participant is a Disqualified Institution or (y) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any participation of Loans, or disclosure of confidential information, to any Disqualified Lender. The Administrative Agent shall have the right, and the Borrower hereby expressly authorizes the Administrative Agent, to provide the DQ List to each Lender requesting the same. 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 to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Credit Document; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in clauses (i), (vi), (vii), (viii) and (ix) of the second proviso to Section 13.1 that affects such Participant. Subject to clause (c)(ii) of this Section 13.6, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.10, 2.11, 3.5, and 5.4 to the same extent as if it were a Lender (subject to the limitations and requirements of those Sections as though it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to clause (b) of this Section 13.6, including the requirements of clause (e) of Section 5.4) (it being agreed that any documentation required under Section 5.4(e) shall be provided to the participating Lender). To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 13.8(b) as though it were a Lender; provided such Participant shall be subject to Section 13.8(a) as though it were a Lender.

(ii) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.10, 2.11, 3.5 or 5.4 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive absent the sale of such the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest amounts) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under this Agreement (the “Participant Register”). The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. No Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Credit Document) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.

 

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(d) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, or other central bank having jurisdiction over such Lender and this Section 13.6 shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(e) Subject to Section 13.16, the Borrower authorizes each Lender to disclose to any Participant, secured creditor of such Lender or assignee (each, a “Transferee”) and any prospective Transferee any and all financial information in such Lender’s possession concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates that has been delivered to such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower and its Affiliates pursuant to this Agreement or that has been delivered to such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower and its Affiliates in connection with such Lender’s credit evaluation of the Borrower and its Affiliates prior to becoming a party to this Agreement.

(f) The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Acceptance shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

(g) SPV Lender. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an “SPV”), identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the option to provide to the Borrower all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPV to make any Loan and (ii) if an SPV elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. The making of a Loan by an SPV hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPV shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement (all liability for which shall remain with the Granting Lender). In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior indebtedness of any SPV, it shall not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, such SPV any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 13.6, any SPV may (i) with notice to, but without the prior written consent of, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and without paying any processing fee therefor, assign all or a portion of its interests in any Loans to the Granting Lender or to any financial institutions (consented to by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent) other than a Disqualified Lender providing liquidity and/or credit support to or for the account of such SPV to support the funding or maintenance of Loans and (ii) subject to Section 13.16, disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPV. This Section 13.6(g) may not be amended without the written consent of the SPV. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement but subject to the following sentence, each SPV shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.10, 2.11, 3.5 and 5.4 to the same extent as if it were a Lender (subject to the limitations and requirements of those Sections as though it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to clause (b) of this Section 13.6, including the requirements of clause (e) of Section 5.4 (it being agreed that any documentation required under Section 5.4(e) shall be provided to the Granting Lender)). Notwithstanding the prior sentence, an SPV shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.10, 2.11, 3.5 or 5.4 than its Granting Lender would have been entitled to receive absent the grant to such SPV, unless such grant to such SPV is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).

13.7 Replacements of Lenders Under Certain Circumstances.

 

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(a) The Borrower shall be permitted (x) to replace any Lender or (y) terminate the Commitment of such Lender or Letter of Credit Issuer, as the case may be, and (1) in the case of a Lender (other than the Letter of Credit Issuer), repay all Obligations of the Borrower due and owing to such Lender relating to the Loans and participations held by such Lender as of such termination date and (2) in the case of the Letter of Credit Issuer, repay all Obligations of the Borrower owing to such Letter of Credit Issuer relating to the Loans and participations held by the Letter of Credit Issuer as of such termination date and cancel or backstop on terms satisfactory to such Letter of Credit Issuer any Letters of Credit issued by it that (a) requests reimbursement for amounts owing pursuant to Sections 2.10 or 5.4, (b) is affected in the manner described in Section 2.10(a) and as a result thereof any of the actions described in such Section is required to be taken, or (c) becomes a Defaulting Lender, with a replacement bank or other financial institution; provided that (i) such replacement does not conflict with any Requirements of Law, (ii) no Event of Default under Sections 11.1 or 11.5 (solely with respect to Holdings or the Borrower) shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such replacement, (iii) the Borrower shall repay (or the replacement bank or institution shall purchase, at par) all Loans and other amounts pursuant to Sections 2.10, 2.11, or 5.4, as the case may be, owing to such replaced Lender prior to the date of replacement, (iv) the replacement bank or institution, if not already a Lender, an Affiliate of the Lender or Approved Fund, and the terms and conditions of such replacement, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (v) the replacement bank or institution, if not already a Lender shall be subject to the provisions of Section 13.6(b), (vi) the replaced Lender shall be obligated to make such replacement in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.6 (provided that unless otherwise agreed the Borrower shall be obligated to pay the registration and processing fee referred to therein), and (vii) any such replacement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any rights that the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender shall have against the replaced Lender.

