8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 6, 2020 (October 26, 2020)

 

 

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-39589   85-1800912

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

1800 North Mason Road

Katy, Texas 77449

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (281) 646-5200

Not applicable

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

Title of each class

 

Trading
Symbol

 

Name of each exchange
on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share   ASO   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

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.

Senior Secured Notes

On November 6, 2020, Academy, Ltd. (“Academy”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (the “Company”), issued $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 6.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2027 (the “Notes”) pursuant to an indenture, dated as of November 6, 2020 (the “Indenture”), by and among Academy, the Guarantors (as defined below) and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee and collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Notes Collateral Agent”). The Notes were sold in the United States to persons reasonably believed to be “qualified institutional buyers” pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.

The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior secured basis by each of New Academy Holding Company, LLC, Associated Investors L.L.C. and Academy Managing Co., L.L.C., each a direct or indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (collectively, the “Guarantors”), and each of Academy’s future wholly-owned domestic restricted subsidiaries, to the extent such subsidiary guarantees Academy’s senior secured credit facilities or certain capital markets debt.

In order to secure the Notes and the guarantees, Academy and the Guarantors entered into certain security documents with the Notes Collateral Agent, including a security agreement and a pledge agreement, each dated as of November 6, 2020. The Notes and the guarantees will be secured by (i) a first-priority lien on all of Academy’s and the Guarantors’ personal property that secure the Term Loan Facility (as defined below) on a first-priority basis and (ii) a second-priority lien on Academy’s and the Guarantors’ personal property consisting of accounts and all other rights to payment, inventory, tax refunds, cash, deposit accounts, securities and commodities accounts, and documents and supporting obligations, securing the ABL Facility (as defined below) on a first-priority basis and the Term Loan Facility on a second-priority basis (the “ABL Priority Collateral”). On November 6, 2020, (i) Academy, the Guarantors party thereto, the Notes Collateral Agent, the Term Loan Agent (as defined below) and the several other parties named therein entered into a first lien intercreditor agreement as to the relative priorities of their respective security interests in the assets securing the Notes and the Term Loan Facility and certain other matters relating to the administration of security interests and (ii) the Notes Collateral Agent, the Term Loan Agent and the ABL Agent (as defined below) entered into a lien sharing and priority confirmation joinder to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of July 2, 2015, as to the relative priorities of their respective security interests in the assets securing the Notes, the Term Loan Facility and the ABL Facility and certain other matters relating to the administration of security interests.

The Notes will mature on November 15, 2027. The Notes will pay interest semi-annually in arrears in cash on May 15 and November 15 of each year at a rate of 6.000% per year, commencing on May 15, 2021.

On or after November 15, 2023, Academy may, at its option and on one or more occasions, redeem all or a part of the Notes at the redemption prices set forth in the Indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date. At any time prior to November 15, 2023, Academy may, at its option and on one or more occasions, redeem all or part of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date, plus a “make-whole” premium as described in the Indenture. In addition, at any time prior to November 15, 2023, Academy may, at its option and on one or more occasions, redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 106.000% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, with an amount equal to or less than the net cash proceeds from one or more equity offerings to the extent such net cash proceeds are received by or contributed to Academy, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date.

Upon the occurrence of certain events constituting a Change of Control (as defined in the Indenture), Academy will be required to make an offer to repurchase all of the Notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the repurchase date.


The Indenture contains certain covenants that limit the ability of Academy and its restricted subsidiaries to, among other things, (i) incur or guarantee additional indebtedness or issue disqualified stock and preferred stock; (ii) incur liens on assets; (iii) pay dividends or make other distributions in respect of, or repurchase or redeem, their capital stock; (iv) prepay, redeem or repurchase certain debt; (v) make certain loans, investments or other restricted payments; (vi) engage in certain transactions with affiliates; (vii) enter into agreements restricting certain subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends; and (viii) sell or transfer certain assets or merge or consolidate, in each case subject to certain exceptions and qualifications set forth in the Indenture.

The Indenture provides for events of default which include (subject in certain cases to customary grace and cure periods), among others, nonpayment of principal or interest, breach of other agreements in respect of the Notes, acceleration of certain other indebtedness, failure to pay certain final judgments, failure of certain guarantees to be enforceable, failure to perfect certain collateral securing the Notes and certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, which events of default, if any occur, would permit or require the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then-outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately.

Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

On November 6, 2020, Academy, as borrower, and the Guarantors, as guarantors, entered into the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement”), with Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Island Branch (“Credit Suisse”), as the administrative agent and collateral agent (the “Term Loan Agent”), the several lenders from time to time parties thereto and the several other parties named therein, which Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement established a new $400.0 million first lien term loan facility (the “Term Loan Facility”).

The Term Loan Facility will mature on November 6, 2027. The Term Loan Facility bears interest, at Academy’s election, at either (1) LIBOR rate with a floor of 0.75%, plus a margin of 5.00%, or (2) a base rate equal to the highest of (a) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, (b) Credit Suisse’s “prime rate”, or (c) the one-month LIBOR rate plus 1.00%, plus a margin of 4.00%. Quarterly principal payments of approximately $1.0 million are required through September 30, 2027, with the balance due in full on the maturity date of November 6, 2027. The terms and conditions of the Term Loan Facility also require that outstanding loans under the Term Loan Facility are prepaid under certain circumstances.

The Term Loan Facility will be guaranteed by the Guarantors on a senior secured basis. All obligations under the Term Loan Facility and the guarantees of those obligations will be secured by (i) a second-priority security interest in the ABL Priority Collateral and (ii) a first-priority security interest in, and mortgages on, substantially all present and after acquired tangible and intangible assets of Academy and the Guarantors and a first-priority pledge of 100% of the capital stock of Academy and its domestic subsidiaries and 66% of the voting capital stock of each of Academy’s foreign subsidiaries, if any, that are directly owned by Academy or a future U.S. guarantor, if any.

The Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement contains certain covenants that limit the ability of Academy and its restricted subsidiaries to, among other things, (i) incur or guarantee additional indebtedness or issue disqualified stock and preferred stock; (ii) incur liens on assets; (iii) pay dividends or make other distributions in respect of, or repurchase or redeem, their capital stock; (iv) prepay, redeem or repurchase certain debt; (v) make certain loans, investments or other restricted payments; (vi) engage in certain transactions with affiliates; (vii) enter into agreements restricting certain subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends; (viii) sell or transfer certain assets or merge or consolidate and (ix) amend material documents, in each case subject to certain exceptions and qualifications set forth in the Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement.

The Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement contains customary events of default including, but not limited to, failure to pay principal or interest, breaches of representations and warranties, violations of affirmative or negative covenants, cross-defaults to other material indebtedness, a bankruptcy or similar proceeding, rendering of certain monetary judgments, invalidity of collateral documents and changes of control.


Amendment to ABL Credit Agreement

On November 6, 2020, Academy, as borrower, and the Guarantors, as guarantors, entered into an amendment (the “ABL Amendment”) to the First Amended and Restated ABL Credit Agreement, dated as of July 2, 2015, with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as the administrative agent and collateral agent, letter of credit issuer and swingline lender (the “ABL Agent”) and the several lenders party thereto, which ABL Amendment, among other things, extended the maturity of Academy’s asset-based revolving credit facility thereunder (the “ABL Facility”) to November 6, 2025.

The foregoing description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the full text of the Indenture, the Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement and the ABL Amendment, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibits 4.1, 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2.03

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

The information set forth in Item 1.01 concerning the Indenture, the Notes, the guarantees thereof and the Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement is hereby incorporated into this Item 2.03.

 

Item 8.01

Other Events.

Senior Secured Notes Offering

On October 26, 2020, the Company issued a press release announcing Academy’s intent to offer, subject to market and other conditions, the Notes in a private offering. The full text of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

On October 28, 2020, the Company issued a press release announcing the pricing of Academy’s private offering of the Notes. The full text of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Repayment of Existing Term Loans

On November 6, 2020, Academy used the net proceeds from the Notes and the net proceeds from the Term Loan Facility, together with cash on hand, to repay in full its existing term loans, in the amount of $1,434.0 million in the aggregate, and to pay the related fees and expenses.

IPO Over-Allotment Exercise

On November 3, 2020, the Company issued and sold 1,807,495 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, for cash consideration of $12.22 per share (representing an initial public offering price of $13.00 per share, net of underwriting discounts) to a syndicate of underwriters led by Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representatives, resulting in approximately $22.1 million in net proceeds, pursuant to the partial exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to 2,343,750 additional shares to cover over-allotments, if any, in connection with the Company’s initial public offering. The option has expired with respect to the remaining shares.


Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)    Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.    Description
4.1    Indenture, dated as of November 6, 2020, by and among Academy, Ltd., as Issuer, the guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee and as collateral agent.
10.1    Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November  6, 2020, among Academy, Ltd., as Borrower, New Academy Holding Company, LLC, as Holdings, Associated Investors L.L.C. and Academy Managing Co., L.L.C., as Texas Intermediate Holdcos, the several lenders from time to time party thereto, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as the administrative agent and collateral agent and the several other parties named therein.
10.2    Amendment No. 2, dated as of November 6, 2020, in respect of the First Amended and Restated ABL Credit Agreement, dated as of July  2, 2015, among Academy, Ltd., as Borrower, New Academy Holding Company, LLC, as Holdings, Associated Investors, L.L.C. and Academy Managing Co., L.L.C., as Texas Intermediate Holdcos, the several lenders from time to time party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the letter of credit issuer, administrative agent and collateral agent.
99.1    Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. Press Release, dated October 26, 2020.
99.2    Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. Press Release, dated October 28, 2020.


Signatures

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

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc.                                        

Date: November 6, 2020

 

By:  

/s/ Rene G. Casares

Name:   Rene G. Casares
Title:   Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

EXECUTION VERSION

ACADEMY, LTD.

as Issuer,

THE GUARANTORS NAMED HEREIN

and

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

as Trustee and as Notes Collateral Agent,

INDENTURE

Dated as of November 6, 2020

$400,000,000

6.000% Senior Secured Notes Due 2027


 

   Table of Contents   
        Page  
   ARTICLE ONE   
  

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS

OF GENERAL APPLICATION

  
SECTION 1.01.    Rules of Construction      1  
SECTION 1.02.    Definitions      2  
SECTION 1.03.    Compliance Certificates and Opinions      59  
SECTION 1.04.    Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee      60  
SECTION 1.05.    Acts of Holders      60  
SECTION 1.06.    Notices, Etc., to Trustee, Issuer, any Guarantor and Agent      61  
SECTION 1.07.    Notice to Holders; Waiver      62  
SECTION 1.08.    Effect of Headings and Table of Contents      62  
SECTION 1.09.    Successors and Assigns      63  
SECTION 1.10.    Severability Clause      63  
SECTION 1.11.    Benefits of Indenture      63  
SECTION 1.12.    Governing Law      63  
SECTION 1.13.    Legal Holidays      63  
SECTION 1.14.    No Personal Liability of Directors, Managers, Officers, Employees and Stockholders      63  
SECTION 1.15.    [Reserved]      63  
SECTION 1.16.    Counterparts      63  
SECTION 1.17.    USA PATRIOT Act      64  
SECTION 1.18.    Waiver of Jury Trial      64  
SECTION 1.19.    Force Majeure      64  
SECTION 1.20.    FATCA      64  
   ARTICLE TWO   
   NOTE FORMS   
SECTION 2.01.    Form and Dating      64  
SECTION 2.02.    Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating      65  
   ARTICLE THREE   
   THE NOTES   
SECTION 3.01.    Title and Terms      66  
SECTION 3.02.    Note Registrar, Transfer Agent and Paying Agent      67  
SECTION 3.03.    Denominations      67  
SECTION 3.04.    Temporary Notes      67  
SECTION 3.05.    Registration of Transfer and Exchange      68  
SECTION 3.06.    Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Notes      68  
SECTION 3.07.    Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved      69  
SECTION 3.08.    Persons Deemed Owners      70  
SECTION 3.09.    Cancellation      70  

 

-i-


SECTION 3.10.    Computation of Interest    70
SECTION 3.11.    Transfer and Exchange    70
SECTION 3.12.    CUSIP, ISIN and Common Code Numbers    71
SECTION 3.13.    Issuance of Additional Notes    71
   ARTICLE FOUR   
   SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE   
SECTION 4.01.    Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture    71
SECTION 4.02.    Application of Trust Money    72
   ARTICLE FIVE   
   REMEDIES   
SECTION 5.01.    Events of Default    73
SECTION 5.02.    Acceleration of Maturity: Rescission and Annulment    75
SECTION 5.03.    Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee    76
SECTION 5.04.    Trustee May File Proofs of Claim    76
SECTION 5.05.    Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Notes    77
SECTION 5.06.    Application of Money Collected    77
SECTION 5.07.    Limitation on Suits    77
SECTION 5.08.    Right of Holders to Bring Suit for Payment    78
SECTION 5.09.    Restoration of Rights and Remedies    78
SECTION 5.10.    Rights and Remedies Cumulative    78
SECTION 5.11.    Delay or Omission Not Waiver    78
SECTION 5.12.    Control by Holders    78
SECTION 5.13.    Waiver of Past Defaults    79
SECTION 5.14.    Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws    79
SECTION 5.15.    Undertaking for Costs    79
   ARTICLE SIX   
   THE TRUSTEE   
SECTION 6.01.    Duties of the Trustee    79
SECTION 6.02.    Notice of Defaults    80
SECTION 6.03.    Certain Rights of Trustee    82
SECTION 6.04.    Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Notes    84
SECTION 6.05.    May Hold Notes    84
SECTION 6.06.    Money Held in Trust    84
SECTION 6.07.    Compensation and Reimbursement    84
SECTION 6.08.    Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility    85
SECTION 6.09.    Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor    85
SECTION 6.10.    Acceptance of Appointment by Successor    86
SECTION 6.11.    Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business    86
SECTION 6.12.    Appointment of Authenticating Agent    87
SECTION 6.13.    Security Documents; Intercreditor Agreements    88

 

-ii-


   ARTICLE SEVEN   
   HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND ISSUER   
SECTION 7.01.    Issuer to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses    88
SECTION 7.02.    Reports by Trustee    88
   ARTICLE EIGHT   
  

MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, AMALGAMATION OR SALE

OF ALL OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL ASSETS

  
SECTION 8.01.    Issuer May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms    89
SECTION 8.02.    Guarantors May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms    90
SECTION 8.03.    Successor Substituted    91
   ARTICLE NINE   
   SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES   
SECTION 9.01.    Amendments or Supplements Without Consent of Holders    91
SECTION 9.02.    Amendments, Supplements or Waivers with Consent of Holders    93
SECTION 9.03.    Execution of Amendments, Supplements or Waivers    94
SECTION 9.04.    Effect of Amendments, Supplements or Waivers    95
SECTION 9.05.    [Reserved]    95
SECTION 9.06.    Reference in Notes to Supplemental Indentures    95
SECTION 9.07.    Notice of Supplemental Indentures    95
   ARTICLE TEN   
   COVENANTS   
SECTION 10.01.    Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest    95
SECTION 10.02.    Maintenance of Office or Agency    95
SECTION 10.03.    Money for Notes Payments to Be Held in Trust    96
SECTION 10.04.    Organizational Existence    96
SECTION 10.05.    Payment of Taxes and Other Claims    97
SECTION 10.06.    [Reserved]    97
SECTION 10.07.    [Reserved]    97
SECTION 10.08.    Statement by Officer as to Default    97
SECTION 10.09.    Reports and Other Information    97
SECTION 10.10.    Limitation on Restricted Payments    100
SECTION 10.11.    Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock    110
SECTION 10.12.    Liens    117
SECTION 10.13.    Limitations on Transactions with Affiliates    118
SECTION 10.14.    Limitations on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries    121
SECTION 10.15.    Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries    123
SECTION 10.16.    Change of Control    124
SECTION 10.17.    Asset Sales    126
SECTION 10.18.    Suspension of Covenants    130

 

-iii-


   ARTICLE ELEVEN   
   REDEMPTION OF NOTES   
SECTION 11.01.    Right of Redemption    131
SECTION 11.02.    [Reserved]    132
SECTION 11.03.    Applicability of Article    132
SECTION 11.04.    Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee    132
SECTION 11.05.    Selection by Trustee of Notes to Be Redeemed    132
SECTION 11.06.    Notice of Redemption    133
SECTION 11.07.    Deposit of Redemption Price    135
SECTION 11.08.    Notes Payable on Redemption Date    135
SECTION 11.09.    Notes Redeemed in Part    135
SECTION 11.10.    Mandatory Redemption; Open Market Purchases    135
SECTION 11.11.    Tender Offer Optional Redemption    135
   ARTICLE TWELVE   
   GUARANTEES   
SECTION 12.01.    Guarantees    136
SECTION 12.02.    Severability    137
SECTION 12.03.    Restricted Subsidiaries    137
SECTION 12.04.    Limitation of Guarantors’ Liability    137
SECTION 12.05.    Contribution    138
SECTION 12.06.    Subrogation    138
SECTION 12.07.    Reinstatement    138
SECTION 12.08.    Release of a Guarantor    138
SECTION 12.09.    Benefits Acknowledged    139
SECTION 12.10.    Effectiveness of Guarantees    139
   ARTICLE THIRTEEN   
   LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE   
SECTION 13.01.    Issuer’s Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance    139
SECTION 13.02.    Legal Defeasance and Discharge    139
SECTION 13.03.    Covenant Defeasance    140
SECTION 13.04.    Conditions to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance    140
SECTION 13.05.    Deposited Money and Government Securities To Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions    141
SECTION 13.06.    Reinstatement    142
   ARTICLE FOURTEEN   
   COLLATERAL   
SECTION 14.01.    Security Documents    142
SECTION 14.02.    Release of Collateral    143

 

-iv-


SECTION 14.03.    Suits to Protect the Collateral    144
SECTION 14.04.    Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee under the Security Documents    145
SECTION 14.05.    Purchaser Protected    145
SECTION 14.06.    Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee    145
SECTION 14.07.    Release Upon Termination of the Issuer’s Obligations    145
SECTION 14.08.    Notes Collateral Agent    145
SECTION 14.09.    Other Limitations and Protections    154
SECTION 14.10.    Further Assurances; Maintenance of Properties; Compliance with Laws; Insurance    154

 

-v-


APPENDIX & EXHIBITS

ANNEX I — Rule 144A / Regulation S

EXHIBIT 1 to Rule 144A / Regulation S — Form of Initial Note

EXHIBIT A — Form of Supplemental Indenture to Be Delivered by Subsequent Guarantors

EXHIBIT B — Form of Incumbency Certificate

EXHIBIT C — Form of Net Short Representation

 

-vi-


INDENTURE, dated as of November 6, 2020 (this “Indenture”), among ACADEMY, LTD., a Texas limited partnership, the Guarantors (as defined herein) listed on Schedule I hereto, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee and as Notes Collateral Agent.

RECITALS OF THE ISSUER

The Issuer has duly authorized the creation of an issue of 6.000% Senior Secured Notes Due 2027 issued on the date hereof (the “Initial Notes”) and to provide therefor the Issuer has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture.

All things necessary have been done to make the Notes, when executed by the Issuer and authenticated and delivered hereunder and duly issued by the Issuer, the valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuer and to make this Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement of the Issuer and the Guarantors, in accordance with their and its terms.

Each of the parties hereto is entering into this Indenture for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined below) of (i) the Issuer’s Initial Notes and (ii) any Additional Notes (as defined herein) that may be issued from time to time under this Indenture.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and 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 ratable benefit of all Holders, as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS

OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 1.01.    Rules of Construction.

(a)    For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

(1)    the terms defined in this Article One have the meanings assigned to them in this Article One, and words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular;

(2)    all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with GAAP (as herein defined);

(3)    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 or other subdivision;

(4)    all references to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Appendices shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Appendices to, this Indenture;

(5)    “or” is not exclusive;

(6)    “including” means including without limitation; and

 

-1-


(7)    all references to the date the Notes were originally issued shall refer to the Issue Date.

SECTION 1.02.    Definitions.

ABL Collateral Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as the collateral agent under the ABL Credit Agreement, or any successor representative acting in such capacity.

ABL Credit Agreement” means (i) the revolving credit facility pursuant to the First Amended and Restated ABL Credit Agreement, dated July 2, 2015, among the Issuer, New Academy Holding Company, LLC, as Holdings, Associated Investors L.L.C. and Academy Managing Co., L.L.C., as Texas Intermediate Holdcos, the lending institutions from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer and the Swingline Lender, as the same may be in effect from time to time and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements, refundings, exchanges or refinancings thereof and (ii) whether or not the credit agreement referred to in clause (i) remains outstanding, any other financing arrangements (including, without limitation, commercial paper facilities or indentures) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit or other indebtedness, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof and any credit facilities, indentures or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund, refinance, extend, renew, restate, amend, supplement or modify any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities, commitments or other similar obligations thereunder, including any such exchanged, replacement, refunding, refinancing, extended, renewed, restated, amended, supplemented or modified facility or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 10.11) or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders.

ABL Documents” means the ABL Credit Agreement, any additional credit agreement, note purchase agreement, indenture or other agreement related thereto and all other loan or note documents, collateral or security documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing, or executed or delivered in connection with, the ABL Credit Agreement or any Pari Passu ABL Lien Indebtedness, as such agreements or instruments may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated, replaced, renewed, refunded, restructured, increased or refinanced from time to time.

ABL Intercreditor Agreement” means that certain ABL Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of July 2, 2015, by and among the Issuer, the Guarantors, the ABL Collateral Agent, the Term Loan Collateral Agent and, from and after giving effect to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement Joinder, the Notes Collateral Agent, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

ABL Intercreditor Agreement Joinder” means the Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder, dated as of the Issue Date, by the Notes Collateral Agent and acknowledged by the ABL Collateral Agent and the Term Loan Collateral Agent.

ABL Obligations” means all Indebtedness, liabilities and obligations (of every kind or nature) incurred or arising under or relating to the ABL Documents that is secured by a Permitted Lien, and all other obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor in respect thereof.

ABL Priority Collateral” has the meaning given to such term in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

 

-2-


ABL Representative” means, (1) in the case of the ABL Credit Agreement, the ABL Collateral Agent and (2) in the case of any other Pari Passu ABL Lien Indebtedness, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Pari Passu ABL Lien Indebtedness who is appointed as a representative of such Pari Passu ABL Lien Indebtedness (for purposes related to the administration of the applicable security documents related thereto) pursuant to this Indenture, the credit agreement or other agreement governing such Pari Passu ABL Lien Indebtedness.

Acceptable Commitment” has the meaning specified in Section 10.17(b) of this Indenture.

Acquired Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person, (1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into or became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, including Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging, consolidating or amalgamating with or into or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person; and (2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.

Act,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.05 of this Indenture.

Additional Credit Support Party” has the meaning specified in Section 10.15 of this Indenture.

Additional First Lien Obligations” means the Obligations with respect to any indebtedness having Pari Passu Lien Priority (but without regard to the control of remedies) relative to the Notes Obligations, ABL Obligations or Term Loan Obligations, as applicable, with respect to the Collateral (other than the ABL Obligations and the Term Loan Obligations) or that is otherwise secured by Liens on the Collateral on a first-priority basis as of such date; provided that an authorized representative of the holders of such indebtedness shall be a party to the Intercreditor Agreements or shall have executed a joinder to the Intercreditor Agreements (or entered into such other intercreditor agreement having substantially similar terms as the Intercreditor Agreements, taken as a whole).

Additional Notes” means any Notes issued by the Issuer pursuant to Section 3.13.

Adjusted Net Assets” has the meaning specified in Section 12.05 of this Indenture.

Advance Offer” has the meaning specified in Section 10.17(c) of this Indenture.

Advance Portion” has the meaning specified in Section 10.17(c) of 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 purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.

Affiliate Transaction” has the meaning specified in Section 10.13 of this Indenture.

Agent” means any Note Registrar, Transfer Agent, co-registrar, Paying Agent, Notes Collateral Agent, authentication agent, or other agent appointed in accordance with this Indenture to perform any function that this Indenture authorized such agent to perform.

 

-3-


Alternate Offer” has the meaning specified in Section 10.16(a) of this Indenture.

Appendix” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01 of this Indenture.

Applicable Calculation Date” means the applicable date of calculation for (i) the Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio, (ii) the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio, (iii) the Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio, (iv) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, (v) the Consolidated EBITDA or (vi) the Total Assets. For clarity, for purposes of the provisions described in the following paragraphs of this definition, the Applicable Calculation Date may, at the option of a Testing Party, be the Transaction Test Date.

When calculating the availability under any basket, ratio or any financial metric under this Indenture or compliance with any provision of this Indenture (including the absence of defaults or Events of Default), in each case, in connection with (a) any Limited Condition Transaction, (b) any incurrence or issuance of or repayment, redemption, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock and the use of proceeds thereof, (c) the creation of Liens, (d) the making of any Asset Sale or any disposition excluded from the definition of “Asset Sale”, (e) the making of an Investment (including any acquisition) or Restricted Payments, or (f) the designation of a Subsidiary as restricted or unrestricted (the transactions referred to in clauses (b) through (f), collectively, the “Specified Transactions,” and each, a “Specified Transaction”) and any actions or transactions related thereto, the date of determination of such basket, ratio or financial metric or whether the Limited Condition Transaction or any such Specified Transaction is permitted (or any requirement or conditions therefor is complied with or satisfied (including as to the absence of any Default or Event of Default)) may, at the option of the Issuer, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, a Parent Entity of the Issuer, any successor entity of any of the foregoing (including a third party) (the “Testing Party”) (which election may be made on or prior to the date of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction or Specified Transaction), be the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Transaction or Specified Transaction are entered into (or, if applicable, the date of delivery of a binding offer or launch of a “certain funds” tender offer, delivery of an irrevocable notice, a declaration of a Restricted Payment, a dividend or a similar event), or the date that a notice, which may be conditional, on repayment or redemption in connection with a repayment, redemption, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, is given to the holders of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (any such date, the “Transaction Test Date”) and such baskets, ratios or financial metrics shall be calculated with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definitions of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Total Debt Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio and Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio after giving effect to such Limited Condition Transaction or Specified Transactions and any actions or transactions related thereto (including any incurrence of Liens, Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) as if they occurred at the beginning of the applicable period for purposes of determining the ability to consummate any such Limited Condition Transaction or Specified Transaction, and, for the avoidance of doubt, (x) if any of such baskets, ratios or financial metrics are exceeded or are not complied with as a result of fluctuations in such basket, ratio or financial metrics (including due to fluctuations in Fixed Charges, Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer, the target company or any Person that is otherwise the subject of the Limited Condition Transaction or the Specified Transaction during and after the Applicable Measurement Period) at or prior to the consummation of the relevant Limited Condition Transaction or Specified Transaction and any actions or transactions related thereto, such baskets, ratios or financial metrics will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations and (y) such baskets, ratios or financial metrics shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction or Specified Transaction and any actions or transactions related thereto except as contemplated in clause (a) of the immediately succeeding proviso; provided, however, that (a) if financial statements for one or more subsequent fiscal quarters shall have become available, the Testing Party may elect, in its sole discretion, to re-determine all such baskets, ratios and financial metrics on the basis of such financial statements, in which case such date of redetermination shall thereafter be

 

-4-


deemed to be the applicable Transaction Test Date for purposes of such baskets, ratios and financial metrics, (b) if any ratios or financial metrics improve or baskets increase as a result of such fluctuations, such improved ratios, financial metrics or baskets may be utilized and (c) if the Testing Party elects to have such determinations occur at the Transaction Test Date, any such transactions (including the Limited Condition Transaction or Specified Transaction and any actions or transactions related thereto) shall be deemed to have occurred on the Transaction Test Date and to be outstanding thereafter for purposes of calculating any baskets, ratios or financial metrics under this Indenture after the Transaction Test Date and before the consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction or Specified Transaction unless and until such Limited Condition Transaction or Specified Transaction has been abandoned, as determined by the Testing Party, prior to the consummation thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Testing Party has exercised its option pursuant to the foregoing and any Default or Event of Default occurs following the Transaction Test Date (including any new Transaction Test Date) for the applicable Limited Condition Transaction or Specified Transaction and prior to or on the date of the consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction or Specified Transaction, any such Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to not have occurred or be continuing for purposes of determining whether any action being taken in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction or Specified Transaction is permitted under this Indenture.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Trustee shall have no responsibility, nor shall it have any liability to the Issuer, any Holder or any third party, for calculating any basket, ratio or other financial metrics under this Indenture, determining whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result from any action, or determining the Issuer’s compliance with any other condition precedent to any action or transaction, in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, any actions or transactions related thereto, or otherwise.

Any calculation or measure that is determined with reference to the Issuer’s financial statements (including, without limitation, Applicable Measurement Period, Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Interest Expense, Consolidated Net Income, Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio, Consolidated Total Debt Ratio, Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Fixed Charges, Permitted Receivables Financing, Total Assets and Section 10.10(a)(2)(a)) may be determined with reference to the financial statements of a Parent Entity of the Issuer instead, so long as such Parent Entity does not hold any material assets other than, directly or indirectly, the Equity Interests of the Issuer (as determined in good faith by the Board or senior management of the Issuer).

For purposes of determining any calculation or measure as of any Applicable Calculation Date, date of determination or Transaction Test Date (including, without limitation, Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Interest Expense, Consolidated Net Income, Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio, Consolidated Total Debt Ratio, Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Fixed Charges, Permitted Receivables Financing and Total Assets) under this Indenture, the U.S. dollar equivalent amount of any amount denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated, to the extent not already reflected in U.S. dollars in the relevant financial statements (which may be internal), based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the Applicable Calculation Date.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) is incurred or issued, any Lien is incurred or other transaction is undertaken in reliance on a ratio basket based on the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio or Consolidated Total Debt Ratio, such ratio(s) shall be calculated with respect to such incurrence, issuance or other transaction without giving effect to amounts being utilized under any other basket (other than a ratio basket based on the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio or Consolidated Total Debt Ratio) on the same date (whether such baskets are utilized in a single transaction, a series of

 

-5-


related transactions or otherwise). Each item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that is incurred or issued, each Lien incurred and each other transaction undertaken will be deemed to have been incurred, issued or taken first, to the extent available, pursuant to the relevant Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio or Consolidated Total Debt Ratio test without giving effect to any amounts being utilized pursuant to any other available baskets and, thereafter, pursuant to any other available baskets (but giving full pro forma effect to all applicable and related transactions, including (but subject to the foregoing) any incurrence and repayments of Indebtedness and all other permitted pro forma adjustments).

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, in the event an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) is incurred or issued, any Lien is incurred or other transaction is undertaken in reliance of a ratio basket based on the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio or Consolidated Total Debt Ratio, such ratio(s) shall be calculated without regard to the incurrence of any Indebtedness under any revolving facility or letter of credit facility (1) immediately prior to or in connection therewith or (2) used to finance working capital needs of the Issuer, its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Parent Entity (as reasonably determined by the Issuer).

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, so long as an action was taken (or not taken) in reliance upon a basket, ratio or financial metric under this Indenture that was calculated or determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer based upon financial information available to such officer at such time and such action (or inaction) was permitted under this Indenture at the time of such calculation or determination, any subsequent restatement, modification or adjustments made to such financial information (including any restatement, modification or adjustment that would have caused such basket or ratio to be exceeded as a result of such action or inaction) shall not result in any Default or Event of Default under this Indenture.

Applicable Measurement Period” means the most recently completed four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Issuer immediately preceding the Applicable Calculation Date for which internal financial statements are available.

Applicable Percentage” means 100%; provided that the Applicable Percentage shall be (1) 50% if, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Asset Sale and the use of proceeds therefrom the Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio would be less than or equal to 1.25 to 1.00 but greater than 1.00 to 1.00, or (2) 0% if, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Asset Sale and the use of proceeds therefrom, the Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio would be less than or equal to 1.00 to 1.00.

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

(1)    1.0% of the principal amount of such Note; and

(2)    the excess, if any, of:

(a)    (i) the sum of the present values at such Redemption Date of (A) the redemption price of such Note at November 15, 2023 (such redemption price being set forth in the table appearing in Section 11.01), plus (B) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such Note through November 15, 2023, discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points, minus (ii) accrued but unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date over

 

-6-


(b)    the principal amount of such Note.

Calculation of the Applicable Premium will be made by the Issuer or on behalf of the Issuer by such Person as the Issuer shall designate; provided that such calculation or the correctness thereof shall not be a duty or obligation of the Trustee.

Applicable Premium Deficit” has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(a) of this Indenture.

Applicable Proceeds” has the meaning specified in Section 10.17(b) of this Indenture.

ASO” means Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc.

Asset Sale” means:

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

(2)    the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries issued in compliance with the covenant described under Section 10.11), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions,

in each case, other than:

(a)    any disposition of cash, Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or obsolete, damaged, unnecessary, unsuitable or worn out property or equipment or other assets in the ordinary course of business or any disposition of inventory, immaterial assets or goods (or other assets), property or equipment held for sale or no longer used or useful, or economically practicable or commercially desirable to maintain, in the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries;

(b)    the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in a manner permitted pursuant to Article Eight of this Indenture or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control pursuant to this Indenture;

(c)    any disposition, issuance or sale in connection with the incurrence of any Permitted Lien or the making of any Restricted Payment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section 10.10 or any Permitted Investment;

(d)    any disposition of property or assets, or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, in any transaction or series of related transactions with an aggregate fair market value of less than the greater of (i) $48.0 million and (ii) 10.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the Applicable Measurement Period;

(e)    any disposition of property or assets, or issuance of securities by a Restricted Subsidiary, to the Issuer or by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary to another Restricted Subsidiary;

 

-7-


(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, which may be in connection with an Asset Sale;

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

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

(i)    foreclosures, condemnation, expropriation, forced dispositions, eminent domain or any similar action (whether by deed of condemnation or otherwise) with respect to assets or the granting of Liens not prohibited by this Indenture, and transfers of any property that have been subject to a casualty to the respective insurer of such property as part of an insurance settlement or upon receipt of the net proceeds of such casualty event;

(j)    sales of accounts receivables, or participations therein and related assets pursuant to any Permitted Receivables Financing;

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

(l)    (1) any surrender or waiver of contractual rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contractual rights or other litigation claims in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, (2) the termination or collapse of cost sharing agreements with the Issuer 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 consultants, directors, officers, or employees of the Issuer (or any Parent Entity) or any Subsidiary or any of their successors or assigns;

(m)    the sale, lease, assignment, license, sublease or discount of inventory, equipment, accounts receivable, notes receivable or other current assets in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or the conversion of accounts receivable to notes receivable or other dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof;

(n)    the licensing, sub-licensing or cross-licensing of intellectual property or other general intangibles in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice that is immaterial;

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

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

 

-8-


(q)    the lapse, abandonment or invalidation of intellectual property rights, which in the reasonable determination of the Board of the Issuer or the senior management thereof are not material to the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole or are no longer used or useful or economically practicable or commercially reasonable to maintain;

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

(s)    the disposition of any assets (including Equity Interests) (i) acquired after the Issue Date in a transaction permitted under this Indenture, which assets are not used or useful in the core or principal business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, or (ii) made in connection with the approval of any applicable antitrust authority or otherwise necessary or advisable in the good faith determination of the Issuer to consummate any acquisition permitted under this Indenture;

(t)    any disposition of property or assets of a Foreign Subsidiary the Net Proceeds of which the Issuer has determined in good faith that the repatriation of such Net Proceeds (i) is prohibited or subject to limitations under applicable law, orders, decrees or determinations of any arbitrator, court or Governmental Authority or (ii) would have a material adverse tax consequence (taking into account any foreign tax credit or benefit actually realized in connection with such repatriation); provided that when the Issuer determines in good faith that repatriation of any of such Net Proceeds (i) is no longer prohibited or subject to limitations under such applicable law, orders, decrees or determinations of any arbitrator, court or Governmental Authority or (ii) would no longer have a material adverse tax consequence (taking into account any foreign tax credit or benefit actually realized in connection with such repatriation), such amount at such time shall be considered the Net Proceeds in respect of an Asset Sale;

(u)    any “fee in lieu” or other disposition of assets to any Governmental Authority that continue in use by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, so long as the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary may obtain title to such assets upon reasonable notice by paying a nominal fee;

(v)    a disposition of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement or other obligation with or to a Person (other than the Issuer 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), entered into in connection with such acquisition;

(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;

(x)    dispositions of property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) an amount equal to the Net Proceeds of such disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property; and

 

-9-


(y)    the sales of property or assets for an aggregate fair market value not to exceed the greater of (i) $168.0 million and (ii) 35.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the Applicable Measurement Period.

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

Asset Sale Offer” has the meaning specified in Section 10.17(c) of this Indenture.

Asset Sale Proceeds Application Period” has the meaning specified in Section 10.17(b) of this Indenture.

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended.

Bankruptcy Law” means the Bankruptcy Code and any similar federal, state or foreign law for the relief of debtors.

Board” with respect to a Person means the board of directors (or similar body) of such Person or, if such Person does not have such a board of directors (or similar body) and is owned or managed by a single entity, the board of directors (or similar body) of such entity, or, in either case, any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board of directors (or similar body). Unless the context otherwise requires, any references to the Board of the Issuer refer to the board of managers (or similar governing body) of Holdings or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board of managers (or similar governing body).

Board Resolution” means a duly adopted resolution of the Board.

Borrowing Base has the meaning given to such term in the ABL Credit Agreement; provided that if the ABL Credit Agreement has been amended (including any amendment or restatement thereof), supplemented or otherwise modified as of any date (including pursuant to any agreement or indenture exchanging, extending the maturity of, refinancing, renewing, replacing, substituting or otherwise restructuring, whether in the bank or debt capital markets (or combination thereof), all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or facility or any successor or replacement agreement or facility (each of the foregoing, a “Replacement”)), and if pursuant to any such Replacement, the ABL Credit Agreement does not provide for revolving borrowings subject to a borrowing base definition customary for similarly situated domestic borrowers in the asset-based loan market at such time, then the definition of “Borrowing Base” hereunder shall be deemed to mean, as of any date, an amount equal to the sum of (a) 90% of the book value of all accounts receivable (including credit card receivables) and (b) 90% of the book value of all inventory, in each case, of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

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

Capital Stock” means:

(1)    in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

(2)    in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

 

-10-


(3)    in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and

(4)    any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

Capitalized Lease Obligation means an obligation that is required to be accounted for as a financing lease (and, for the avoidance of doubt, not a straight-line or operating lease) on both the balance sheet and income statement for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. At the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a financing lease or capital lease would be the amount required to be reflected as a liability on such balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP.

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

Cash Equivalents” means:

(1)    U.S. dollars;

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

  (b)    other currencies held by the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(3)    securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any 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 average maturities of 36 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(4)    certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with average maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, demand deposits, bankers’ acceptances with average maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $100.0 million (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof);

(5)    repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (3), (4) and (10) entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;

(6)    commercial paper rated at least P-2 by Moody’s or at least A-2 by S&P (or, if at any time, neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) and variable and fixed rate notes issued by any financial institution meting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above, in each case with average maturities of 36 months or less after the date of creation thereof;

 

-11-


(7)    marketable short-term money market and similar securities having a rating of at least P-2 or A-2 from either Moody’s or S&P, respectively (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency);

(8)    investment funds investing 90% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (7) above and (9) through (12) below;

(9)    securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory or any public instrumentality thereof having average maturities of not more than 36 months from the date of acquisition thereof;

(10)    readily marketable direct obligations issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed by any foreign government or any political subdivision or public instrumentality thereof, in each case (other than in the case of such securities issued or guaranteed by any participating member state of the EMU) having an Investment Grade Rating from either Moody’s or S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) with average maturities of 36 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(11)    Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A2” or higher from Moody’s (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) with average maturities of 36 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(12)    Investments with average maturities of 36 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds rated A (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or A2 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency);

(13)    in the case of Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary of the Issuer, Investments for short-term cash management purposes of comparable tenor and credit quality to those described in the foregoing clauses (1) through (12) customarily utilized in countries in which such Foreign Subsidiary operates;

(14)    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, 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 36 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;

 

-12-


(15)    Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets, in money market investment programs that are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or that are administered by financial institutions meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above, and, in either case, the portfolios of which are limited such that substantially all of such Investments are of the character, quality and maturity described in clauses (1) through (14) of this definition; and

(16)    Credit Card Receivables.