(b) If any Lender (such Lender, a “Non-Consenting Lender”) has failed to consent to a proposed amendment, waiver, discharge or termination that pursuant to the terms of Section 13.1 requires the consent of either (i) all of the Lenders directly and adversely affected or (ii) all of the Lenders, and, in each case, with respect to which the Required Lenders (or at least 50.1% of the directly and adversely affected Lenders) shall have granted their consent, then, the Borrower shall have the right (unless such Non-Consenting Lender grants such consent) to (x) replace such Non-Consenting Lender by requiring such Non-Consenting Lender to assign its Loans, and its Commitments hereunder to one or more assignees reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (to the extent such consent would be required under Section 13.6) or to terminate the Commitment of such Lender or Letter of Credit Issuer, as the case may be, and (1) in the case of a Lender (other than the Letter of Credit Issuer), repay all Obligations of the Borrower due and owing to such Lender relating to the Loans and participations held by such Lender as of such termination date and (2) in the case of the Letter of Credit Issuer, repay all Obligations of the Borrower owing to such Letter of Credit Issuer relating to the Loans and participations held by the Letter of Credit Issuer as of such termination date and cancel or backstop on terms satisfactory to such Letter of Credit Issuer any Letters of Credit issued by it; provided that (a) all Obligations hereunder of the Borrower owing to such Non-Consenting Lender being replaced shall be paid in full to such Non-Consenting Lender concurrently with such assignment including any amounts that such Lender may be owed pursuant to Section 2.11, and (b) the replacement Lender shall purchase the foregoing by paying to such Non-Consenting Lender a price equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, and (c) the Borrower shall pay to such Non-Consenting Lender the amount, if any, owing to such Lender pursuant to Section 5.1(b). In connection with any such assignment, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, such Non-Consenting Lender and the replacement Lender shall otherwise comply with Section 13.6; provided that any Non-Consenting Lender shall be deemed to have consented to the assignment and delegation of its interests, rights and obligations if it does not execute and deliver an Assignment and Acceptance to the Administrative Agent within one Business Day after having received a request therefor.

13.8 Adjustments; Set-off.

(a) Except as contemplated in Section 13.6 or elsewhere herein, if any Lender (a “Benefited Lender”) shall at any time receive any payment of all or part of its Loans, or interest thereon, or receive any collateral in respect thereof (whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by set-off, pursuant to events or proceedings of the nature referred to in Section 11.5, or otherwise), in a greater proportion than any such payment to or collateral received by any other Lender, if any, in respect of such other Lender’s Loans, or interest thereon, such Benefited Lender shall purchase for cash from the other Lenders a participating interest in such portion of each such other Lender’s Loan, or shall provide such other Lenders with the benefits of any such collateral, or the proceeds thereof, as shall be necessary to cause such Benefited Lender to share the excess payment or benefits of such collateral or proceeds ratably with each of the Lenders; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment or benefits is thereafter recovered from such Benefited Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded, and the purchase price and benefits returned, to the extent of such recovery, but without interest.

 

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(b) After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, in addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by law, each Lender or its affiliate shall have the right, without prior notice to the Credit Parties but with the prior consent of the Administrative Agent, any such notice being expressly waived by the Credit Parties to the extent permitted by applicable law, upon any amount becoming due and payable by the Credit Parties hereunder (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) to set-off and appropriate and apply against such amount any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) (other than payroll, trust, Tax, fiduciary, and petty cash accounts), in any currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time held or owing by such Lender or any branch or agency thereof to or for the credit or the account of the Credit Parties. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Credit Parties and the Administrative Agent after any such set-off and application made by such Lender; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.