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

For the avoidance of doubt, any items identified as Cash Equivalents under this definition (other than Credit Card Receivables) 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 and cash management services or any automated clearing house transfers of funds, (2) other obligations in respect of netting services, commercial credit cards, merchant credit card services, purchase or debit cards, including non-card-e-payable services, or electronic funds transfer services and similar arrangements, (3) any other demand deposit or operating account relationships or other cash management services and (4) 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).

CFC” shall mean a Subsidiary of Holdings that is a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code.

CFC Holding Company” shall mean a Domestic Subsidiary of Holdings substantially all of the assets of which consist of equity and/or indebtedness of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs.

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

(1)    the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person, other than a Permitted Holder; or

(2)    the Issuer becomes aware of (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) the acquisition by (A) any Person (other than any Permitted Holder) or (B) Persons (other than any Permitted Holders) that are together a group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any 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, or any successor provision), in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, consolidation or other business combination or purchase, of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer or any Parent Entity; provided that (x) so

 

-13-


long as the Issuer 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 the Issuer unless such “Person” shall be or become a “beneficial owner” of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of such Parent Entity and (y) any Voting Stock of which any Permitted Holder is the “beneficial owner” shall not in any case be included in the calculation of 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 (other than a Permitted Holder) includes one or more Permitted Holders, the issued and outstanding Voting Stock of the Issuer or any Parent Entity 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 and (iii) a Person or group will not be deemed to beneficially own the Voting Stock of a Person (the “Subject Person”) held by a parent of such Subject Person 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 having a majority of the aggregate votes on the Board of such parent.

Change of Control Offer” has the meaning specified in Section 10.16(a) of this Indenture.

Change of Control Payment” has the meaning specified in Section 10.16(a) of this Indenture.

Change of Control Payment Date” has the meaning specified in Section 10.16(a) of this Indenture.

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

Collateral” means all properties and assets of the Issuer and the Guarantors now owned or hereafter acquired in which Liens have been granted, or are purported to, intended to or required to be granted, to the Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to any Security Document to secure any or all of the Notes Obligations, other than Excluded Assets and other than assets released from the Collateral.

consolidated” or “Consolidated” means, with respect to any Person, such Person on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, but excluding from such consolidation any Unrestricted Subsidiary as if such Unrestricted Subsidiary were not an Affiliate of such Person.

Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense means with respect to any Person for any period, the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense, including the amortization of deferred financing fees or costs, 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 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.

Consolidated EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis, plus:

 

-14-


(1)    without duplication and to the extent already deducted (and not added back) in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such period:

(a)    Fixed Charges of such Person for such period (including (x) net losses on Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk and (y) bank and letter of credit fees and 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” pursuant to clauses (a) through (k) thereof, and any non-cash interest expense, plus

(b)    provision for taxes based on income, profits, revenue or capital gains, including, federal, foreign and state income, franchise and similar taxes and foreign withholding taxes of such Person paid or accrued during such period (including in respect of repatriated funds), including any penalties and interest relating to such taxes or arising from any tax examinations, and any payments to a direct or indirect parent company pursuant to Section 10.10(b)(13) in respect of such taxes, plus

(c)    Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense of such Person for such period, plus

(d)    any other non-cash charges, including any write offs, write downs, expenses, losses or items (provided, in each case, that if any such non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period), plus

(e)    the amount of any non-controlling interest consisting of income attributable to non-controlling interests of third parties in any non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, plus

(f)    (i) the amount of management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees, indemnities and related expenses paid or accrued in such period to (or on behalf of) the Investors (including any termination fees payable in connection with the early termination of management and monitoring agreements) and (ii) the amount of payments made to option, phantom equity or profits interests holders of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or Parent Entities in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution made to equity holders of such Person or its Parent Entities, which payments are being made to compensate such option, phantom equity or profits interests holders as though they were equity holders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution, in each case, to the extent permitted under this Indenture (including expenses relating to distributions made to equity holders of such Person or any of its Parent Entities resulting from the application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718— Compensation—Stock Compensation), plus

(g)    losses or discounts on sales of receivables and related assets in connection with any Permitted Receivables Financing, plus

(h)    cash receipts (or any netting arrangements resulting in reduced cash expenditures) not included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income in any period to the extent non-cash gains relating to such income were deducted in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to paragraph (3) below for any previous period and not added back, plus

 

-15-


(i)    any costs or expense incurred by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or phantom equity plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement, any severance agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such cost or expenses are non-cash or otherwise funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of such Person or Net Proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of such Person (other than Disqualified Stock), 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 Topic 715—Compensation— Retirement Benefits, and any other items of a similar nature, plus

(k)    costs of surety bonds incurred in such period in connection with financing activities, plus

(l)    with respect to any joint venture that is not a Restricted Subsidiary, an amount equal to the proportion of those items described in clauses (b) and (c) above relating to such joint venture corresponding to such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ proportionate share of such joint venture’s Consolidated Net Income (determined as if such joint venture were a Restricted Subsidiary), plus

(m)    the amount of any loss attributable to a new store, distribution center, facility or business until the date that is 24 months after the date of commencement of construction or the date of acquisition or launch thereof, as the case may be; provided that (A) such losses are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable and certified by a responsible officer of such Person and (B) losses attributable to such store, distribution center, facility or business after 24 months from the date of commencement of construction or the date of acquisition of such store, distribution center, facility or business, as the case may be, shall not be included in this clause (m), plus

(n)    increases in Consolidated EBITDA projected by such Person in good faith to result from acquisitions or transactions involving new or expanded services, facilities, lines of business or operations, in each case which have been consummated or are reasonably expected to be consummated pursuant to agreements or letters of intent that have been entered into with respect thereto, reflecting any projected increase in the businesses and services of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries and such acquired entity or business or new or expanded services, facilities, lines of business or operations, in each case attributable to the applicable transaction and that are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable, plus

(o)    charges, expenses, and other items described in (i) the calculations of Adjusted EBITDA as set forth in the Offering Memorandum and (ii) any quality of earnings report reasonably prepared in good faith by a nationally recognized accounting firm in connection with any Specified Event actually consummated by such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries and delivered to the Trustee, plus

 

-16-


(p)    the aggregate amount of “run-rate” Consolidated EBITDA reasonably expect to be derived from contracted revenue under any contract in place as of the end of such period projected by such Person in good faith for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of such Person following the end of such period, as if such contracted revenue was applicable (calculated, if applicable, using the historical average derived from such contract over the immediately preceding three year period and without duplication of any Consolidated EBITDA actually reflected in such four consecutive fiscal quarter period) during the entire period, plus

(q)    any costs or expenses realized in connection with or resulting from stock-based awards, partnership interest-based awards and similar incentive-based compensation awards or arrangements or other rights of officers, directors and employees, in each case of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, plus

(r)    pre-opening costs and expenses in connection with new retail locations and losses from any such new location during the first year after opening, plus

(s)    costs and expenses in connection with project ramp-ups that are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable (in the good faith determination of such Person), plus

(2)    without duplication, the amount of “ run rate” cost savings and revenue synergies, operating expense reductions, operating enhancements and other synergies related to the Transactions or any Specified Event (as defined below) projected by such Person in good faith to be realized as a result of actions that have been taken or initiated or are expected to be taken (in the good faith determination of such Person), including any cost savings, expenses and charges (including restructuring and integration charges) in connection with, or incurred by or on behalf of, any joint venture of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (whether accounted for on the financial statements of any such joint venture or such Person), (a) with respect to the Transactions, on or prior to the date that is 24 months after the Issue Date (including actions initiated prior to the Issue Date) and (b) with respect to any investment, sale, transfer or other disposition of assets, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, Restricted Payment, New Project, Subsidiary designation, restructuring, cost saving initiative or other initiative (collectively, a “ Specified Event”), within 24 months of such Specified Event (which cost savings and revenue synergies, operating expense reductions, operating enhancements and other synergies shall be added to Consolidated EBITDA until fully realized and calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings and revenue synergies, operating expense reductions, operating enhancements and other synergies had been realized on the first day of the relevant period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized from such actions; provided that (i) such cost savings are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable, (ii) no cost savings and revenue synergies, operating expense reductions, operating enhancements or other synergies shall be added pursuant to this clause (2) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges relating to such cost savings and revenue synergies, operating expense reductions , operating enhancements or other synergies that are included in clause (1) above (it being understood and agreed that “ run rate” shall mean the full recurring benefit that is associated with any action taken) and (iii) the share of any such cost savings, expenses and charges with respect to a joint venture that are to be allocated to such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not exceed the total amount thereof for any such joint venture multiplied by the percentage of income of such venture expected to be included in Consolidated EBITDA for the relevant Applicable Measurement Period, less

 

-17-


(3)    without duplication and to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such period:

(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)    the amount of any non-controlling interest consisting of loss attributable to non-controlling interests of third parties in any non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary,

in each case, as determined on a consolidated basis for such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries. For purposes of testing the covenants under this Indenture in connection with any transaction, the Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be adjusted to reflect such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” (other than as set forth in the first proviso to the first paragraph of such definition).

Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio” means, as of any Applicable Calculation Date, the ratio of (1) Consolidated Total First Lien Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries minus cash and Cash Equivalents of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, computed as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the Applicable Calculation Date to (2) the Issuer’s Consolidated EBITDA for the Applicable Measurement Period, in each case, with such pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Total First Lien Indebtedness, cash, Cash Equivalents and Consolidated EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” (other than as set forth in the first proviso to the first paragraph of such definition); provided that, for purposes of the calculation of Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio, in connection with (x) the incurrence of any Indebtedness pursuant to Section 10.11(b)(1) or (y) the incurrence of any Lien pursuant to clauses (12) or (34) of the definition of “Permitted Liens,” the Issuer may elect, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee, to treat all or any portion of the commitment (any such amount elected until revoked as described below, an “Elected Amount) under any Indebtedness which is to be incurred (or any commitment in respect thereof) or secured by such Lien, as the case may be, as being incurred as of the Applicable Calculation Date and (i) any subsequent incurrence of Indebtedness under such commitment (so long as the total amount under such Indebtedness does not exceed the Elected Amount) shall not be deemed, for purposes of this calculation, to be an incurrence of additional Indebtedness or an additional Lien at such subsequent time, (ii) the Issuer may revoke an election of an Elected Amount pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee and (iii) for purposes of all subsequent calculations of the Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio, the Elected Amount (if any) shall be deemed to be outstanding, whether or not such amount is actually outstanding, so long as the applicable commitment remains outstanding.

Consolidated Interest Expense” means 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, 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 (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,

 

-18-


(d) commissions, discounts, yield, make-whole premium and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) incurred in connection with any Permitted Receivables Financing, (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.

For purposes of this definition, interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by such Person to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income, of such Person for such period, determined on a consolidated basis, excluding (and excluding the effect of), without duplication,

(1)    extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) or expenses (including any unusual or non-recurring operating expenses directly attributable to the implementation of cost savings initiatives and any accruals or reserves in respect of any extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual items), severance, relocation costs, integration and facilities’ or stores’ opening costs and other business optimization expenses (including related to new product introductions and other strategic or cost savings initiatives), restructuring charges, accruals or reserves (including restructuring and integration costs related to acquisitions and adjustments to existing reserves), whether or not classified as restructuring expense on the consolidated financial statements, signing costs, retention or completion bonuses, other executive recruiting and retention costs, transition costs, costs related to closure/consolidation of facilities or bases and curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans (including any settlement of pension liabilities and charges resulting from changes in estimates, valuations and judgments),

(2)    at the election of the Issuer, with respect to any quarterly period, the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and changes as a result of adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period,

(3)    Transaction Expenses,

(4)    the Net Income for such period of any Person that is an Unrestricted Subsidiary and any Person that is not a Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting; provided that Consolidated Net Income shall be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments that are actually paid in cash or Cash Equivalents (or, if not paid in cash or Cash Equivalents, but later converted into cash or Cash Equivalents, upon such conversion) by such Person to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period,

(5)    any fees and expenses (including any transaction or retention bonus or similar payment) incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, disposition, Investment, recapitalization, Asset Sale, issuance or repayment

 

-19-


of Indebtedness, issuance of Equity Interests, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt instrument (in each case, including any such transaction consummated prior to the Issue Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed) and any charges, losses or non-recurring merger costs incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction, in each case whether or not successful (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the effects of expensing all transaction-related expenses in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 805—Business Combinations and gains or losses associated with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 460—Guarantees),

(6)    any income (loss) for such period attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments (including deferred financing costs written off and premiums paid),

(7)    accruals and reserves (including contingent liabilities) that are established or adjusted within in twelve months after the Issue Date that are so required to be established as a result of the Transactions in accordance with GAAP, or changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies,

(8)    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 or other rights to officers, directors, managers or employees,

(9)    any income (loss) attributable to deferred compensation plans or trusts,

(10)    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),

(11)    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 Topic 815—Derivatives and Hedging or mark to market movement of other financial instruments pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 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, (12) any non-cash gain (loss) related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including the net loss or gain resulting from Hedging Obligations for currency exchange risk and revaluations of intercompany balances and other balance sheet items),

(12)    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),

(13)    any impairment charge or asset write-off or write-down (including related to intangible assets (including goodwill), long-lived assets, and investments in debt and equity securities),

 

-20-


(14)    solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 10.10(a)(2)(a), the Net Income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Guarantor) shall be excluded to the extent the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, is otherwise restricted by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, other than (A) any restriction that has been legally waived or released (or the Issuer reasonably believes such restriction could be waived or released and is using commercially reasonable efforts to pursue such waiver or release); (B) any restriction imposed pursuant to the Indenture, the Security Documents or the documents related to the Credit Facilities; and/or (C) any restriction that arises pursuant to an agreement or instrument if the encumbrances and restrictions contained in any such agreement or instrument taken as a whole are not materially less favorable to Holders than the encumbrances and restrictions contained in the Indenture, the Security Documents or the documents related to the Credit Facilities (as determined by the Issuer in good faith); provided that Consolidated Net Income of such Person will be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash or Cash Equivalents (or, if not paid in cash or Cash Equivalents, but later converted into cash or Cash Equivalents, upon such conversion) to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein,

(15)    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,

(16)    any costs or expenses incurred during such period relating to environmental remediation, litigation or other disputes in respect of events and exposures that occurred prior to the Issue Date, and

(17)    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.

There shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income for any period the effects from applying acquisition method accounting, including applying acquisition method accounting to inventory, property and equipment, loans and leases, software and other intangible assets and deferred revenue (including deferred costs related thereto and deferred rent) required or permitted by GAAP and related authoritative pronouncements (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries), as a result of the Transactions, any acquisition consummated prior to the Issue Date and any other acquisition (by merger, consolidation, amalgamation or otherwise) or other Investment or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof.

In addition, to the extent not already included in Consolidated Net Income, Consolidated Net Income shall include the amount of proceeds received 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 in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of the insurable or indemnifiable event (net of any amount so added back in any prior period to the extent not so reimbursed within the applicable 365-day period), due from liability or casualty events or business interruption insurance or reimbursement of expenses and charges that are covered by indemnification and other reimbursement provisions in connection with any acquisition or other Investment or any disposition or transfer of any asset permitted under this Indenture.

 

-21-


Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio” means, as of any Applicable Calculation Date, the ratio of (1) Consolidated Total Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that is secured by a Lien on Collateral minus cash and Cash Equivalents of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, computed as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the Applicable Calculation Date to (2) the Issuer’s Consolidated EBITDA for the Applicable Measurement Period, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Total Indebtedness, cash, Cash Equivalents and Consolidated EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” (other than as set forth in the first proviso to the first paragraph of such definition); provided that, for purposes of the calculation of the Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio, in connection with (x) the incurrence of any Indebtedness pursuant to Section 10.11(b)(1) or (y) the incurrence of any Lien pursuant to clause (12) or (34) of the definition of “Permitted Liens,” the Issuer may elect, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee, to treat an Elected Amount under any Indebtedness which is to be incurred or secured by such Lien, as the case may be, as being incurred as of the Applicable Calculation Date and (i) any subsequent incurrence of Indebtedness under such commitment (so long as the total amount under such Indebtedness does not exceed the Elected Amount) shall not be deemed, for purposes of this calculation, to be an incurrence of additional Indebtedness or an additional Lien at such subsequent time, (ii) the Issuer may revoke an election of an Elected Amount pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee and (iii) for purposes of all subsequent calculations of the Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio, the Elected Amount (if any) shall be deemed to be outstanding, whether or not such amount is actually outstanding, so long as the applicable commitment remains outstanding.

Consolidated Total Debt Ratio means, as of any Applicable Calculation Date, the ratio of (1) Consolidated Total Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries minus cash and Cash Equivalents of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, computed as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the Applicable Calculation Date to (2) the Issuer’s Consolidated EBITDA for the Applicable Measurement Period, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Total Indebtedness, cash, Cash Equivalents and Consolidated EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” (other than as set forth in the first proviso to the first paragraph of such definition); provided that, for purposes of the calculation of Consolidated Total Debt Ratio, in connection with the incurrence of any Indebtedness pursuant to Section 10.11(a) or Section 10.11(b)(14), the Issuer may elect, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee, to treat an Elected Amount under any Indebtedness which is to be incurred (or any commitment in respect thereof), as being incurred as of the Applicable Calculation Date and (i) any subsequent incurrence of Indebtedness under such commitment (so long as the total amount under such Indebtedness does not exceed the Elected Amount) shall not be deemed, for purposes of this calculation, to be an incurrence of additional Indebtedness at such subsequent time, (ii) the Issuer may revoke an election of an Elected Amount pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee and (iii) for purposes of all subsequent calculations of the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio, the Elected Amount (if any) shall be deemed to be outstanding, whether or not such amount is actually outstanding, so long as the applicable commitment remains outstanding.

Consolidated Total First Lien Indebtedness” means, as at any date of determination, the amount of Consolidated Total Indebtedness that is secured by Liens on Collateral on a first-priority basis as of such date.

Consolidated Total Indebtedness” means, as at any date of determination, an amount equal to the sum of (1) the aggregate amount of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money, unreimbursed drawings under letters of credit, Obligations in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations and third-party debt obligations

 

-22-


evidenced by promissory notes and similar instruments (and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, (A) all undrawn amounts under revolving credit facilities, (B) Hedging Obligations, and (C) performance bonds or any similar instruments) and (2) the aggregate amount of all outstanding Disqualified Stock of the Issuer and all Preferred Stock of the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, with the amount of such Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock equal to the greater of their respective voluntary or involuntary liquidation preferences and maximum fixed repurchase prices, in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP. For purposes hereof, the “maximum fixed repurchase price” of any Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock as if such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock were purchased on any date on which Consolidated Total Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to this Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the fair market value of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such fair market value shall be determined in good faith by the senior management of the Issuer.

Contingent Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent,

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

(2)    to advance or supply funds:

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

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

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

Contribution Debt” has the meaning specified in Section 10.11(b)(12)(a) of this Indenture.

Controlled Investment Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person, other than any Investor, which directly or indirectly controls, 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 the Issuer and/or other Persons.

Corporate Trust Office” means the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business in relation to this Indenture shall be administered, which office at the date of execution of this Indenture is located at The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., 601 Travis Street, 16th Floor, Houston, Texas, 77002, or any other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the holders and the Issuer, except that with respect to presentation of the Notes for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange, such term shall mean the office or agency of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate agency business in relation to this Indenture shall be conducted.

Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.03 of this Indenture.

 

-23-


Covenant Suspension Event” has the meaning specified in Section 10.18(a) of this Indenture.

Credit Card Receivables” means, as of any date of determination, the amount due from third-party financial institutions for credit and debt transactions that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “cash equivalents” (or any like caption) on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date.

Credit Facilities” means, with respect to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, one or more debt facilities, including the Senior Credit Facilities, or other financing arrangements (including, without limitation, commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors or indentures) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit or other indebtedness, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof, in whole or in part, and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that replace, refund, refinance, extend, renew, restate, amend, supplement or modify any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such exchanged, replacement, refunding, refinancing, extended, renewed, restated, amended, supplemented or modified facility or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed or issued thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings or issuance is permitted under Section 10.11) or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, trustee, lender or group of lenders or other holders or investors.

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.

Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07(b) of this Indenture.

Depository” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.

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 Regulated Bank or Screened Affiliate) is a party (whether or not requiring further performance by such Person), the value and/or cash flows of which (or any material portion thereof) are materially affected by the value and/or performance of the notes and/or the creditworthiness of the Issuer and/or any one or more of the Guarantors (the “Performance References”).

Designated Non-cash Consideration” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale, redemption or repurchase of or collection or payment on 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 exchange for consideration in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents in compliance with Section 10.17.

Designated Preferred Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Issuer, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent Entity (in each case other than Disqualified Stock) that is issued for cash (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate executed by the principal financial officer of the Issuer or the applicable Parent Entity, as the case may be, on the issuance date thereof, the cash proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in Section 10.10(a)(2).

 

-24-


Directing Holder” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02 of this Indenture.

Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms, or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is putable or exchangeable, or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely as a result of a change of control, asset sale, casualty, condemnation or eminent domain) pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely as a result of a change of control, asset sale, casualty, condemnation or eminent domain), in whole or in part, in each case prior to the date 91 days after the earlier of the maturity date of the Notes or the date the Notes are no longer outstanding; provided, however, that if such Capital Stock is issued to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employees’ termination, death or disability; provided, further, that any Capital Stock held by any future, current or former employee, director, officer, manager or consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members, or any permitted transferee thereof) of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity or any other entity in which the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary has an Investment and is designated in good faith as an “affiliate” by the Board of the Issuer (or the compensation committee thereof) shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries pursuant to any stockholders’ agreement, management equity plan, stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations.

Domestic Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person that is organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Elected Amount” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio.”

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

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

Equity Offering” means any public or private sale or issuance of Capital Stock (x) of the Issuer or any Parent Entity (excluding Disqualified Stock) or (y) proceeds of which are contributed to the equity capital of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, other than:

(1)    public offerings with respect to the Issuer’s or any of its Parent Entity’s common stock registered on Form S-8;

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

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

 

-25-


Equityholding Vehicle” means any Parent Entity of the Issuer and any equityholder thereof through which former officers, current officers or future officers, directors, employees, managers or consultants of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or Parent Entities hold Capital Stock of such Parent Entity.

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

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01 of this Indenture.

Excess Proceeds” has the meaning specified in Section 10.17(c) of this Indenture.

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

Excluded Assets” means the following:

(1)    (x) all leasehold interests in real property and (y) any parcel of real estate and the improvements thereto owned in fee by the Issuer or any Guarantor not constituting Mortgaged Property (but not any Collateral located thereon);

(2)    motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title, letter of credit rights (other than to the extent such rights can be perfected by filing a UCC-1) and Commercial Tort Claims with a claim value of less than the greater of (a) $45.0 million and (b) 10.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the Applicable Measurement Period;

(3)    those assets over which the granting of security interests in such assets would be prohibited by applicable law or regulation (in each case, except to the extent such prohibition is unenforceable after giving effect to applicable provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction, other than proceeds thereof, the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction notwithstanding such prohibitions) or to the extent that such security interests would require obtaining the consent of any Governmental Authority (except to the extent such consent has been obtained) or would result in materially adverse tax consequences as reasonably determined by the Issuer in consultation with the Term Loan Collateral Agent;

(4)    margin stock and, to the extent requiring the consent of one or more third parties or prohibited by the terms of any applicable organizational documents, joint venture agreement or shareholders’ agreement, Equity Interests in any Person (other than Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction;

(5)    those assets as to which the Term Loan Collateral Agent and the Issuer reasonably determine in writing that the cost of obtaining such a security interest or perfection thereof are excessive in relation to the benefit to the lenders and/or Holders of the security to be afforded thereby;

(6)    any intent-to-use trademark application filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office prior to the filing of a “Statement of Use” or “Amendment to Allege Use” with respect thereto;

 

-26-


(7)    any contract, lease, license or other agreement or any property subject to a purchase money security interest, Capitalized Lease Obligation or similar arrangement permitted under the Senior Credit Facilities and/or the Indenture, as the case may be, in each case, to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such contract lease, license or agreement or purchase money, Capitalized Lease Obligation or similar arrangement or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than the Issuer or a Guarantor after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction), other than proceeds and receivables thereof, the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction notwithstanding such prohibition;

(8)    any property that is subject to a Lien permitted pursuant to clause (17) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” if the contract or other agreement in which such Lien is granted (or the documentation providing for Indebtedness subject to such Lien) prohibits the creation of any other Lien on such property or creates a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than the Issuer or any Guarantor) as a result of the creation of any such Lien; and

(9)    Excluded Stock and Stock Equivalents;

provided further that proceeds and products from any and all of the foregoing that would constitute Excluded Assets shall also not be considered Collateral and proceeds and products from any and all of the foregoing that do not constitute Excluded Assets shall be considered Collateral.

Terms used in the definition of Excluded Assets above that are not defined in this Indenture are defined more particularly in the New York Uniform Commercial Code.

Excluded Contribution” means net cash proceeds, the fair market value of marketable securities or the fair market value of Qualified Proceeds received by the Issuer from:

(1)    contributions to its common equity capital;

(2)    dividends, distributions, fees and other payments from any Unrestricted Subsidiaries or joint ventures or Investments in entities that are not Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(3)    the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Issuer) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Issuer,

in each case designated as Excluded Contributions by the Issuer, which shall be excluded from the calculation set forth in Section 10.10(a)(2); provided that any such dividends, distributions, fees or other payments so designated pursuant to clause (2) of this definition shall be excluded from the definition of “Consolidated Net Income” for all purposes under this Indenture.

Excluded Stock and Stock Equivalents” means (i) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the Term Loan Collateral Agent and the Issuer (as agreed to in writing), the cost or other consequences of pledging such Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents in favor of the secured parties pursuant to the Term Loan Facility shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the lenders therefrom, (ii) solely in the case of any pledge of Voting Stock and Stock Equivalents of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC or any CFC Holding Company, any Voting Stock or Stock Equivalents entitled to vote of any class of such Foreign Subsidiary or any CFC Holding Company in excess of 66% of the total voting power of all Voting Stock or Stock Equivalents of such Foreign

 

-27-


Subsidiary or CFC Holding Company (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, such 66% limitation shall not apply to (x) Capital Stock other than Voting Stock or (y) Stock Equivalents that are not entitled to vote), (iii) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents to the extent the pledge thereof would violate any applicable Requirements of Law (including any legally effective requirement to obtain the consent of any Governmental Authority unless such consent has been obtained), (iv) in the case of (A) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary to the extent such Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents are subject to a Lien permitted by clause (17) of the definition of Permitted Lien or (B) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary that is not wholly-owned by 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 Notes Obligations is prohibited by any applicable contractual requirement (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 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 Issuer or 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, or (III) a pledge thereof to secure the Notes Obligations would give any other party (other than the Issuer or a Guarantor or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary) to any contract, agreement, instrument, or indenture governing such Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents the right to terminate its obligations thereunder (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), (v) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary 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 or any Parent Entity as reasonably determined by the Issuer in consultation with the Term Loan Collateral Agent, (vi) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents that are margin stock, and (vii) any Capital Stock and Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary that is not a “ Material Subsidiary” (as defined in the Term Loan Facility) or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, a captive insurance Subsidiary, a special purpose vehicle or any special purpose entity.

Solely for the purpose of this definition, “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; “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.

fair market value” means, with respect to any Investment, asset, property or liability, the fair market value of such Investment, asset, property or liability as determined in good faith by the Board or the senior management of the Issuer.

FATCA” has the meaning specified in Section 1.20 of this Indenture.

First Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means that certain First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, by and among the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Notes Collateral Agent, the Trustee and the Term Loan Collateral Agent.

 

-28-


First Lien Obligations” means, collectively, (1) the ABL Obligations, (2) the Term Loan Obligations, (3) the Notes Obligations and (4) each series of Additional First Lien Obligations.

Fitch” means Fitch Ratings Inc. and any successor to its rating agency business.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio means, with respect to any Person as of any Applicable Calculation Date, the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA of such Person for the Applicable Measurement Period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such Applicable Measurement Period. In the event that the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs, assumes, guarantees, redeems, repays, retires or extinguishes any Indebtedness or issues or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the Applicable Measurement Period but on or prior to the Applicable Calculation Date, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, repayment, retirement or extinguishment of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (in each case, including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the Applicable Measurement Period; provided, however, that for purposes of the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, in connection with the incurrence of any Indebtedness pursuant to Sections 10.11(a) or 10.11(b)(14), the Issuer may elect, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee, to treat an Elected Amount under any Indebtedness which is to be incurred (or any commitment in respect thereof), as being incurred as of the Applicable Calculation Date and (i) any subsequent incurrence of Indebtedness under such commitment that was so treated (so long as the total amount under such Indebtedness does not exceed the Elected Amount) shall not be deemed, for purposes of this calculation, to be an incurrence of additional Indebtedness at such subsequent time, (ii) the Issuer may revoke an election of an Elected Amount pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee and (iii) for subsequent calculations of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Elected Amount (if any) shall be deemed to be outstanding, whether or not such amount is actually outstanding, so long as the applicable commitment remains outstanding. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and disposed operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP) and operational changes that have been made by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during the Applicable Measurement Period or subsequent to such Applicable Measurement Period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Applicable Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, disposed operations and operational changes (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 Applicable Measurement Period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged or amalgamated with or into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or disposed operation that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such Applicable Measurement Period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or disposed operation had occurred at the beginning of the Applicable Measurement Period. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event that a Subsidiary was previously designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary but was redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary during or subsequent to the Applicable Measurement Period and is a Restricted Subsidiary as of the Applicable Calculation Date, the computation referred to above shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that such redesignation as a Restricted Subsidiary (and the change in any associated fixed charge obligations and any change in Consolidated EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the Applicable Measurement Period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to a transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer (and may include, for the avoidance of doubt and without duplication, cost savings, operating

 

-29-


expense reductions and synergies resulting from any Asset Sale or other disposition or such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation or other transaction, in each case calculated in accordance with and permitted by clause (2) of the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”). 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 Applicable Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the 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 maximum commitments under such revolving credit facility as of the Applicable Calculation 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 Issuer may designate.

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

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

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

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

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

Funding Guarantor” has the meaning specified in Section 12.05 of this Indenture.

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 FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 825—Financial Instruments, or any successor thereto (including pursuant to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification), to value any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary at “fair value,” as defined therein and (b) the accounting for operating leases and financing or capital leases under U.S. GAAP as in effect on May 16, 2017 (including, without limitation, FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 840—Leases) shall apply for the purpose of determining compliance with the provisions of this Indenture, including the definition of “Capitalized Lease Obligation.” At any time after the Issue Date, the Issuer may elect to apply IFRS accounting principles in lieu of GAAP and, upon any such election, references herein to GAAP shall thereafter be construed to mean IFRS (except as otherwise provided in this Indenture); provided that any such election, once made, shall be irrevocable; provided, further, any calculation or determination in this Indenture that requires the application of GAAP for periods that include

 

-30-


fiscal quarters ended prior to the Issuer’s election to apply IFRS shall remain as previously calculated or determined in accordance with GAAP. The Issuer shall give notice of any 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 generally accepted accounting principles and such change would cause a change in the method of calculation of any standards, terms or measures used in a covenant under Article Ten as determined in good faith by the Issuer (an “Accounting Change”), then the Issuer may elect, as evidenced by a written notice of the Issuer to the Trustee, that such standards, terms or measures shall be calculated as if such Accounting Change had not occurred.

Gochman Investors” means (i) each of David E Gochman and Molly Gochman, (ii) any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of any of the individuals referred to in clause (i) and (iii) any Person more than 50% of the Equity Interests of which is owned or controlled by any of the individuals referred to in clause (i), including MSI 2011 LLC and MG Family Limited Partnership.

Government Securities” means securities that are:

(1)    direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged; or

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

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

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supranational bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

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

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

Guarantor” means each Parent Guarantor and each Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that executes this Indenture as a Guarantor on the Issue Date and each other Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that thereafter guarantees the Notes in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, until, in each case, such Person is released from the guarantee of the Notes in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

 

-31-


Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, (1) the obligations of such Person under any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate floor agreement, interest rate collar agreement, commodity swap agreement, commodity cap agreement, commodity collar agreement, foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or similar agreement providing for the transfer, modification or mitigation of interest rate, currency, commodity or equity risks either generally or under specific contingencies and (2) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

holder” means, with reference to any Indebtedness or other Obligations, any holder or lender of, or trustee or collateral agent or other authorized representative with respect to, such Indebtedness or Obligations, and, in the case of Hedging Obligations, any counter-party to such Hedging Obligations.

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

Holdings” means (i) New Academy Holding Company, LLC or (ii) after the Issue Date, any other Person or Persons (“New Holdings”) that is a Subsidiary of Holdings or of any Parent Entity of Holdings (or the previous New Holdings, as the case may be) but not the Issuer (“Previous Holdings”); provided that (a) such New Holdings directly or indirectly through Intermediate Holdcos owns 100% of the Equity Interests of the Issuer, (b) New Holdings shall expressly assume all the obligations of Previous Holdings under the Indenture, the notes, its Guarantee, the Intercreditor Agreements and applicable Security Documents pursuant to a supplemental indenture or other applicable documents or instruments, (c) all Capital Stock of the Issuer shall be pledged to secure the Notes Obligations and (d) (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such substitution and such substitution does not result in any Event of Default and (ii) such substitution does not result in any adverse tax consequences to any Holder (unless reimbursed hereunder) or to the Notes Collateral Agent (unless reimbursed hereunder); provided, further, that if each of the foregoing is satisfied, Previous Holdings shall be automatically released of all its obligations under the Indenture, the notes, its Guarantee, the Intercreditor Agreements and applicable Security Documents and any reference to “Holdings” therein shall be meant to refer to New Holdings.

IFRS” means the international financial reporting standards and interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

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, daughter-in-law (including adoptive relationships), and any trust, partnership or other bona fide estate-planning vehicle the only beneficiaries of which are any of the foregoing individuals or any private foundation or fund that is controlled by any of the foregoing individuals or any donor-advised fund of which any such individual is the donor.

incur” has the meaning specified in Section 10.11(a) of this Indenture.

incurrence” has the meaning specified in Section 10.11(a) of this Indenture.

Incurrence Clauses” has the meaning specified in Section 10.10(b) of this Indenture.

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication:

 

-32-


(1)    any indebtedness (including principal and premium) of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(a)    in respect of borrowed money;

(b)    evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);

(c)    representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property (including Capitalized Lease Obligations), except (i) any such balance that constitutes an obligation in respect of a commercial letter of credit, a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor, in each case accrued in the ordinary course of business and (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligation is reflected as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and if not paid within 120 days after becoming due and payable; or

(d)    representing the net obligations under any Hedging Obligations;

if and to the extent that any of the foregoing Indebtedness in clauses (a) through (d) (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 (1)(x) Indebtedness of any Parent Entity appearing on the balance sheet of the Issuer solely by reason of push-down accounting under GAAP and (y) Non-Capitalized Lease Obligations, straight-line leases and operating leases shall be excluded

(2)    to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, on the obligations of the type referred to in clause (1) of a third 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

(3)    to the extent not otherwise included, the obligations of the type referred to in clause (1) of a third Person secured by a Lien on any assets owned by such first Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such first Person; provided, however, that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of (a) the fair market value of such assets at such date of determination and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person;

provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (A) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (B) accrued expenses and royalties, (C) obligations under or in respect of operating leases or Sale and Lease-Back Transactions (except any resulting Capitalized Lease Obligations) and Permitted Receivables Financing or (D) asset retirement obligations and obligations in respect of performance bonds, reclamation and workers’ compensation (including pensions and retiree medical care) that are not overdue by more than 90 days.

Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof.

 

-33-


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

Initial Notes” has the meaning set forth in the first recital of this Indenture.

Intercreditor Agreements” means the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Interest Payment Date” means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on the Notes.

Intermediate Holdcos” means Associated Investors L.L.C., Academy Managing Co., L.L.C. and any other Subsidiary of Holdings that is required to guarantee the notes under Section 10.15 of this Indenture.

Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than (w) Baa3 (or the equivalent), with respect to Moody’s, (x) BBB- (or the equivalent) with respect to S&P, or (y) BBB- (or the equivalent), with respect to Fitch, or (z) an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency.

Investment Grade Securities” means:

(1)    securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents),

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

(3)    investments in any fund that invests at least 90% of its assets in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) above, which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment or distribution, and

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

Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit, advances to customers, commission, moving, entertainment, travel and similar expenses and advances to officers, directors, managers, employees and consultants, in each case made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet (excluding the footnotes) of the Issuer in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property; provided that Investments shall not include, in the case of the Issuer 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. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 10.10:

 

-34-


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

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

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

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

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 or Cash Equivalents by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Investment.

Investors” means KKR Investors and Gochman Investors.

IPO” means the initial public offering of common stock of ASO, which closed on October 6, 2020.

Issue Date” means November 6, 2020.

Issuer” means Academy, Ltd. and not any of its Parent Entities or Subsidiaries.

Issuer Request” or “Issuer Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Issuer by an Officer thereof, and delivered to the Trustee.

Junior Lien” means a Lien, junior to the Liens on the Collateral securing both any ABL Obligations and Pari Passu Secured Obligations pursuant to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, granted by the Issuer or any Guarantor to secure Junior Lien Obligations.

Junior Lien Documents” means, collectively, any indenture, note, security document and each of the other agreements, documents and instruments providing for or evidencing any Junior Lien Obligations, and any other document or instrument executed or delivered at any time in connection with any Junior Lien Obligations, to the extent such are effective at the relevant time, in each case as each may be amended, restated, supplemented, modified, renewed, extended or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time, and any other credit agreement, indenture or other agreement, document or instrument evidencing, governing, relating to or securing any Junior Lien Indebtedness.

 

-35-


Junior Lien Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness owing to Holdings or its Affiliates) of the Issuer or any Guarantor (including any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) that is secured by a Junior Lien pursuant to a Permitted Lien; provided that, in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in this definition:

(1)    such Indebtedness does not mature and does not have any mandatory or scheduled payments or sinking fund obligations prior to the Stated Maturity of the Notes (except as a result of a customary change of control or asset sale repurchase offer provisions);

(2)    on or before the date on which the first such Indebtedness is incurred by the Issuer or any Guarantor, the Issuer shall deliver to each Pari Passu Notes Lien Representative and ABL Representative complete copies of each applicable Junior Lien Document (which shall provide that each secured party with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subject to and bound by the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement), along with an Officer’s Certificate certifying as to such Junior Lien Documents and identifying the obligations constituting Junior Lien Obligations;

(3)    on or before the date on which any such Indebtedness is incurred by the Issuer or any Guarantor, such Indebtedness is designated by the Issuer, in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Junior Lien Representative and each Pari Passu Notes Lien Representative and ABL Representative, as “Junior Lien Indebtedness” under this Indenture;

(4)    a Junior Lien Representative is designated with respect to such Indebtedness and executes and delivers the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (including, as applicable, a joinder thereto) on behalf of itself and all holders of such Indebtedness; and

(5)    all other requirements set forth in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Liens of the holders of Junior Lien Indebtedness to secure such Indebtedness or Obligations in respect thereof are satisfied.

Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means an intercreditor agreement which subordinates the Lien on the Collateral of the holders of the Junior Lien Indebtedness to the Lien on the Collateral of each of the holders of ABL Obligations and Pari Passu ABL Lien Indebtedness and the holders of the Pari Passu Secured Obligations and the terms of which are consistent with market terms (in the view of the ABL Collateral Agent and the Term Loan Collateral Agent or, if the ABL Collateral Agent or the Term Loan Collateral Agent has been replaced, as applicable, any other agent for the holders of ABL Obligations or Pari Passu Secured Obligations, respectively) governing security arrangements for the subordination and sharing of liens or arrangements relating to the distribution of payments, as applicable, at the time the intercreditor agreement is proposed to be established in light of the type of Indebtedness subject thereto.

Junior Lien Obligations” means Junior Lien Indebtedness and all other Obligations in respect thereof.

Junior Lien Representative” means in the case of any series of Junior Lien Indebtedness, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such series of Junior Lien Indebtedness who is appointed as a representative of the Junior Lien Indebtedness (for purposes related to the administration of security interests) pursuant to the applicable Junior Lien Document governing such series of Junior Lien Indebtedness, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity.