13.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. A set of the copies of this Agreement signed by all the parties shall be lodged with the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

13.10 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

13.11 Integration. This Agreement and the other Credit Documents represent the agreement of Holdings, the Borrower, the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to the subject matter hereof, and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by Holdings, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent nor any Lender relative to subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Credit Documents.

13.12 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH LETTER OF CREDIT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

13.13 Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers. Each party hereto irrevocably and unconditionally:

(a) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party to the exclusive general jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York or the courts of the United States for the Southern District of New York, in each case sitting in New York City in the Borough of Manhattan, and appellate courts from any thereof;

(b) consents that any such action or proceeding shall be brought in such courts and waives (to the extent permitted by applicable law) any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same or to commence or support any such action or proceeding in any other courts;

(c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding shall be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such Person at its address set forth on Schedule 13.2 at such other address of which the Administrative Agent shall have been notified pursuant to Section 13.2;

(d) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or another Secured Party to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law or to commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against Holdings or the Borrower or any other Credit Party in any other jurisdiction; and (e) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section 13.13 any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages; provided that nothing in this clause (e) shall limit the Credit Parties’ indemnification obligations set forth in Section 13.5.

 

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13.14 Acknowledgments. Each of Holdings and the Borrower hereby acknowledge that:

(a) it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution, and delivery of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents;

(b) (i) the credit facilities provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Credit Document) are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Borrower and the other Credit Parties, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the other Agents on the other hand, and the Borrower and the other Credit Parties are capable of evaluating and understanding and understand and accept the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Credit Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or thereof);

(ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, each of the Administrative Agent and the other Agents, is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower, any other Credit Parties or any of their respective Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees, or any other Person;

(iii) neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Agent has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrower or any other Credit Party with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Credit Document (irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent or other Agent has advised or is currently advising the Borrower, the other Credit Parties or their respective Affiliates on other matters) and neither the Administrative Agent or other Agent has any obligation to the Borrower, the other Credit Parties or their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents;

(iv) the Administrative Agent, each other Agent and each Affiliate of the foregoing 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 other Agent has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and

(v) neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Agent has provided and none will provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Credit Document) and the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate. Each of Holdings and the Borrower hereby agree that it will not claim that any Agent owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Credit Parties in connection with the Transactions contemplated hereby and waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent or any other Agent with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty; and

(c) no joint venture is created hereby or by the other Credit Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Lenders or among the Borrower, on the one hand, and any Lender, on the other hand.

13.15 WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE (TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW) TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

 

 