KKR Investors” means KKR & Co. Inc. and its Affiliates (including the funds, partnerships or other co-investment vehicles managed, advised or controlled thereby but other than, in each case, any portfolio company of any of the foregoing or ASO and its Subsidiaries).

Legal Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.02 of this Indenture.

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

 

-36-


Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien (statutory or otherwise), pledge, hypothecation, charge, security interest, preference, priority or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded, registered, published 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 a Non-Capitalized Lease Obligation be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Limited Condition Transaction” means any transaction by the Issuer or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries whose consummation is not conditioned upon the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing.

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.

Management Investors” means the former, current or future officers, directors, employees and managers (and Controlled Investment Affiliates and Immediate Family Members of the foregoing) of the Issuer, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent Entity of the Issuer who are or become direct or indirect investors in the Issuer, any Parent Entity of the Issuer or any Equityholding Vehicle, including any such officers, directors, employees and managers owning through an Equityholding Vehicle.

Market Capitalization” means an amount equal to (i) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Parent Entity on the date of the declaration of a Restricted Payment permitted pursuant to Section 10.10(b)(8) multiplied by (ii) the arithmetic mean of the closing prices per share of such common Equity Interests on the principal securities exchange on which such common Equity Interests are traded for the 30 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of declaration of such Restricted Payment.

Maturity” when used with respect to any Note, means the date on which the principal of such Note or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, notice of redemption or otherwise.

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

Mortgaged Property” shall mean each parcel of real estate and the improvements thereto owned in fee by the Issuer and the Guarantors that are subject to the Liens of the Senior Credit Facilities, and each other owned parcel of real property and improvements thereto with respect to which a mortgage is granted pursuant to the Senior Credit Facilities.

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

Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds and the fair market value of any Cash Equivalents received by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale, including any cash or Cash Equivalents received upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale, net of (1) fees, out-of-pocket expenses and other direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, including, without limitation, legal, accounting, consulting, investment banking and other customary fees,

 

-37-


underwriting discounts and commissions, survey costs, title and recordation expenses, title insurance premiums, payments made in order to obtain a necessary consent or required by applicable law and brokerage and sales commissions and any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, (2) taxes paid or payable as a result thereof or any transactions occurring or deemed to occur to effectuate a payment under this Indenture (including transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes and estimated taxes payable in connection with any repatriation of funds and after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), (3) amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on Senior Indebtedness, Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary or Indebtedness secured by a Lien on such assets and in each case required (other than pursuant to Section 10.17(b)(1)) to be paid as a result of such transaction, (4) the pro rata portion of Net Proceeds thereof attributable to minority interests and not available for distribution to or for the account of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries as a result thereof, (5) any costs associated with unwinding any related Hedging Obligations in connection with such transaction, (6) any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries after such sale or other disposition thereof, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction, (7) any portion of the purchase price from an Asset Sale placed in escrow, whether as a reserve for adjustment of the purchase price, for satisfaction of indemnities in respect of such Asset Sale or otherwise in connection with such Asset Sale; provided, that upon the termination of that escrow (other than in connection with a payment in respect of any such adjustment or satisfaction of indemnities), Net Proceeds will be increased by any portion of funds in the escrow that are released to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (8) the amount of any liabilities (other than Indebtedness in respect of the Senior Credit Facilities and the Notes) directly associated with such asset being sold and retained by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

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 (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 any Issuer or any Guarantor immediately prior to such date of determination.

New Project” means (a) each facility or operating location which is a facility, location, store or office newly created or subject to a letter of intent or purchase agreement and reasonably expected to be acquired by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries, or an expansion, relocation or substantial modernization (including, without limitation, any projected increase in the management, training, administrative support and services ancillary or related thereto) of an existing facility, location, store or office owned by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries 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 such expansion (in one or a series of related transactions) of business into a new market.

Non-Capitalized Lease Obligation” means a 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, a straight-line or operating lease shall be considered a Non-Capitalized Lease Obligation.

Note Documents” means this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees and the Security Documents relating to the Notes.

 

-38-


Note Register” and “Note Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.02 of this Indenture.

Noteholder Direction” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02 of this Indenture.

Notes” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Notes authenticated and delivered under this Indenture. The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes of this Indenture, and unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the Notes shall include the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes; provided that a separate CUSIP or ISIN will be issued for the Additional Notes, unless the Initial Notes and the Additional Notes are treated as fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Notes Collateral Agent” means The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., in its capacity as the collateral agent for the Notes.

Notes Custodian” means the custodian with respect to a Global Note (as appointed by the Depository) or any successor person thereto, who shall initially be the Trustee.

Notes Obligations” means Obligations in respect of the Note Documents.

Notes Secured Parties” means the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Holders and any agent or any subagent appointed by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to any Security Document.

Obligations” means any principal, interest (including any interest accruing on or subsequent to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under applicable state, provincial, federal or foreign law), premium, penalties, fees, expenses, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances), damages and other liabilities, and guarantees of payment of such principal, interest, premium, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities, payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness; provided, that any of the foregoing (other than principal and interest) shall no longer constitute “Obligations” after payment in full of such principal and interest except to the extent such obligations are fully liquidated and non-contingent on or prior to such payment in full.

Offering Memorandum” means the Offering Memorandum dated October 28, 2020 relating to the offering of the Notes.

Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, any Manager or Director, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, Vice President or Assistant Vice President, the Treasurer, the Controller or the Secretary or any other officer designated by any such individuals of the Issuer or any other Person, as the case may be, or in the event that the Issuer or such Person has no such officers, a person duly authorized under applicable law by the managers or members of a similar body to act on behalf of the Issuer or such Person.

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer of the Issuer or on behalf of any other Person, as the case may be, that meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture.

 

-39-


Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee (which opinion may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions); such legal counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuer or the Trustee.

Outstanding”, when used with respect to Notes, means, as of the date of determination, all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

(1)    Notes theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

(2)    Notes, or portions thereof, for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Issuer) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Issuer (if the Issuer shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Notes; provided that, if such Notes are to be redeemed, written notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

(3)    Notes, except to the extent provided in Sections 13.02 and 13.03, with respect to which the Issuer has effected Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance as provided in Article Thirteen; and

(4)    Notes which have been paid pursuant to Section 3.06 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Notes have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Notes in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Notes are held by a Protected Purchaser in whose hands the Notes are valid obligations of the Issuer;

provided that, in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Notes have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, consent, notice or waiver hereunder, Notes owned by the Issuer or its Affiliates shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making such determination or in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Notes which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded.

Parent Entity” means any Person that is a direct or indirect parent company (which may be organized as, among other things, a partnership or a limited liability company), including any general partner, limited partner or managing member , of the Issuer.

Parent Guarantors” means each of Holdings and the Intermediate Holdcos.

Pari Passu ABL Lien Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness that is permitted to have Pari Passu Lien Priority relative to the ABL Obligations with respect to the Collateral and is not secured by any other assets; provided that, in each case, an authorized representative of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have executed a joinder to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof (or otherwise satisfactory to the ABL Collateral Agent and the Term Loan Collateral Agent).

Pari Passu Indebtedness” has the meaning specified in Section 10.17(c) of this Indenture.

Pari Passu Lien Priority” means relative to specified Indebtedness and other obligations having equal Lien priority to (i) the Notes and the Guarantees on the Collateral, (ii) the Term Loan Facility on the Collateral or (iii) the ABL Credit Agreement on the Collateral, as applicable.

 

-40-


Pari Passu Notes Lien Indebtedness” means (i) the Term Loan Obligations, (ii) any Additional Notes and (iii) any other Indebtedness that has a stated maturity date that is equal to or longer than the stated maturity date of the Notes and that is permitted to have Pari Passu Lien Priority relative to the Notes and the Guarantees with respect to the Collateral and is not secured by any other assets; provided that, in each case, an authorized representative of the holders of such Indebtedness (other than the Term Loan Obligations and any Additional Notes) shall have executed a joinder to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof (or otherwise satisfactory to the ABL Collateral Agent and the Term Loan Collateral Agent).

Pari Passu Notes Lien Representative” means (i) the Notes Collateral Agent, in the case of this Indenture and the Notes, (ii) the Term Loan Collateral Agent, in the case of the Term Loan Facility, and (iii) in the case of any other series of Pari Passu Notes Lien Indebtedness, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such series of Pari Passu Notes Lien Indebtedness who is appointed as a representative of such series of Pari Passu Notes Lien Indebtedness (for purposes related to the administration of the applicable security documents related thereto) pursuant to this Indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such series of Pari Passu Notes Lien Indebtedness.

Pari Passu Secured Obligations” means, subject to the terms and conditions in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, (i) all Obligations under this Indenture and the Notes and (ii) all Pari Passu Notes Lien Indebtedness.

Paying Agent” means any Person (including the Issuer acting as Paying Agent) authorized by the Issuer to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Notes on behalf of the Issuer.

Performance References” has the meaning set forth for such term in the definition of “Derivative Instrument.”

Permitted Asset Swap” means the substantially concurrent purchase and sale or exchange, including as a deposit for future purchases, of Related Business Assets or a combination of Related Business Assets and cash or Cash Equivalents between the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided that any cash or Cash Equivalents received must be applied in accordance with Section 10.17.

Permitted Holders” means (1) each of the Investors, the Management Investors (including any Management Investors holding Equity Interests through an Equityholding Vehicle), any Permitted Parent and any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) of which any of the foregoing or any Permitted Holder specified in the last sentence of this definition are members; provided, that, in the case of such group and without giving effect to the existence of such group or any other group, such Investors, Management Investors (including such Equityholding Vehicle), Permitted Parent and any Person or group specified in the last sentence of this definition, collectively, own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock entitled to vote for the election of directors of ASO having a majority of the aggregate votes on the Board of ASO held by such group and (2) any Permitted Plan. Any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) whose acquisition of beneficial ownership constitutes a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is made in accordance with the requirements of this Indenture will thereafter, together with its Affiliates, constitute an additional Permitted Holder.

Permitted Investments” means:

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

 

-41-


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

(3)    any Investment by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Person (including, to the extent constituting an Investment, in assets of a Person that represent substantially all of its assets or a division, business unit, product line or line of business, including research and development and related assets in respect of any product) that is engaged directly or through entities that will be Restricted Subsidiaries in a Similar Business if as a result of such Investment:

(a)    such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; or

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

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

(4)    any Investment in securities or other assets (including earn-outs) not constituting cash, Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to Section 10.17 or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

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

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

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

(b)    in satisfaction of judgments against other Persons;

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

(d)    received in compromise or resolution of (A) obligations of trade creditors, suppliers or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or consistent with past practice, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor, supplier or customer, or (B) litigation, arbitration or other disputes;

 

-42-


(7)    Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 10.11(b)(10);

(8)    any Investment (a) in a Similar Business having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (8) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (a) $168.0 million and (b) 35.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the Applicable Measurement Period at the time of such Investment (in each case, determined on the date such Investment is made, with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value) and (b) without duplication with clause (a), in an amount equal to the net cash proceeds from any sale or disposition of, or any distribution in respect of, Investments acquired after the Issue Date, to the extent the acquisition of such Investments was financed in reliance on clause (a) and provided that such amount will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 10.10(a)(2); provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (8) 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 (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (8);

(9)    Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests (exclusive of Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or any Parent Entity or any Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 10.10(a)(2);

(10)    guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under the covenant described in Section 10.11, performance guarantees and Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and the creation of Liens on the assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in compliance with the covenant described under Section 10.12;

(11)    any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with Section 10.13(b) (except transactions described in Section 10.13(b)(2), (5) and (9));

(12)    any Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material or equipment or other similar assets, or the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

(13)    additional Investments (a) having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (13) that are at that time outstanding (without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash or marketable securities), not to exceed the greater of (x) $190.0 million and (y) 40.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the Applicable Measurement 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) and (b) without duplication with clause (a), in an amount equal to the net cash proceeds from any sale or disposition of, or any distribution in respect of, Investments acquired after the Issue Date, to the extent the acquisition of such Investments was financed in reliance on clause (a) and provided that such amount will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 10.10(a)(2); provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (13) is made in any Person that is not a

 

-43-


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 (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (13);

(14)    Investments in Receivables Subsidiaries in the form of assets required in connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing (including the contribution or lending of Cash Equivalents to Subsidiaries to finance the purchase of such assets from the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or to otherwise fund required reserves);

(15)    loans and advances to, or guarantees of Indebtedness of, officers, directors, managers, employees and consultants not in excess of the greater of (x) $25.0 million and (y) 5.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the Applicable Measurement Period outstanding at any one time, in the aggregate;

(16)    loans and advances to, or guarantees of Indebtedness of, officers, directors, managers, employees and consultants for business-related travel expenses, moving or relocation expenses, payroll advances and other analogous or similar expenses or payroll expenses, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, or to fund such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent Entity;

(17)    advances, loans or extensions of trade credit (including the creation of receivables) or prepayments to customers, suppliers, licensors, licensees or lessors or loans or advances made to distributors, and performance guarantees, in each case in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(18)    Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of assets or services in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(19)    repurchases of the Notes;

(20)    Investments in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice consisting of Uniform Commercial Code Article 3 endorsements for collection or deposit and Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practices;

(21)    Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries (a) having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (21) that are at the time outstanding, without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash or marketable securities, not to exceed the greater of (x) $108.0 million and (y) 22.5% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the Applicable Measurement 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) and (b) without duplication with clause (a), in an amount equal to the net cash proceeds from any sale or disposition of, or any distribution in respect of, Investments acquired after the Issue Date, to the extent the acquisition of such Investments was financed in reliance on clause (a) and provided that such amount will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 10.10(a)(2); provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (21) is made in any Person that is an Unrestricted 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 (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (21);

 

-44-


(22)    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;

(23)    Investments of assets relating to non-qualified deferred payment plans in the ordinary course of business;

(24)    any Investment in any Subsidiary or any joint venture in connection with intercompany cash management arrangements or related activities arising in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(25)    contributions to a “rabbi” trust for the benefit of employees, directors, 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 Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(26)    non-cash Investments in connection with tax planning and reorganization activities; and

(27)    any other Investment; provided that on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Investment the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio would be equal to or less than 1.40 to 1.00.

Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

(1)    Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges 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 actions diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP, or for property taxes on property the Issuer 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;

(2)    Liens imposed by law or regulation, such as landlords’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, suppliers’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, architects’ or construction contractors’ Liens and other similar Liens that secure amounts not overdue for a period of more than 60 days or, if more than 60 days overdue, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce such Liens or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate actions or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceeding for review, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

(3)    Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice (a) in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, employers’ health tax, and other social security or similar legislation or other insurance related obligations (including, but not limited to, in respect of deductibles, self-insured retention amounts and premiums and adjustments thereto) and (b) securing 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 providing property, casualty or liability insurance to such Person or otherwise supporting the payment of items set forth in the foregoing clause (a);

 

-45-


(4)    Liens incurred or deposits made to secure the performance of bids, tenders, trade contracts, governmental contracts, leases, public or statutory obligations, surety, indemnity, warranty, release, appeal or similar bonds or with respect to other regulatory requirements, completion guarantees, stays, customs and appeal bonds, performance bonds, bankers’ acceptance facilities and other obligations of a like nature (including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations), deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for payment of rent, performance and return of money bonds and obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments that have been posted to support the same, incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(5)    minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, 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 and irregularities in title and similar encumbrances) as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties and other similar charges or encumbrances in respect of real property which were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in any case materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(6)    Liens securing, or otherwise arising from, judgments not constituting an Event of Default under Section 5.01(5);

(7)    Liens on goods the purchase price of which is financed by a documentary letter of credit issued for the account of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries 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, provided that such Lien secures only the obligations of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of such letter of credit to the extent such obligations are permitted under Section 10.11 and Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s accounts payable or similar trade 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;

(8)    rights of set-off, banker’s liens, netting agreements and other Liens arising by operation of law or by the terms of documents of banks or other financial institutions in relation to the maintenance of administration of deposit accounts, securities accounts, cash management arrangements or in connection with the issuance of letters of credit, bank guarantees or other similar instruments;

(9)    Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, including precautionary financing statements, or any similar filings made in respect of operating leases or consignments entered into by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or disposition of assets;

(10)    Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Credit Facilities, including any letter of credit facility relating thereto, that was permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred pursuant to Section 10.11(b)(1);

(11)    Liens existing on the Issue Date (other than Liens incurred in connection with the Senior Credit Facilities and pursuant to clauses (39) and (40) below);

(12)    Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 10.11(b)(4), (12), (13), (14), (15), (18) and (19); provided that (a) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 10.11(b)(4) extend only to the assets

 

-46-


purchased with the proceeds of such Indebtedness, accessions to such assets and the proceeds and products thereof, and any lease of such assets (including accessions thereto) and the proceeds and the products thereof; provided, further, that individual financings of equipment provided by one lender may be cross collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender; (b) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 10.11(b)(14) shall only be permitted if such Liens (A) are limited to all or part of the same property or assets, including Capital Stock (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof, or replacements of any thereof) acquired, or of any Person acquired or merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, in any transaction to which such Indebtedness relates or (B) after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted under Section 10.11(b)(14), either (x) in the case of Junior Lien Obligations, the Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio would be no greater than either (i) 2.25 to 1.00 or (ii) the Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio immediately prior to giving effect to such transaction and/or (y) in the case of First Lien Obligations, the Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio would be no greater than either (i) 2.00 to 1.00 or (ii) the Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio immediately prior to giving effect to such transaction; (c) Liens securing Obligations relating to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 10.11(b)(13) relate only to Obligations relating to Refinancing Indebtedness that (x) is secured by Liens on the same assets as the assets that secured the Indebtedness being refinanced or (y) extends, replaces, refunds, refinances, renews or defeases Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued under Section 10.11(b)(3) (solely to the extent such Indebtedness was secured by a Lien prior to such refinancing), (4) or (12) (solely to the extent such Indebtedness was secured by a Lien prior to such refinancing); (d) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 10.11(b)(18) extend only to the assets of Restricted Subsidiaries that are incurring such Indebtedness; and (e) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 10.11(b)(19) are solely on acquired property or extend only to the assets of the acquired entity, as the case may be, and the proceeds and products thereof;

(13)    leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to others that do not (a) interfere in any material respect with the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (b) secure any Indebtedness;

(14)    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;

(15)    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 pooling, commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and (c) in favor of a banking or other financial institution or electronic payment service providers arising as a matter of law or under general terms and conditions encumbering deposits (including the right of setoff) and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking or finance industry;

(16)    Liens (a) 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 arrangements with respect to any such Investment (including any letter of intent or purchase agreement with respect to such Investment), and (b) consisting of an agreement to sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any property in a transaction permitted under Section 10.17, in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or sale, disposition, transfer or lease, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;

 

-47-


(17)    Liens existing on property at the time of its acquisition (by a merger, consolidation or amalgamation or otherwise) or existing on the property or shares of stock or other assets of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary, in each case after the Issue Date; provided that (a) such Lien was not created in contemplation of such acquisition (by a merger, consolidation or amalgamation or otherwise) or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, (b) such Lien does not extend to or cover any other assets or property of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than assets and property affixed or appurtenant thereto and the proceeds or products thereof and other than 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 under this Indenture that require or include, pursuant to their terms at such time, a pledge of after-acquired property, it being understood that such requirement shall not be permitted to apply to any property to which such requirement would not have applied but for such acquisition) and (c) the Indebtedness secured thereby is permitted under Section 10.11;

(18)    any interest or title of a lessor under leases (including leases constituting Non-Capitalized Lease Obligations, but excluding leases constituting Capitalized Lease Obligations) entered into by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(19)    Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale or purchase of goods by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(20)    Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under clause (5) of the definition of “Cash Equivalents;”

(21)    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;

(22)    Liens that are contractual rights of setoff or rights of pledge (a) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness, (b) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (c) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(23)    ground leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries are located;

(24)    (a) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto or (b) deposits made or other security provided to secure liabilities to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(25)    Liens on cash and Permitted Investments used to satisfy or discharge Indebtedness; provided such satisfaction or discharge is permitted under this Indenture;

(26)    Liens on receivables and related assets incurred in connection with Permitted Receivables Financings;

 

-48-


(27)    receipt of progress payments and advances from customers in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice to the extent the same creates a Lien on the related inventory and proceeds thereof;

(28)    Liens securing Hedging Obligations and the costs thereof;

(29)    Liens securing Obligations relating to any Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary;

(30)    Liens in favor of the Issuer or any Guarantor or the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent;

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

(32)    Liens to secure any modification, refinancing, refunding, restatement, exchange, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancing, refunding, restatement, exchange, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in clauses (11), (12), (16), (17), (34), (38) and (39) of this definition; provided, however, that (a) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus accessions, additions and improvements on such property, including after-acquired property that is (i) affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien, (ii) after-acquired property subject to a Lien securing such Indebtedness, the terms of which Indebtedness require or include a pledge of after-acquired property (it being understood that such requirement shall not be permitted to apply to any property to which such requirement would not have applied but for such acquisition) and (iii) the proceeds and products thereof) and (b) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (x) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (11), (12), (16), (17), (34), (38) and (39) of this definition at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and (y) an amount necessary to pay accrued but unpaid interest on such Indebtedness and any dividend, premium (including tender premiums), defeasance costs, underwriting discounts and any fees, costs and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with such modification, refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement;

(33)    other Liens securing Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $240.0 million and (y) 50.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the Applicable Measurement Period at any one time outstanding, with the amount determined on the dates of incurrence of such obligations;

(34)    Liens incurred to secure Obligations in respect of any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to the covenant described above under Section 10.11; provided that, with respect to Liens securing Obligations permitted under this clause (34), at the time of incurrence of such Obligations and after giving pro forma effect thereto, (i) in the case of Junior Lien Obligations, the Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio would be no greater than 2.25 to 1.00 or (ii) in the case of First Lien Obligations, the Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio shall be no greater than 2.00 to 1.00;

(35)    any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to Capital Stock of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement;

 

-49-


(36)    Liens on Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary that secure Indebtedness or other obligations of such Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(37)    agreements to subordinate any interest of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in any accounts receivable or other proceeds arising from inventory consigned by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(38)    Liens on property or assets used to defease or to irrevocably satisfy and discharge Indebtedness; provided that such defeasance or satisfaction and discharge is not prohibited by this Indenture;

(39)    Liens securing the Notes (other than any Additional Notes) and the related Guarantees;

(40)    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 or consistent with past practice;

(41)    Liens securing obligations owed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to any lender under the Senior Credit Facilities or any Affiliate of such a lender in respect of any overdraft and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository and cash management services or any automated clearing house transfers of funds;

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

(43)    Liens relating to future 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.

For purposes of determining compliance with this definition, (A) a Lien need not be incurred solely by reference to one category of Permitted Liens described in this definition but are permitted to be incurred in part under any combination thereof and of any other available exemption, (B) in the event that a Lien (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of Permitted Liens, Issuer shall, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify such Lien (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this definition, and (C) in the event that a portion of Indebtedness secured by a Lien could be classified as secured in part pursuant to clause (34) above (giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such portion of such Indebtedness), the Issuer, in its sole discretion, may classify such portion of such Indebtedness (and any Obligations in respect thereof) as having been secured pursuant to clause (34) above and thereafter the remainder of the Indebtedness as having been secured pursuant to one or more of the other clauses of this definition.

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

 

-50-


Permitted Parent” means (a) any Parent Entity that at the time it became a Parent Entity of ASO was a Permitted Holder pursuant to clause (1) of the definition thereof and (b) any Public Company (or Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of such Public Company), except to the extent (and until such time as) any Person or group is deemed to be or becomes a beneficial owner of Voting Stock of such Public Company representing more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of such Public Company (as determined in accordance with the provisions of the final paragraph of the definition of “Change of Control”). For the avoidance of doubt, “Permitted Parent” shall include ASO and its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries (other than the Issuer and its Subsidiaries).

Permitted Plan” means any employee benefits plan of the Issuer or any Parent Entity and any Person acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan.

Permitted Receivables Financing” means, collectively, (i) with respect to receivables of the type constituting any term securitizations, receivables securitizations or other receivables financings (including any factoring program), in each case that are non-recourse to the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries (except for any customary limited recourse that is applicable only to Subsidiaries of the Issuer that are not Guarantors, that is customary in the relevant local market, and reasonable extensions thereof) and (ii) with respect to receivables (including, without limitation, trade and lease receivables) not otherwise constituting term securitizations, other receivables securitizations or other similar financings (including any factoring program), in each case in an amount not to exceed 85% of the book value of all accounts receivable of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of any date and that are non-recourse to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except for any customary limited recourse that is applicable only to Subsidiaries of the Issuer that are not Guarantors, that is customary in the relevant local market; provided that with respect to Permitted Receivables Financings incurred in the form of a factoring program under this clause (ii), the outstanding amount of such Permitted Receivables Financing for the purposes of this definition shall be deemed to be equal to the Permitted Receivables Net Investment for the last Applicable Measurement Period).

Permitted Receivables Net Investment” means the aggregate cash amount paid by the purchasers under any Permitted Receivables Financing in the form of a factoring program in connection with their purchase of accounts receivable and customary related assets or interests therein, as the same may be reduced from time to time by collections with respect to such accounts receivable and related assets or otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Permitted Receivables Financing (but excluding any such collections used to make payments of commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges incurred in connection with any Permitted Receivables Financing in the form of a factoring program which are payable to any Person other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary).

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

Pledge Agreement” means the Pledge Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, by and among the Issuer, certain Guarantors and the Notes Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties, as the same may be amended from time to time.

Position Representation” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02 of this Indenture.

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

 

-51-


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 3.06 in exchange for a mutilated Note or in lieu of a destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note.

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

Protected Purchaser” has the meaning specified in Section 3.06 of this Indenture.

Public Company” means any Person with a class or series of Voting Stock that is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ or the London Stock Exchange.

Purchase Money Obligations” means any Indebtedness incurred to finance or refinance the acquisition, leasing, construction or improvement of property (real or personal) or assets (other than Capital Stock), and whether acquired through the direct acquisition of such property or assets, or otherwise (including through the purchase of Capital Stock of any Person owning such property or assets).

Qualified Proceeds” means assets that are used or useful in, or Capital Stock of any Person engaged in, a Similar Business.

Rating Agency” means (1) S&P, Moody’s and Fitch or (2) if S&P, Moody’s or Fitch or each of them shall not make a corporate rating with respect to the Issuer or a rating on the Notes publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Issuer, which shall be substituted for any or all of S&P, Moody’s or Fitch, as the case may be, with respect to such corporate rating or the rating of the Notes, as the case may be.

Receivables Fees” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any accounts receivable or participation interest therein issued or sold in connection with, and other fees paid to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, any Permitted Receivables Financing.

Receivables Subsidiary” means any Special Purpose Entity established in connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing.

Redemption Date” has the meaning specified in Section 11.01 of this Indenture.

Redemption Price,” when used with respect to any Note to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

refinance” has the meaning specified in Section 10.11(b)(13) of this Indenture.

Refinancing Indebtedness” has the meaning specified in Section 10.11(b)(13) of this Indenture.

Refinancing Transactions” has the meaning specified in “Summary—Recent Developments—Refinancing Transactions” of the Offering Memorandum.

Refunding Capital Stock” has the meaning specified in Section 10.10(b) of this Indenture.

Regular Record Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01 of this Indenture.

 

-52-


Regulated Bank” means an 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.

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

Related Person” has the meaning specified in Section 14.08(b) of this Indenture.

Reorganization Transactions” means the series of reorganization transactions that took place in connection with the IPO pursuant to which, among other things, Holdings was contributed to ASO by its unitholders and became a wholly owned subsidiary of ASO, and ASO became an indirect parent of Intermediate Holdcos, the Issuer and its subsidiaries.

Responsible Officer” means any officer of the Trustee within the Corporate Trust Office customarily performing functions similar to those performed by an officer who has direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, or with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

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

Restricted Payments” has the meaning specified in Section 10.10(a) of this Indenture.

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

Retained Asset Sale Proceeds” means the Net Proceeds in respect of any Asset Sale not required to be applied to make a prepayment or to be reinvested under Section 10.17 of this Indenture.

Reversion Date” has the meaning specified in Section 10.18(a) of this Indenture.

S&P” means S&P Global Ratings and any successor to its rating agency business.

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

 

-53-


such Holder that is not a Screened Affiliate and such screens prohibit the sharing of information with respect to the Issuer or its Subsidiaries, (iii) whose investment policies are not directed by such Holder or any other Affiliate of such Holder that is acting in concert with such Holder in connection with its investment in the notes, and (iv) whose investment decisions are not influenced by the investment decisions of such Holder or any other Affiliate of such Holder that is acting in concert with such Holders in connection with its investment in the notes.

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency thereto.

Second Change of Control Payment Date” has the meaning specified in Section 10.16(f) of this Indenture.

Second Commitment” has the meaning specified in Section 10.17(b) of this Indenture.

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

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

Security Agreement” means the Security Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, by and among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Notes Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties, as the same may be amended from time to time.

Security Documents” means the Intercreditor Agreements (including the ABL Intercreditor Agreement Joinder and each other joinder or other agreement (including other intercreditor agreements) pursuant to which holders of other Pari Passu Notes Lien Indebtedness become parties thereto), the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement and all security agreements, pledge agreements, mortgages, collateral assignments, collateral agency agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Issuer or any Guarantor (including, without limitation, Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or equivalent statements in any other jurisdiction) creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Notes Collateral Agent or other agent or representative of Pari Passu Notes Lien Indebtedness or notice of such pledge, grant or assignment is given, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements.

Senior Credit Facilities” means the ABL Credit Agreement and the Term Loan Facility, including, in each case, any related notes, mortgages, letters of credit, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any appendices, exhibits, annexes or schedules to any of the foregoing (as the same may be in effect from time to time) and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements, refundings, replacements, exchanges or refinancings thereof (whether with the original agents and lenders or other agents or lenders or otherwise, and whether provided under the original credit agreement or other credit agreements or otherwise) and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that extend, replace, refund, exchange, refinance, renew or defease any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding, exchange or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount borrowable thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 10.11) or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders.

 

-54-


Senior Indebtedness” means:

(1)    all Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor outstanding under the Senior Credit Facilities or the Notes and related Guarantees (including Post-Petition Interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or similar proceeding or for reorganization of the Issuer or any Guarantor (at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, regardless of whether or not a claim for Post-Petition Interest is allowed in such proceedings)), and any and all other fees, expense reimbursement obligations, indemnification amounts, penalties, and other amounts (whether existing on the Issue Date or thereafter created or incurred) and all obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor to reimburse any bank or other Person in respect of amounts paid under letters of credit, acceptances or other similar instruments;

(2)    all (x) Hedging Obligations (and guarantees thereof) and (y) Cash Management Obligations (and guarantees thereof) owing to a Lender (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) or any of its Affiliates (or any Person that was a Lender or an Affiliate of such Lender at the time the applicable agreement giving rise to such Hedging Obligation was entered into), provided that such Hedging Obligations and Cash Management Obligations, as the case may be, are permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture;

(3)    any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any related Guarantee; and

(4)    all Obligations with respect to the items listed in the preceding clauses (1), (2) and (3);

provided, however, that Senior Indebtedness shall not include:

(a)    any obligation of such Person to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries;

(b)    any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by such Person;

(c)    any accounts payable or other liability to trade creditors arising in the ordinary course of business;

(d)    any Indebtedness or other Obligation of such Person which is subordinate or junior in right of payment to any other Indebtedness or other Obligation of such Person; or

(e)    that portion of any Indebtedness which at the time of incurrence is incurred in violation of this Indenture.

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

 

-55-


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

Similar Business” means any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date or any business that is similar, reasonably related, complementary, incidental or ancillary thereto, or is a reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof.

Special Purpose Entity” means a direct or indirect subsidiary of the Issuer, whose organizational documents contain restrictions on its purpose and activities and impose requirements intended to preserve its separateness from the Issuer and/or one or more Subsidiaries of the Issuer.

Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.07.

Specified Event” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”

Specified Transactions” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Applicable Calculation Date.”

Stated Maturity”, when used with respect to any Note or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Note as the fixed date on which the principal of such Note or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

Subject Lien” has the meaning specified in Section 10.12 of this Indenture.

Subordinated Indebtedness” means, with respect to the Notes and the Guarantees:

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

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

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% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; and

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

(a)    more than 50% 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 or otherwise, and

 

-56-


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

For the avoidance of doubt, any entity that is owned at a 50% or less level (as described above) shall not be a “Subsidiary” for any purpose under this Indenture, regardless of whether such entity is consolidated on the Issuer’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s financial statements.

Successor Company” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01(a) of this Indenture.

Successor Guarantor” has the meaning specified in Section 8.02 of this Indenture.

Suspended Covenants” has the meaning specified in Section 10.18(a) of this Indenture.

Suspension Date” has the meaning specified in Section 10.18(a) of this Indenture.

Suspension Period” has the meaning specified in Section 10.18(a) of this Indenture.

Term Loan Collateral Agent” means Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, in its capacity as the collateral agent and the administrative agent under the Term Loan Facility, or any successor representative acting in such capacity.

Term Loan Facility” means (1) the term loan facility under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, to be dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuer, New Academy Holding Company, LLC, as Holdings, Associated Investors L.L.C. and Academy Managing Co., L.L.C. and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, and the lenders and other agents party thereto, as the same may be in effect from time to time and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements, refundings, exchanges or refinancings thereof and (2) whether or not the credit agreement referred to in clause (1) remains outstanding, any other financing arrangements (including, without limitation, commercial paper facilities or indentures) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit or other indebtedness, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund, refinance, extend, renew, restate, amend, supplement or modify any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such exchanged, replacement, refunding, refinancing, extended, renewed, restated, amended, supplemented or modified facility or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 10.11 of this Indenture) or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders.

Term Loan Obligations” means all Indebtedness, liabilities and obligations (of every kind or nature) incurred or arising under or relating to the Term Loan Facility that is secured by a Permitted Lien, and all other obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor in respect thereof.

Term Loan Priority Collateral” means Collateral other than ABL Priority Collateral.

Testing Party” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Applicable Calculation Date.”

Total Assets” means, at any time, the total assets of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as shown on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter prior to the applicable date of

 

-57-


determination for which financial statements are available; provided that, for purposes of testing the covenants under this Indenture in connection with any transaction, the Total Assets of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be adjusted to reflect such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” (other than as set forth in the first proviso to the first paragraph of such definition).

Transaction Expenses” means any fees or expenses incurred or paid by the Investors, a Parent Entity, the Issuer or any Subsidiary in connection with the Transactions (including payments to officers, employees and directors, special or retention bonuses and charges for repurchase or rollover of, or modifications to, stock-based awards, expenses in connection with hedging transactions related to the Senior Credit Facilities and any original issue discount or upfront fees), the Senior Credit Facilities and the transactions contemplated thereby.

Transaction Test Date” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Applicable Calculation Date.”

Transactions” means, collectively, (i) the Reorganization Transactions and the IPO and (ii) the Refinancing Transactions.

Transfer Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 3.02 of this Indenture.

Treasury Capital Stock” has the meaning specified in Section 10.10(b) of this Indenture.

Treasury Rate” means, as obtained by the Issuer, as of any Redemption Date, the yield to maturity as of such Redemption Date of U.S. Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the applicable Redemption Date of the Notes (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from such Redemption Date to November 15, 2023; provided, however, that if the period from such Redemption Date to November 15, 2023 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actively traded U.S. Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.

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

Trustee” means The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

Uniform Commercial Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code or any successor provision thereof as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

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

(2)    any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Issuer may designate any Subsidiary of the Issuer (including any existing Subsidiary and any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that (1) such designation complies with Section 10.10; and (2) immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Event of Default under clause (1), (2) or (6) of Section 5.01 shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

-58-


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

(1)    the Issuer could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to either the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test or the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio test described under Section 10.11(a), or

(2)    (A) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be equal to or greater than such ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, or (B) the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio would be equal to or less than such ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation,

in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation.

Any such designation by the Issuer shall be notified by the Issuer to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the Board of the Issuer or any committee thereof giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

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

Verification Covenant” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02 of this Indenture.

Vice President”, when used with respect to the Issuer or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president”.

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

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

(1)    the sum of the products of the number of years (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 multiplied by the amount of such payment; by

(2)    the sum of all such payments.

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person, 100% of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or an immaterial amount of shares required to be owned by other Persons pursuant to applicable law) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

SECTION 1.03.    Compliance Certificates and Opinions. Upon any application or request by the Issuer to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture (including any covenant compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent) relating

 

-59-


to the proposed action have been complied with and, other than in connection with the issuance, authentication and delivery of the Initial Notes on the Issue Date and the addition of a new Guarantor or parent guarantor, an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 10.08(a)) shall include:

(1)    a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

(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 each 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, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability with respect to any matters that would have been covered by the Opinions of Counsel that are not permitted by this Section.

SECTION 1.04.    Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee. In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Issuer may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or opinion may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Issuer stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Issuer, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

SECTION 1.05.    Acts of Holders.

(a)    Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents duly

 

-60-


appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Issuer. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Issuer, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.05.

(b)    The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee deems sufficient.

(c)    The principal amount and serial numbers of Notes held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Note Register.

(d)    If the Issuer shall solicit from the Holders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Issuer may, at its option, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Issuer shall have no obligation to do so. Such record date shall be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders generally in connection therewith and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Notes have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Notes shall be computed as of such record date; provided, that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than eleven months after the record date. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Note shall bind every future Holder of the same Note and the Holder of every Note issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee, the Issuer or any Guarantor in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.

SECTION 1.06.    Notices, Etc., to Trustee, Issuer, any Guarantor and Agent. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with, (1) the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent by any Holder or by the Issuer or any Guarantor shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing via facsimile, email in PDF format or mailed, first class postage prepaid, or delivered by recognized overnight courier, to or with the Trustee at The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., 601 Travis Street, 16th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration (fax: (713) 483-6954), or (2) the Issuer or any Guarantor by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if made, given, furnished or delivered in writing via email in PDF or mailed, first class postage prepaid, or delivered by recognized overnight courier, to the Issuer or such Guarantor addressed to Academy, Ltd., 1540 North Mason Road, Katy, Texas, Attention: General Counsel (legal@academy.com), or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Issuer or such Guarantor.

 

-61-


A copy of all notices to any Agent shall be sent to the Trustee at the address shown above. Any Person may change its address by giving notice of such change as set forth herein. Any notice to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent shall be effective upon actual receipt.

SECTION 1.07.    Notice to Holders; Waiver. Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to Holders by the Issuer or the Trustee, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and delivered electronically or mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Note Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Notices given by publication (including posting or filing of information as contemplated by Section 10.09) shall be deemed given on the first date on which publication is made, notices given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed given five calendar days after mailing or transmitting; notices sent by overnight delivery service shall be deemed given when delivered; and notices given electronically shall be deemed given when sent. Notice given in accordance with the procedures of the Depository will be deemed given on the date sent to the Depository. Any notices required to be given to the holders of Notes that are in global form will be given to the Depository in accordance with its customary procedures therefor.

The Trustee agrees to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail, pdf, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods, provided, however, that the Trustee shall have received an incumbency certificate listing persons designated to give such instructions or directions and containing specimen signatures of such designated persons, which such incumbency certificate shall be amended and replaced whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Issuer or any Holder elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Issuer agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

In case by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service or by reason of any other cause, it shall be impracticable to mail notice of any event to Holders when such notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee shall be deemed to be a sufficient giving of such notice for every purpose hereunder.

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

SECTION 1.08.    Effect of Headings and Table of Contents. The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

-62-


SECTION 1.09.    Successors and Assigns. All agreements of the Issuer in this Indenture and the Notes will bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture will bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture will bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 12.08 hereof.

SECTION 1.10.    Severability Clause. 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 1.11.    Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Paying Agent, any Note Registrar and their successors hereunder and the Holders any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

SECTION 1.12.    Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. This Indenture, the Notes and any Guarantee shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE TO SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR STATE COURT LOCATED IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE GUARANTEES.

SECTION 1.13.    Legal Holidays. In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Change of Control Payment Date or Stated Maturity or Maturity of any Note shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Notes) payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest or other required payment need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Change of Control Payment Date or at the Stated Maturity or Maturity; provided, that no interest shall accrue on such payment for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Change of Control Payment Date, Stated Maturity or Maturity, as the case may be.

SECTION 1.14.    No Personal Liability of Directors, Managers, Officers, Employees and Stockholders. No past, present or future director, manager, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder of the Issuer or any Guarantor or any of their parent companies or their parent entities shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees, this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or any other Security Document 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.