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13.16 Confidentiality. The Administrative Agent, each other Agent and each Lender, each on behalf of itself and its controlled Affiliates (collectively, the “Restricted Persons” and, each a “Restricted Person”), shall treat confidentially all non-public information provided to any Restricted Person by or on behalf of any Credit Party hereunder in connection with such Restricted Person’s evaluation of whether to become a Lender hereunder or obtained by such Restricted Person pursuant to the requirements of this Agreement (“Confidential Information”) and shall not publish, disclose or otherwise divulge such Confidential Information; provided that nothing herein shall prevent any Restricted Person from disclosing any such Confidential Information (a) pursuant to the order of any court or administrative agency or in any pending legal, judicial or administrative proceeding, or otherwise as required by applicable law, rule or regulation or compulsory legal process (in which case such Restricted Person agrees (except with respect to any routine or ordinary course audit or examination conducted by bank accountants or any governmental or bank regulatory authority exercising examination or regulatory authority), to the extent practicable and not prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, to inform the Borrower promptly thereof prior to disclosure), (b) upon the request or demand of any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Restricted Person or any of its Affiliates (in which case such Restricted Person agrees (except with respect to any routine or ordinary course audit or examination conducted by bank accountants or any governmental or bank regulatory authority exercising examination or regulatory authority) to the extent practicable and not prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, to inform the Borrower promptly thereof prior to disclosure), (c) to the extent that such Confidential Information becomes publicly available other than by reason of improper disclosure by such Restricted Person or any of its affiliates or any Related Parties thereto in violation of any confidentiality obligations owing under this Section 13.16, (d) to the extent that such Confidential Information is received by such Restricted Person from a third party that is not, to such Restricted Person’s knowledge, subject to contractual or fiduciary confidentiality obligations owing to any Credit Party or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates, (e) to the extent that such Confidential Information was already in the possession of the Restricted Persons prior to any duty or other undertaking of confidentiality or is independently developed by the Restricted Persons without the use of such Confidential Information, (f) to such Restricted Person’s affiliates and to its and their respective officers, directors, partners, employees, legal counsel, independent auditors, and other experts or agents who need to know such Confidential Information in connection with providing the Loans or action as an Agent hereunder and who are informed of the confidential nature of such Confidential Information and who are subject to customary confidentiality obligations of professional practice or who agree to be bound by the terms of this Section 13.16 (or confidentiality provisions at least as restrictive as those set forth in this Section 13.16) (with each such Restricted Person, to the extent within its control, responsible for such person’s compliance with this paragraph), (g) to potential or prospective Lenders, hedge providers, participants or assignees, in each case who agree (pursuant to customary syndication practice) to be bound by the terms of this Section 13.16 (or confidentiality provisions at least as restrictive as those set forth in this Section 13.16); provided that (i) the disclosure of any such Confidential Information to any Lenders, hedge providers or prospective Lenders, hedge providers or participants or prospective participants referred to above shall be made subject to the acknowledgment and acceptance by such Lender, hedge provider or prospective Lender or participant or prospective participant that such Confidential Information is being disseminated on a confidential basis (on substantially the terms set forth in this Section 13.16 or confidentiality provisions at least as restrictive as those set forth in this Section 13.16) in accordance with the standard syndication processes of such Restricted Person or customary market standards for dissemination of such type of information, which shall in any event require “click through” or other affirmative actions on the part of recipient to access such Confidential Information and (ii) no such disclosure shall be made by such Restricted Person to any person that is at such time a Disqualified Lender; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent shall be permitted upon request of any Lender or Participant to make available to such Lender or Participant any list of Disqualified Lenders and any Lender may provide the list of Disqualified Lenders to any prospective assignee or Participant on a confidential basis (it being understood that the identity of Disqualified Lenders will not be posted or distributed to any Person, other than a distribution by the Administrative Agent to a Lender upon written request and by a Lender to any prospective assignee or Participant on a confidential basis), (h) for purposes of establishing a “due diligence” defense, and (i) in connection with the exercise of any remedies under this Agreement, under any other Credit Document or under any Secured Hedge Agreement or Secured Cash Management Agreement, or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any Secured Hedge Agreement or Secured Cash Management Agreement, or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Confidential Information shall not include, with respect to any Person, information available to it or its Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than Holdings, its Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates, (ii) the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for compliance with this Section 13.16 by any other Restricted Person (other than its officers, directors or employees), (iii) in no event shall any Lender, the Administrative Agent or any other Agent be obligated or required to return any materials furnished by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, and (iv) each Agent and each Lender may (A) disclose solely the existence of this Agreement, the size and type of the credit facilities, the parties to the Credit Documents and the Closing Date (but not the use of proceeds of the Loans made hereunder), in each case, to market data collectors, similar services providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration, settlement and management of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, in each case, to the extent the applicable Agent or Lender advises such parties of the confidential nature of such information and instructs such parties to keep such information confidential and (B) in consultation with the Borrower, place customary advertisements in financial and other newspapers and periodicals or on a home page or similar place for dissemination of customary information on the Internet or worldwide web as such Agent or Lender may choose, and circulate similar promotional materials, in the form of a “tombstone” or otherwise describing the names of the Borrower and its affiliates (or any of them), and the type, size and Closing Date of the credit facilities, all at the expense of such Agent or Lender; provided that, without the prior written consent of the Borrower, such advertisements may not disclose any information other than the existence of this Agreement, the size and type of the credit facilities, the parties to the Credit Documents and the Closing Date (but not the use of proceeds of the Loans made hereunder).

13.17 Direct Website Communications. Each of Holdings and the Borrower may, at its option, provide to the Administrative Agent any information, documents and other materials that it is obligated to furnish to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Credit Documents, including, without limitation, all notices, requests, financial statements, financial, and other reports, certificates, and other information materials, but excluding any such communication that (A) relates to a request for a new, or a conversion of an existing, borrowing or other extension of credit (including any election of an interest rate or interest period relating thereto), (B) relates to the payment of any principal or other amount due under this Agreement prior to the scheduled date therefor, (C) provides notice of any Default or Event of Default under this Agreement or (D) is required to be delivered to satisfy any condition precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement and/or any borrowing or other extension of credit thereunder (all such non-excluded communications being referred to herein collectively as “Communications”), by transmitting the Communications in an electronic/soft medium in a format reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent to the Administrative Agent at an email address provided by the Administrative Agent from time to time; provided that (i) upon written request by the Administrative Agent, Holdings or 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) Holdings or the Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such documents from the Administrative Agent and maintaining its copies of such documents. Nothing in this Section 13.17 shall prejudice the right of Holdings, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any other Agent or any Lender to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Credit Document in any other manner specified in such Credit Document.

The Administrative Agent agrees that the receipt of the Communications by the Administrative Agent at its e-mail address set forth above shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to the Administrative Agent for purposes of the Credit Documents. Each Lender agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that the Communications have been posted to the Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Credit Documents. Each Lender agrees (A) to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (including by electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s e-mail address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and (B) that the foregoing notice may be sent to such e-mail address.

(a) Each of Holdings and the Borrower further agree that any Agent may make the Communications available to the Lenders by posting the Communications on Intralinks or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the “Platform”), so long as the access to such Platform (i) is limited to the Agents, the Lenders and Transferees or prospective Transferees and (ii) remains subject to the confidentiality requirements set forth in Section 13.16.

 

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(b) THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY MATERIALS OR INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE CREDIT PARTIES (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. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties” and each an “Agent Party”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials through the internet, except to the extent the liability of any Agent Party resulted from such Agent Party’s (or any of its Related Parties’ (other than any trustee or advisor)) gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct or material breach of the Credit Documents as determined in the final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(c) Each of Holdings and the Borrower and each Lender acknowledge that certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to Holdings, the Borrower, the Subsidiaries or their securities) and, if documents or notices required to be delivered pursuant to the Credit Documents or otherwise are being distributed through the Platform, any document or notice that Holdings or the Borrower has indicated contains only publicly available information with respect to Holdings or the Borrower may be posted on that portion of the Platform designated for such public-side Lenders. If Holdings or the Borrower has not indicated whether a document or notice delivered contains only publicly available information, the Administrative Agent shall post such document or notice solely on that portion of the Platform designated for Lenders who wish to receive material nonpublic information with respect to Holdings, the Borrower, the Subsidiaries and their securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of Holdings and the Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to indicate whether any document or notice contains only publicly available information; provided, however that, the following documents shall be deemed to be marked “PUBLIC,” unless the Borrower notify the Administrative Agent promptly that any such document contains material nonpublic information: (1) the Credit Documents, (2) any notification of changes in the terms of the Credit Facility and (3) all financial statements and certificates delivered pursuant to Sections 9.1(a), (b) and (d).

13.18 USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender hereby notifies each Credit Party that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Patriot Act”), it is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each Credit Party, which information includes the name and address of each Credit Party and other information that will allow such Lender to identify each Credit Party in accordance with the Patriot Act.

13.19 [Reserved].

13.20 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of Holdings or the Borrower is made to any Agent or any Lender, or any Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver, or any other party, in connection with any proceeding or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share of any amount so recovered from or repaid by any Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Bank Funding Rate from time to time in effect.

13.21 No Fiduciary Duty. Each Agent, each Lender and their Affiliates (collectively, solely for purposes of this paragraph, the “Lenders”), may have economic interests that conflict with those of the Credit Parties, their stockholders and/or their affiliates. Each Credit Party agrees that nothing in the Credit Documents or otherwise will be deemed to create an advisory, fiduciary or agency relationship or fiduciary or other implied duty between any Lender, on the one hand, and such Credit Party, its stockholders or its affiliates, on the other.