SECTION 1.15.    [Reserved]

SECTION 1.16.    Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF 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 or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Indenture or any document to be signed in connection with this Indenture shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a

 

-63-


manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law (e.g., www.docusign.com)) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be legally valid, effective and enforceable for all purposes.

SECTION 1.17.    USA PATRIOT Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as the Trustee may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act.

SECTION 1.18.    Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE ISSUER, ANY GUARANTOR, THE TRUSTEE AND THE NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT AND EACH HOLDER OF A NOTE, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, THEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES, THE GUARANTEES OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY OR HEREBY.

SECTION 1.19.    Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

SECTION 1.20.    FATCA. In order to comply with Sections 1471 – 1474 of the Code, any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any intergovernmental agreement between a non-U.S. jurisdiction and the United States with respect to the foregoing, any similar law or regulations adopted pursuant to such an intergovernmental agreement or any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code (“FATCA”) that a foreign financial institution, issuer, trustee, paying agent, or other party is or has agreed to be subject to related to this Indenture, the Issuer agrees (i) to use commercially reasonably efforts to provide to the Trustee sufficient information about the parties and/or transactions (including any modification to the terms of such transactions) that is reasonably requested by the Trustee so the Trustee can determine whether it has tax-related obligations under FATCA, and (ii) that the Trustee shall be entitled to make any withholding or deduction from payments under this Indenture to the extent necessary to comply with FATCA for which the Trustee shall not have any liability. The terms of this paragraph shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

ARTICLE TWO

NOTE FORMS

SECTION 2.01.    Form and Dating. Provisions relating to the Initial Notes are set forth in Annex I attached hereto (the “Appendix”), which is hereby incorporated in, and expressly made part of,

 

-64-


this Indenture. The Initial Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 to the Appendix which is hereby incorporated in, and expressly made a part of, this Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Issuer is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer). The terms of the Note set forth in the Appendix are part of the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 2.02.    Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating. The Notes shall be executed on behalf of the Issuer by at least one Officer. The signature of any Officer on the Notes may be manual, electronic or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized officer and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Notes.

Notes bearing the manual, electronic or facsimile signature of an individual who was at any time the proper Officer of the Issuer shall bind the Issuer, notwithstanding that such individual has ceased to hold such office prior to the authentication and delivery of such Notes or did not hold such office at the date of such Notes.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Issuer may deliver Notes executed by the Issuer to the Trustee for authentication, together with an Issuer Order for the authentication and delivery of such Notes, and the Trustee in accordance with such Issuer Order shall authenticate and deliver such Notes.

On the Issue Date, the Issuer shall deliver the Initial Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $400,000,000 executed by the Issuer to the Trustee for authentication, together with an Issuer Order for the authentication and delivery of such Notes, specifying the principal amount and registered holder of each Note, directing the Trustee to authenticate the Notes and deliver the same to the persons named in such Issuer Order and the Trustee in accordance with such Issuer Order shall authenticate and deliver such Initial Notes. At any time and from time to time after the Issue Date, the Issuer may deliver Additional Notes executed by the Issuer to the Trustee for authentication, together with an Issuer Order for the authentication and delivery of such Additional Notes, specifying the principal amount of and registered holder of each Note, directing the Trustee to authenticate the Additional Notes and deliver the same to the Persons named in such Issuer Order and certifying that the issuance of such Additional Notes is in compliance with Section 10.11 of this Indenture and the Trustee in accordance with such Issuer Order shall authenticate and deliver such Additional Notes. In each case, the Trustee shall receive an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel of the Issuer as to such matters as it may reasonably require in connection with such authentication of Notes; provided that no Opinion of Counsel under Section 1.03 shall be required in connection with the authentication of the Initial Notes. Such Issuer Order shall specify the amount of Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated.

Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication.

No Note shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Note a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein duly executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized signatory, and such certificate upon any Note shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Note has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

In case the Issuer or any Guarantor, pursuant to Article Eight of this Indenture, shall be merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into or wind up into any other Person or shall sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in case of the Issuer, or all or substantially all of the

 

-65-


properties or assets of such Guarantor in case of a Guarantor, to any Person, and the successor Person (other than the Issuer or such Guarantor, as applicable) formed by or surviving any such merger, consolidation or amalgamation or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made, shall have executed a supplemental indenture hereto pursuant to Article Eight of this Indenture, any of the Notes authenticated or delivered prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition may, 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, but otherwise in substance of like tenor as the Notes surrendered for such exchange and of like principal amount; and the Trustee, upon Issuer Request of the successor Person, shall authenticate and deliver Notes as specified in such request 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 2.02 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.

ARTICLE THREE

THE NOTES

SECTION 3.01.    Title and Terms. The aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and issued under this Indenture is not limited; provided that any Additional Notes issued under this Indenture are issued in accordance with Sections 2.02, 3.13 and 10.11 hereof, as part of the same series as the Initial Notes.

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

The Notes shall be known and designated as the “6.000% Senior Secured Notes Due 2027” of the Issuer. The Stated Maturity of the principal of Notes shall be November 15, 2027, and the Notes shall bear interest at the rate of 6.000% per annum from the Issue Date, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, payable on May 15, 2021 and semi-annually thereafter in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, until the principal thereof is paid or duly provided for and to the Person in whose name the Note (or any Predecessor Note) is registered at the close of business (if applicable) on the May 1 and November 1 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date (each, a “Regular Record Date”).

The principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes shall be payable at the offices or agencies of the Issuer maintained for such purpose as set forth in Section 3.02, or, at the option of the Issuer, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their respective addresses set forth in the Note Register of Holders or by wire transfer; provided that all payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to Notes represented by one or more Global Notes registered in the name of or held by the Depository or its nominee will be made in accordance with the Depository’s applicable procedures.

Holders shall have the right to require the Issuer to purchase their Notes, in whole or in part, in the event of a Change of Control pursuant to Section 10.16. The Notes shall be subject to repurchase pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer as provided in Section 10.17.

 

-66-


The Notes shall be redeemable as provided in Article Eleven.

The due and punctual payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes payable by the Issuer is irrevocably unconditionally guaranteed, to the extent set forth herein, by each of the Guarantors.

SECTION 3.02.    Note Registrar, Transfer Agent and Paying Agent. The Issuer shall maintain one or more Paying Agents for the Notes in New York. The Issuer hereby appoints the Trustee as the initial Paying Agent.

The Issuer shall be responsible for making calculations called for under the Notes, including but not limited to determination of redemption price or other amounts payable on the Notes. The Issuer will make the calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, its calculations will be final and binding on the Holders. The Issuer will provide a schedule of its calculations to the Trustee when requested by the Trustee, and the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively on the accuracy of the Issuer’s calculations without independent verification. The Trustee shall forward the Issuer’s calculations to any Holder upon the written request of such Holder.

The Issuer will also maintain a registrar (the “Note Registrar”) with offices in New York. The Issuer will also maintain a transfer agent (each, a “Transfer Agent”) in New York. The Issuer hereby appoints the Trustee as the initial Note Registrar and Transfer Agent. The Note Registrar and the Transfer Agent shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange (the register maintained in such office or in any other office or agency designated pursuant to Section 10.02 being herein referred to as the “Note Register”) and will facilitate transfer of Notes on behalf of the Issuer. The Note Register shall be in written form or any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. At all reasonable times, the Note Register shall be open to inspection by the Trustee. The Issuer may change the Paying Agents, the Note Registrars or the Transfer Agents without prior notice to the Holders. The Issuer may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Note Registrar” includes any co-registrars. For the avoidance of doubt, there shall only be one Note Register.

The Issuer shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Note 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 Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any such agent. If the Issuer fails to maintain a Note Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 6.07. The Issuer or any of its Affiliates may act as Paying Agent or Note Registrar.

The Issuer acknowledges that neither the Trustee nor any Agent makes any representations as to the interpretation or characterization of the transactions herein undertaken for tax or any other purpose, in any jurisdiction.

SECTION 3.03.    Denominations. The Notes shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons and only in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

SECTION 3.04.    Temporary Notes. Pending the preparation of definitive Notes, the Issuer may execute, and upon Issuer Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Notes which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Notes in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Notes may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Notes.

 

-67-


If temporary Notes are issued, the Issuer will cause definitive Notes to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Notes, the temporary Notes shall be exchangeable for definitive Notes upon surrender of the temporary Notes at the office or agency of the Issuer designated for such purpose pursuant to Section 10.02, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Notes, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Notes of authorized denominations. Until so exchanged, the temporary Notes shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Notes.

SECTION 3.05.    Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note at the office or agency of the Issuer designated pursuant to Section 10.02, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount.

At the option of the Holder, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denomination and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Notes which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

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

Every Note presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Issuer or the Note Registrar) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by written instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Issuer and the Note Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange or redemption of Notes, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any taxes, fees or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, other than exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.02, 3.04, 9.06, 10.16, 10.17 or 11.09 not involving any transfer.

SECTION 3.06.    Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Notes. If (1) any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, or (2) the Issuer and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, and there is delivered to the Issuer and the Trustee such security or indemnity to save each of them harmless from any claim, loss, cost or liability resulting from such lost or stolen Note, then, in the absence of written notice to the Issuer or the Trustee that such Note has been acquired by a Protected Purchaser (as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code) (a “Protected Purchaser”), the Issuer shall execute and upon Issuer Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, 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 Issuer in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Note, pay such Note.

 

-68-


Upon the issuance of any new Note under this Section 3.06, the Issuer may require the payment of 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 the Trustee) connected therewith.

Every new Note issued pursuant to this Section 3.06 in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Issuer and each Guarantor, 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 3.06 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 3.07.    Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

(a)    Interest on any Note which 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 (if applicable) on the Regular Record Date for such interest at the office or agency of the Issuer maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 10.02; provided that, subject to Section 3.01 hereof, each installment of interest may at the Issuer’s option be paid by (1) mailing a check for such interest, payable to or upon the written order of the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 3.08, to the address of such Person as it appears in the Note Register or (2) transfer to an account maintained by the payee; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds shall be required with respect to principal of, premium on, if any, and interest on, all Notes in global form and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Issuer and the Paying Agent; provided that for Notes not in global form, the Paying Agent shall have received from the Holders satisfactory wire transfer instructions at least ten calendar days prior to the related payment date and subject to surrender of the Note in the case of payments of principal and premium, if any.

(b)    Any interest on any Note which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, 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”) may be paid by the Issuer, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:

(1)    the Issuer 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 for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Issuer shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment; such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than ten days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than ten days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer of such Special Record Date, and in the name and at the expense of the Issuer, shall cause notice of the proposed

 

-69-


payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given in the manner provided for in Section 1.07, not less than ten days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so given, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid 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 following clause (2).

(2)    the Issuer 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 Issuer to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

(c)    Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, 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 3.08.    Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to the due presentment of a Note for registration of transfer, the Issuer, any Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Note is registered as the owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Sections 3.05 and 3.07) interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note be overdue, and none of the Issuer, any Guarantor, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

SECTION 3.09.    Cancellation. All Notes surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures. The Issuer may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Notes previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Issuer may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Notes previously authenticated hereunder which the Issuer has not issued and sold, and all Notes so delivered shall be cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures. If the Issuer shall so acquire any of the Notes, however, 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. No Notes shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Notes cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Notes held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures.

SECTION 3.10.    Computation of Interest. Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

SECTION 3.11.    Transfer and Exchange. The Notes shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Note for registration of transfer. When a Note is presented to the Note Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Note Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if the requirements of this Indenture and Section 8-401(a) of the Uniform Commercial Code are met. When Notes are presented to the Note Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes of other denominations, the Note Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met.

 

-70-


SECTION 3.12.    CUSIP, ISIN and Common Code Numbers. The Issuer in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers (in each case, if then generally in use) in addition to serial numbers, and, if so, the Trustee shall use such “CUSIP, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers in addition to serial numbers in notices of redemption, repurchase or other notices to Holders as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such “CUSIP, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption or repurchase and that reliance may be placed only on the serial or other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption or repurchase shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers applicable to the Notes.

SECTION 3.13.    Issuance of Additional Notes. The Issuer may, subject to Section 10.11 of this Indenture, issue additional Notes having identical terms and conditions to the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date (the “Additional Notes”), except, if applicable, the initial Interest Payment Date and the initial interest accrual date. The Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date and any Additional Notes subsequently issued shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture; provided, that a separate CUSIP or ISIN will be issued for the Additional Notes, unless the Initial Notes and the Additional Notes are treated as fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 4.01.    Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

(a)    This Indenture and the Security Documents shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect as to all Notes, the Guarantees and the Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes and the Guarantees will be released, and the Trustee, at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture when either:

(1)    all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Notes which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.06 and (ii) Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust with the Trustee or any Paying Agent or segregated and held in trust by the Issuer and thereafter repaid to the Issuer or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 10.03) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(2)    (A) all such Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise, will become due and payable within one year or may be called for redemption within one year under arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer and the Issuer or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, Government Securities or a combination thereof, in such amounts (including scheduled payments thereon) as will be sufficient (without consideration of any reinvestment of interest) to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the 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, with any

 

-71-


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. Any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit shall be applied toward such redemption;

(B)    no Default or Event of Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith) with respect to this Indenture or the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any material agreement or material instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Issuer or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuer or any Guarantor is bound (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

(C)    the Issuer has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture; and

(D)    the Issuer has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of such Notes at the Maturity or the Redemption Date, as the case may be.

(b)    In addition, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions), each stating that all conditions precedent herein to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been satisfied. Such Opinion of Counsel may rely on such Officer’s Certificate as to matters of fact, including clauses (2)(A), (B), (C) and (D) above.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Issuer to the Trustee under Section 6.07, the obligations of the Issuer to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.12 and, if money or Government Securities shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (A) of clause (2) of this Section 4.01, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.02 and the last paragraph of Section 10.03 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

SECTION 4.02.    Application of Trust Money. Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03, all money or Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuer acting as its own Paying Agent) of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money or Government Securities has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money or Government Securities need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Issuer shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Securities deposited pursuant to this Section 4.02 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. The Trustee shall also deliver to the Issuer from time to time upon Issuer Request any money or Government Securities held by it which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Satisfaction and Discharge, as applicable, in accordance with Article Four.

 

-72-


If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 4.01 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuer’s and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 4.01 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 4.01; provided that if the Issuer has made any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE FIVE

REMEDIES

SECTION 5.01.    Events of Default. “Event of Default”, wherever used herein, means any one of the following events:

(1)    default in payment when due and payable, upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise, of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes;

(2)    default for 30 days or more in the payment when due of interest on or with respect to the Notes;

(3)    failure by the Issuer or any Guarantor for 60 days after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 30% in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes (with a copy to the Trustee) to comply with any of its obligations, covenants or agreements (other than a default referred to in clauses (1) or (2) above) contained in this Indenture or the Notes; provided that in the case of a failure to comply with Section 10.09, such period of continuance of such default or breach shall be 120 days after written notice described in this clause (3) has been given; provided, further, that no such notice may be given with respect to any action taken, and reported publicly or to the Holders, more than two years prior to such notice;

(4)    default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there is issued or by which there is secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or any Permitted Receivables Financing), whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the issuance of the Notes, if both:

(A)    such default either results from the failure to pay any principal of such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) or relates to an obligation other than the obligation to pay principal of any such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity and results in the holder or holders of such Indebtedness causing such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated final maturity; and

 

-73-


(B)    the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, is, in the aggregate, in excess of the greater of (x) $82.0 million and (y) 17.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the Applicable Measurement Period (or its foreign currency equivalent) at any one time outstanding;

(5)    failure by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of the greater of (x) $82.0 million and (y) 17.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the Applicable Measurement Period (to the extent not covered by insurance as to which the insurer has been notified of such judgment or order and has not denied its obligation), which final judgments remain unpaid, undischarged and unstayed for a period of more than 60 days after such judgment becomes final and non-appealable, 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)    any of the following events with respect to the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary:

(A)    the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(a)    commences proceedings to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

(b)    consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case;

(c)    consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property;

(d)    takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency; or

(B)    a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(a)    is for relief against the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;

(b)    appoints a custodian of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of its property; or

(c)    orders the winding up or liquidation of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary; and

(d)    the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days; or

(7)    the Guarantee of any Parent Guarantor or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary shall for any reason cease to be in full force and effect (except as

 

-74-


contemplated by the terms of this Indenture) or be declared null and void or any responsible officer of any Parent Guarantor or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary denies in writing that it has any further liability under its Guarantee or gives written notice to such effect, other than by reason of the termination of this Indenture or the release of any such Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture; or

(8)    (i) any Security Document ceases to be in full force and effect or is declared null and void, (ii) the Liens created by the Security Documents shall at any time not constitute a valid and perfected first-priority Lien on any material portion of the Collateral intended to be covered thereby (unless perfection is not required by this Indenture or the Security Documents) other than (A) in accordance with the terms of the relevant Security Document or this Indenture, (B) the satisfaction in full of all Obligations under this Indenture or (C) any loss of perfection that results from the failure of the Notes Collateral Agent to maintain possession of certificates delivered to it representing securities pledged under the Security Documents and (iii) the Issuer, any Parent Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Issuer 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; provided, that if a failure of the sort described in this clause (8) is susceptible of cure (including with respect to any loss of Lien priority on material portions of the Collateral), no Event of Default shall arise under this clause (8) with respect thereto until, and in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), any such default continues for 30 days after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 30% in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes issued under this Indenture.

SECTION 5.02.    Acceleration of Maturity: Rescission and Annulment.

(a)    If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(6) above with respect to the Issuer) occurs and is continuing under this Indenture, the Trustee by notice to the Issuer or the Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes by notice to the Issuer and the Trustee may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then Outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately.

(b)    Upon the effectiveness of a declaration under 5.02(a), such principal and interest will be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising under Section 5.01(6) with respect to the Issuer, all Outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. The Trustee shall have no obligation to accelerate the Notes if in the reasonable judgment of the Trustee acceleration is not in the best interest of the Holders.

(c)    Notwithstanding Section 5.13, in the event of any Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(4), such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding any resulting payment default, other than as a result of acceleration of the Notes) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose:

(1)    the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged; or

(2)    the requisite holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default; or

 

-75-


(3)    the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured.

SECTION 5.03.    Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

The Issuer covenants that if:

(1)    default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on any Note when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

(2)    default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Note at the Maturity thereof,

the Issuer will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of such Notes, the whole amount then due and payable on such Notes for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, and interest on any overdue principal (and premium, if any) and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, upon any overdue installment of interest, at the rate borne by the Notes, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

If the Issuer fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Issuer, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Notes and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Issuer, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Notes, wherever situated.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders under this Indenture and the Guarantees by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem necessary to protect and enforce any such rights, including seeking recourse against any Guarantor, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy, including seeking recourse against any Guarantor.

SECTION 5.04.    Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Issuer or any other obligor including any Guarantor, upon the Notes or the property of the Issuer or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Notes shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Issuer for the payment of overdue principal, premium, if any, or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

(1)    to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any) and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Notes and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

(2)    to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

-76-


and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.07.

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding. The Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ committee or other similar committee.

SECTION 5.05.    Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Notes. All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Notes may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Notes or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

SECTION 5.06.    Application of Money Collected. Any money or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article Five shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Notes and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent (including any predecessor Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent) under Section 6.07;

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Notes for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively; and

THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Issuer or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct in writing; provided that all sums due and owing to the Holders and the Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent have been paid in full as required by this Indenture.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 5.06.

SECTION 5.07.    Limitation on Suits. Subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest when due, no Holder shall 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;

 

-77-


(2)    Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the total Outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee in writing to pursue the remedy;

(3)    Holders have offered and, if requested, provided to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

(4)    the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt thereof and the offer of security or indemnity; and

(5)    Holders of a majority in principal amount of the total Outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period,

it being understood and intended that no one or more Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all the Holders (it being further 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 5.08.    Right of Holders to Bring Suit for Payment. Subject to Sections 10.16 and 10.17, the right of any Holder of any Outstanding Note to bring suit for the enforcement of any payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Note, on or after the respective Maturity expressed in such Note (including in connection with an Asset Sale Offer or a Change of Control Offer), shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 5.09.    Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture or the Guarantees and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Issuer, any Guarantor, any other obligor of the Notes, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

SECTION 5.10.    Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in the last paragraph of Section 3.06, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

SECTION 5.11.    Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Note to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article Five or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

SECTION 5.12.    Control by Holders. Subject to the Intercreditor Agreements and certain other restrictions in this Indenture, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the total

 

-78-


Outstanding Notes shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or would involve the Trustee in personal liability. The Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

SECTION 5.13.    Waiver of Past Defaults. Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under this Indenture (except (1) a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest on, premium, if any, or the principal of any such Note held by a non-consenting Holder, or (2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof or in any Guarantee which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Note affected which shall require the consent of all Holders of the Notes) and rescind any acceleration and its consequences with respect to the Notes; provided such rescission would not conflict with any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; provided, further, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent have been paid any amounts incurred by them in connection with such Event of Default.

Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 5.14.    Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. Each of the Issuer, the Guarantors and any other obligor on the Notes covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and each of the Issuer, the Guarantors and any other obligor on the Notes (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

SECTION 5.15.    Undertaking for Costs.

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorney’s 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 5.15 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder relating to right to payment hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes.

ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 6.01.    Duties of the Trustee.

(a)    Except during the continuance of an Event of Default,

 

-79-


(1)    the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent undertake to perform such respective 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 or the Notes Collateral Agent; and

(2)    in the absence of bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions specifically required by any provision hereof to be provided to it, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture, but not to verify the contents thereof including the accuracy of any mathematical calculations.

(b)    If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing of which a Responsible Officer has actual knowledge or of which written notice of such Event of Default shall have been given to a Responsible Officer by the Issuer, any other obligor of the Notes or by Holders of at least 30% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent Person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such Person’s own affairs.

(c)    No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that

(1)    this paragraph (c) shall not be construed to limit the effect of paragraph (a) of this Section 6.01;

(2)    the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved in a court of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

(3)    the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, under this Indenture; and

(4)    No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(d)    Whether or not therein expressly so provided, 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 6.01.

SECTION 6.02.    Notice of Defaults. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received written notice, the Trustee shall transmit to the Holders notice of such Default or Event of Default hereunder known to the Trustee within

 

-80-


90 days after receipt of such written notice by the Trustee, unless such Default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived; provided that, except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) or interest on any Note, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the best interest of the Holders.

Any notice of Default, notice of acceleration or instruction to the Trustee to provide a notice of Default, notice of acceleration or take any other action (a “Noteholder Direction”) provided by any one or more Holders (each a “Directing Holder”) must be accompanied by a written representation substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto from each such Holder to the Issuer and the Trustee that such Holder is not (or, in the case such Holder is the Depository 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 a notice of Default shall be deemed repeated at all times until the resulting Event of Default is cured or otherwise ceases to exist or the Notes are accelerated. In addition, each Directing Holder must, at the time of providing a Noteholder Direction, covenant to provide the Issuer with such other information as the Issuer may reasonably request from time to time in order to verify the accuracy of such Holder’s Position Representation within five Business Days of request therefor (a “Verification Covenant”). In any case in which the Holder is the Depository or its nominee, any Position Representation or Verification Covenant required hereunder shall be provided by the beneficial owner of such Notes in lieu of the Depository or its nominee.

If, following the delivery of a Noteholder Direction, but prior to the acceleration of the Notes, the Issuer determines in good faith that there is a reasonable basis to believe that 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 Issuer 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 Event of Default that resulted from the applicable Noteholder Direction, the cure period with respect to such Default shall be automatically stayed pending a final and non-appealable determination of a court of competent jurisdiction on such matter. If, following the delivery of a Noteholder Direction, but prior to the acceleration of the Notes, the Issuer provides to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate that a Directing Holder failed to satisfy its Verification Covenant, the cure period with respect to such Default shall be automatically stayed and the cure period with respect to any 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 the Notes held by the remaining Holders that provided such Noteholder Direction would have been insufficient to validly provide such Noteholder Direction, such Noteholder Direction shall be void ab initio, with the effect that such Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall be deemed never to have occurred, acceleration voided and the Trustee shall be deemed not to have received such Noteholder Direction or any notice of such Default or Event of Default.

Notwithstanding anything in the preceding two paragraphs to the contrary, any Noteholder Direction with respect to the Notes delivered to the Trustee during the pendency of an Event of Default as the result of a bankruptcy or similar proceeding shall not require compliance with the foregoing paragraph.

For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding this Section 6.02, the Trustee 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; and will be fully protected

 

-81-


for any actions taken (or not taken) pursuant to such Noteholder Direction under this Indenture even if such Holder’s holdings are later disregarded because of a breach of, or failure to comply with, the Position Representation or Verification Covenant. The Trustee shall have no liability to the Issuer, any Holder or any other Person in acting in good faith on a Noteholder Direction.

SECTION 6.03.    Certain Rights of Trustee.

(1)    the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document (whether in original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(2)    any request or direction of the Issuer mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Issuer Request or Issuer Order and any resolution of the Board may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Issuer to have been duly adopted by the Board of the Issuer and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee;

(3)    whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, conclusively rely upon an Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel;

(4)    the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any fact, Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes unless either (i) a Responsible Officer has received written notice of such fact, Default or Event of Default or (ii) written notice of such fact, Default or Event of Default shall have been received by a Responsible Officer from the Issuer, any other obligor of the Notes or from Holders of at least 30% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes and references this Indenture and the Notes. Delivery of any reports to the Trustee pursuant to Section 10.09 shall not constitute knowledge of, or notice to, the Trustee of the information contained therein;

(5)    the Trustee may consult with counsel, accountants, bankers or other relevant experts of its own selection and the advice of such counsel, accountants, bankers or other relevant expert or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel or Opinion of Counsel;

(6)    the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense;

(7)    the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, or inquire as to the performance by the Issuer or the Guarantors of any of their covenants in this Indenture or inquire as to the performance by the Issuer or the Guarantors of any of their covenants in this Indenture, 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

 

-82-


such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuer, personally or by agent or attorney at the expense of the Issuer and shall incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

(8)    the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder or any other Note Document (including the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement) either directly or by or through agents, subagents, nominees, collateral trustees or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent, subagent, nominee, collateral trustees or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;

(9)    the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

(10)    the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder whether as an Agent or otherwise, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder, including the Notes Collateral Agent (even if such rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits are not set forth in Article Fourteen); provided however, that during the continuance of an Event of Default, only the Trustee, and not any Agent, shall be subject to the prudent person standard.

(11)    the Trustee may request that the Issuer deliver an incumbency certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto setting forth the names of individuals or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which such incumbency certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded;

(12)    the Trustee shall not be required to give any note, bond or surety in respect of the execution of the trusts and powers under this Indenture;

(13)    in no event shall the Trustee 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 reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, pandemic, epidemic, and interruptions, loss or malfunction of utilities, third-party communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances;

(14)    the permissive rights, powers and authorizations of the Trustee to take actions permitted by this Indenture shall not be construed as an obligation or duty to do so;

(15)    If at any time the Trustee is served with any arbitral, judicial or administrative order, judgment, award, decree, writ or other form of arbitral, judicial or administrative process which in any way affects this Indenture, the Notes, the Collateral or any part thereof or funds held by it (including, but not limited to, orders of attachment or garnishment or other forms of levies or injunctions), it shall be authorized to comply therewith in any manner as it reasonably determines necessary, after consulting with counsel, and if the Trustee complies with

 

-83-


any such arbitral, judicial or administrative order, judgment, award, decree, writ or other form of arbitral, judicial or administrative process, the Trustee shall not be liable to any of the parties hereto or to any other person or entity even though such order, judgment, award, decree, writ or process may be subsequently modified or vacated or otherwise determined to have been without legal force or effect; and

(16)    The Trustee shall not be liable for any indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages (including, but not limited to, lost profits) whatsoever, even if they have been informed of the likelihood thereof and regardless of the form of action.

SECTION 6.04.    Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Notes. The recitals contained herein, the Guarantees, the Security Documents, and in the Notes, except for the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Issuer, and neither the Trustee nor any Agent assumes responsibility for their correctness. Neither the Trustee nor any Agent makes representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture, the Guarantees, the Security Documents, or of the Notes, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Notes and perform its obligations hereunder. Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Issuer of Notes or the proceeds thereof or the Offering Memorandum or any other documents used in connection with the sale or distribution of the Notes.

SECTION 6.05.    May Hold Notes. The Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent, any Paying Agent, any Note Registrar or any other agent of the Issuer or of the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent, Paying Agent, Note Registrar or such other agent; provided, that, if it acquires any conflicting interest (as such term is defined in the Trust Indenture Act), it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days or resign as Trustee.

SECTION 6.06.    Money Held in Trust. Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Issuer.

SECTION 6.07.    Compensation and Reimbursement. The Issuer and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, agree:

(1)    to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as shall be agreed in writing between the Issuer and the Trustee for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

(2)    to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, other experts engaged by the Trustee without the Issuer’s prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld)), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as shall be determined to have been caused by its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct; and

(3)    to indemnify the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, liability, claim, damage or expense, including taxes (other than the taxes based on the income of the Trustee) incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful

 

-84-


misconduct on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust or the Collateral, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim regardless of whether the claim is asserted by the Issuer, a Guarantor, a Holder or any other Person or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture, including the indemnifications provided herein, the Security Documents, or a Guarantee against the Issuer or a Guarantor (including this Section 6.07).

The obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors under this Section 6.07 to compensate the Trustee, to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances and to indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder and shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and resignation or removal of the Trustee. As security for the performance of such obligations of the Issuer, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Notes upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders entitled thereto for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on particular Notes.

Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(6), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) of and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Bankruptcy Law. “Trustee” for the purposes of this Section 6.07 shall include any predecessor Trustee and the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder and each agent, custodian and other person employed to act hereunder as permitted by this Indenture; provided, however, that the negligence or willful misconduct of any predecessor Trustee hereunder shall not affect the rights of any other successor Trustee hereunder (other than a successor Trustee that is successor by merger or consolidation to such predecessor Trustee).

The provisions of this Section 6.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and resignation or removal of the Trustee.

SECTION 6.08.    Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. There shall be at all times a Trustee hereunder which shall be eligible to act as Trustee under TIA Section 310(a)(1) and shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of federal, State, territorial or District of Columbia supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.08, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.08, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article Six.

SECTION 6.09.    Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a)    No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.10.

(b)    The Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Issuer. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, a copy of which shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and a copy to the successor Trustee. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.10 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Issuer, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

-85-


(c)    The Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes, delivered to the Trustee and to the Issuer. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.10 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of removal, the Trustee being removed may petition, at the expense of the Issuer, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(d)    If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes delivered to the Issuer and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment, become the successor Trustee and supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuer. If no successor Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Issuer or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Note for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(e)    the Issuer shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to the Holders in the manner provided for in Section 1.07. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

SECTION 6.10.    Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

(a)    Every successor Trustee appointed hereunder shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Issuer and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on request of the Issuer or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges and subject to its lien, if any, provided for in Section 6.07, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder. Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Issuer shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts.

(b)    No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be eligible under this Article Six.

SECTION 6.11.    Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder; provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Article Six, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Notes shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Notes so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had

 

-86-


itself authenticated such Notes. In case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor Trustee may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee. In all such cases such certificates shall have the full force and effect which this Indenture provides for the certificate of authentication of the Trustee shall have; provided that, the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or to authenticate Notes in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.

SECTION 6.12.    Appointment of Authenticating Agent. At any time when any of the Notes remain Outstanding, the Trustee may appoint one or more agents (each an “Authenticating Agent”) with respect to the Notes which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Notes and the Trustee shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Notes with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, in the manner provided for in Section 1.07. Notes so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument in writing signed by an authorized signatory of the Trustee, and a copy of such instrument shall be promptly furnished to the Issuer. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Notes by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Issuer.

Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent; provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section 6.12, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Issuer. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Issuer. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.12, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Issuer and shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Notes, in the manner provided for in Section 1.07. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section 6.12.

The Issuer agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time such compensation for its services under this Section as shall be agreed in writing between the Issuer and such Authenticating Agent.

If an appointment is made pursuant to this Section 6.12, the Notes may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:

This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

-87-


 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST

COMPANY, N.A.

as Trustee

Date:   By:  

 

    as Authenticating Agent
  By:  

 

    Authorized Signatory

SECTION 6.13.    Security Documents; Intercreditor Agreements. By their acceptance of the Notes, the Holders hereby authorize and direct the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, to execute, deliver and perform all of its express duties provided for in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement Joinder, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement and each other Security Document, including any Security Documents executed and delivered after the Issue Date. It is hereby expressly acknowledged and agreed that, in doing so, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent are not responsible for the terms or contents of such agreements, or for the validity or enforceability thereof, or the sufficiency thereof for any purpose, and agrees that whether or not so expressly stated therein, in entering into, or taking (or forbearing from) any action under, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement or any other Security Documents, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall have all of the rights, privileges, protections, immunities, indemnities, benefits 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 SEVEN

HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND ISSUER

SECTION 7.01.    Issuer to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses. The Issuer will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

(1)    semiannually, not more than ten days after each Regular Record Date, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders as of such Regular Record Date; and

(2)    at such other times as the Trustee may reasonably request in writing, within 30 days after receipt by the Issuer of any such request, a list of similar form and content to that in clause (1) hereof as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

provided that, if and so long as the Trustee shall be a Note Registrar, no such list need be furnished.

SECTION 7.02.    Reports by Trustee.

To the extent this Indenture becomes subject to the Trust Indenture Act, within 60 days after December 31 of each year commencing with December 31, 2020, the Trustee shall transmit to the Holders of Notes (with a copy to the Issuer at the address specified in Section 1.06), in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), a brief report dated as of such December 31 that complies with TIA Section 313(a), if so required by that Section. The Trustee also shall comply with TIA Section 313(b). A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with

 

-88-


each stock exchange, if any, upon which the Notes are listed, with the SEC and with the Issuer. The Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee in writing when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange and any delisting thereof.

ARTICLE EIGHT

MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, AMALGAMATION OR SALE

OF ALL OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL ASSETS

SECTION 8.01.    Issuer May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

(a)    The Issuer shall not merge, consolidate or amalgamate with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Issuer is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(1)    the Issuer is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, consolidation or amalgamation (if other than the Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of the Issuer or the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Company”);

(2)    the Successor Company, if other than the Issuer, expressly assumes all the Obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes, in each case, pursuant to supplemental indentures, joinders to the Security Documents, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

(3)    immediately after such transaction, no Event of Default exists;

(4)    immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions, as if such transactions had occurred at the beginning of the Applicable Measurement Period,

(A)    the Successor Company or the Issuer would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under the provisions of Section 10.11(a),

(B)    the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer (or the Successor Company, as applicable) and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the Applicable Measurement Period immediately prior to such transaction, or

(C)    the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio for the Issuer (or the Successor Company, as applicable) and its Restricted Subsidiaries (x) is equal to or less than the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction, or (y) is equal to or less than 2.25 to 1.00;

(5)    the Issuer or, if applicable, the Successor Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposition and such supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments, if any, comply with this Indenture; and

 

-89-


(6)    to the extent any assets of the Person which is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Successor Company are assets of the type which would constitute Collateral under the Security Documents, the Successor Company will take such action as may be reasonably necessary to cause such property and assets to be made subject to the Lien of the Security Documents in the manner and to the extent required in this Indenture or any of the Security Documents and shall take all reasonably necessary action so that such Lien is perfected to the extent required by the Security Documents.

(b)    The Successor Company will succeed to, and be substituted for the Issuer under this Indenture, the Notes, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the other Security Documents, and the Issuer shall automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture, the Notes, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the other Security Documents. Notwithstanding Section 8.01(a)(3) and (4),

(1)    any Restricted Subsidiary may merge, consolidate or amalgamate with or into or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or part of its properties and assets to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary; and

(2)    the Issuer may merge, consolidate or amalgamate with or into an Affiliate of the Issuer, solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Issuer in the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or any territory thereof so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby.

SECTION 8.02.    Guarantors May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms. Subject to Section 12.08 and the Security Documents governing release of a Guarantee upon the sale, disposition or transfer of the Capital Stock of a Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a Guarantor, no such Guarantor shall, and the Issuer shall not permit any such Guarantor that is a Subsidiary of the Issuer to, merge, consolidate or amalgamate with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(1)    (A)    such Guarantor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, consolidation, amalgamation (if other than such Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Guarantor, as the case may be, or the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof (such Guarantor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Guarantor”);

(B)    the Successor Guarantor, if other than such Guarantor, expressly assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture and such Guarantor’s related Guarantee pursuant to supplemental indentures, joinders to Security Documents, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or other documents or instruments;

(C)    except in the case of a merger, consolidation or amalgamation entered into solely for the purpose of reincorporating a Guarantor in another jurisdiction, immediately after such transaction, no Event of Default exists; and

 

-90-


(D)    to the extent any assets of the Person which is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Successor Guarantor are assets of the type which would constitute Collateral under the Security Documents, the Successor Guarantor will take such action as may be reasonably necessary to cause such property and assets to be made subject to the Lien of the Security Documents in the manner and to the extent required in this Indenture or any of the Security Documents and shall take all reasonably necessary action so that such Lien is perfected to the extent required by the Security Documents; or

(2)    the transaction is not prohibited by Section 10.17.

Subject to Section 12.08, the Successor Guarantor shall succeed to, and be substituted for, such Guarantor under this Indenture, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the other Security Documents and such Guarantor’s Guarantee and such Guarantor shall automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the other Security Documents and such Guarantor’s Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a Guarantor may (i) merge, consolidate or amalgamate with or into, wind up into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to another Guarantor (other than a Parent Guarantor) or the Issuer, (ii) merge, consolidate or amalgamate with or into an Affiliate of the Issuer solely for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing such Guarantor in the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof, (iii) convert into a Person organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Guarantor or a jurisdiction in the United States, or (iv) liquidate or dissolve or change its legal form if the Board of the Issuer or the senior management of the Issuer determines in good faith that such action is in the best interests of the Issuer and is not materially disadvantageous to the Holders, in each case, without regard to the requirements set forth in this Section 8.02.

SECTION 8.03.    Successor Substituted. Upon any merger, consolidation or amalgamation or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer or any Guarantor in accordance with Sections 8.01 and 8.02 hereof, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, is merged or the successor Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposition is made, shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, under this Indenture or the Guarantees, as the case may be, with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, herein or the Guarantees, as the case may be. When a successor Person assumes all obligations of its predecessor hereunder, the Notes or the Guarantees, as the case may be, such predecessor shall be released from all obligations; provided that in the event of a transfer or lease, the predecessor shall not be released from the payment of principal and interest or other obligations on the Notes or the Guarantees, as the case may be.

ARTICLE NINE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 9.01.    Amendments or Supplements Without Consent of Holders. The Issuer, any Guarantor (with respect to its Guarantee or this Indenture, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any other Security Document to which it is a party) and the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, at any time and from time to time, may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes, any Guarantee, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any other Security Document without the consent of any Holder, for any of the following purposes:

(1)    to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency;

 

-91-


(2)    to provide for uncertificated Notes of such series in addition to or in place of certificated Notes or to alter the provisions of this Indenture relating to the form of the Notes (including the related definitions) in a manner that does not materially adversely affect any Holder;

(3)    to comply with Article Eight of this Indenture;

(4)    to provide for the assumption of the Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders pursuant to the terms of this Indenture;

(5)    to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture of any such Holder in any material respect;

(6)    to add covenants for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer or any Guarantor;

(7)    to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

(8)    to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, if applicable;

(9)    to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee, a successor Paying Agent or a successor Notes Collateral Agent thereunder pursuant to the requirements hereof;

(10)    to add a Guarantor, a guarantee of a Parent Entity or a co-obligor of the Notes under this Indenture, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and/or the other Security Documents;

(11)    to comply with the rules of any applicable securities depositary;

(12)    to conform the text of this Indenture, the Guarantees, the Notes, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the other Security Documents to any provision of the “Description of Notes” of the Offering Memorandum to the extent that such provision in the “Description of Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, the Guarantees, the Notes, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the other Security Documents;

(13)    to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including, without limitation, to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes; provided, however, that such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes;

(14)    to add Collateral with respect to the Notes and/or the related Guarantees;

(15)    to release any Guarantor from its Guarantee pursuant to this Indenture when permitted or required by this Indenture;

 

-92-


(16)    to 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”;

(17)    to enter into any intercreditor agreement having substantially similar terms with respect to the Holders as those set forth in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, in each case, taken as a whole, or any joinder thereto;

(18)    with respect to the Security Documents, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, as provided in the relevant Security Document, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement; and

(19)    to enter into any other intercreditor agreement to the extent contemplated hereby and with such changes as contemplated above or any joinder thereto.

For avoidance of doubt, the Issuer need not be a party to any supplemental indenture entered into pursuant to Section 10.15 or 12.03. Further, for avoidance of doubt, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent need not be a party to any supplemental indenture entered into pursuant to Section 9.01(10).

SECTION 9.02.    Amendments, Supplements or Waivers with Consent of Holders.

(a)    With the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes), the Issuer, any Guarantor (with respect to its Guarantee or this Indenture, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any other Security Document to which it is a party) and the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes, any Guarantee, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the other Security Documents for the purpose of adding any provisions hereto or thereto, changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions hereof or thereof or modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders hereunder or thereunder, and any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes, any Guarantee, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any other Security Document may be waived with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes); provided that, without the consent of each affected Holder, no such amendment, supplement or waiver shall, with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder:

(1)    reduce the principal amount of such Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

(2)    reduce the principal of or change the Stated Maturity of any such Note or reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of such Notes or change the time at which such Notes may be redeemed pursuant to Section 11.01; provided that any amendment to the minimum notice requirement may be made with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes;

(3)    reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note;

 

-93-


(4)    waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration, or in respect of a covenant or provision contained in this Indenture or any Guarantee which cannot be amended or modified without the consent of all affected Holders;

(5)    make any Note payable in money other than that stated therein;

(6)    make any change in Section 5.13 or the rights of Holders to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes;

(7)    make any change in these amendment and waiver provisions;

(8)    amend the contractual right of any Holder expressly set forth in this Indenture and the Notes to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor;

(9)    make any change to or modify the ranking of the Notes that would adversely affect the Holders; or

(10)    except as expressly permitted by this Indenture, modify the Guarantees of any Significant Subsidiary in any manner materially adverse to the Holders.

(b)    It shall not be necessary for the consent of Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, and it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

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 the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any other 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 such Notes Obligations or (B) change or alter the priority of the Liens securing the Notes Obligations in any material portion of the Collateral in any way adverse to the Holders of such Notes in any material respect, other than, in each case, as provided under the terms of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any other Security Document.

SECTION 9.03.    Execution of Amendments, Supplements or Waivers. In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any amendment, supplement or waiver permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be provided with, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to any documents required by Section 1.03, an Officer’s Certificate and (other than in the case of an amendment or supplement for the purpose of adding a Guarantor or a parent guarantor under this Indenture in accordance with Section 9.01(10)) Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer and any Guarantors party thereto, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions and qualifications, and complies with the provisions hereof. Guarantors may, but shall not be required to, execute supplemental indentures that do not modify such Guarantor’s Guarantee. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such amendment, supplement or waiver which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability with respect to any matters that would have been covered by the Opinions of Counsel that are not permitted by this Section.

 

-94-


SECTION 9.04.    Effect of Amendments, Supplements or Waivers. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article Nine, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such amendment, supplement or waiver shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Notes theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

SECTION 9.05.    [Reserved].

SECTION 9.06.    Reference in Notes to Supplemental Indentures. Notes authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Issuer shall so determine, new Notes so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Issuer, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Issuer and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Notes.

SECTION 9.07.    Notice of Supplemental Indentures. Promptly after the execution by the Issuer, any Guarantor and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.02, the Issuer shall give notice thereof to the Holders of each Outstanding Note affected, in the manner provided for in Section 1.07, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture; provided that failure to give such notice shall not impair the validity of such supplemental indenture.

ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

SECTION 10.01.    Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest. The Issuer covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Notes and this Indenture.

The Issuer 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.

SECTION 10.02.    Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Issuer will maintain in The City of New York, an office or agency where Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The designated office of the Trustee shall be such office or agency of the Issuer in The City of New York, unless the Issuer shall designate and maintain some other office or agency for one or more of such purposes. The Issuer will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change in the location of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Issuer hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

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

 

-95-


SECTION 10.03.    Money for Notes Payments to Be Held in Trust. If the Issuer shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any of the Notes, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of its action or failure so to act.

Whenever the Issuer shall have one or more Paying Agents for the Notes, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Notes in accordance with Section 10.01, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of such action or any failure so to act.

Each Paying Agent agrees:

(1)    that it will hold all sums received by it as Paying Agent for the payment of the principal of or interest on any Notes in trust for the benefit of the Holders or of the Trustee;

(2)    that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Issuer to make any payment of the principal of or interest on any Notes and any other payments to be made by or on behalf of the Issuer under this Indenture or the Notes when the same shall be due and payable; and

(3)    that it will pay any such sums so held in trust by it to the Trustee forthwith upon the Trustee’s written request at any time during the continuance of the failure referred to in clause (2) above.

The Issuer may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Issuer Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Issuer or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Issuer or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such sums.

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) 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 Issuer on Issuer Request or (if then held by the Issuer) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Issuer for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuer as Trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Issuer cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuer.

SECTION 10.04.    Organizational Existence. Subject to Article Eight, the Issuer will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its organizational existence and that of each Restricted Subsidiary and the rights and franchises of the Issuer and each Restricted Subsidiary to conduct business; provided, that the Issuer shall not be required to preserve any

 

-96-


such right or franchise if the Board of the Issuer shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. For the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be permitted to change their organizational form.

SECTION 10.05.    Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. The Issuer will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (1) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Issuer or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or property of the Issuer or any Subsidiary and (2) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies, which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon the property of the Issuer or any Subsidiary; provided, that the Issuer shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim (i) whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which appropriate reserves, if necessary (in the good faith judgment of management of the Issuer) are being maintained in accordance with GAAP and (ii) to the extent the failure to pay any such taxes would not reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect.

SECTION 10.06.    [Reserved].

SECTION 10.07.    [Reserved].

SECTION 10.08.    Statement by Officer as to Default.

(a)    The Issuer will deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officer’s Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing officer with a view to determining whether it has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled, and has caused each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to keep, observe, perform and fulfill its obligations under this Indenture and further stating that, to the best of his or her knowledge, the Issuer during such preceding fiscal year has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled, and has caused each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to keep, observe, perform and fulfill each and every such covenant contained in this Indenture and no Default or Event of Default occurred during such year and at the date of such certificate there is no Default or Event of Default which has occurred and is continuing or, if such signers do know of such Default or Event of Default, the certificate shall describe its status, with particularity and that, to the best of his or her knowledge, no event has occurred and remains by reason of which payments on the account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action each is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. The Officer’s Certificate shall also notify the Trustee should the Issuer elect to change the manner in which it fixes its fiscal year-end. For purposes of this Section 10.08(a), such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice under this Indenture.

(b)    When any Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee by registered or certified mail or electronic transmission an Officer’s Certificate specifying such event, notice or other action within 30 days of becoming aware of such Default.

SECTION 10.09.    Reports and Other Information.

(a)    So long as any Notes are outstanding following the Issue Date, Issuer shall furnish to the Holders:

 

-97-


(1)    (x) all annual and quarterly financial statements substantially in forms that would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-K and 10-Q of the Issuer, if the Issuer were required to file such forms, plus a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” (y) with respect to the annual and quarterly information, a presentation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA of the Issuer substantially consistent with the presentation thereof in the Offering Memorandum and derived from such financial information, and (z) with respect to the annual financial statements only, a report on the annual financial statements by the Issuer’s independent registered public accounting firm; and

(2)    within ten Business Days after the occurrence of an event required to be therein reported, such other information containing substantially the same information that would be required to be contained in filings with the SEC on Form 8-K under Items 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 2.01, 2.05, 2.06, 4.01, 4.02, 5.01 and 5.02(b) (only with respect to the principal executive officer, president, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and principal operating officer) and (c) (other than with respect to information otherwise required or contemplated by Item 402 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC) as in effect on the Issue Date if the Issuer were required to file such reports;

provided, however, that (i) in no event shall such financial statements, information or reports be required to comply with (w) Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC (or such other rule or regulation that amends, supplements or replaces such Rule 3-10, including for the avoidance of doubt, Rules 13-01 or 13-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC), (x) Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X (or such other rule or regulation that amends, supplements or replaces such Rule 3-09), (y) Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X (or such other rule or regulation that amends, supplements or replaces such Rule 3-16) or (z) any requirement to otherwise include any schedules or separate financial statements of any of Subsidiaries of the Issuer or any Parent Entity, Affiliates or equity method investees, (ii) in no event shall such financial statements, information or reports be required to comply with Regulation G under the Exchange Act or Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC with respect to any non-GAAP financial measures contained therein, (iii) no such financial statements, information or reports referenced under clause (2) above shall be required to be furnished if the Issuer determines in its good faith judgment that such event is not material to the Holders or the business, assets, operations or financial position of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (iv) in no event shall such financial statements, information or reports be required to include any information that is not otherwise similar to information currently included in the Offering Memorandum, other than with respect to information or reports provided under clause (2) above and (v) in no event shall information or reports referenced in clause (2) above be required to include as an exhibit copies of any agreements, financial statements or other items that would be required to be filed as exhibits to a current report on Form 8-K except for (x) agreements evidencing material Indebtedness and (y) historical and pro forma financial statements to the extent reasonably available and, in any case with respect to pro forma financial statements, to include only pro forma revenues, Consolidated EBITDA and capital expenditures in lieu thereof.

(b)    All such annual information and reports shall be furnished within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year to which they relate, and all such quarterly information and reports shall be furnished within 45 days after the end of the fiscal quarter to which they relate.

(c)    At any time that any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries are Unrestricted Subsidiaries and if any such Unrestricted Subsidiary or group of Unrestricted Subsidiaries, if taken together as one Subsidiary, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer, then the quarterly and annual financial information required by Section 10.09(a) will include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, or in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” or other comparable section, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Issuer and Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer.

 

-98-


(d)    The Issuer shall make available such information and such reports (as well as the details regarding the conference call described below) to any Holder and, upon request, to any beneficial owner of the Notes, in each case by posting such information on its website, on the website of the SEC, on Intralinks or any comparable password-protected online data system which will require a confidentiality acknowledgment, and will make such information readily available to any Holder, any bona fide prospective investor in the Notes (as determined in the Issuer’s sole discretion and which prospective investors shall, in any event, be limited to “qualified institutional buyers” within the meaning of Rule 144A of the Securities Act or non-U.S. persons that certify their status as such to the reasonable satisfaction of the Issuer), any securities analyst (to the extent providing analysis of investment in the Notes) or any market maker in the Notes who agrees to treat such information as confidential or accesses such information on Intralinks or any comparable password-protected online data system which will require a confidentiality acknowledgment; provided that the Issuer shall post such information thereon and make readily available any password or other login information to any such Holder, bona fide prospective investor, securities analyst or market maker; provided, further, however, that the Issuer may deny access to any competitively-sensitive information otherwise to be provided pursuant to this paragraph to any such Holder, prospective investor, security analyst or market maker that is a competitor of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries to the extent that the Issuer determines in good faith that the provision of such information to such Person would be competitively harmful to the Issuer and its Subsidiaries; and provided, further, that such Holders, prospective investors, security analysts or market makers shall agree 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 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). The Issuer (or a Parent Entity) shall hold a quarterly conference call for all Holders and securities analysts (to the extent providing analysis of investment in the Notes) to discuss such financial information (including a customary Q&A session) no later than ten Business Days after distribution of such financial information (which conference call, for the avoidance of doubt, may be held prior to such time that the annual or quarterly financial statements required by Section 10.09(a) for such reporting period are furnished to Holders), which call may be the same as any call for the Issuer’s or any Parent Entity’s equity holders.

(e)    The Issuer shall provide S&P and Moody’s (and their respective successors) with information on a periodic basis as S&P or Moody’s, as the case may be, shall reasonably require in order to maintain public ratings of the Notes. In addition, to the extent not satisfied by the foregoing, the Issuer shall furnish to prospective investors, upon their request, any information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act so long as the Notes are not freely transferable under the Securities Act.

(f)    The Issuer may satisfy its obligations under this Section 10.09 with respect to the financial information relating to the Issuer by furnishing financial and other information relating to any Parent Entity instead of the Issuer; provided that to the extent such Parent Entity holds assets (other than its direct or indirect interest in the Issuer) that exceeds the lesser of (i) 1% of consolidated revenues of such Parent Entity and (ii) 1% of the total consolidated revenue for the preceding fiscal year of such Parent Entity, then such information related to such Parent Entity shall be accompanied by summary financial information, which may be unaudited and/or in narrative form, that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information of such Parent Entity, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a stand-alone basis, on the other hand.

(g)    The Issuer shall be deemed to have furnished the financial statements and other information referred to in Section 10.09(a)(1) and (2) if the Issuer or any Parent Entity has filed reports containing such information (or any such information of a Parent Entity in accordance with Section 10.09(f)) with the SEC.

 

-99-


(h)    To the extent any information is not provided within the time periods specified in this Section 10.09 and such information is subsequently provided, the Issuer shall be deemed to have satisfied its obligations with respect thereto at such time and any Default with respect thereto shall be deemed to have been cured.

(i)    To the extent the Issuer delivers such reports, information and documents to the Trustee, such delivery shall be for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such reports, information and documents shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

SECTION 10.10.    Limitation on Restricted Payments.

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

(I)    declare or pay any dividend or make any payment or distribution on account of the Issuer’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (in each case, solely to a holder of Equity Interests in such Person’s capacity as a holder of such Equity Interests), including any dividend or distribution payable in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation other than:

(A)    dividends, payments or distributions by the Issuer payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or in options, warrants or other rights to purchase such Equity Interests; or

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

(II)    purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Parent Entity, including in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation, in each case held by a Person other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(III)    make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease, discharge or otherwise acquire or retire for value in each case, prior to any scheduled repayment, sinking fund payment or maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor that is a Subsidiary of the Issuer, other than:

(A)    Indebtedness permitted to be incurred or issued under clauses (7), (8) or (9) of Section 10.11(b); or

(B)    the redemption, defeasance, purchase, repurchase, discharge 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 redemption, defeasance, purchase, repurchase, discharge or acquisition; or

 

-100-


(IV)    make any Restricted Investment;

(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (I) through (IV) above (other than any exceptions thereto) being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”), unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:

(1)    in the case of a Restricted Payment other than a Restricted Investment, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof; provided that the foregoing condition shall not apply to amounts attributable to clauses (2)(b), (2)(c), (2)(f) and (2)(g) under this Section 10.10(a);

(2)    such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date (excluding all Restricted Payments permitted by Section 10.10(b)), is less than the sum of (without duplication):

(a)    100% of the aggregate Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the period (taken as one accounting period) from August 2, 2020 to the end of the Issuer’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment, or, in the case such Consolidated EBITDA for such period is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit, minus the product of 1.5 times the Issuer’s aggregate Fixed Charges of such period (taken as one accounting period); plus

(b)    100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries since the Issue Date (other than net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 10.11(b)(12)(a)) from the issue or sale of:

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

 (x)    Equity Interests to any future, current or former employees, directors, managers or consultants of the Issuer, its Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity after the Issue Date to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with Section 10.10(b)(4); and

 (y)    Designated Preferred Stock; and

        (B)    Equity Interests of Parent Entities, to the extent such net cash proceeds are actually contributed to the Issuer (excluding contributions of the proceeds from the sale of Designated Preferred Stock of such companies or contributions to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with Section 10.10(b)(4)); or

 

-101-


(ii)    Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary that has been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or a Parent Entity;

provided, however, that this clause (b) shall not include the proceeds from (W) Refunding Capital Stock (as defined below), (X) Equity Interests (or Indebtedness that has been converted or exchanged for Equity Interests) of the Issuer sold to a Restricted Subsidiary, (Y) Disqualified Stock (or debt securities that have been converted or exchanged into Disqualified Stock) or (Z) Excluded Contributions; plus

(c)    100% of the aggregate amount of cash and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property contributed to the capital of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary (including the aggregate principal amount of any Pari Passu Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary contributed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary for cancellation (limited, in the case of such Pari Passu Indebtedness, to the lesser of par and the actual purchase price paid in cash to repurchase such Indebtedness)) or that becomes part of the capital of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary through consolidation or merger following the Issue Date (other than net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds (i) have been used to incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 10.11(b)(12)(a), (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 the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary by means of:

(i)    the sale or other disposition (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of, or other returns on Investment from, Permitted Investments made pursuant to clauses (8) and (13) of the definition thereof (without duplication of amounts permitted to be incurred thereunder) and Restricted Investments made by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repurchases and redemptions of, or cash distributions or cash interest received in respect thereof, such Restricted Investments from the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constitute Investments made by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, after the Issue Date; or

(ii)    the sale or other disposition (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a dividend or distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than in each case to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary constituted a Permitted Investment) or a dividend or distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date; plus

 

-102-


(e)    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 the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, the fair market value of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary (or the net assets transferred) at the time of the redesignation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time of such merger, amalgamation, consolidation or transfer of assets, other than to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment; plus

(f)    the greater of (x) $144.0 million and (y) 30.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the Applicable Measurement Period; plus

(g)    the amount of any Declined Proceeds and any Retained Asset Sale Proceeds.

(b)    The foregoing provisions shall 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 Indenture (assuming, in the case of a redemption payment, the giving of the notice of such redemption payment would have been deemed to be a Restricted Payment at such time);

(2)    (A)    the prepayment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, discharge, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests, including any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon (“Treasury Capital Stock”), or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or any Equity Interests of any Parent Entity, in exchange for, or in an amount equal to or less than the proceeds of a sale or issuance (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Parent Entity to the extent contributed to the Issuer (in each case, other than any Disqualified Stock) (“Refunding Capital Stock”) made within 120 days of such sale or issuance of Refunding Capital Stock and

        (B)    if immediately prior to the retirement of Treasury Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividends thereon was permitted under Section 10.10(b)(6), 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 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;

 

-103-


(3)    the prepayment, redemption, defeasance, repurchase, retirement, discharge, exchange or other acquisition for value of (i) Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor that is a Subsidiary of the Issuer made in exchange for, or in an amount equal to or less than the proceeds of a sale of, new Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor that is a Subsidiary of the Issuer or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or a Guarantor that is a Subsidiary of the Issuer made within 120 days of such incurrence or issuance of new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or (ii) Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or a Guarantor that is a Subsidiary of the Issuer made in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of a sale of, Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or a Guarantor that is a Subsidiary of the Issuer made within 120 days of such sale of Disqualified Stock, that, in each case is incurred or issued in compliance with Section 10.11 so long as:

(A)    the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness or the liquidation preference of such new Disqualified Stock does not exceed the principal amount of (or accreted value, if applicable), plus any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Subordinated Indebtedness or the liquidation preference of, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends on, the Disqualified Stock being so prepaid, redeemed, defeased, repurchased, exchanged, discharged, acquired or retired for value, plus the amount of any premium (including tender premiums), defeasance costs, underwriting discounts and any fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock and such prepayment, redemption, defeasance, repurchase, exchange, discharge, acquisition or retirement;

(B)    such new Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or the applicable Guarantee at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness so prepaid, redeemed, defeased, repurchased, exchanged, discharged, acquired or retired;

(C)    such new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock has a final scheduled maturity date or mandatory redemption date, as applicable, equal to or later than the final scheduled maturity date or mandatory redemption date of the Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being so prepaid, redeemed, defeased, repurchased, exchanged, discharged, acquired or retired (or if earlier, such date that is at least 91 days after the maturity date of the Notes); and

(D)    such new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being so prepaid, redeemed, defeased, repurchased, exchanged, discharged, acquired or retired (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);

(4)    a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, redemption, retirement or other acquisition of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or any Parent Entity held by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager or consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members, or any permitted transferee thereof) of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity pursuant to any management, director, employee and/or advisor equity plan or equity option plan or any other management, director, employee and/or advisor benefit plan or agreement or any equity subscription or equityholder agreement or any termination agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any principal and interest payable on any Indebtedness issued by the Issuer or any Parent Entity in connection with such repurchase, retirement or other acquisition), including any Equity Interests rolled over by management, directors or employees of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity in connection with any corporate transaction; provided, however, that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (4) do not exceed in any fiscal year the greater of (x) $82.0 million and (y) 17.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the Applicable Measurement Period (with unused amounts in any fiscal year being carried over to succeeding fiscal years); provided, further, that such amount in any fiscal year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(A)    the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer and, to the extent contributed to the Issuer, the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests of any Parent Entity (other than Disqualified Stock), in each case to any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity that occurs after the Issue Date; provided that the amount of such cash proceeds utilized for any such repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 10.10(a)(2); plus

 

-104-


(B)    the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiaries (or any Parent Entity to the extent contributed to the Issuer) after the Issue Date; less

(C)    the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clauses (A) and (B) of this Section 10.10(b)(4);

provided that the Issuer may elect to apply all or any portion of the aggregate increase contemplated by clauses (A) and (B) of this Section 10.10(b)(4) in any fiscal year; and

provided further that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members, or any permitted transferee thereof) of the Issuer, any Parent Entity or any of the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Parent Entity will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 10.10 or any other provision of this Indenture;

(5)    the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any class or series of Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case issued in accordance with the covenant described under Section 10.11 to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of “Fixed Charges;”

(6)    (A)    the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date;

(B)    the declaration and payment of dividends to a Parent Entity, the proceeds of which shall be used to fund the payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of such Parent Entity issued after the Issue Date; provided that the amount of dividends paid pursuant to this clause (B) shall not exceed the aggregate amount of cash actually contributed to the Issuer from the sale of such Designated Preferred Stock; or

(C)    the declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock in excess of the dividends declarable and payable thereon pursuant to Section 10.10(b)(2);

 

-105-


provided, however, in the case of each of clause (A) and clause (C) of this clause (6), that for the Applicable Measurement Period at the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock or the declaration of such dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance or declaration on a pro forma basis, the Issuer could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under Section 10.11(a);

(7)    payments made or expected to be made by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of withholding or similar taxes payable in connection with the exercise or vesting of Equity Interests or any other equity award by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager or consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members, or any permitted transferee thereof) of the Issuer, any Parent Entity or any of the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries and repurchases or withholdings of Equity Interests in connection with the exercise of any stock or other equity options or warrants or other incentive interests or the vesting of equity awards if such Equity Interests represent all or a portion of the exercise price thereof or payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional Equity Interests, or withholding obligation with respect to, such options or warrants or other incentive interests or other Equity Interests or equity awards;

(8)    Restricted Payments (or the payment of dividends or distributions, or the making of loans, to any Parent Entity to fund a Restricted Payment), in an amount not to exceed a sum of (A) up to 6.0% per annum of the net cash proceeds received by or contributed to the Issuer in or from any public Equity Offering (including the IPO) and (B) an aggregate amount per annum not to exceed 7.0% of Market Capitalization;

(9)    Restricted Payments (A) in an amount that does not exceed the aggregate amount of Excluded Contributions received since the Issue Date and (B) without duplication with clause (A), in an amount equal to the net cash proceeds from any sale or disposition of, or distribution in respect of, Investments acquired after the Issue Date, to the extent the acquisition of such Investment was financed in reliance on clause (A) and provided that such amount will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 10.10(a)(2);

(10)    other Restricted Payments (A) in an aggregate amount taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (10), not to exceed the greater of (x) $160.0 million and (y) 33.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the Applicable Measurement Period at the time of such Restricted Payment and (B) without duplication with clause (A), in an amount equal to the net cash proceeds from any sale or disposition of, or distribution in respect of, Investments acquired after the Issue Date, to the extent the acquisition of such Investment was financed in reliance on clause (A) and provided that such amount will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 10.10(a)(2);

(11)    any Restricted Payment (A) made in connection with the Transactions and the fees and expenses related thereto or (B) used to fund amounts owed to Affiliates (including dividends to any Parent Entity to permit payment by such Parent Entity of such amount) to the extent permitted by Section 10.13;

(12)    the repurchase, redemption, defeasance, discharge, acquisition or retirement of any Subordinated Indebtedness (A) in accordance with provisions similar to those of Section 10.16 and Section 10.17 or (B) from Declined Proceeds; provided that (x) at or prior to such repurchase, redemption, discharge, defeasance, acquisition or retirement, the Issuer (or a third Person permitted by this Indenture) has made a Change of Control Offer, Asset Sale Offer, Alternate Offer or Advance Offer, as the case may be, with respect to the Notes to the extent required as a result of such Change of Control or Asset Sale, as the case may be, (y) all Notes tendered by Holders in connection with the relevant Change of Control Offer, Asset Sale Offer,

 

-106-


Alternate Offer or Advance Offer, as applicable, have been repurchased, redeemed, defeased, acquired or retired or discharged and (z) any portion of Declined Proceeds used to fund purchases pursuant to clause (B) above will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 10.10(a)(2);

(13)    the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions by the Issuer to, or the making of loans to, any Parent Entity in amounts required for any Parent Entity to pay or cause to be paid, in each case without duplication,

(A)    franchise, excise and similar taxes and other fees, taxes and expenses, in each case, required to maintain their corporate or other legal existence, plus $1.0 million per year;

(B)    consolidated, combined or similar foreign, federal, state and local income and similar taxes (including if the Issuer is treated as a partnership or an entity disregarded from its owner for United States federal income tax purposes and its taxable income is entirely included on an income tax return of one or more direct or indirect parent companies each of which is treated as a subchapter C corporation), to the extent that such income or similar taxes are attributable to the income, revenue, receipts or capital of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries and, to the extent of the amount actually received from its Unrestricted Subsidiaries, in amounts required to pay such taxes to the extent attributable to the income, revenue, receipts or capital of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries, and including any interest or penalties related thereto; provided that in each case the amount of such payments with respect to any fiscal year does not exceed the amount that the Issuer, the Restricted Subsidiaries and the Unrestricted Subsidiaries (to the extent described above) would have been required to pay in respect of such foreign, federal, state and local income taxes, including any interest or penalties related thereto, for such fiscal year had the Issuer, the Restricted Subsidiaries and the Unrestricted Subsidiaries (to the extent described above) been a stand-alone taxpayer or stand-alone group (separate from any such direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer) for all fiscal years ending after the Issue Date;

(C)    customary salary, bonus, severance and other benefits payable to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, future, current or former officers, employees, directors, managers and consultants of any Parent Entity to the extent such salaries, bonuses, severance and other benefits and indemnities are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries, including the Issuer’s or the Restricted Subsidiaries’ proportionate share of such amount relating to such Parent Entity being a Public Company;

(D)    general corporate, operating (including, without limitation, expenses related to the maintenance of corporate or other existence and auditing or other accounting or tax reporting matters) and other overhead costs and expenses and listing fees and other costs and expenses attributable to being a Public Company, of any Parent Entity;

(E)    fees and expenses related to any equity or debt offering, financing transaction, acquisitions, divestitures, investments or other non-ordinary course transaction (whether or not successful) of such Parent Entity; provided that any such transaction was in the good faith judgment of the Issuer intended to be for the benefit of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

-107-


(F)    amounts (including fees and expenses) that would otherwise be permitted to be paid directly by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to clauses (3), (4), (7), (8), (12) or (13) of Section 10.13(b);

(G)    cash payments in lieu of issuing fractional shares in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Parent Entity; and

(H)    to finance Investments by a Parent Entity that would otherwise be permitted to be made pursuant to this Section 10.10 if made by the Issuer; provided, that (i) such Restricted Payment shall be made substantially concurrently with the closing of such Investment, (ii) such Parent Entity shall, immediately following the closing thereof, cause (1) all property acquired (whether assets or Equity Interests) to be contributed to the capital of the Issuer or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (2) the merger or amalgamation of the Person formed or acquired into the Issuer or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries (to the extent not prohibited by the covenant described under Article Eight) in order to consummate such Investment, (iii) such Parent Entity and its Affiliates (other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) receives no consideration or other payment in connection with such transaction except to the extent the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary could have given such consideration or made such payment in compliance with this Indenture, (iv) any property received by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary shall not increase amounts available for Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 10.10(a)(2) or Section 10.10(b)(9), 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 (13), and (v) to the extent constituting an Investment, such Investment shall be deemed to be made by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to another provision of this Section 10.10 or Section 10.10(b)(9) or pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments” (other than clause (9) thereof);

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

(15)    the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the primary assets of which are cash and/or Cash Equivalents);

(16)    any Restricted Payment; provided that on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio would be equal to or less than 1.25 to 1.00 (provided that with respect to any Restricted Payment set forth in clause (III) of Section 10.10(a), the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio would be equal to or less than 1.40 to 1.00);

(17)    payments or distributions to satisfy dissenters’ or appraisal rights and the settlements of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect thereto, pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of assets that complies with Article Eight;

 

-108-


(18)    distributions or payments of Receivables Fees and purchases of receivables in connection with Permitted Receivables Financing or any repurchase obligation in connection therewith;

(19)    any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness consisting of Acquired Indebtedness; and

(20)    mandatory redemptions of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

provided, however, that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (10) and (16) of this Section 10.10(b), no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 10.10, in the event that a proposed Restricted Payment or Investment (or a portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Payments described in the preceding clauses (1) through (20) of Section 10.10(b) and/or one or more of the clauses contained in the definition of “Permitted Investments,” or is entitled to be made pursuant to Section 10.10(a), the Issuer shall be entitled to divide or classify (or later divide, classify or reclassify in whole or in part in its sole discretion any such previously made Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment based on circumstances existing on the date of such division, classification or reclassification) such Restricted Payment or Investment (or portion thereof) among such clauses (1) through (20) of Section 10.10(b) and/or Section 10.10(a) and/or one or more of the clauses contained in the definition of “Permitted Investments,” in a manner that otherwise complies with Section 10.10. In the event that a Restricted Payment (or any portion thereof) or Permitted Investment (or any portion thereof) is divided, classified or reclassified under clause (16) above or clause (27) of the definition of “Permitted Investments” (such clauses, the “Incurrence Clauses”), the determination of the amount of such Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that may be made pursuant to the Incurrence Clauses shall be made without giving pro forma effect to any substantially concurrent incurrence of Indebtedness to finance any other portion of such Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment or any other Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment divided, classified or reclassified under Section 10.10(a) and/or one or more clauses of Section 10.10(b) or one or more clauses of the definition of “Permitted Investments” other than an Incurrence Clause.

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the fair market value on the Transaction Test Date, in the case of a Specified Transaction, or the date of the Restricted Payment of the assets or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment.

(c)    As of the Issue Date, all of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries will be Restricted Subsidiaries. The Issuer shall not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the penultimate sentence of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated shall be deemed to be Restricted Payments or Permitted Investments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation shall be permitted only if a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment in such amount would be permitted at such time, whether pursuant to this Section 10.10 or pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments,” and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Indenture and will not guarantee the Notes.

 

-109-


(d)    For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 10.10 shall not restrict the making of any “AHYDO catch up payment” with respect to, and required by the terms of, any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 10.11.    Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock.

(a)    The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise (collectively, “incur” and collectively, an “incurrence”) with respect to any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) and the Issuer shall not issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor to issue Preferred Stock; provided, however, that the Issuer may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock and issue shares of Preferred Stock, if either (A) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Applicable Measurement Period would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00 or (B) the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio would have been less than or equal to 2.25 to 1.00, in each case, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such Applicable Measurement Period.

(b)    The foregoing limitations shall not apply to:

(1)    the incurrence of Indebtedness under (X) Credit Facilities (other than the ABL Credit Agreement) by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof), up to an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any one time not to exceed the sum of (a) $400.0 million, plus (b) the greater of (x) $480.0 million and (y) 100.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the Applicable Measurement Period at the time of any incurrence, plus (c) an additional amount, if after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such Additional First Lien Obligations and the application of the proceeds therefrom, the Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio would be no greater than 2.00 to 1.00, outstanding at any one time; provided that for purposes of determining the amount that may be incurred under this clause (1)(X)(c), all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (1)(X)(c) shall be deemed to be included in clause (1) of the definition of “Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio” and (Y) the ABL Credit Agreement by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof), up to an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any one time not to exceed the greater of (a) $1,000.0 million and (b) the Borrowing Base as of the date of such incurrence less the aggregate principal amount of Obligations outstanding under Permitted Receivables Financings;

(2)    the incurrence by the Issuer and any Guarantor of Indebtedness represented by the Notes (including any Guarantee thereof) (other than any Additional Notes, if any, or guarantees with respect thereto);

(3)    Indebtedness of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries in existence on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (1) and (2) of this Section 10.11(b));

 

-110-


(4)    Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations and Purchase Money Obligations), Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock incurred by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, to finance the purchase, lease, expansion, construction, development, replacement, maintenance, upgrade, installation, replacement, repair or improvement of property (real or personal), equipment or any other asset, whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets; provided that the aggregate amount of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock incurred or issued and outstanding pursuant to this clause (4) (other than capital leases (and Capitalized Lease Obligations) that are characterized as such based on subjective acceleration clauses or cross default clauses, without giving effect to any change in GAAP subsequent to December 31, 2014), when aggregated with the outstanding amount of Indebtedness under clause (13) of this Section 10.11(b) incurred to refinance Indebtedness initially incurred in reliance on this clause (4), does not at any time outstanding exceed the greater of (x) $168.0 million and (y) 35.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the Applicable Measurement Period at the time of any incurrence;

(5)    (a) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, bank guarantees, warehouse receipts or similar instruments issued or entered into, or relating to obligations or liabilities incurred, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, including letters of credit in favor of suppliers or trade creditors or in respect of workers’ compensation claims, performance, completion or surety bonds, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other Indebtedness with respect to obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims, performance, completion or surety bonds, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance and (b) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as an account party in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments in favor of suppliers, customers or other creditors issued in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(6)    Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, earn-out or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business, assets, Subsidiary or an Investment, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or a Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

(7)    Indebtedness of the Issuer to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, excluding any Indebtedness in respect of accounts payable incurred in connection with goods and services rendered in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice (and not in connection with the borrowing of money), is expressly subordinated in right of payment (to the extent permitted by applicable law and it does not result in material adverse tax consequences) to the Notes; provided, further, that any subsequent issuance or transfer (other than the incurrence of a Permitted Lien) 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 the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien (but not foreclosure thereon)) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness (to the extent such Indebtedness is then outstanding) not permitted by this clause;

 

-111-


(8)    Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if a Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor incurs such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, excluding any Indebtedness in respect of accounts payable incurred in connection with goods and services rendered in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice (and not in connection with the borrowing of money), such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated in right of payment (to the extent permitted by applicable law and it does not result in material adverse tax consequences) to the Notes or the Guarantee of the Notes of such Guarantor; provided, further, that any subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien (but not foreclosure thereon)) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness (to the extent such Indebtedness is then outstanding) not permitted by this clause;

(9)    shares of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any Restricted Subsidiary that holds such Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer (other than the incurrence of a Permitted Lien) of any such shares of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Capital Stock constituting a Permitted Lien (but not foreclosure thereon)) shall be deemed in each case to be an issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock, as applicable (to the extent such Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock is then outstanding), not permitted by this clause;

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

(11)    obligations in respect of self-insurance and obligations in respect of stays, customs, performance, indemnity, bid, appeal, judgment, and surety and other similar bonds or instruments and performance, bankers’ acceptance facilities and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments related thereto, in each case, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or in connection with judgments that do not result in an Event of Default;

(12)    (a) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference up to 200.0% of the net cash proceeds received by the Issuer since the Issue Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Issuer or cash contributed to the capital of the Issuer (in each case, other than Excluded Contributions or proceeds of Disqualified Stock or sales of Equity Interests to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) as determined in accordance with clauses (2)(b) and (2)(c) of Section 10.10(a) 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 10.10(b) or to make Permitted Investments (other than Permitted Investments specified in clauses (1), (2) and (3) of the definition thereof) (any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (12)(a), “Contribution Debt”) and (b) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference, which when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred or issued pursuant to this clause (12)(b) and any outstanding amount of Indebtedness under Section 10.11(b)(13) incurred to refinance Indebtedness

 

-112-


initially incurred in reliance on this clause (12)(b), does not at any one time outstanding exceed the sum of (A) the greater of (x) $240.0 million and (y) 50.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the Applicable Measurement Period and (B) the amount available under Section 10.10(a)(2) that is not otherwise applied pursuant to such clause as in effect immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness (it being understood that any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (12)(b) shall (i) solely to the extent incurred pursuant to clause 12(b)(B) and remaining outstanding, reduce on a dollar-for-dollar basis, the available amount under Section 10.10(a)(2) and (ii) cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (12)(b) but shall be deemed incurred pursuant to Section 10.11(a) from and after the first date on which the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred or issued such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under Section 10.11(a));

(13)    the incurrence by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness or the issuance by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that serves to refund, refinance, replace, renew, extend or defease (collectively, “refinance” with “refinances,” “refinanced” and “refinancing” having a correlative meaning) any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred or issued as permitted under Section 10.11(a) and clauses (2), (3), (4) and (12)(b), this clause (13) and clauses (14), (18), (19) and (27) of this Section 10.11(b) or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred or issued to so refinance such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock including additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to pay accrued but 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 (the “Refinancing Indebtedness”) on or prior to its respective maturity; provided, however, that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

(A)    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 refinanced (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),

(B)    to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (i) Indebtedness subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any Guarantee thereof, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantee at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness being refinanced or (ii) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness must be Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, respectively,

(C)    shall not include Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a Guarantor, and

(D)    to the extent such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock refinanced is Secured Indebtedness, the Liens securing such Refinancing Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock shall have a lien priority equal to or junior to the Liens securing the Indebtedness being refinanced;

and provided further that subclause (A) of this clause (13) shall not apply to any refinancing of any Secured Indebtedness;

 

-113-


(14)    Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of (x) the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary incurred or issued to finance an acquisition or Investment or (y) Persons that are acquired by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or merged into, amalgamated with or consolidated with the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture (including designating an Unrestricted Subsidiary a Restricted Subsidiary); provided that after giving pro forma effect to such Investment, acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation, either:

(A)    (a) the Issuer would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth under Section 10.11(a), or (b) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries is equal to or greater than immediately prior to such Investment, acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation; or

(B)    (a) the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio is equal to or less than immediately prior to such Investment, acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation, or (b) Consolidated Total Debt Ratio is equal to or less than 2.25 to 1.00.

(15)    (a) Cash Management Obligations, (b) Indebtedness in respect of netting services, overdraft protections and similar arrangements and other 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, or (c) 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 or consistent with past practice of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries with such banks or financial institutions that arises in connection with ordinary banking arrangements to manage cash balances of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(16)    Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries supported by a letter of credit, bank guarantee or other instrument issued pursuant to any Credit Facility, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit, bank guarantee or such other instrument;

(17)    (A)    any guarantee by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Indenture; provided that if the Indebtedness that is being guaranteed is secured on a Junior Lien priority basis, unsecured or subordinated to the Notes, the guarantee shall also be secured on a Junior Lien priority basis, unsecured and/or subordinated to the Notes, or

 (B)    any co-issuance by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary permitted under the terms of this Indenture;

(18)    Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of which the primary obligor or a guarantor is a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor outstanding in reliance on this clause (18) shall not exceed, when aggregated with the outstanding amount of Indebtedness under Section 10.11(b)(13) incurred to refinance Indebtedness initially incurred in reliance on this clause (18), at the time of incurrence thereof and together with any other Indebtedness incurred under this clause (18), the greater of (x) $190.0 million and (y) 40.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the Applicable Measurement Period (it being understood that any Indebtedness,

 

-114-


Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (18) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (18) but shall be deemed incurred pursuant to Section 10.11(a) from and after the first date on which the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred or issued such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under Section 10.11(a));

(19)    Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred or issued to finance or assumed in connection with an acquisition or Investment in a principal amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $48.0 million and (y) 10.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the Applicable Measurement Period in the aggregate at any one time outstanding together with all other outstanding Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued under this clause (19) and any outstanding Indebtedness under Section 10.11(b)(13) incurred to refinance Indebtedness initially incurred in reliance on this clause (19) (it being understood that any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (19) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (19) but shall be deemed incurred pursuant to Section 10.11(a) and after the first date on which the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred or issued such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under Section 10.11(a));

(20)    Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries consisting of (a) the financing of insurance premiums or (b) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(21)    Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to future, current or former officers, directors, employees, managers or consultants thereof (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members, or any permitted transferee thereof) of the Issuer, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent Entity, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Parent Entity to the extent described in Section 10.10(b)(4);

(22)    Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent that the net proceeds thereof are promptly deposited with the Trustee to satisfy and discharge the Notes or exercise the Issuer’s Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance as described under Article Thirteen, in each case in accordance with this Indenture;

(23)    Indebtedness attributable to (but not incurred to finance) the exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect thereto, in each case with respect to any acquisition (by merger, consolidation or amalgamation or otherwise) permitted under this Indenture;

(24)    Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees of any Parent Entity, the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(25)    Indebtedness consisting of obligations under deferred compensation or any other similar arrangements incurred in connection with the Transactions, any Permitted Investment or any acquisition (by merger, consolidation or amalgamation or otherwise) permitted under this Indenture;

 

-115-


(26)    Indebtedness in the form of Capitalized Lease Obligations arising out of any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction;

(27)    to the extent constituting Indebtedness, customer deposits and advance payments (including progress premiums) received in the ordinary course of business from customers for goods and services purchased in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(28)    unfunded pension fund and other employee benefits plan obligations and liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; and

(29)    all premiums (if any), interest (including Post-Petition Interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (1) through (28) of this Section 10.11(b).