 

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The Credit Parties acknowledge and agree that (i) the transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents (including the exercise of rights and remedies hereunder and thereunder) are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Lenders, on the one hand, and the Credit Parties, on the other, and (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading thereto, (x) no Lender has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of any Credit Party, its stockholders or its affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby (or the exercise of rights or remedies with respect thereto) or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether any Lender has advised, is currently advising or will advise any Credit Party, its stockholders or its Affiliates on other matters) or any other obligation to any Credit Party except the obligations expressly set forth in the Credit Documents and (y) each Lender is acting solely as principal and not as the agent or fiduciary of any Credit Party, its management, stockholders or creditors. Each Credit Party acknowledges and agrees that it has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate and that it is responsible for making its own independent judgment with respect to such transactions and the process leading thereto. Each Credit Party agrees that it will not claim that any Lender has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to such Credit Party, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

13.22 Amendment and Restatement.

(a) The Credit Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuers, and the Lenders hereby agree that upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, the terms and provisions of the Original Credit Agreement (including the Exhibits and Schedules thereto) shall be and hereby are amended and restated in their entirety by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and provisions of the Original Credit Agreement (including the Exhibits and Schedules thereto), except as otherwise provided in this Agreement (including, without limitation, clause (b) below), shall be superseded by this Agreement (including the Exhibits and Schedules thereto).

(b) Notwithstanding the amendment and restatement of the Original Credit Agreement by this Agreement, the Credit Parties shall continue to be liable to each Indemnified Person (as defined in the Original Credit Agreement) with respect to agreements on their part under the Original Credit Agreement to indemnify and hold harmless such Indemnified Person from and against all Indemnified Liabilities to which the Indemnified Person may be subject arising in connection with the Original Credit Agreement. Each of the Credit Parties party hereto (on behalf of themselves and the other Credit Parties), the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuers and the Lenders acknowledges and agrees that (x) all Secured Cash Management Obligations under and as defined in the Original Credit Agreement that remain outstanding as of the Closing Date shall continue as Secured Cash Management Obligations for purposes of this Agreement, (y) all Secured Hedge Obligations under and as defined in the Original Credit Agreement that remain outstanding as of the Closing Date shall continue as Secured Hedge Obligations for purposes of this Agreement and (z) the Existing Letters of Credit shall constitute Letters of Credit. This Agreement is given as a substitution of, and not as a payment of, the obligations of the Credit Parties under the Original Credit Agreement and is not intended to constitute a novation of the Original Credit Agreement, any Credit Document or any obligations thereunder.

(c) By execution of this Agreement all parties hereto agree that (i) each of the Security Documents and the other Credit Documents is hereby amended such that all references to the Original Credit Agreement and the Loans and Commitments thereunder shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement and the continuation of the Loans and Commitments hereunder, (ii) all obligations under the Guarantee and the Security Documents (including the Obligations) are reaffirmed and remain in full force and effect on a continuous basis after giving effect to this Agreement and (iii) all security interests and Liens granted under the Security Documents are reaffirmed and shall continue and secure the Obligations and the obligations of the Guarantors under the Guarantee after giving effect to this Agreement.

13.23 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Credit Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Hedge Agreement or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support,” and each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Credit 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).

 

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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 Credit 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 Credit Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

Section 14. Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Credit 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 Credit Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an 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 undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Credit Document; or

(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the day and year first above written.

 

WAYFAIR LLC,
as the Borrower
By:  

/s/ Kate Gulliver

  Name: Kate Gulliver
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
WAYFAIR INC.,
as Holdings
By:  

/s/ Kate Gulliver

  Name: Kate Gulliver
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


CITIBANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent, Lender and Letter of Credit Issuer
By:  

/s/ Lauren Portnoi

  Name: Lauren Portnoi
  Title: Vice President & Managing Director

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Emily Grams

  Name: Emily Grams
  Title: Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Geoff Smith

  Name: Geoff Smith
  Title: Senior Vice President

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Caitlin Stewart

  Name: Caitlin Stewart
  Title: Managing Director

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA,
as Lender and Letter of Credit Issuer
By:  

/s/ Thomas Manning

  Name: Thomas Manning
  Title: Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC,
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Thomas Manning

  Name: Thomas Manning
  Title: Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


BARCLAYS BANK PLC,
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Nicole Sibayan

  Name: Nicole Sibayan
  Title: Vice President

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]