(c)    For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 10.11,

(1)    in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in clauses (1) through (29) (or within any subclauses therein) of Section 10.11(b) or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 10.11(a), the Issuer, in its sole discretion, shall divide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 10.11 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or portion thereof) in one of the above clauses or paragraphs; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Senior Credit Facilities on the Issue Date will be treated as incurred under Section 10.11(b)(1);

(2)    at the time of incurrence, the Issuer shall be entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in Sections 10.11(a) and (b) above; and

(3)    the principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under any clause of this Section 10.11 shall be determined after giving effect to the application of proceeds of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance any such Indebtedness.

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 Section 10.11. If Indebtedness originally incurred in reliance upon a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA or the Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio under clause (1) of the preceding paragraph is being refinanced under clause (1) of the preceding paragraph and such refinancing would cause the maximum amount of Indebtedness thereunder to be exceeded at such time, then such refinancing will nevertheless be permitted thereunder and such additional Indebtedness will be deemed to have been incurred under such clause (1), as applicable, so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of Indebtedness being refinanced plus amounts permitted by the next sentence. Any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to refinance Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to clauses (1) and (12)(b) of Section 10.11(b) shall be permitted to include additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to pay accrued but unpaid interest, dividends, premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs, underwriting discounts, fees, costs and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with such refinancing.

 

-116-


(d)    For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being refinanced, plus the aggregate amount of accrued but unpaid interest, dividends, premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs, underwriting discounts, fees, costs and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with such refinancing. The principal amount of any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing. This Indenture shall not deem (1) unsecured Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely because such Indebtedness is unsecured or (2) Senior Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to any other Senior Indebtedness solely because such Indebtedness has a junior priority with respect to shared Collateral or because it is guaranteed by other obligors.

SECTION 10.12.    Liens. The Issuer shall not, and will not permit any Guarantor that is a Subsidiary of the Issuer to, directly or indirectly, create, incur or assume any Lien (except Permitted Liens) (each, a “Subject Lien”) that secures Obligations under any Indebtedness or any related guarantee of Indebtedness on any asset or property of the Issuer or any Guarantor that is a Subsidiary of the Issuer, unless in the case of Subject Liens on any asset or property that is not Collateral, (i) (x) in the case of Subject Liens securing any of the ABL Obligations, Pari Passu ABL Lien Indebtedness or Pari Passu Notes Lien Indebtedness (including the Term Loan Obligations), the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall, contemporaneously with the incurrence of such Lien, grant at least a first- or second-priority Lien consistent with the relative Lien priority set forth in the Intercreditor Agreements subject to Permitted Liens, upon such property or asset as security for the Notes and the Guarantees pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreements and any other applicable intercreditor agreement, and (y) in the case of Subject Liens securing Junior Lien Obligations, the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall, contemporaneously with the incurrence of such Lien, grant a priority Lien relative to such Junior Lien Obligations subject to Permitted Liens, upon such property or asset as security for the Notes and the Guarantees pursuant to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or other applicable intercreditor agreement the Notes, in each case, until such time as such Obligations are no longer secured by a Lien or (ii) such Subject Lien is a Permitted Lien.

Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders pursuant to this Section 10.12 shall provide by its terms that such Lien shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of the Subject Lien.

 

-117-


SECTION 10.13.    Limitations on Transactions with Affiliates.

(a)    The Issuer shall not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Issuer (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of the greater of (x) $30.0 million and (y) 6.5% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the Applicable Measurement Period, unless:

(1)    such Affiliate Transaction is on terms, taken as a whole, that are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person on an arm’s-length basis or, if in the good faith judgment of the Issuer, no comparable transaction is available with which to compare such Affiliate Transaction, such Affiliate Transaction is otherwise fair to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view and when such transaction is taken in its entirety; and

(2)    the Issuer delivers to the Trustee with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of the greater of (x) $60.0 million and (y) 13.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the Applicable Measurement Period, a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board of the Issuer approving such Affiliate Transaction, accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (1) above.

(b)    The foregoing provisions shall not apply to the following:

(1)    (a) transactions between or among the Issuer and a Restricted Subsidiary or between or among Restricted Subsidiaries or, in any case, any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction and (b) any merger, amalgamation or consolidation of the Issuer into 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 the Issuer and such merger, amalgamation or consolidation is otherwise consummated in compliance with the terms of this Indenture and effected for a bona fide business purpose;

(2)    Restricted Payments permitted by Section 10.10 (other than pursuant to Section 10.10(b)(13)(F)) and the definition of “Permitted Investments;”

(3)    (a) the payment of management, consulting, monitoring, transaction, advisory and other fees, indemnities and expenses to the Investors (plus any unpaid management, consulting, monitoring, transaction, advisory and other fees, indemnities and expenses accrued in any prior year) and any termination fees (including any such cash lump sum or present value fee upon the consummation of a corporate event), and (b) the payment of indemnification and other similar amounts to the Investors and reimbursement of expenses of the Investors, in each case, approved by, or pursuant to arrangements approved by, a majority of the members of the Board of the Issuer or any Parent Entity;

(4)    the payment of reasonable and customary fees and compensation paid to, and indemnities and reimbursements and employment and severance arrangements provided to or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, former, current or future officers, directors, managers, employees or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members, or any permitted transferee) of the Issuer, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or any Parent Entity;

 

-118-


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

(6)    any agreement or arrangement as in effect or contemplated in the good faith determination of the Issuer as of the Issue Date, or any amendment thereto (so long as any such amendment is not disadvantageous in any material respect in the good faith judgment of the Board of the Issuer or any Parent Entity or the senior management of the Issuer or any Parent Entity to the Holders when taken as a whole as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect on the Issue Date);

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

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

(9)    transactions with customers, vendors, clients, suppliers, contractors, joint venture partners or purchasers or sellers of goods or services that are Affiliates, in each case in the ordinary course of business or that are consistent with past practice and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture which are fair to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Board of the Issuer or any Parent Entity or the senior management thereof, 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;

(10)    the issuance or transfer of (a) Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer and the granting and performing of customary registration rights to any Parent Entity or to any Permitted Holder or to any former, current or future director, manager, officer, employee or consultant (or any Affiliate or Immediate Family Members of any of the foregoing, or any permitted transferee thereof) of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity and (b) directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals as required by applicable law;

(11)    transactions in connection with Permitted Receivables Financings;

(12)    payments by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to any of the Investors made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities, including, without limitation, in connection with acquisitions or divestitures which payments are approved by the Board of the Issuer or any Parent Entity or the senior management of the Issuer or any Parent Entity in good faith;

 

-119-


(13)    payments, loans, advances or guarantees (or cancellation of loans, advances or guarantees) to future, current or former employees, directors, officers, managers or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members, or any permitted transferee thereof) of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity and employment agreements, consulting agreements, indemnification agreements, employee benefit plans, stock option plans and other compensatory or severance arrangements (and any successor plans thereto) and any supplemental executive retirement benefit plans or similar arrangements with any such employees, directors, officers, managers or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members, or any permitted transferee thereof) (including salary or guaranteed payments and bonuses) which, in each case, are approved by the Board of the Issuer or any Parent Entity or the senior management of the Issuer or any Parent Entity in good faith;

(14)    (A) investments by Permitted Holders in securities or loans of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (and any payment of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such Permitted Holders in connection therewith) so long as the investment is being offered generally to other investors on the same or more favorable terms, and (B) payments to Permitted Holders in respect of securities or loans of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries contemplated in the foregoing subclause (A) or that were acquired from Persons other than the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, in accordance with the terms of such securities or loans;

(15)    transactions with a Person that is an Affiliate of the Issuer arising solely because the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary owns any Equity Interest in, or controls, such Person;

(16)    any lease entered into between the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, as lessee and any Affiliate of the Issuer, as lessor, which is approved by the Board of the Issuer or the senior management of the Issuer in good faith;

(17)    intellectual property licenses entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(18)    an agreement between a Person and an Affiliate of such Person existing at the time such Person is acquired by, or merged into, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary and not entered into in contemplation of such acquisition or merger; provided that such acquisition or merger complied with this Section 10.13;

(19)    transactions between the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and any other Person that would constitute an Affiliate Transaction solely because a director of such other Person is also a director of the Issuer or any Parent Entity; provided, however, that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Issuer or such Parent Entity, as the case may be, on any matter including such other Person;

(20)    pledges of Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries; and

(21)    payments to and from, and transactions with, any joint ventures entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice (including, without limitation, any cash management activities related thereto).

 

-120-


SECTION 10.14.    Limitations on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries. The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any such Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor to:

(a)    (x) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Guarantor on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or (y) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Guarantor;

(b)    make loans or advances to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Guarantor; or

(c)    sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Guarantor,

except (in each case) for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(1)    contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date, including pursuant to the Senior Credit Facilities and the related documentation and Hedging Obligations;

(2)    this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees and the Security Documents;

(3)    Purchase Money Obligations and Capitalized Lease Obligations that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in clause (c) of this Section 10.14 on the property so acquired;

(4)    applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order or any requirement of any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their businesses;

(5)    any agreement or other instrument of a Person, or relating to Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person, which Person is acquired by or merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (or where such Person is an Unrestricted Subsidiary that is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with this Indenture), or any other transaction entered into in connection with any such acquisition, merger, consolidation, amalgamation or redesignation, in existence at the time of such acquisition or at the time it merges, consolidates or amalgamates with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person or at the time it is redesignated (but, in each case, not created in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired or redesignated;

(6)    contracts, including sale-leaseback agreements, for the sale or disposition of assets, including customary restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary of the Issuer pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary;

(7)    Secured Indebtedness and Liens otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to Sections 10.11 and 10.12 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

 

-121-


(8)    restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers or other counterparties under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or restrictions on cash or other deposits permitted under Section 10.12 or arising in connection with any Permitted Liens;

(9)    other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors that is permitted to be incurred or issued subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to Section 10.11;

(10)    customary provisions in joint venture agreements or arrangements and other similar agreements or arrangements relating to such joint venture or in shareholder, partnership, limited liability company and other similar agreements in respect of non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiaries;

(11)    customary provisions contained in leases, subleases, licenses, sublicenses or similar agreements, including with respect to intellectual property and other agreements;

(12)    restrictions or conditions contained in any trading, netting, operating, construction, service, supply, purchase, sale or other agreement to which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; provided that such agreement prohibits the encumbrance of solely the property or assets of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary that are the subject to such agreement, the payment rights arising thereunder or the proceeds thereof and does not extend to any other asset or property of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary or the assets or property of another Restricted Subsidiary;

(13)    other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to Section 10.11; provided that, (A) in the good faith judgment of the Issuer, such incurrence will not materially impair the Issuer’s ability to make payments under the Notes when due, (B) such encumbrances and restrictions apply only during the continuance of a default in respect of a payment or financial maintenance covenant relating to such Indebtedness or (C) the encumbrances and restrictions in such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock either are not materially more restrictive taken as a whole than those contained in the Senior Credit Facilities or the Notes as in effect on the Issue Date or generally represent market terms at the time of incurrence or issuance and are imposed solely on such Restricted Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries;

(14)    restrictions contained in any documentation relating to any Permitted Receivables Financing that, in the good faith judgment of the Issuer, are necessary or advisable to effect such Permitted Receivables Financing; and

(15)    any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 10.14 imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (14) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Issuer, not materially more restrictive with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions taken as a whole than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

 

-122-


For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 10.14, (1) the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock and (2) the subordination of loans and advances made to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary to other Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances.

SECTION 10.15.    Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries. The Issuer shall not permit any of its Domestic Subsidiaries that is a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary (or any Domestic Subsidiary that is a non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary if such non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary guarantees the Senior Credit Facilities or other capital markets debt securities of the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a Guarantor), other than a Guarantor, a Receivables Subsidiary, a Foreign Subsidiary or a CFC Holding Company to guarantee the payment of (i) any Credit Facility permitted under Section 10.11(b)(1) or (ii) capital markets debt securities of the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a Guarantor in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $100.0 million unless:

(1)    such Restricted Subsidiary within 60 days executes and delivers a supplemental indenture to this Indenture in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto providing for a Guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary and joinders to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the other Security Documents or new intercreditor agreements and Security Documents, together with any other filings and agreements (subject to customary extension periods) required by the Security Documents to create or perfect the security interests for the benefit of the Holders in the Collateral of such Restricted Subsidiary, except that with respect to a guarantee of Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a Guarantor, if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantor’s 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; and

(2)    such Restricted Subsidiary waives and shall not in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any rights of reimbursement, indemnity or subrogation or any other rights against the Issuer or any other Restricted Subsidiary as a result of any payment by such Restricted Subsidiary under its Guarantee;

provided that this Section 10.15 shall not be applicable to any guarantee of any Restricted Subsidiary that existed at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary and was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary. The Issuer may elect, in its sole discretion, to cause any Subsidiary that is not otherwise required to be a Guarantor to become a Guarantor, in which case such Subsidiary shall not be required to comply with the 60-day period described in clause (1) above.

In the event that any Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer), which directly or indirectly through a Subsidiary owns or holds any Capital Stock of the Issuer (an “Additional Credit Support Party”), becomes a guarantor of, or otherwise guarantees, any Obligations in respect of any Senior Credit Facility or any other Pari Passu Secured Obligations (other than the Notes Obligations) and/or grants or otherwise provides a Lien on any of its assets to secure any Obligations in respect of any Senior Credit Facility or any other Pari Passu Secured Obligations (other than the Notes Obligations), such Additional Credit Support Party shall also be required to become a Guarantor of the Notes on the same basis as the other Guarantors of the Notes and to grant or otherwise provide a Lien on such assets in favor of the Notes Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties, with the same priority as the Lien on such assets that secure the Obligations in respect of such Senior Credit Facility

 

-123-


and/or such Pari Passu Secured Obligations, as the case may be; provided that any such Lien on such assets in favor of the Notes Collateral Agent may be of junior priority with respect to assets that secure ABL Obligations so long as (i) such assets would otherwise be deemed to be ABL Priority Collateral if the Additional Credit Support Party were a Subsidiary of the Issuer and (ii) the Lien on such assets in favor of the Term Loan Collateral Agent is also of junior priority on the same basis.

Each Guarantee shall be released in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture pursuant to Article Twelve.

SECTION 10.16.    Change of Control.

(a)    If a Change of Control occurs, unless, prior to, or concurrently with, the time the Issuer is required to make a Change of Control Offer (as defined below), the Issuer has previously or concurrently mailed or delivered, or otherwise sent through electronic transmission, a redemption notice with respect to all the Outstanding Notes as described under Section 4.01 or Section 11.06, the Issuer shall make an offer to purchase all of the Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at a price in cash (the “Change of Control Payment”) equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof (or such higher amount as the Issuer may determine (any Change of Control Offer at a higher amount, an “Alternate Offer”)) 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 Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date (as defined in Section 10.16(a)(2)). Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Issuer shall send notice of such Change of Control Offer electronically or by first-class mail, with a copy to the Trustee sent in the same manner, to each Holder to the address of such Holder appearing in the Note Register or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of the Depository, with the following information:

(1)    that a Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 10.16 and that all Notes properly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer shall be accepted for payment by the Issuer;

(2)    the purchase price and the purchase date, which will be no earlier than ten days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent (the “Change of Control Payment Date”), except in the case of a conditional Change of Control Offer made in advance of a Change of Control pursuant to Section 10.16(e);

(3)    that any Note not properly tendered shall remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest;

(4)    that, unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest on the Change of Control Payment Date;

(5)    that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender such Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of such Notes completed or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of the Depository, 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 if less than all of such Holder’s Notes are tendered for purchase, such Holder will be issued new Notes (or, in the case of global Notes, such Notes shall be reduced by

 

-124-


such amount of Notes that the Holder has tendered) and such new Notes will be equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered; provided that the unpurchased portion of the Notes must be equal to at least $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000;

(7)    if such notice is sent 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 describing each such condition, and, if applicable, stating that, in the Issuer’s discretion, the Change of Control Payment Date may be delayed until such time (including more than 60 days after the notice is mailed or delivered, including by electronic transmission) as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or that such purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that the Issuer shall determine that any or all such conditions shall not have been, or will not be, satisfied by the Change of Control Payment Date, or by the Change of Control Payment Date as so delayed; and

(8)    such other instructions, as determined by the Issuer, consistent with this Section 10.16, that a Holder must follow.

(b)    While the Notes are in global form and the Issuer 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 the Depository, subject to its rules and regulations.

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

(d)    On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Issuer shall, to the extent permitted by law,

(1)    accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

(2)    deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the aggregate Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered; and

(3)    deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes so accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating that such Notes or portions thereof have been tendered to and purchased by the Issuer.

(e)    The Issuer shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer (including, for the avoidance of doubt, an Alternate Offer) in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuer and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Change of Control Offer (including, for the avoidance of doubt, an Alternate Offer) may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditional upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of the making of such Change of Control Offer.

 

-125-


(f)    If Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in a Change of Control Offer and the Issuer, or any third party making a Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Issuer as described above, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuer or such third party will have the right, upon not less than ten days’ nor more than 60 days’ prior notice (provided that such notice is given not more than 30 days following such purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer described above) to redeem (with respect to the Issuer) or purchase (with respect to a third party) all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase on a date (the “Second Change of Control Payment Date”) at a price in cash equal to the Change of Control Payment (excluding any early tender premium or similar premium and any accrued and unpaid interest to any Holder in such Change of Control Payment) in respect of the Second Change of Control Payment Date, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes that remain outstanding to, but excluding, the Second Change of Control Payment Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the Second Change of Control Payment Date).

(g)    The provisions of this Section 10.16 (including the definition of “Change of Control”) may be waived or modified at any time with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes. A Change of Control Offer with respect to the Notes (including, for the avoidance of doubt, an Alternate Offer) may be made at the same time as consents are solicited with respect to an amendment, supplement or waiver of this Indenture, the Notes and/or the Guarantees so long as the offer to purchase a Holder’s Notes in the tender offer is not conditioned upon the delivery of consents by such Holder. In addition, the Issuer or any third party approved in writing by the Issuer that is making the Change of Control Offer (including, for the avoidance of doubt, an Alternate Offer) may increase or decrease the Change of Control Payment (or decline to pay any early tender or similar premium) being offered to Holders at any time in its sole discretion, so long as the Change of Control Payment is at least equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes being repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon.

SECTION 10.17.    Asset Sales.

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

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

(2)    except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, if the property or assets sold or otherwise disposed of have a fair market value in excess of the greater of (x) $70.0 million and (y) 1.5% of Total Assets of the Issuer (measured at the time of contractually agreeing to such Asset Sale), at least 75% of the consideration for such Asset Sale (measured at the time of contractually agreeing to such Asset Sale), together with all other Asset Sales since the Issue Date (on a cumulative basis), received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

(A)    any liabilities (as reflected on the Issuer’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent consolidated balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto, or if incurred, accrued or increased subsequent to the date of such balance sheet, such liabilities that would have been reflected on the Issuer’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s consolidated balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto if such incurrence, accrual or increase had taken place on or prior to the date of such balance sheet, as determined by the Issuer) of the Issuer

 

-126-


or any Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or the Guarantees of the Notes, that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets (or are otherwise extinguished in connection with the transactions relating to such Asset Sale) pursuant to a written agreement which releases the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from such liabilities;

(B)    any securities, notes or other obligations or assets received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash 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; and

(C)    any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (C) that is outstanding at such time, not to exceed the greater of (x) $285.0 million and (y) 6.0% of Total Assets of the Issuer 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, for purposes of this Section 10.17 (and no other provision of this Indenture), be deemed to be cash or Cash Equivalents; and

(3)    the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary has complied with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and the Security Documents.

(b)    Within 540 days after the Issuer’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s receipt of any Net Proceeds from any Asset Sale (the “Asset Sale Proceeds Application Period”), the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, at its option, may apply an amount equal to the Applicable Percentage of the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale (the “Applicable Proceeds”),

(1)    to repay:

(A)    to the extent the assets or property disposed of in the Asset Sale constituted:

(I)    ABL Priority Collateral, ABL Obligations or

(II)    Term Loan Priority Collateral, Pari Passu Secured Obligations; provided that if the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary shall so repay any such Obligations other than the Notes, the Issuer will either (1) reduce Obligations under the Notes on a pro rata basis by, at its option, (A) redeeming the Notes as described under Section 11.01 or (B) purchasing the Notes through open-market purchases or in arm’s-length privately negotiated transactions, or (2) make an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale Offer) to all Holders to purchase their Notes on a ratable basis with such other Pari Passu Secured Obligations for no less than 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus the amount of accrued but unpaid interest, if any, thereon, and

 

-127-


in each case of (I) and (II), in the case of revolving obligations, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto (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 Sale constituted “borrowing base assets”), but in each case, other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(B)    to the extent the assets or property disposed of in the Asset Sale did not constitute Collateral, Obligations under the Notes or any other Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Indebtedness) of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary) and, in the case of other Senior Indebtedness (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 Sale constituted “borrowing base assets”), to correspondingly reduce any outstanding commitments with respect thereto, if applicable; provided that if the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary shall so repay any Senior Indebtedness other than the Notes, the Issuer shall either (1) reduce Obligations under the Notes on a pro rata basis by, at its option, (A) redeeming Notes as described under Section 11.01 or (B) purchasing Notes through open-market purchases or in arm’s-length privately negotiated transactions, or (2) make an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale Offer) to all Holders to purchase their Notes on a ratable basis with such other Senior Indebtedness for no less than 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus the amount of accrued but unpaid interest, if any, thereon; or

(C)    Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; or

(2)    to make (A) an Investment in any one or more businesses; provided that such Investment in any business is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock and results in the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, owning an amount of the Capital Stock of such business such that it constitutes or continues to constitute a Restricted Subsidiary, (B) capital expenditures or (C) acquisitions of other property or assets (other than Capital Stock), in the case of each of clauses (A), (B) and (C), either (i) that is used or useful in a Similar Business or (ii) that replace the businesses, properties and/or assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale; or

(3)    any combination of the foregoing;

provided that, in the case of clause (2) above, a binding commitment or letter of intent shall be treated as a permitted application of the Applicable Proceeds from the date of such commitment or letter of intent so long as the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into such commitment or letter of intent with the good faith expectation that such Applicable Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment or letter of intent within 180 days of the Asset Sale Proceeds Application Period (an “Acceptable Commitment”) and such Applicable Proceeds are actually applied in such manner within the later of 540 days from the consummation of the Asset Sale and 180 days from the date of the Acceptable Commitment, and, in the event any Acceptable Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before the Applicable Proceeds are applied in connection therewith, then such Applicable Proceeds shall constitute Excess Proceeds unless the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into another Acceptable Commitment within 180 days of such cancellation or termination (a “Second Commitment”) and such Applicable Proceeds are actually applied in such manner within 180 days from the date of the Second Commitment; provided, further, that if any Second Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before such Applicable Proceeds are applied, then such Applicable Proceeds shall constitute Excess Proceeds to the extent the Asset Sale Proceeds Application Period has expired.

 

-128-


(c)    To the extent Applicable Proceeds from an Asset Sale exceed amounts that are invested or applied as provided and within the time period set forth in the preceding paragraph, such excess amount will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $100.0 million, the Issuer shall make an offer to all Holders and, if required or permitted by the terms of any agreements governing any other First Lien Obligations or, if the assets or property disposed of in the Asset Sale were not Collateral, other Indebtedness that is pari passu in right of payment with the Notes (“Pari Passu Indebtedness”), to the holders of such First Lien Obligations and/or Pari Passu Indebtedness, as applicable (an “Asset Sale Offer”), to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of the Notes and such First Lien Obligations and/or Pari Passu Indebtedness, as applicable, with respect to the Notes only, that is equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price, with respect to the Notes only, in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or accreted value thereof, if less), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture and, if applicable, the other documents governing the applicable First Lien Obligations and/or Pari Passu Indebtedness. The Issuer shall commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within 20 Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $100.0 million by transmitting electronically or mailing the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee. The Issuer may satisfy the foregoing obligation with respect to such Applicable Proceeds from an Asset Sale by making an Asset Sale Offer prior to the expiration of the Asset Sale Proceeds Application Period (the “Advance Offer”) with respect to all or a part of the available Applicable Proceeds (the “Advance Portion”) in advance of being required to do so by this Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Notes and, if applicable, First Lien Obligations and/or Pari Passu Indebtedness, tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds (or, in the case of an Advance Offer, the Advance Portion), the Issuer may use any remaining Excess Proceeds (or, in the case of an Advance Offer, the Advance Portion) (such remaining proceeds, the “Declined Proceeds”) in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Notes or the First Lien Obligations and/or the Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds (or, in the case of an Advance Offer, the Advance Portion), the Trustee shall select the Notes (subject to applicable Depository procedures as to global Notes) and the Issuer or the representative of such First Lien Obligations and/or Pari Passu Indebtedness shall select such First Lien Obligations and/or Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased or repaid on a pro rata basis based on the accreted value or aggregate principal amount of the Notes or such First Lien Obligations and/or Pari Passu Indebtedness, tendered with adjustments as necessary so that no Notes or First Lien Obligations and/or Pari Passu Indebtedness, as the case may be, will be repurchased in part in an unauthorized denomination. Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero (regardless of whether there are any remaining Excess Proceeds upon such completion), and in the case of an Advance Offer, the amount of Applicable Proceeds the Issuer is offering to apply in such Advance Offer shall be excluded in subsequent calculations of Excess Proceeds. Additionally, upon consummation or expiration of any Advance Offer, any remaining Applicable Proceeds shall not be deemed Excess Proceeds and the Issuer may use such Applicable Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited under this Indenture.

(d)    Pending the final application of an amount equal to the Applicable Proceeds pursuant to this Section 10.17, the Issuer or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary may apply such Applicable Proceeds temporarily to reduce Indebtedness outstanding under a revolving credit facility (including under the Senior Credit Facilities) or otherwise apply such Applicable Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture.

(e)    The Issuer shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are

 

-129-


applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer or an Advance Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Asset Sale provisions of this Indenture, the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Asset Sale provisions described in this Indenture by virtue of such compliance.

(f)    The provisions of this Section 10.17 may be waived or modified at any time with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes. An Asset Sale Offer or Advance Offer may be made at the same time as consents are solicited with respect to an amendment, supplement or waiver of this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and/or the other Security Documents.

SECTION 10.18.    Suspension of Covenants.

(a)    If on any date following the Issue Date: (1) the Notes have an Investment Grade Rating from any two of the three Rating Agencies and (2) no Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (1) and (2) being collectively referred to as a “Covenant Suspension Event”), then beginning on such date and continuing until the Reversion Date (as defined below), the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be subject to the following provisions of this Indenture (collectively, the “Suspended Covenants”):

(A)    clause (4) of Section 8.01(a);

(B)    Section 10.10;

(C)    Section 10.11;

(D)    Section 10.13;

(E)    Section 10.14;

(F)    Section 10.15; and

(G)    Section 10.17.

Upon the occurrence of a Covenant Suspension Event (the date of such occurrence, the “Suspension Date”), the amount of Excess Proceeds from any Asset Sale shall be reset at zero. In the event that the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants for any period of time as a result of the foregoing, and on any subsequent date (the “Reversion Date”) any two of the three Rating Agencies withdraw their Investment Grade Rating or downgrade the rating assigned to the Notes below an Investment Grade Rating, then the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants with respect to future events. The period of time between (and including) the Suspension Date and the Reversion Date (but excluding the Reversion Date) is referred to in this Indenture as the “Suspension Period.”

(b)    The Guarantees of the Guarantors will be released during the Suspension Period to the extent provided under Section 12.08(F) and subject to the proviso thereto. If the Reversion Date occurs following a Suspension Date, no action taken or omitted to be taken by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries prior to the Reversion Date shall give rise to a Default or Event of Default under this Indenture with respect to the Notes; provided that (1) with respect to Restricted Payments made on or after the Reversion Date, the amount of Restricted Payments made will be calculated as though the

 

-130-


provisions of Section 10.10 had been in effect prior to, but not during, the Suspension Period (including with respect to a Limited Condition Transaction or Specified Transaction pursuant to one or more agreements entered into during the Suspension Period), (2) all Indebtedness incurred, or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued, during the Suspension Period (or deemed incurred or issued in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction or Specified Transaction pursuant to one or more agreements entered into during the Suspension Period) shall be classified to have been incurred or issued pursuant to Section 10.11(b)(3), (3) no Subsidiaries shall be designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries during any Suspension Period, (4) any Affiliate Transaction entered into on or after the Reversion Date pursuant to an agreement entered into during any Suspension Period shall be deemed to be permitted pursuant to Section 10.13(b)(6), (5) any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor to take any action described in clauses (a) through (c) of Section 10.14 that becomes effective during any Suspension Period shall be deemed to be permitted pursuant to Section 10.14(1), (6) no Subsidiary of Holdings shall be required to comply with the covenant described under Section 10.15 on or after the Reversion Date with respect to any guarantee or direct obligation entered into by such Subsidiary during the Suspension Period, and (7) all Liens created, incurred or assumed during the Suspension Period in compliance with this Indenture shall be deemed to have been outstanding on the Issue Date, so that they are classified as permitted under clause (11) of the definition of “Permitted Liens.”

During the Suspension Period, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be entitled to incur Liens to the extent provided for under Section 10.12 (including, without limitation, Permitted Liens). To the extent such covenant and any Permitted Liens refer to one or more Suspended Covenants, such covenant or definition shall be interpreted as though such applicable Suspended Covenant(s) continued to be applicable during the Suspension Period (but solely for purposes of Section 10.12 and the “Permitted Liens” definition and for no other provision of this Indenture).

(c)    Notwithstanding that the Suspended Covenants may be reinstated on and after the Reversion Date, (1) no Default, Event of Default or breach of any kind shall be deemed to exist under this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees with respect to the Suspended Covenants in respect of any actions taken or events occurring during the Suspension Period or any actions taken at any time pursuant to any contractual obligations arising during any Suspension Period, and none of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries shall bear any liability for any actions taken or events occurring during the Suspension Period, or any actions taken at any time pursuant to any contractual obligation arising during any Suspension Period, in each case as a result of a failure to comply with the Suspended Covenants during the Suspension Period (or, upon termination of the Suspension Period or after that time based solely on any action taken or event that occurred during the Suspension Period), and (2) on and after the Reversion Date, the Issuer and each Restricted Subsidiary shall be permitted, without causing a Default or Event of Default, to honor, comply with or otherwise perform any contractual commitments or obligations arising during any Suspension Period and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby. The Issuer shall give the Trustee prompt notice (in the form of an Officer’s Certificate) of the beginning and end of any Suspension Period.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

REDEMPTION OF NOTES

SECTION 11.01.    Right of Redemption. At any time prior to November 15, 2023, the Issuer may, at its option and on one or more occasions, redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon notice as set forth in Section 11.06, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of redemption (any applicable date of redemption hereunder, the “Redemption Date”), subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling on or prior to the Redemption Date.

 

-131-


On and after November 15, 2023, the Issuer may, at its option and on one or more occasions, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice as set forth in Section 11.06, at the Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling on or prior to the Redemption Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on November 15 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

  Percentage  

2023

    103.000

2024

    101.500

2025 and thereafter

    100.000

In addition, until November 15, 2023, the Issuer may, at its option, upon notice as set forth in Section 11.06, on one or more occasions redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (including Additional Notes) issued under this Indenture at a Redemption Price (as calculated by the Issuer) equal to (i) 106.000% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, with an amount equal to or less than the net cash proceeds from one or more Equity Offerings to the extent such net cash proceeds are received by or contributed to the Issuer, plus (ii) accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling on or prior to the Redemption Date; provided that (a) at least 50% of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under this Indenture on the Issue Date and any Additional Notes issued under this Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption and (b) each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.

SECTION 11.02.    [Reserved].

SECTION 11.03.    Applicability of Article. Redemption of Notes at the election of the Issuer or otherwise, as permitted or required by any provision of this Indenture, shall be made in accordance with such provision and this Article.

SECTION 11.04.    Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. In case of any redemption at the election of the Issuer, the Issuer shall, at least two Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be sent to Holders pursuant to Section 11.06 hereof (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of the information contained in Section 11.06 herein and shall deliver to the Trustee such documentation and records as shall enable the Trustee to select the Notes to be redeemed pursuant to Section 11.05; provided that no Opinion of Counsel pursuant to Section 1.03 or otherwise shall be required in connection with the delivery of such notice of redemption or redemption. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability with respect to any matters that would have been covered by any Opinion of Counsel that is not permitted by this Section.

SECTION 11.05.    Selection by Trustee of Notes to Be Redeemed.

With respect to any partial redemption or purchase of Notes made pursuant to this Indenture, selection of the Notes for redemption or purchase shall be made, in the case of certificated Notes, by the Trustee on a pro rata basis to the extent applicable or by lot or by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate; provided that if the Notes are represented by global Notes, interests in the Notes shall be selected for redemption or purchase by the Depository in accordance with its standard procedures therefor; provided, further, that no Notes of less than $2,000 shall be redeemed or repurchased in part.

 

-132-


Notices of redemption or purchase shall be delivered by the Issuer electronically, in accordance with the Depository procedures in the case of global Notes, or mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, at least ten days, but except as set forth under Section 11.06, not more than 60 days before the purchase date or Redemption Date to each Holder at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of the Depository, except that redemption notices may be delivered 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. If any Note is to be redeemed or purchased in part only, any notice of redemption or purchase that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof that has been or is to be redeemed or purchased.

With respect to Notes represented by certificated Notes, if any Notes are to be purchased or redeemed in part only, the Issuer will issue a new Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the original Note in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note; provided that the new Notes will be only issued in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

SECTION 11.06.    Notice of Redemption. The Issuer shall deliver electronically or mail by first-class mail, postage prepaid, notices of redemption at least ten days, but except as set forth in this Section 11.06, not more than 60 days before the purchase date or Redemption Date to each Holder at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of the Depository, except that redemption notices may be delivered 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. Notice of redemption may be conditional.

All notices of redemption shall state:

(1)    the Redemption Date,

(2)    the Redemption Price, or if not then ascertainable, the manner of calculation thereof,

(3)    in the case of certificated Notes, if less than all Outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of a partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Notes to be redeemed,

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

(5)    that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price (and accrued interest, if any, to but not including the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 11.08) will become due and payable upon each such Note, or the portion thereof, to be redeemed, and that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after the Redemption Date,

(6)    any condition precedent to the redemption,

 

-133-


(7)    the place or places where such Notes are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued but unpaid interest, if any,

(8)    the name and address of the Paying Agent,

(9)    that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the Redemption Price,

(10)    the CUSIP, ISIN or “Common Code” number and that no representation is made as to the accuracy or correctness of the CUSIP, ISIN or “Common Code” number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes, and

(11)    the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes are to be redeemed.

Notice of redemption of Notes to be redeemed at the election of the Issuer shall be given by the Issuer or, at the Issuer’s request and provision of such notice information two Business Days (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee) prior to the date notice is to be given, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuer.

Notice of any redemption of the Notes (including upon an Equity Offering or in connection with another transaction (or series of related transactions) or an event that constitutes a Change of Control) may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be given prior to the completion or the occurrence thereof and any such redemption or notice may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion or occurrence of the related Equity Offering or other transaction or event, as the case may be. In addition, if such redemption or purchase is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall describe each such condition, and, if applicable, shall state that, in the Issuer’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 waived, 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, or will not be, satisfied or waived by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date as so delayed, or such notice may be rescinded at any time in the Issuer’s discretion if in the good faith judgment of the Issuer any or all of such conditions will not be satisfied or waived. In addition, the Issuer may provide in such notice that payment of the Redemption Price and performance of the Issuer’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible for monitoring, or charged with knowledge of, the maximum aggregate amount of the Notes eligible under this Indenture to be redeemed.

If any such condition precedent has not been satisfied, the Issuer shall provide written notice to the Trustee thereof. Upon receipt, the Trustee shall provide such notice to each Holder of the Notes in the same manner in which the notice of redemption was given.

The Issuer may redeem Notes pursuant to one or more of the relevant provisions in this Indenture, and a single notice of redemption may be delivered with respect to redemptions made pursuant to different provisions. Any such notice may provide that redemptions made pursuant to different provisions will have different Redemption Dates and, with respect to redemptions that occur on the same date, may specify the order in which such redemptions are deemed to occur.

 

-134-


SECTION 11.07.    Deposit of Redemption Price. On or prior to any Redemption Date, the Issuer shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Issuer is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.03) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on, all the Notes which are to be redeemed on such Redemption Date.

SECTION 11.08.    Notes Payable on Redemption Date. Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Notes so to be redeemed or purchased shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable, unless such redemption or purchase is conditioned on the happening of a future event, at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such Redemption Date (unless the Issuer shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price) such Notes shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Note for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Note shall be paid by the Issuer at the Redemption Price and such Notes shall be canceled by the Trustee; provided, that installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Notes, or one or more Predecessor Notes, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.07.

If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Notes, unless such redemption is conditioned on the happening of a future event.

SECTION 11.09.    Notes Redeemed in Part. Any Note which is to be redeemed only in part (pursuant to the provisions of this Article) shall be surrendered at an office or agency of the Issuer maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 10.02 (with, if the Issuer or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Issuer and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Note without service charge, a new Note or Notes, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Note so surrendered.

SECTION 11.10.    Mandatory Redemption; Open Market Purchases. The Issuer shall not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. The Issuer, the Investors and their respective Affiliates may, at their discretion, at any time and from time to time, acquire Notes by means other than a redemption, whether by tender offer, open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise.

SECTION 11.11.    Tender Offer Optional Redemption. In connection with any tender offer for the Notes (including in connection with any Change of Control Offer, Alternate Offer, Asset Sale Offer or Advance Offer), if Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in such tender offer and the Issuer, or any third party making such tender offer in lieu of the Issuer, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuer or such third party will have the right upon not less than ten nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase date, to redeem (with respect to the Issuer) or purchase (with respect to a third party) all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a price equal to the price paid to each other Holder in such tender offer (which may be less than par) plus, to the extent not included in the tender offer payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date or purchase date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling on or prior to the Redemption Date or purchase date. In determining whether the Holders of at least 90% of the aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes have validly tendered and not validly withdrawn notes in a tender offer, Change of Control Offer, Alternate Offer, Asset Sale Offer or Advance Offer, as applicable, notes owned by an Affiliate of the Issuer or by funds controlled or managed by an Affiliate of the Issuer, or any successor thereof, shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purposes of, and included in determining the participation in, such tender offer, Change of Control Offer, Alternate Offer, Asset Sale Offer or Advance Offer, as applicable.

 

-135-


ARTICLE TWELVE

GUARANTEES

SECTION 12.01.    Guarantees. Subject to this Article Twelve, each Guarantor jointly and severally, fully, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees on a senior secured basis the Notes and obligations of the Issuer hereunder and thereunder, and guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, and to the Trustee for itself (as Trustee and as Notes Collateral Agent) and on behalf of such Holder, that: (1) the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes will be paid in full when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise (including the amount that would become due but for the operation of the automatic stay under Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Law), together with interest on the overdue principal, if any, and interest on any overdue interest, to the extent lawful, and all other obligations of the Issuer to the Holders, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent hereunder or thereunder will be paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (2) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or of any such other obligations, the same shall be paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, subject, however, in the case of clauses (1) and (2) above, to the limitation set forth in Section 12.04 hereof.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees (to the extent permitted by applicable law) that its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, any release of any other Guarantor, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor.

Each Guarantor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by law) the benefits of diligence, presentment, demand for payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer or any other Person, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that the Guarantee of such Guarantor shall not be discharged as to any Note except by complete performance of the obligations contained in such Note, this Indenture and such Guarantee. Each Guarantor acknowledges that the Guarantee is a guarantee of payment, performance and compliance when due and not of collection. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that, in the event of a default in payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest on such Note or in payment of any other obligations hereunder, whether at its Stated Maturity, by acceleration, purchase or otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted by the Trustee on behalf of itself the Notes Collateral Agent or on behalf of, or by, the Holder of such Note, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Indenture, directly against each of the Guarantors to enforce such Guarantor’s Guarantee without first proceeding against the Issuer or any other Guarantor. Each Guarantor agrees that if, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee or any of the Holders are prevented by applicable law from exercising their respective rights to accelerate the Maturity of the Notes, to collect interest on the Notes, or to enforce or exercise any other right or remedy with respect to the Notes, such Guarantor shall pay to the Trustee for the account of the Holder, upon demand therefor, the amount that would otherwise have been due and payable had such rights and remedies been permitted to be exercised by the Trustee or any of the Holders.

 

-136-


If any Holder or the Trustee (or Notes Collateral Agent) is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuer or any Guarantor, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Issuer or any Guarantor, any amount paid by any of them to the Trustee, Notes Collateral Agent or such Holder, the Guarantee of each of the Guarantors, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between each Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee on the other hand, (1) subject to this Article Twelve, the Maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article Five hereof for the purposes of the Guarantee of such Guarantor notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (2) in the event of any acceleration of such obligation as provided in Article Five hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by each Guarantor for the purpose of the Guarantee of such Guarantor.

Each Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Issuer for liquidation, reorganization, should the Issuer become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of the Issuer’s assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes, whether as a “voidable preference”, “fraudulent transfer” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment or any part thereof is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Notes shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

SECTION 12.02.    Severability. In case any provision of any Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby to the extent permitted by applicable law.

SECTION 12.03.    Restricted Subsidiaries. The Issuer shall cause any Restricted Subsidiary required to guarantee payment of the Notes pursuant to the terms and provisions of Section 10.15 to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplement to this Indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto in accordance with the provisions of Article Nine of this Indenture pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary shall guarantee all of the obligations on the Notes, whether for principal, premium, if any, interest (including interest accruing after the filing of, or which would have accrued but for the filing of, a petition by or against the Issuer under any Bankruptcy Law, whether or not such interest is allowed as a claim after such filing in any proceeding under such law) and other amounts due in connection therewith (including any fees, expenses and indemnities), on a secured senior basis. Upon the execution of any such amendment or supplement, the obligations of the Guarantors and any such Restricted Subsidiary under their respective Guarantees shall become joint and several and each reference to the “Guarantor” in this Indenture shall, subject to Section 12.08, be deemed to refer to all Guarantors, including such Restricted Subsidiary. Such Guarantee shall be released in accordance with Article Eight and Section 12.08.

SECTION 12.04.    Limitation of Guarantors Liability. Each Guarantor and by its acceptance hereof each Holder confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by each such Guarantor pursuant to its Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of the Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law or the provisions of its local law relating to fraudulent transfer or conveyance. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders and each such Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount

 

-137-


that will not, 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 Guarantee or pursuant to this Section 12.04, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee constituting such fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

SECTION 12.05.    Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution among the Guarantors, the Guarantors agree, inter se, that in the event any payment or distribution is made by any Guarantor (a “Funding Guarantor”) under a Guarantee, such Funding Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from all other Guarantors in a pro rata amount based on the Adjusted Net Assets (as defined below) of each Guarantor (including the Funding Guarantor) for all payments, damages and expenses incurred by that Funding Guarantor in discharging the Issuer’s obligations with respect to the Notes or any other Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guarantee of such Guarantor. “Adjusted Net Assets” of such Guarantor at any date shall mean the lesser of (1) the amount by which the fair value of the property of such Guarantor exceeds the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities (after giving effect to all other fixed and contingent liabilities incurred or assumed on such date), but excluding liabilities under the Guarantee of such Guarantor at such date and (2) the amount by which the present fair salable value of the assets of such Guarantor at such date exceeds the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Guarantor on its debts (after giving effect to all other fixed and contingent liabilities incurred or assumed on such date), excluding debt in respect of the Guarantee of such Guarantor, as they become absolute and matured.

SECTION 12.06.    Subrogation. Each Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid by any Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of Section 12.01; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Issuer under this Indenture or the Notes shall have been paid in full.

SECTION 12.07.    Reinstatement. Each Guarantor hereby agrees (and each Person who becomes a Guarantor shall agree) that the Guarantee provided for in Section 12.01 shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time, payment, or any part thereof, of any obligations or interest thereon is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by a Holder to the Issuer upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of the Issuer or any Guarantor.

SECTION 12.08.    Release of a Guarantor. Any Guarantee by a Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon:

(A)    in the case of a Guarantor that is a Subsidiary of the Issuer, any sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition (by merger, consolidation, amalgamation, dividend, distribution or otherwise) of (i) the Capital Stock of such Guarantor (including any sale, exchange or transfer), after which the applicable Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor to a Person that is not the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, if such sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition is not prohibited by the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

(B)    (i) the release or discharge of the guarantee by, or direct obligation of, such Guarantor with respect to each of the Senior Credit Facilities, (ii) the release or discharge of such other guarantee or direct obligation that resulted in the creation of such Guarantee or (iii) having the status, at any time, assuming such was not then a Guarantor under this Indenture, such Guarantor would not have been required to guarantee the Notes pursuant to Section 10.15, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such guarantee or direct obligation (it being understood that a release subject to a contingent reinstatement is still a release);

 

-138-


(C)    in the case of a Guarantor that is a Subsidiary of the Issuer, the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

(D)    the Issuer exercising its Legal Defeasance option or Covenant Defeasance option as described under Article Thirteen or if the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture are being discharged in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

(E)    the merger, amalgamation or consolidation of any Guarantor with and into the Issuer or another Guarantor that is the surviving Person in such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, or upon the liquidation of a Guarantor following the transfer of all of its assets to the Issuer or another Guarantor; or

(F)    the occurrence of a Covenant Suspension Event; provided that (i) such Guarantee shall not be released pursuant to this clause (F) for so long as such Guarantor is an obligor with respect to any Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities and (ii) such Guarantee shall be reinstated upon the occurrence of the Reversion Date.

If the Issuer or any Guarantor requires and requests that the Trustee and/or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, execute and deliver an instrument evidencing a release or discharge of a Guarantor, the Issuer shall provide an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that all conditions precedent to such release or discharge have been satisfied and that such release or discharge is authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 12.09.    Benefits Acknowledged. Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and from its guarantee and waivers pursuant to its Guarantees under this Article Twelve.

SECTION 12.10.    Effectiveness of Guarantees.

This Indenture shall be effective upon its execution and delivery by the parties hereto.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

SECTION 13.01.    Issuers Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The Issuer may, at its option, at any time, with respect to the Notes, elect to have either Section 13.02 or Section 13.03 be applied to all Outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Thirteen.

SECTION 13.02.    Legal Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 13.01 of the option applicable to this Section 13.02, each of the Issuer and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have been discharged from its respective obligations with respect to all Outstanding Notes and the Guarantees and have Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes and the Guarantees released and have cured all then existing Events of Default on the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Legal Defeasance means that each of the Issuer and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the

 

-139-


Outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 13.05 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (1) and (2) below, and the Guarantees and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes, Guarantees and this Indenture insofar as such Notes are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (1) the rights of Holders to receive payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest on such Notes when such payments are due, solely out of the trust created pursuant to this Indenture, (2) the Issuer’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 10.02 and 10.03, (3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent hereunder, and the obligations of each of the Guarantors and the Issuer in connection therewith and (4) this Article Thirteen. Subject to compliance with this Article Thirteen, the Issuer may exercise its option under this Section 13.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 13.03 with respect to the Notes.

SECTION 13.03.    Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 13.01 of the option applicable to this Section 13.03, each of the Issuer and the Guarantors shall be released from its respective obligations under any covenant contained in Sections 8.01 and 8.02 and in Sections 10.04 through and including 10.17 with respect to the Outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not to be “Outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “Outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding Notes, the Issuer or any Guarantor, as applicable, 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 5.01(3), and as a result of such Covenant Defeasance, Sections 5.01(4), 5.01(5), and 5.01(7) and, with respect to only any Significant Subsidiary and not the Issuer, Section 5.01(6), shall no longer be in effect but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby.

SECTION 13.04.    Conditions to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 13.02 or Section 13.03 to the Outstanding Notes:

(1)    the Issuer must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts (including scheduled payments thereon) as will be sufficient (without consideration of any reinvestment of interest), in the opinion of an Independent Financial Advisor, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest due on the Notes on the Stated Maturity or on the Redemption Date, as the case may be, of such principal, premium, if any, or interest on such Notes and the Issuer must specify whether such Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular Redemption Date; 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 Applicable Premium Deficit only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the Redemption Date. Any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit shall be applied toward such redemption;

 

-140-


(2)    in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions,

(A)    the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or

(B)    since the issuance of the Notes, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. Federal income tax law,

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders or beneficial owners of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as applicable, as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(3)    in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders or beneficial owners 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 any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness, and, in each case the granting of Liens in connection therewith) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

(5)    such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any other material agreement or material instrument (other than this Indenture) to which, the Issuer or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuer or any Guarantor is bound (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

(6)    the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuer with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Issuer or any Guarantor or others; and

(7)    the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions), each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.

SECTION 13.05.    Deposited Money and Government Securities To Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03, all cash and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 13.04 in respect of the Outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuer acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, but such money or Government Securities need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

-141-


The Issuer shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 13.04 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.

Anything in this Article Thirteen to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuer from time to time upon Issuer Request any money or Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 13.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this Article Thirteen.

SECTION 13.06.    Reinstatement. If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 13.05 by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuer’s and each Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Outstanding Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 13.02 or 13.03, as the case may be, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 13.05; provided that, if the Issuer makes any payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

COLLATERAL

SECTION 14.01.    Security Documents. From and after the Issue Date and upon the execution and delivery of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement Joinder and the other Security Documents, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, additional interest, if any, or interest on the Notes when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an Interest Payment Date, at Stated Maturity thereof, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes and performance of all other Obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors to the Holders, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent under this Indenture, the Notes, the related Guarantees, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents, according to the terms hereunder or thereunder, shall be secured as provided in the Security Documents, which define the terms of the Liens that secure the Notes Obligations, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements. The Trustee, the Issuer and the Guarantors hereby acknowledge and agree that the Notes Collateral Agent holds the Collateral in trust for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties and pursuant to the terms of the Security Documents. Each Holder, by accepting a Note, consents and agrees to the terms of the Security Documents (including the provisions providing for the possession, use, release and foreclosure of Collateral and the Intercreditor Agreements) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms and this Indenture and the Intercreditor Agreements, and authorizes and directs the Notes Collateral Agent to enter into the Security Documents (including the Intercreditor Agreements) or joinders thereto, and at any time after the Issue Date, if applicable, and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith. The Issuer 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

 

-142-


reasonably required by the next sentence of this Section 14.01, 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. The Issuer shall, and shall cause the Guarantors to, take any and all actions and make all filings (including the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements) required to cause the Security Documents to create and maintain, as security for the Notes Obligations, a valid and enforceable perfected Lien and security interest in and on all of the Collateral (subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents), in favor of the Notes Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties. It is further understood and agreed that there shall be no Security Document (or other security agreements or pledge agreements) governed under the laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction.

SECTION 14.02.    Release of Collateral.

(a)    The Collateral may be released from the Lien and security interest created by the Security Documents at any time and from time to time with respect to the Notes in accordance with the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements, the other Security Documents and this Indenture. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Intercreditor Agreements, the other Security Documents and this Indenture, the Issuer and the Guarantors will be entitled to the automatic release of property and other assets constituting Collateral from the Liens securing the Notes and the Notes Obligations under any one or more of the following circumstances:

(1)    to enable the Issuer or any Guarantor to consummate the sale, transfer or other disposition (including by the termination of Capitalized Lease Obligations or the repossession of the leased property in a Capitalized Lease Obligation by the lessor) of such property or assets (other than to the Issuer or any Guarantor) to the extent not prohibited under Section 10.17 hereof;

(2)    in the case of a Guarantor that is released from its Guarantee with respect to the Notes pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with respect to the property and other assets of such Guarantor, upon the release of such Guarantor from its Guarantee;

(3)    with respect to Collateral that is Capital Stock, upon (i) the dissolution or liquidation of the issuer of that Capital Stock that is not prohibited by the Indenture or (ii) upon the designation by the Issuer of such issuer of Capital Stock as an Unrestricted Subsidiary under the Indenture;

(4)    with respect to any Collateral that becomes an “Excluded Asset,” upon it becoming an Excluded Asset;

(5)    in accordance with the second paragraph of Section 10.12.

(6)    to the extent the Liens on the Collateral securing the Term Loan Obligations are released by the Term Loan Collateral Agent (other than any release by, or as a result of, payment of the Term Loan Obligations), upon the release of such Liens;

(7)    as described in the Intercreditor Agreements; or

(8)    as described under Article Nine hereof.

(b)    The Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes and the related Guarantees shall also automatically and without the need for any further action by any Person be terminated and released:

 

-143-


(1)    upon payment in full and discharge of the principal of, together with accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes and all other Obligations with respect to this Indenture, the related 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;

(2)    upon a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance under this Indenture as described under Sections 13.02 and 13.03 hereof, respectively, or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as described under Section 4.01 hereof; or

(3)    pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements or the other Security Documents.

(c)    With respect to any release of Collateral or subordination of the security interest related thereto, upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate (upon which the Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent may conclusively rely) stating that all conditions precedent under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents, as applicable, to such release or subordination have been met and that it is permitted for the Trustee and/or the Notes Collateral Agent to execute and deliver the documents requested by the Issuer in connection with such release or subordination and any necessary or proper instruments of termination, satisfaction or release or subordination prepared by the Issuer, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall execute, deliver or acknowledge (at the Issuer’s expense) such instruments or releases to evidence the release of any Collateral permitted to be released pursuant to this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents.

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 hereof, in any Intercreditor Agreement or any other Security Document 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.

SECTION 14.03.    Suits to Protect the Collateral. Subject to the provisions of Article Six, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents, the Trustee may or may direct the Notes Collateral Agent to take all actions they determine 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 Notes Obligations.

Subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall have 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 Intercreditor Agreements, the other 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 of the Notes in the Collateral. Nothing in this Section 14.03 shall be considered to impose any such duty or obligation to act on the part of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent.

 

 

-144-


SECTION 14.04.    Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee under the Security Documents. Subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements, the Trustee is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes distributed under the Security Documents and to make further distributions of such funds to the Holders of such Notes according to the provisions of this Indenture.

SECTION 14.05.    Purchaser Protected. In no event shall any purchaser in good faith of any property purported to be released hereunder be bound to ascertain the authority of the Notes Collateral Agent or the Trustee to execute the release or to inquire as to the satisfaction of any conditions required by the provisions hereof for the exercise of such authority or to see to the application of any consideration given by such purchaser or other transferee; nor shall any purchaser or other transferee of any property or rights permitted by this Article Fourteen to be sold be under any obligation to ascertain or inquire into the authority of the Issuer or any Guarantor to make any such sale or other transfer.

SECTION 14.06.    Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee. In case the Collateral shall be in the possession of a receiver or trustee, lawfully appointed, the powers conferred in this Article Fourteen upon the Issuer or a Guarantor with respect to the release, sale or other disposition of such property may be exercised by such receiver or trustee, and an instrument signed by such receiver or trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of any similar instrument of the Issuer or a Guarantor or of any Officer or Officers thereof required by the provisions of this Article Fourteen; 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 such Trustee or such Notes Collateral Agent.

SECTION 14.07.    Release Upon Termination of the Issuers Obligations. In the event that the Issuer delivers to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate certifying that (i) payment in full of the principal of, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, the Notes and all other Note Obligations that were due and payable at or prior to the time such principal, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, were paid or (ii) the Issuer shall have either (x) exercised its Legal Defeasance option or its Covenant Defeasance option with respect to the Notes, in each case in compliance with the provisions of Article Thirteen hereof or (y) satisfied and discharged this Indenture as to the Notes in compliance with the provisions of Article Four hereof, and in each case of (i) and (ii) above, an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent to the release of such Lien on the Collateral by the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent have been satisfied, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall deliver to the Issuer a release of such Lien on the Collateral with respect to the Notes without recourse, representations or warranties and shall do or cause to be done (at the expense of the Issuer) all acts reasonably requested of them to release such Lien as soon as is reasonably practicable.

SECTION 14.08.    Notes Collateral Agent.

(a)    The Issuer and each of the Holders, by acceptance of the Notes, hereby designate and appoint the Notes Collateral Agent as their agent under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents and the Issuer and each of the Holders, by acceptance of the Notes, hereby irrevocably authorize the Notes Collateral Agent to take such action on their behalf under the provisions of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents 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 Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents and consent and agree to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements and each other Security Document, as the same may be in effect or may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with their respective terms. The Notes Collateral Agent agrees to act as such on the express conditions contained in this Section 14.08. Each Holder agrees that any action taken by the Notes Collateral Agent in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other 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 Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents, the duties of

 

-145-


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, in the Intercreditor Agreements and in the other Security Documents to which such 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, the Issuer or any Guarantor, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents or otherwise exist against the Notes Collateral Agent. 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 Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents by or through receivers, agents, nominees, collateral trustees, 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 (each, a “Related Person”), and shall be entitled to advice of counsel or other relevant experts (as reasonably required) 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 or other relevant experts (as reasonably required). 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. The Notes Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by it, unless it shall be proved that the Notes Collateral Agent was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.

(c)    Neither the Notes Collateral Agent nor its Related Persons shall (i) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct) or under or in connection with the Intercreditor Agreements or any other Security Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct) or (ii) be responsible in any manner to any of the Trustee or any Holder for any recital, statement, representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by the Issuer or any Guarantor or Affiliate of the Issuer or any Guarantor, or any Officer or Related Person thereof, contained in this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the other Security Documents, 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 Intercreditor Agreements or the other Security Documents, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the other Security Documents, or for any failure of the Issuer or any Guarantor or any other party to this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the other Security Documents to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. None of the Notes Collateral Agent or any of their respective Related Persons shall be under any obligation to the Trustee or any Holder to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the other Security Documents or to inspect the properties, books or records of the Issuer or any Guarantor or any of the Issuer’s or Guarantor’s Affiliates.

(d)    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 Issuer or any Guarantor), independent accountants and other experts and advisors

 

-146-


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, 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 Intercreditor Agreements or the other Security Documents unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes as it determines and, if it so requests, it shall first be offered security or indemnity 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 Intercreditor Agreements or the other Security Documents in accordance with a request, direction, instruction or consent of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all of the Holders.

(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 Responsible Officer of such Notes Collateral Agent shall have received written notice from the Trustee or the Issuer referring to this Indenture, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” The 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 Five or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes (subject to this Section 14.08).

(f)    The Notes Collateral Agent may resign at any time by providing 30 days’ written notice to the Trustee and the Issuer, such resignation to be effective upon the acceptance of a successor agent to its appointment as a Notes Collateral Agent. If a Notes Collateral Agent resigns under this Indenture, the Issuer shall appoint a successor collateral agent. If no successor collateral agent is appointed prior to the intended effective date of the resignation of such 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 then Outstanding Notes, and at the sole expense of the Issuer, may appoint a successor collateral agent, subject to the consent of the Issuer (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld and which shall not be required during a continuing Event of Default). If no successor collateral agent is appointed and consented to by the Issuer pursuant to the preceding sentence within 30 days after the intended effective date of resignation (as stated in the notice of resignation), the retiring Notes Collateral Agent shall be entitled to petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor collateral agent hereunder, such successor collateral agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring 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 a Notes Collateral Agent shall be terminated. After the retiring Notes Collateral Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Section 14.08 (and Section 6.07 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 a Notes Collateral Agent under this Indenture.

(g)    Except as otherwise explicitly provided herein or in the Intercreditor Agreements or the other Security Documents, 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 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 respective officers, directors or employees shall be responsible for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

-147-


(h)    The Notes Collateral Agent is authorized and directed to (i) enter into the Intercreditor Agreements (including pursuant to joinders thereto), (ii) enter into the other Security Documents to which it is party, whether executed on or after the Issue Date, (iii) bind the Notes Secured Parties on the terms as set forth in the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents, and (iv) perform and observe its obligations under the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents.

(i)    If at any time or times the Trustee shall receive (i) by payment, foreclosure, set-off or otherwise, any proceeds of Collateral or any payments with respect to the Obligations arising under, or relating to, this Indenture, except for any such proceeds or payments received by the Trustee from the 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 Five, such 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 such Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents.

(j)    Other than as set forth in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (and/or any Collateral Trust Agreement entered into pursuant to the provisions thereof), the Notes Collateral Agent is the party in whose name the security interest, for the benefit of the Holders, shall be perfected, including for assets that can be perfected only by possession in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC. Should the Trustee obtain possession of any such Collateral, upon request from the Issuer, such 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 the Issuer or any Guarantor 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 Issuer’s or such Guarantor’s property constituting Collateral intended to be subject to the Lien and security interest of the Security Documents has been properly and completely listed or delivered, as the case may be, or the genuineness, validity, marketability or sufficiency thereof or title thereto, or to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under any duty of care, disclosure or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of the rights, authorities and powers granted or available to the Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and any other Security Documents other than pursuant to the instructions of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes or as otherwise provided in the Security Documents.

(l)    If the Issuer 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 Intercreditor Agreement is concurrently retired and (ii) delivers to the Notes Collateral Agent an Officer’s Certificate so stating and requesting the Notes Collateral Agent to enter into an intercreditor agreement (on substantially the same terms as the applicable Intercreditor Agreement) 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 shall (and is hereby authorized and directed to) enter into such intercreditor agreement (at the sole expense and cost of the Issuer, including legal fees and expenses of the Notes Collateral Agent), bind the Holders on the terms set forth therein and perform and observe its obligations thereunder; provided

 

-148-


that neither an Officer’s Certificate nor an Opinion of Counsel shall be required pursuant to this Section 14.08(l) in connection with the applicable Intercreditor Agreement (including pursuant to a joinder thereto) to be entered into by the Notes Collateral Agent on the Issue Date.

(m)    If the Issuer or any Guarantor (i) incurs any obligations in respect of Junior Lien Obligations at any time when no applicable intercreditor agreement is in effect or at any time when Indebtedness constituting Junior Lien Obligations entitled to the benefit of an existing Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement is concurrently retired and (ii) delivers to the Notes Collateral Agent an Officer’s Certificate so stating and requesting the Notes Collateral Agent to enter into an intercreditor agreement (on substantially the same terms as the applicable Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement) in favor of a designated agent or representative for the holders of the Junior Lien Obligations so incurred, together with an Opinion of Counsel, the Notes Collateral Agent shall (and is hereby authorized and directed to) enter into such intercreditor agreement (at the sole expense and cost of the Issuer, including legal fees and expenses of the Notes Collateral Agent) and perform and observe its obligations thereunder.

(n)    No provision of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or any other 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 they 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 Intercreditor Agreements or the other 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, such 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 such Notes Collateral Agent has determined that such 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 if it no longer reasonably deems any indemnity, security or undertaking from the Issuer or the Holders to be sufficient.

(o)    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 Intercreditor Agreements and the other 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 their 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 Issuer (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 and with accountants, investment bankers and other professionals (as reasonably required), in each case, of its selection and the advice or opinion of such counsel and such accountant, investment banker or other professional 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, authorizations and powers to the Notes Collateral Agent (including the exercise of any remedies following an Event of Default) shall not be construed to impose duties to act.

(p)    The Notes Collateral Agent shall not be liable for delays or failures in performance resulting from acts caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond their control. Such acts shall include, but not be limited to, acts of God, strikes, lockouts, riots, acts of war, epidemics, pandemics, governmental regulations superimposed after the fact, fire, communication line failures, computer viruses, power failures,

 

-149-


earthquakes or other disasters. The Notes Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages (including, but not limited to, lost profits) whatsoever, even if they have been informed of the likelihood thereof and regardless of the form of action.

(q)    The Notes Collateral Agent does not assume any responsibility for any failure or delay in the performance or any breach by the Issuer or any Guarantor under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other 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 Intercreditor Agreements, the other Security Documents 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 Intercreditor Agreements or any other Security Document; the execution, validity, genuineness, effectiveness or enforceability of the Intercreditor Agreements and any other Security Documents of any other party thereto; the genuineness, enforceability, collectability, value, sufficiency, location or existence of any Collateral, or the validity, effectiveness, enforceability, sufficiency, extent, perfection or priority of any Lien therein; the validity, enforceability or collectability of any Obligations; the assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations, business, creditworthiness or legal status of any obligor; or for any failure of any obligor to perform its Obligations under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other 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 Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents or the satisfaction of any conditions precedent contained in this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and any other Security Documents. Neither the Notes Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall be required to initiate or conduct any litigation or collection or other proceeding under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents unless expressly directed to do so by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes and adequately indemnified with respect thereto. 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 Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents.

(r)    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 Intercreditor Agreements, the other Security Documents or any actions taken pursuant hereto or thereto. Further, the parties hereto and the Holders hereby agree and acknowledge that in the exercise of its rights under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other 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 such Notes Collateral Agent’s or such Trustee’s sole discretion may cause the Notes Collateral Agent or the Trustee 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, provincial or local law, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Trustee reserves the right, instead of taking such action, to either resign as a Notes Collateral Agent or a Trustee or arrange for the transfer of the title or control of the asset to a court-appointed receiver. Neither the Notes Collateral

 

-150-


Agent nor the Trustee shall be liable to the Issuer, the Guarantors or any other Person for any environmental claims or contribution actions under any federal, state, provincial or local law, rule or regulation by reason of such Notes Collateral Agent’s or such 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 Issuer 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.

(s)    Upon the receipt by the Notes Collateral Agent of a written request of the Issuer signed by an Officer (a “Security Document Order”), such 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, to be executed after the Issue Date. Such Security Document Order shall (i) state that it is being delivered to the Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to, and is a Security Document Order referred to in, this Section 14.08(s), and (ii) instruct such Notes Collateral Agent to execute and enter into such Security Document or amendment or supplement thereto. Any such execution of a Security Document or amendment or supplement thereto shall be at the direction and expense of the Issuer, upon delivery to the Notes Collateral Agent of an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent to the execution and delivery of the Security Document or amendment or supplement thereto have been satisfied and execution and delivery of the Security Document or amendment or supplement thereto is authorized or permitted by the terms of the Indenture and the Security Document The Holders, by their acceptance of the Notes, hereby authorize and direct the Notes Collateral Agent to execute such Security Documents or amendment or supplement thereto. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the Senior Credit Facilities to extend credit and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements.

(t)    Subject to the provisions of the applicable Intercreditor Agreements and other Security Documents, each Holder, by acceptance of the Notes, agrees that the Notes Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents to which they are parties 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 discretion under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the other 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.

(u)    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 then Outstanding Notes, may direct the Notes Collateral Agent in connection with any action required or permitted by this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the other Security Documents. For purposes of clarity, (i) the Trustee shall have no obligation to provide any such direction to the Notes Collateral Agent (or any other collateral agent or collateral trustee) in the absence of such direction from the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes and the Trustee’s receipt of satisfactory indemnity and (ii) any indemnity required to be provided to the Notes Collateral Agent (or any other collateral agent or collateral trustee) in connection with such direction shall be an obligation of such Holders and not of the Trustee. No Notes Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, unless a Responsible Officer of such Notes Collateral Agent shall have received written notice from the Trustee or the Issuer referring to this Indenture, describing such Default or Event

 

-151-


of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” Such 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 Five or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes (subject to this Section 14.08).

(v)    The Notes Collateral Agent is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of itself, the Trustee and the Holders distributed under the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents and, to the extent not prohibited under the Intercreditor Agreements, for turnover to the Trustee to make further distributions of such funds to itself, the Trustee and the Holders in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.06 and the other provisions of this Indenture.

(w)    In each case that the Notes Collateral Agent may or is required hereunder or under the Intercreditor Agreements or any other Security Document to take any action (an “Action”), including without limitation to make any determination, to give consents, to exercise rights, powers or remedies, to release or sell Collateral or otherwise to act hereunder or under the Intercreditor Agreements or any other Security Document, such Notes Collateral Agent may seek direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes. 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, such Notes Collateral Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such Action unless and until such Notes Collateral Agent shall have received direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes and, if deemed necessary by the Notes Collateral Agent, adequate indemnity, and such Notes Collateral Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining.

(x)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, in the Intercreditor Agreements or in any other Security Document, 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 Intercreditor Agreements or the other Security Documents (including, without limitation, the filing, continuation or renewal of any Uniform Commercial Code financing statement), nor shall the Notes Collateral Agent or the Trustee be responsible for, and neither the Notes Collateral Agent nor the Trustee make 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.

(y)    Before the Notes Collateral Agent acts or refrains from acting in each case at the request or direction of the Issuer or the Guarantors, it may require an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which shall conform to the provisions of this Section 14.08.

(z)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Notes Collateral Agent shall act pursuant to the instructions of the Holders and the Trustee solely with respect to the Security Documents and the Collateral.

(aa)    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 was named as a Trustee herein and the Security Documents were named in this Indenture herein; provided, however, (i) a Notes Collateral Agent shall only be liable to the extent of its gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith; and (ii) in and during an Event of Default, only the Trustee, and not any Notes Collateral Agent, shall be subject to the prudent person standard.

 

-152-


(bb)    Subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents, each Holder, by acceptance of the Notes, agrees that the Notes Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents to which it is a party and all agreements, documents and instruments incidental thereto (including any releases permitted hereunder), and act in accordance with the terms thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be required to exercise discretion under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other 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, except as otherwise expressly provided for herein or in any Security Document.

(cc)    For purposes of clarity, phrases such as “satisfactory to the Notes Collateral Agent”, “approved by the Notes Collateral Agent”, “acceptable to the Notes Collateral Agent”, “as determined by the Notes Collateral Agent”, “in the Notes Collateral Agent’s discretion”, “selected by the Notes Collateral Agent”, “requested by the Notes Collateral Agent” and phrases of similar import authorize and permit the Notes Collateral Agent to approve, disapprove, determine, act or decline to act in its reasonable discretion. The Notes Collateral Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its reasonable opinion, which may be the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Notes Collateral Agent to liability or that is contrary to this Indenture, any Security Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any bankruptcy or insolvency law. 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 and to the extent not prohibited under the Intercreditor Agreements for turnover to the Trustee to make further distributions of such funds to itself, the other Notes Collateral Agent, the Trustee and the Holders in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.06 hereof and the other provisions of this Indenture.

(dd)    [Reserved].

(ee)    The Issuer shall pay compensation to, reimburse expenses of and indemnify the Notes Collateral Agent in accordance with Section 6.07. Accordingly, the reference to the “Trustee” in Section 6.07 shall be deemed to include the reference to the Notes Collateral Agent; provided, however, with respect to the Notes Collateral Agent, references to “negligence” shall be deemed referenced to “gross negligence.”

(ff)    In the event of any dispute between or conflicting claims among any the Issuer, Guarantors, or any party to the Security Documents and any other person or entity with respect to any Collateral, the Notes Collateral Agent shall be entitled, in its sole discretion, to refuse to comply with any and all claims, demands or instructions with respect to such Collateral so long as such dispute or conflict shall continue, and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be or become liable in any way to the Issuer, any Guarantor, any party to the Security Documents or any other Secured Party (as such term is defined in the Security Agreement) for failure or refusal to comply with such conflicting claims, demands or instructions. The Notes Collateral Agent shall be entitled to refuse to act until, in its sole discretion, either (i) such conflicting or adverse claims or demands shall have been determined by a final order, judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, which order, judgment or decree is not subject to appeal, or settled by agreement between the conflicting parties as evidenced in a writing satisfactory to the Notes Collateral Agent or (ii) the Notes Collateral Agent shall have received security or an indemnity satisfactory to it sufficient to hold it harmless from and against any and all losses which it may incur by reason of so acting. The Notes Collateral Agent may, in addition, elect, in its sole discretion, to commence an interpleader action or seek other judicial relief or orders as it may deem, in its sole discretion, necessary. The costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in connection with such proceeding shall be paid by, and shall be deemed a joint and several obligation of, the Issuer and the other Guarantors

 

-153-


to the extent provided for in Section 6.07. The Notes Collateral Agent shall have no responsibility for the contents of any writing of any arbitrators or any third party contemplated in any Security Documents as a means to resolve disputes and may conclusively rely without any liability upon the contents thereof.

(gg)    The Notes Collateral Agent shall incur no liability as a result of the sale (whether public or private) of the Collateral or any part thereof at any sale pursuant to this Agreement conducted in a commercially reasonable manner. Each of the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Notes Secured Parties hereby waive any claims against the Notes Collateral Agent arising by reason of the fact that the price at which the Collateral may have been sold at such sale (whether public or private) was less than the price that might have been obtained otherwise, even if the Notes Collateral Agent accepts the first offer received and does not offer the Collateral to more than one offeree, so long as such sale is conducted in a commercially reasonable manner. Each of the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Notes Secured Parties hereby agree that in respect of any sale of any of the Collateral pursuant to the terms hereof, Notes Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to comply with any limitation or restriction in connection with such sale as it may be advised by counsel is necessary in order to avoid any violation of applicable laws, or in order to obtain any required approval of the sale or of the purchaser by any governmental authority or official, and the Issuer, the Guarantors an the Notes Secured Parties further agree that such compliance shall not, in and of itself, result in such sale being considered or deemed not to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner, nor shall the Notes Collateral Agent be liable or accountable to the Issuer, the Guarantors or the Notes Secured Parties for any discount allowed by reason of the fact that the Collateral or any part thereof is sold in compliance with any such limitation or restriction.

SECTION 14.09.    Other Limitations and Protections.

(a)    Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to this Indenture shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth in the Security Documents.

(b)    Except as otherwise expressly set forth in the Security Documents, no additional actions shall be required with respect to any assets that are located outside of the United States or assets that require action under the law of any non-U.S. jurisdiction to create or perfect a security interest in such assets; it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that there shall be no requirement to execute any security agreement or pledge agreement governed by the laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction.

(c)    In providing any direction to the Notes Collateral Agent hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to first obtain direction from the requisite Holders to the extent required under this Indenture or the Security Documents.

SECTION 14.10.    Further Assurances; Maintenance of Properties; Compliance with Laws; Insurance.

(a)    The Issuer and each of the Guarantors shall undertake, or cause to be undertaken, all acts and things that may be required, or that the Notes Collateral Agent from time to time may reasonably request, to assure and confirm that the Notes Collateral Agent holds, for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties, duly created and enforceable and perfected Liens upon the Collateral (including any property or assets that are acquired or otherwise become Collateral after the Notes are issued), in each case, as contemplated by, and with the Lien priority required under, the Security Documents.

(b)    Upon the reasonable request of the Notes Collateral Agent at any time and from time to time, the Issuer and each of the Guarantors shall promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such Security Documents, instruments, certificates, notices and other documents, and take such other actions as may be reasonably required, or that the Notes Collateral Agent may reasonably request, to create, perfect, protect, assure or enforce the Liens and benefits intended to be conferred, in each case as contemplated by the Note Documents for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties.

 

-154-


(c)    The Issuer and the Guarantors shall:

(1)    keep their properties adequately insured at all times by financially sound and reputable insurers;

(2)    maintain such other insurance, to such extent and against such risks, as is customary with companies in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations; and

(3)    maintain such other insurance as may be required by law.

(d)    [Reserved]

(e)    [Reserved]

(f)    Upon the acquisition by any of the Issuer or the Guarantors after the Issue Date of any assets (other than Excluded Assets), the Issuer or such Guarantor shall execute and deliver such mortgages, security instruments, financing statements or analogous filings and such certificates, title insurance policies, surveys, and opinions as are required under this Indenture or any Security Document to vest in the Notes Collateral Agent a perfected security interest, with the priority required by this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents, subject only to Permitted Liens, in such after-acquired property and to have such after-acquired property added to the Collateral, and thereupon all provisions of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents relating to the Collateral shall be deemed to relate to such after-acquired property to the same extent and with the same force and effect.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

-155-


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

ACADEMY, LTD.
By:  

/s/ Michael P. Mullican

 

Name: Michael P. Mullican

Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

On behalf of each entity named in Schedule I hereto, as a Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Michael P. Mullican

 

Name: Michael P. Mullican

Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]


The undersigned agrees to act as Trustee, Notes Collateral Agent, Paying Agent, Note Registrar and Transfer Agent:

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

as Trustee and as Notes Collateral Agent

By:  

/s/ Lawrence M. Kusch

 

Name: Lawrence M. Kusch

Title: Vice President


Schedule I

Academy Managing Co., L.L.C.

Associate Investors, L.L.C.

New Academy Holding Company, LLC


Annex 1 - Rule 144A / Regulation S Appendix

PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL NOTES

1.    Definitions

1.1    Definitions.

For the purposes of this Appendix the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Temporary Regulation S Global Note or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depository for such a Temporary Regulation S Global Note, to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

“Definitive Note” means a certificated Note bearing, if required, the appropriate restricted notes legend set forth in Section 2.3(d).

“Depository” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.

“Distribution Compliance Period”, with respect to any Notes, means the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on and including the latest of the Issue Date, the original issue date of the issuance of any Additional Notes and the date on which any such Notes (or any predecessor of such Notes) were first offered to persons other than distributors (as defined in rule 902 of Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S.

“Initial Purchasers” means (1) with respect to the Notes issued on the Issue Date, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, KKR Capital Markets LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Capital One Securities, Inc., Wells Fargo Securities LLC, U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., Regions Securities LLC and BBVA Securities Inc., (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes, the Persons purchasing such Additional Notes under the related Purchase Agreement.

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

“Notes” means (1) $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.000% Senior Secured Notes Due 2027 issued on the Issue Date and (2) Additional Notes, if any.

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

“Purchase Agreement” means (1) with respect to the Notes issued on the Issue Date, the Purchase Agreement dated October 28, 2020, among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Representative on behalf of the Initial Purchasers, and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes, the purchase agreement among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Persons purchasing such Additional Notes.

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

“Representative” means Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC as representative of the Initial Purchasers.


“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Transfer Restricted Notes” means Notes that bear or are required to bear the legend relating to restrictions on transfer relating to the Securities Act set forth in Section 2.3(d) hereto.

1.2    Other Definitions.

 

Term

   Defined in
Section:

“Agent Members”

   2.1(b)

“Global Notes”

   2.1(a)

“Permanent Regulation S Global Note”

   2.1(a)

“Regulation S”

   2.1(a)

“Regulation S Global Note”

   2.1(a)

“Rule 144A”

   2.1(a)

“Rule 144A Global Note”

   2.1(a)

“Temporary Regulation S Global Note”

   2.1(a)

2.    The Notes.

2.1    (a) Form and Dating. The Notes will be offered and sold by the Issuer pursuant to a Purchase Agreement. The Notes will be resold initially only to (i) QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”) and (ii) Persons other than U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S) outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act (“Regulation S”). Notes may thereafter be transferred to, among others, QIBs and purchasers in reliance on Regulation S, subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein. Notes initially resold pursuant to Rule 144A shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global notes in fully registered form (collectively, the “Rule 144A Global Note”); and Notes initially resold pursuant to Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of one or more temporary global notes in fully registered form (collectively, the “Temporary Regulation S Global Note”), in each case without interest coupons and with the global notes legend and the applicable restricted notes legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Notes Custodian and registered in the name of the Depository, duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee as provided in this Indenture. Except as set forth in this Section 2.1(a), beneficial ownership interests in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note will not be exchangeable for interests in a Rule 144A Global Note, a permanent global note (the “Permanent Regulation S Global Note”, and together with the Temporary Regulation S Global Note, the “Regulation S Global Note”) or any other Note prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period and then, after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, may be exchanged for interests in a Rule 144A Global Note, the Permanent Regulation S Global Note or a Definitive Note only (i) upon certification in form reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer and the Trustee that beneficial ownership interests in such Temporary Regulation S Global Note are owned either by non-U.S. persons or U.S. persons who purchased such interests in a transaction that did not require registration under the Securities Act, and (ii) in the case of an exchange for a Definitive Note, in compliance with the requirements of Section 2.4(a) hereof.

Beneficial interests in Temporary Regulation S Global Notes may be exchanged for interests in Rule 144A Global Notes if (1) such exchange occurs in connection with a transfer of Notes in compliance with Rule 144A and (2) the transferor of the beneficial interest in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate (in a form satisfactory to the Issuer and the Trustee) to the effect that the beneficial interest in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note is being transferred to a Person (a) whom the transferor reasonably believes to be a QIB, (b) purchasing for its own account or the account of a QIB in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and (c) in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the States of the United States and other jurisdictions.


Beneficial interests in a Rule 144A Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in a Regulation S Global Note, whether before or after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, only if the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate (in a form satisfactory to the Issuer and the Trustee) to the effect that such transfer is being made in accordance with Rule 903 or 904 of Regulation S.

The Rule 144A Global Note, the Temporary Regulation S Global Note and the Permanent Regulation S Global Note are collectively referred to herein as “Global Notes”. The aggregate principal amount of the Global Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depository or its nominee as hereinafter provided.

(b)    Book-Entry Provisions. This Section 2.1(b) shall apply only to a Global Note deposited with or on behalf of the Depository.

The Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 2.2 below and 2.02 of this Indenture, authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Notes that (a) shall be registered in the name of the Depository and (b) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depository or pursuant to such Depository’s instructions or held by the Trustee as custodian for the Depository.

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

(c)    Definitive Notes. Except as provided in this Section 2.1, 2.3 or 2.4, owners of beneficial interests in Global Notes shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Notes.

2.2    Authentication. The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver: (1) on the Issue Date, $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.000% Senior Secured Notes Due 2027 and (2) any Additional Notes for an original issue, in each case, in an aggregate principal amount specified in an Issuer Order pursuant to Section 2.02 of this Indenture. Such Issuer Order shall specify the amount of the Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated and, in the case of any issuance of Additional Notes pursuant to Section 3.13 of this Indenture, shall certify that such issuance is in compliance with Section 10.11 of this Indenture.

2.3    Transfer and Exchange.

(a)    Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes. When Definitive Notes are presented to the Note Registrar with a request:

(x)    to register the transfer of such Definitive Notes; or


(y)    to exchange such Definitive Notes for an equal principal amount of Definitive Notes of other authorized denominations, the Note Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its reasonable requirements for such transaction are met; provided, however, that the Definitive Notes surrendered for transfer or exchange:

(i)    shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer and the Note Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing; and

(ii)    if such Definitive Notes are required to bear a restricted notes legend, they are being transferred or exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, pursuant to Section 2.3(b) or pursuant to clause (A), (B) or (C) below, and are accompanied by the following additional information and documents, as applicable:

(A)    if such Definitive Notes are being delivered to the Note Registrar by a Holder for registration in the name of such Holder, without transfer, a certification from such Holder to that effect; or

(B)    if such Definitive Notes are being transferred to the Issuer, a certification to that effect; or

(C)    if such Definitive Notes are being transferred (x) pursuant to an exemption from registration in accordance with Rule 144A or Regulation S; or (y) in reliance upon another exemption from the requirements of the Securities Act: (i) a certification to that effect (in the form set forth on the reverse of the Note) and (ii) if the Issuer so requests, an opinion of counsel or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to it as to the compliance with the restrictions set forth in the legend set forth in Section 2.3(d).

(b)    Restrictions on Transfer of a Definitive Note for a Beneficial Interest in a Global Note. A Definitive Note may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note or a Regulation S Global Note except upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth below. Upon receipt by the Trustee of a Definitive Note, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, together with:

(i)    certification, in the form set forth on the reverse of the Note, that such Definitive Note is either (A) being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A or (B) being transferred after expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period by a Person who initially purchased such Note in reliance on Regulation S to a buyer who elects to hold its interest in such Note in the form of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note; and

(ii)    written instructions directing the Trustee to make, or to direct the Notes Custodian to make, an adjustment on its books and records with respect to such Rule 144A Global Note (in the case of a transfer pursuant to clause (b)(i)(A)) or Regulation S Global Note (in the case of a transfer pursuant to clause (b)(i)(B)) to reflect an increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Notes represented by the Rule 144A Global Note or Regulation S Global Note, as applicable, such instructions to contain information regarding the Agent Member account to be credited with such increase,


then the Trustee shall cancel such Definitive Note and cause, or direct the Notes Custodian to cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures of the Depository and the Notes Custodian, the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by the Rule 144A Global Note or Regulation S Global Note, as applicable, to be increased by the aggregate principal amount of the Definitive Note to be exchanged and shall credit or cause to be credited to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note or Regulation S Global Note, as applicable, equal to the principal amount of the Definitive Note so canceled. If no Rule 144A Global Notes or Regulation S Global Notes, as applicable, are then outstanding, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon written order of the Issuer in the form of an Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer, a new Rule 144A Global Note or Regulation S Global Note, as applicable, in the appropriate principal amount.

(c)    Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes.

(i)    The transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depository, in accordance with this Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth herein, if any) and the procedures of the Depository therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall deliver to the Note Registrar a written order given in accordance with the Depository’s procedures containing information regarding the participant account of the Depository to be credited with a beneficial interest in the Global Note. The Note Registrar shall, in accordance with such instructions instruct the Depository to credit to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Note and to debit the account of the Person making the transfer the beneficial interest in the Global Note being transferred. The Note Registrar shall have no responsibilities with respect to transfers of beneficial interests within a single Global Note.

(ii)    If the proposed transfer is a transfer of a beneficial interest in one Global Note to a beneficial interest in another Global Note, the Note Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Global Note to which such interest is being transferred in an amount equal to the principal amount of the interest to be so transferred, and the Note Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a corresponding decrease in the principal amount of the Global Note from which such interest is being transferred.

(iii)    Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix (other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.4), a Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such successor Depository.

(iv)    In the event that a Global Note is exchanged for a Definitive Note pursuant to Section 2.4 of this Appendix, such Notes may be exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are substantially consistent with the provisions of this Section 2.3 (including the certification requirements set forth on the reverse of the Notes intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A, Regulation S or another applicable exemption under the Securities Act, as the case may be) and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the Issuer.

(v)    During the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial ownership interests in Temporary Regulation S Global Notes may only be sold, pledged or transferred in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and only (i) to the Issuer, (ii) in an offshore transaction in accordance with Regulation S (other than a transaction resulting in an exchange for an interest in a Permanent Regulation S Global Note) or (iii) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, in each case in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any State of the United States.


(d)    Legend. Each Note certificate evidencing the Global Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

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, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”)) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” PURSUANT TO RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“REGULATION S”) AND (2) AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BECOME OR 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, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (OTHER THAN PURSUANT TO RULE 144), SUBJECT TO THE ISSUER’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM.

Each Note being sold pursuant to Regulation S shall also bear an additional legend substantially to the following effect:

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, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR DELIVERED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON, UNLESS SUCH NOTES ARE REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS THEREOF IS AVAILABLE. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF FORTY DAYS FROM THE LATER OF (i) THE DATE ON WHICH THESE NOTES WERE FIRST OFFERED AND (ii) THE DATE OF ISSUE OF THESE NOTES.


Each Definitive Note shall also bear the following additional legend:

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

(e)    Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Note. At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Note have either been exchanged for Definitive Notes, redeemed, purchased or canceled, such Global Note shall be returned to the Depository 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 certificated Notes, redeemed, purchased 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.

(f)    No Obligation of the Trustee.

(i)    The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a participant in the Depository or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depository 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 the Depository) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Notes shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

(ii)    The Trustee shall have no 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 the Depository 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.

2.4    Definitive Notes.

(a)    A Global Note deposited with the Depository or with the Trustee as Notes Custodian for the Depository pursuant to Section 2.1 shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note, in exchange for such Global Note, only if such transfer complies with Section 2.3 hereof and (i) the Depository notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such Global Note or if at any time such Depository ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act and, in each case, a successor depository is not appointed by the Issuer within 90 days of such notice, or of its becoming aware of such cessation, or (ii) a Default has occurred and is continuing or (iii) the Issuer, in its sole discretion, and subject to the procedures of the Depository, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of Definitive Notes under this Indenture.


(b)    Any Global Note that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be surrendered by the Depository to the Trustee located at its principal Corporate Trust Office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Global Note transferred pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in denominations of $2,000 principal amount and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof and registered in such names as the Depository shall direct. Any Definitive Note delivered in exchange for an interest in the Transfer Restricted Note shall bear the applicable restricted notes legend and definitive notes legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto.

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

(d)    In the event of the occurrence of one of the events specified in Section 2.4(a) hereof, the Issuer shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of Definitive Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons. In the event that such Definitive Notes are not issued, the Issuer expressly acknowledges, with respect to the right of any Holder to pursue a remedy pursuant to this Indenture, including pursuant to Section 5.07, the right of any beneficial owner of Notes to pursue such remedy with respect to the portion of the Global Note that represents such beneficial owner’s Notes as if such Definitive Notes had been issued.


EXHIBIT 1

to Annex 1

[FORM OF FACE OF INITIAL NOTE]

[Global Notes Legend]

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”) TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS 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 SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO THE DEPOSITORY, TO NOMINEES OF THE DEPOSITORY OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

[Restricted Notes Legend]

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, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”)) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” PURSUANT TO RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“REGULATION S”) AND (2) AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BECOME OR 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, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (OTHER THAN


PURSUANT TO RULE 144), SUBJECT TO THE ISSUER’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM.

[Additional Regulation S Restricted Notes Legend]

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, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR DELIVERED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON, UNLESS SUCH NOTES ARE REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS THEREOF IS AVAILABLE. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF FORTY DAYS FROM THE LATER OF (i) THE DATE ON WHICH THESE NOTES WERE FIRST OFFERED AND (ii) THE DATE OF ISSUE OF THESE NOTES.

[Definitive Notes Legend]

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.


6.000% Senior Secured Note Due 2027

No. [    ]

144A CUSIP No. 00401Y AA8

144A ISIN No. US00401YAA82

REG S CUSIP No. U0044E AA2

REG S ISIN No. USU0044EAA20

Academy, Ltd. (the “Issuer”), a Texas limited partnership, promises to pay to [                        ], or registered assigns, the principal sum set forth on the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in the Global Note attached hereto on November 15, 2027.

Interest Payment Dates: May 15 and November 15 (commencing on May 15, 2021).

Regular Record Dates: May 1 and November 1.

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.


Dated:

ACADEMY, LTD.

 

By:  

 

 

Name:

Title:


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

Dated:                         

This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee

 

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF INITIAL NOTE]

6.000% Senior Secured Note Due 2027

 

1.

Principal and Interest.

The Issuer will pay the principal of this Note on November 15, 2027.

The Issuer promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note on each Interest Payment Date, as set forth below, at the rate of 6.000% per annum.

Interest will be payable semi-annually in arrears (to the Holders of record at the close of business (if applicable) on the May 1 or November 1 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date) on each Interest Payment Date, commencing May 15, 2021.

Interest on this Note will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for, from November 6, 2020; provided that, if there is no existing default in the payment of interest and if this Note is authenticated between a Regular Record Date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such Interest Payment Date. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue principal and premium, if any, and interest on overdue installments of interest, to the extent lawful, at a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest borne by the Notes.

 

2.

Method of Payment.

The Issuer will pay interest (except Defaulted Interest) on the principal amount of the Notes on each May 15 and November 15 (commencing on May 15, 2021) to the Persons who are Holders (as reflected in the Note Register at the close of business (if applicable) on the May 1 and November 1 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date), in each case, even if the Note is cancelled on registration of transfer or registration of exchange after such Regular Record Date; provided that, with respect to the payment of principal or premium, if any, the Issuer will make payment to the Holder that surrenders this Note to the Paying Agent on or after the date such principal or premium is due and payable.

The Issuer will pay principal (and premium, if any) and interest in U.S. dollars. However, the Issuer may pay principal (and premium, if any) and interest by its check payable in such money. The Issuer may pay interest on the Notes either (a) by mailing a check for such interest to a Holder’s registered address (as reflected in the Note Register) or (b) subject to the provisions of the Indenture, by wire transfer to an account located in the United States maintained by the payee. If a payment date is a date other than a Business Day at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

 

3.

Paying Agent and Note Registrar.

The Issuer initially appoints The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., in New York as Paying Agent and Note Registrar. The Issuer may change any Paying Agent or Note Registrar upon written notice thereto. The Issuer or any of its Affiliates may act as Paying Agent, Note Registrar or co-registrar.


4.

Indenture.

The Issuer issued the Notes under an Indenture, dated as of November 6, 2020 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms herein are used as defined in the Indenture unless otherwise indicated. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture for a statement of all such terms. To the extent permitted by applicable law, in the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Note and the terms of the Indenture, the terms of the Indenture shall control.

The Notes are secured senior obligations of the Issuer. The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of the Notes.

 

5.

Redemption.

Optional Redemption. At any time prior to November 15, 2023, the Issuer may, at its option and on one or more occasions, redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon notice as described in Section 11.06 of the Indenture, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling on or prior to the Redemption Date.

On and after November 15, 2023, the Issuer may, at its option and on one or more occasions, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice as described in Section 11.06 of the Indenture, at the Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling on or prior to the Redemption Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on November 15 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2023

     103.000

2024

     101.500

2025 and thereafter

     100.000

In addition, until November 15, 2023, the Issuer may, at its option, upon notice as described in Section 11.06 of the Indenture, on one or more occasions redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (including Additional Notes) issued under the Indenture at a Redemption Price (as calculated by the Issuer) equal to (i) 106.000% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, with an amount equal to or less than the net cash proceeds from one or more Equity Offerings to the extent such net cash proceeds are received by or contributed to the Issuer, plus (ii) accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling on or prior to the Redemption Date; provided that (a) at least 50% of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under the Indenture on the Issue Date and any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption and (b) each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.


6.

Repurchase upon a Change of Control and Asset Sales.

Upon the occurrence of (a) a Change of Control, the Holders will have the right to require that the Issuer purchase such Holder’s Outstanding Notes, in whole or in part, at a purchase price of 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of purchase and (b) Asset Sales, the Issuer may be obligated to make offers to purchase Notes and Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer with a portion of the Net Proceeds of such Asset Sales at a Redemption Price of 100% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of purchase.

 

7.

Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.

The Notes are in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Note Registrar and the Issuer may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Note Registrar and the Issuer need not register the transfer or exchange of any Notes selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Note to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Note not to be redeemed) or any Notes tendered (and not withdrawn) for repurchase in connection with a Change of Control Offer, an Asset Sale Offer or other tender offer. Also, the Note Registrar and the Issuer need not register the transfer or exchange of any Notes for a period of ten days before delivering a notice of redemption of Notes to be redeemed.

 

8.

Persons Deemed Owners.

A registered Holder may be treated as the owner of a Note for all purposes.

 

9.

Unclaimed Money.

If money for the payment of principal (premium, if any) or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee and the Paying Agent will pay the money back to the Issuer at its written request. After that, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Issuer for payment, unless an abandoned property law designates another Person, and all liability of the Trustee and such Paying Agent with respect to such money shall cease.

 

10.

Discharge and Defeasance Prior to Redemption or Maturity.

If the Issuer irrevocably deposits, or causes to be deposited, with the Trustee money or Government Securities sufficient to pay the then outstanding principal of (premium, if any) and accrued but unpaid interest on the Notes to the Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, the Issuer will be discharged from its obligations under the Indenture and the Notes, except in certain circumstances for certain covenants thereof, or will be discharged from certain covenants set forth in the Indenture.

 

11.

Amendment; Supplement; Waiver.

Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes, any Guarantee, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes, and any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture, the Notes, any Guarantee, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the other Security Documents may be waived with the consent of the Holders


of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes. Without notice to or the consent of any Holder, the parties thereto may amend or supplement the Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency and make any change that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any Holder in any material respect.

 

12.

Restrictive Covenants.

The Indenture contains certain covenants, including covenants with respect to the following matters: (i) Restricted Payments; (ii) incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock; (iii) Liens; (iv) transactions with Affiliates; (v) dividend and other payment restrictions affecting Restricted Subsidiaries; (vi) guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries; (vii) merger and certain transfers of assets; (viii) purchase of Notes upon a Change in Control; and (ix) disposition of proceeds of Asset Sales. Within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, the Issuer must report to the Trustee on compliance with such limitations.

 

13.

Successor Persons.

When a successor Person or other entity assumes all the obligations of its predecessor under the Notes or the Guarantees and the Indenture, the predecessor Person will be released from those obligations.

 

14.

Remedies for Events of Default.

If an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice to the Issuer or the Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then Outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately by a notice in writing to the Issuer and the Trustee. Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee, in case an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered indemnity or security against any loss, liability or expense satisfactory to the Trustee. Subject to certain restrictions, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder of a Note or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

15.

Guarantees.

The Issuer’s obligations under the Notes are fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior secured basis, to the extent set forth in the Indenture, by each of the Guarantors.

 

16.

Trustee Dealings with Issuer.

The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may make loans to, accept deposits from, perform services for, and otherwise deal with, the Issuer and its Affiliates as if it were not the Trustee.


17.

Authentication.

This Note shall not be valid until the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.

 

18.

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 entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian) and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

19.

CUSIP or ISIN Numbers.

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuer has caused CUSIP or ISIN numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP or ISIN numbers in notices 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 and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

20.

Governing Law.

THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE ISSUER AGREES TO SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR STATE COURT LOCATED IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS NOTE OR THE INDENTURE.

 

21.

Security.

The Notes and the related guarantees shall be secured by the Collateral on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents. Reference is made to the Indenture and the Security Documents for terms relating to such security, including the release, termination and discharge thereof. Enforcement of the Security Documents is subject to the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents. The Issuer shall not be required to make any notation on this Note to reflect any grant of such security or any such release, termination or discharge.

The Issuer will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to Academy, Ltd., 1540 North Mason Road, Katy, Texas, Attention: General Counsel.

Capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Indenture.


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 soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint                                                       agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

 

Date:                                                       Your Signature:                                                                                                                                                             

 

 

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

In connection with any transfer 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 Issuer or any “Affiliate” of the Issuer within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

 

to the Issuer; or

  (1)       pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; or
  (2)       inside the United States to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act; or
  (3)       outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act in compliance with Rule 904 under 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.

 

 

    
Signature     
Signature Guarantee:     

 

    

 

Signature must be guaranteed      Signature


Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Note Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Note Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (2) 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 Issuer 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:  

 

    

 

      

Notice: To be executed by

an executive officer


[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTES]

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE

The initial principal amount of this Global Note is $                    . 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


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 10.16 or 10.17 of the Indenture, check the box: ☐

☐ If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 10.16 or 10.17 of the Indenture, state the amount in principal amount: $                

($1,000 or integral multiples thereof, provided that the unpurchased portion of a Note must be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000)

 

Date:                             Your Signature:   

 

      (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note)

 

Signature Guarantee:   

 

   (Signature must be guaranteed)

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Note Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Note Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of ________, 20__, by __________________ (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), a subsidiary of the Issuer.

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Issuer has heretofore executed and delivered to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”) an indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of November 6, 2020, providing for the issuance of 6.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2027 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the “Guarantee”); and

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

1.    CAPITALIZED TERMS. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

2.    AGREEMENT TO GUARANTEE. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees to provide an unconditional Guarantee on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture including but not limited to Article Twelve thereof.

3.    NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder or agent of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or any Guaranteeing Subsidiary under the Notes, any Guarantees, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Security Document, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the Notes 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 federal securities laws and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

4.    GOVERNING LAW. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE TO SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR STATE COURT LOCATED IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE.

 

A-1


5.    COUNTERPARTS. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of the Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of the 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 or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Indenture or any document to be signed in connection with this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law (e.g., www.docusign.com)) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be legally valid, effective and enforceable for all purposes.

6.    EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The Section headings herein are for convenience or reference only and are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not affect the construction hereof.

7.    THE TRUSTEE. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary.

 

A-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the [party][parties] hereto [has][have] caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first above written.

 

[GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY],
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

A-3


EXHIBIT B

INCUMBENCY CERTIFICATE

The undersigned,                     , being the                      of                      (the “Issuer”) does hereby certify that the individuals listed below are qualified and acting officers of the Issuer as set forth in the right column opposite their respective names and the signatures appearing in the extreme right column opposite the name of each such officer is a true specimen of the genuine signature of such officer and such individuals have the authority to execute documents to be delivered to, or upon the request of, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee under the Indenture, dated as of November 6, 2020, by and among the Issuer, the Guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as Trustee and as Notes Collateral Agent.

 

Name

  

Title:

  

Signature

                         

  

                         

  

                         

                         

  

                         

  

                         

                         

  

                         

  

                         

                         

  

                         

  

                         

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed and delivered this Certificate as of the      day of             , 20    .

 

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

B-1


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF NET SHORT REPRESENTATION

The undersigned,                      , and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”) have heretofore executed an indenture, dated as of November 6, 2020 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance of the Issuer’s 6.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2027 (the “Notes”). All terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning ascribed to such term under the Indenture.

This letter constitutes a Position Representation in connection with a Noteholder Direction delivered pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Indenture, whereby the undersigned as Directing Holder, represents to each of the Issuer and the Trustee that [it is] [its beneficial owners are] not Net Short.

 

By:  

 

  Name: [Holder]
  Title:

 

C-1

EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of November 6, 2020

among

ACADEMY, LTD.,

as the Borrower,

NEW ACADEMY HOLDING COMPANY, LLC,

as Holdings,

ASSOCIATED INVESTORS L.L.C.,

and

ACADEMY MANAGING CO., L.L.C.,

as Texas Intermediate Holdcos

The Several Lenders

from Time to Time Parties Hereto,

CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH

as the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent,

and

CREDIT SUISSE LOAN FUNDING LLC

KKR CAPITAL MARKETS LLC

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

CAPITAL ONE N.A.

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

REGIONS CAPITAL MARKETS

BBVA SECURITIES INC.

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners


       TABLE OF CONTENTS       
          Page  

Section 1.

    

Definitions

     2

1.1  

    

Defined Terms

     2

1.2  

    

Other Interpretive Provisions

     68

1.3  

    

Accounting Terms

     69

1.4  

    

Rounding

     69

1.5  

    

References to Agreements, Laws, Etc.

     69

1.6  

    

Exchange Rates

     69

1.7  

    

Rates

     70

1.8  

    

Times of Day

     70

1.9  

    

Timing of Payment or Performance

     70

1.10

    

Certifications

     70

1.11

    

Compliance with Certain Sections

     70

1.12

    

Pro Forma and Other Calculations

     70

Section 2.

    

Amount and Terms of Credit

     73

2.1  

    

Commitments

     73

2.2  

    

Minimum Amount of Each Borrowing; Maximum Number of Borrowings

     73

2.3  

    

Notice of Borrowing

     73

2.4  

    

Disbursement of Funds

     74

2.5  

    

Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt

     75

2.6  

    

Conversions and Continuations

     76

2.7  

    

Pro Rata Borrowings

     77

2.8  

    

Interest

     77

2.9  

    

Interest Periods

     78

2.10

    

Increased Costs, Illegality, Etc.

     78

2.11

    

Compensation

     80

2.12

    

Change of Lending Office

     81

2.13

    

Notice of Certain Costs

     81

2.14

    

Incremental Facilities

     81

2.15

    

Permitted Debt Exchanges

     85

2.16

    

Defaulting Lenders

     86

Section 3.

    

Benchmark Replacement

     87

3.1  

    

LIBOR Rate Successor

  

Section 4.

    

Fees

     88

4.1  

    

Fees

     88

4.2  

    

[Reserved]

     88

4.3  

    

Mandatory Termination of Commitments

     88

Section 5.

    

Payments

     88

5.1  

    

Voluntary Prepayments

     88

5.2  

    

Mandatory Prepayments

     89

 

-i-


          Page  

5.3  

     Method and Place of Payment      93

5.4  

     Net Payments      94

5.5  

     Computations of Interest and Fees      98

5.6  

     Limit on Rate of Interest      98

Section 6.

     Conditions Precedent to Initial Borrowing      98

6.1  

     Credit Documents      98

6.2  

     Collateral      99

6.3  

     Legal Opinions      99

6.4  

     [Reserved]      99

6.5  

     Closing Certificates      100

6.6  

     Authorization of Proceedings of the Borrower and the Guarantors; Corporate Documents      100

6.7  

     Fees      100

6.8  

     [Reserved]      100

6.9  

     Solvency Certificate      100

6.10

     [Reserved]      100

6.11

     Patriot Act      100

6.12

     Financial Statements      100

6.13

     No Material Adverse Effect      101

6.14

     Refinancing      101

Section 7.

     Conditions Precedent to All Credit Events      101

7.1  

     No Default; Representations and Warranties      101

7.2  

     Notice of Borrowing      101

Section 8.

     Representations and Warranties      101

8.1  

     Corporate Status      102

8.2  

     Corporate Power and Authority      102

8.3  

     No Violation      102

8.4  

     Litigation      102

8.5  

     Margin Regulations      102

8.6  

     Governmental Approvals      102

8.7  

     Investment Company Act      103

8.8  

     True and Complete Disclosure      103

8.9  

     Financial Condition; Financial Statements      103

8.10

     Compliance with Laws; No Default      104

8.11

     Tax Matters      104

8.12

     Compliance with ERISA      104

8.13

     Subsidiaries      104

8.14

     Intellectual Property      105

8.15

     Environmental Laws      105

8.16

     Properties      105

8.17

     Solvency      105

8.18

     Patriot Act      105

8.19

     Security Interest in Collateral      106

8.20

     Insurance      106

 

-ii-


          Page  

Section 9.

     Affirmative Covenants      106

9.1  

     Information Covenants      106

9.2  

     Books, Records, and Inspections      109

9.3  

     Maintenance of Insurance      109

9.4  

     Payment of Taxes      110

9.5  

     Preservation of Existence; Consolidated Corporate Franchises      110

9.6  

     Compliance with Statutes, Regulations, Etc.      110

9.7  

     ERISA      110

9.8  

     Maintenance of Properties      111

9.9  

     Transactions with Affiliates      111

9.10

     End of Fiscal Years      112

9.11

     Additional Guarantors and Grantors      112

9.12

     Pledge of Additional Stock and Evidence of Indebtedness      113

9.13

     Use of Proceeds      113

9.14

     Further Assurances      113

9.15

     Maintenance of Ratings      114

9.16

     Lines of Business      115

9.17

     Patriot Act      115

Section 10.

     Negative Covenants      115

10.1  

     Limitation on Indebtedness      115

10.2  

     Limitation on Liens      121

10.3  

     Limitation on Fundamental Changes      121

10.4  

     Limitation on Sale of Assets      123

10.5  

     Limitation on Restricted Payments      124

10.6  

     Limitation on Subsidiary Distributions      132

10.7  

     Permitted Activities      134

Section 11.

     Events of Default      134

11.1  

     Payments      134

11.2  

     Representations, Etc.      134

11.3  

     Covenants      134

11.4  

     Default Under Other Agreements      135  

11.5  

     Bankruptcy, Etc.      135

11.6  

     ERISA      136

11.7  

     Guarantee      136

11.8  

     Pledge Agreement      136

11.9  

     Security Agreement      136

11.10

     Judgments      137

11.11

     Change of Control      137

11.12

     Application of Proceeds      137

Section 12.

     The Agents      138

12.1  

     Appointment      138

12.2  

     Delegation of Duties      138

12.3  

     Exculpatory Provisions      139

12.4  

     Reliance by Agents      139

 

-iii-


          Page  

12.5  

     Notice of Default      140

12.6  

     Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, and Other Lenders      140

12.7  

     Indemnification      140

12.8  

     Agents in Their Individual Capacities      141

12.9  

     Successor Agents      142

12.10

     Withholding Tax      143

12.11

     Agents Under Security Documents and Guarantee      143

12.12

     Right to Realize on Collateral and Enforce Guarantee      144

12.13

     Intercreditor Agreement Governs      144

Section 13.

     Miscellaneous      145

13.1  

     Amendments, Waivers, and Releases      145

13.2  

     Notices      149

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      151

13.7  

     Replacements of Lenders Under Certain Circumstances      157

13.8  

     Adjustments; Set-off      158

13.9  

     Counterparts      159

13.10

     Severability      159

13.11

     Integration      159

13.12

     GOVERNING LAW      159

13.13

     Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers      159

13.14

     Acknowledgments      160

13.15

     WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL      161

13.16

     Confidentiality      161

13.17

     Direct Website Communications      162

13.18

     USA PATRIOT Act      164

13.19

     Cashless Settlement      164

13.20

     Payments Set Aside      164

13.21

     No Fiduciary Duty      164

13.22

     Nature of Borrower Obligations      165

13.23

     Amendment and Restatement      166

13.24

     Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions      166

13.25

     Certain ERISA Matters      167

 

-iv-


SCHEDULES

    

Schedule 1.1(a)

    

Mortgaged Properties

Schedule 1.1(b)

    

Additional Initial Term Commitments of Additional Initial Term Lenders

Schedule 8.13

    

Subsidiaries

Schedule 8.15

    

Environmental

Schedule 9.14

    

Post-Closing Actions

Schedule 10.1

    

Restatement Effective Date Indebtedness

Schedule 10.2

    

Restatement Effective Date Liens

Schedule 10.5

    

Restatement Effective Date Investments

Schedule 13.2

    

Notice Addresses

EXHIBITS

    

Exhibit A

    

Form of Joinder Agreement

Exhibit B-1

    

Form of Holdings Guarantee

Exhibit B-2

    

Form of Subsidiary Guarantee

Exhibit C

    

Form of Pledge Agreement

Exhibit D

    

Form of Security Agreement

Exhibit E

    

Form of Credit Party Closing Certificate

Exhibit F

    

Form of Assignment and Acceptance

Exhibit G

    

Form of Promissory Note

Exhibit H

    

Form of ABL Intercreditor Agreement

Exhibit I-1

    

Form of First Lien Intercreditor Agreement

Exhibit I-2

    

Form of Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement

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 Non-U.S. Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Exhibit K

    

Form of Notice of Borrowing or Continuation or Conversion

Exhibit L-1

    

Form of Hedge Bank Designation

Exhibit L-2

    

Form of Cash Management Bank Designation

 

 

-v-


SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of November 6, 2020, among ACADEMY, LTD., a Texas limited partnership (the “Borrower”), NEW ACADEMY HOLDING COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware corporation, and ASSOCIATED INVESTORS L.L.C. and ACADEMY MANAGING CO., L.L.C., as Texas Intermediate Holdcos, the lending institutions from time to time parties hereto (each a “Lender” and, collectively, the “Lenders”) and CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent (such terms and each other capitalized term used but not defined in this preamble having the meaning provided in Section 1).

WHEREAS, the Borrower, certain of the Lenders and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent for such lenders, are parties to the Existing Term Loan Facility (defined below) pursuant to which certain term loans have been made available to the Borrower and the Borrower has requested to amend and restate the Existing Term Loan Facility in its entirety;

WHEREAS, in connection with the foregoing, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders extend credit in the form of Initial Term Loans to the Borrower on the Restatement Effective Date, in an aggregate principal amount of $400,000,000;

WHEREAS, each Converting Term Lender (as defined below) has agreed to have its Converting Term Loans (as defined below) converted and continued into Initial Term Loans on the Closing Date pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;

WHEREAS, it is intended that, contemporaneously with the borrowing under the Initial Term Loan Facility on the Closing Date, the Borrower will issue and sell pursuant to Rule 144A and/or Regulation S of the Securities Act, $400,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Senior Secured Notes (the “New Senior Notes”) pursuant to the Senior Secured Notes Indenture (as defined below);

WHEREAS, it is intended that the Borrower will enter into an amendment to the asset-based revolving credit facility established pursuant to the ABL Credit Documents (the “ABL Facility”) which will extend the maturity date of such ABL Facility;

WHEREAS, the proceeds of the Initial Term Loans will be used, together with net proceeds of the issuance of the New Senior Notes and any borrowings by the Borrower under the ABL Facility on the Restatement Effective Date, to consummate the Restatement Effective Date Refinancing and to pay Transaction Expenses; and

WHEREAS, the Lenders are willing to make available to the Borrower such term loan 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):

ABL Administrative Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “Administrative Agent” in the ABL Credit Agreement.

ABL Credit Agreement” shall mean the Credit Agreement, dated as of the Restatement Effective Date, among the Borrower, the other borrowers party thereto, the lenders party thereto and the ABL Administrative Agent.

ABL Credit Documents” shall mean the ABL Credit Agreement and each other document executed in connection therewith or pursuant thereto.

ABL Cure Amount” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “Cure Amount” in the ABL Credit Agreement.

ABL Facility” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

ABL Financial Covenant Default” shall mean any breach or violation of any financial maintenance covenant in the ABL Facility.

ABL Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean an Intercreditor Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit H (with such changes to such form as may be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower) between the Collateral Agent and the collateral agent under the ABL Facility.

ABL Loans” shall have the meaning provided to the term “Loans” in the ABL Credit Agreement and any modification, replacement, refinancing, refunding, renewal, or extension thereof.

ABR” shall mean for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (i) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (ii) the rate of interest announced or determined from time to time by the Administrative Agent as the U.S. “Prime Rate”, and (iii) the Adjusted LIBOR Rate (which rate shall be calculated based on an Interest Period of one month determined on such date) plus 1.00% per annum; provided, that the ABR shall not be less than 1.75% per annum. Any change in the ABR due to a change in such rate determined by the Administrative Agent or in the Federal Funds Effective Rate or Adjusted LIBOR Rate shall take effect at the opening of business on the day of such change.

ABR Loan” shall mean each Loan bearing interest based on the ABR.

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 (determined using such definitions as if references to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries therein were to such Pro Forma Entity and its Restricted Subsidiaries), all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Pro Forma Entity in accordance with GAAP.

Acquired Entity or Business shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term Consolidated EBITDA.

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.

 

-2-


Additional Initial Term Commitment” means, with respect to an Additional Initial Term Lender, the commitment of such Additional Initial Term Lender to make an Additional Initial Term Loan on the Restatement Effective Date in the aggregate principal amount set forth on Schedule 1.1(b).

Additional Initial Term Lender” means each Lender set forth on Schedule 1.1(b) with an Additional Initial Term Commitment to make Additional Initial Term Loans to the Borrower on the Restatement Effective Date and which shall constitute a “Lender” under the Credit Agreement as of the Restatement Effective Date.

Additional Initial Term Loan” means a Loan that is made in respect of an Additional Initial Term Commitment pursuant to Section 2.01(b) on the Restatement Effective Date.

Adjusted LIBOR Rate” shall mean, with respect to any LIBOR Rate Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to the product of (i) the LIBOR Rate in effect for such Interest Period and (ii) Statutory Reserves; provided, that the Adjusted LIBOR Rate shall not be less than 0.75% per annum.

Adjusted Total Term Loan Commitment” shall mean at any time the Total Term Loan Commitment less the Term Loan Commitments of all Defaulting Lenders.

Administrative Agent” shall mean Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, 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” means (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.

Affiliated Institutional Lender” shall mean (i) any Affiliate of the Sponsor that is either a bona fide debt fund or such Affiliate extends credit or buys loans in the ordinary course of business, (ii) KKR Corporate Lending LLC, KKR Capital Markets LLC, MCS Corporate Lending LLC and MCS Capital Markets LLC and (ii) any successor each of the Persons set forth in clause (ii).

Affiliated Lender” shall mean a Lender that is the Sponsor or any Affiliate thereof (other than Holdings, the Borrower, any Subsidiary of Holdings, or any Affiliated Institutional Lender).

 

-3-


Agent Parties shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.17(b).

Agents” shall mean the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each Joint Lead Arranger and Bookrunner.

Agreement” shall mean this Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement.

Amendment No. 3” shall mean Amendment No. 3 to this Agreement, dated as of November 6, 2020.

Anti-Corruption Laws” means the (i) United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended and (iv) any applicable related provisions and/or anti-bribery, and corruption and/or anti-money laundering laws, rules, or regulations of any jurisdiction in which a Borrower conducts business.

Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means any laws or regulations relating to terrorism or money laundering, including the Bank Secrecy Act of 1990, as amended by the Patriot Act, the laws administered by the United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (as any of the foregoing laws may from time to time be amended, renewed, extended, or replaced), the U.S. Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56, the U.S. Currency and Foreign Transaction Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the U.S. Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, as amended.

Applicable Margin” shall mean a percentage per annum equal to: (1) for LIBOR Loans that are Initial Term Loans, 5.00% and (2) for ABR Loans that are Initial Term Loans, 4.00%.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the Applicable Margin in respect of any Class of Extended Term Loans shall be the applicable percentages per annum set forth in the relevant Extension Amendment, (b) the Applicable Margin in respect of any Class of Incremental Term Loans shall be the applicable percentages per annum set forth in the relevant Incremental Amendment, (c) 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 and (d) in the case of the Term Loans and any Class of Incremental Term Loans, the Applicable Margin shall be increased as, and to the extent, necessary to either (i) comply with the provisions of Section 2.14 or (ii) ensure technical compliance with fungibility with any other existing Term Loans.

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.

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 (other than a Permitted Sale Leaseback)) (each a “disposition”) of the Borrower 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,

 

-4-


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 the Borrower in a manner permitted pursuant to Section 10.3;

(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 (other than pursuant to clause (i) of the definition thereof) that is permitted to be made, and is made, pursuant to Section 10.5;

(d)    any disposition of assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary in any transaction or series of transactions with an aggregate Fair Market Value of less than the greater of (a) $48,000,000 and (b) 10% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) at the time of such disposition;

(e)    any disposition of property or assets or issuance of securities by (1) a Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or (2) the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary to another Restricted Subsidiary;

(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;

(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 built or acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Restatement Effective 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 the Borrower 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 consultants, directors, officers, or employees of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower) or any Subsidiary or any of their successors or assigns;

 

-5-


(l)    the disposition or discount of inventory, accounts receivable, or notes receivable in the ordinary course of business 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;

(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 lapse or abandonment of Intellectual Property rights, which in the reasonable business judgment of the Borrower is not material to the conduct of the business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

(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 Asset Sale are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property (which replacement property is actually promptly purchased);

(s)    leases, assignments, subleases, licenses, or sublicenses, in each case in the ordinary course of business and which do not materially interfere with the business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(t)    dispositions of non-core assets acquired in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or Investment permitted hereunder;

(u)    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;

(v)    to the extent constituting a disposition, Restricted Payments permitted pursuant to Section 10.5; and

(w)    other dispositions with a Fair Market Value (or for assets with a Fair Market Value) in the aggregate less than or equal to the greater of (x) $168,000,000 and (y) 35% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) (this clause (v), the “General Asset Sale Exception”).

Asset Sale Prepayment Event shall mean any Asset Sale of, or with respect to, Collateral, subject to the Reinvestment Period allowed in Section 10.4; provided, further, that with respect to any Asset Sale Prepayment Event, the Borrower shall not be obligated to make any prepayment otherwise required by Section 5.2 unless and until the aggregate amount of Net Cash Proceeds from all such Asset Sale Prepayment Events, after giving effect to the reinvestment rights set forth herein, exceeds the greater

 

-6-


of (a) $75,000,000 and (b) 15% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) (the “Prepayment Trigger”) in any fiscal year of the Borrower, and then from Net Cash Proceeds in excess of the Prepayment Trigger.

Assignment and Acceptance shall mean (i) an assignment and acceptance substantially in the form of Exhibit F, 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).

Auction Agent” shall mean (i) the Administrative Agent or (ii) any other financial institution or advisor employed by 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 or Dutch auction pursuant to Section 13.6(h); provided that the Borrower shall not designate the Administrative Agent as the Auction Agent without the written consent of the Administrative Agent (it being understood that the Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to agree to act as the Auction Agent); provided, further, that neither the Borrower nor any of its 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, President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Controller, the Vice President-Finance, a Senior Vice President, an Executive 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.

Available Amount” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.5.

Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.

Bail-In Legislation” means (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, regulation rule or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

Bankruptcy Code shall have the meaning provided in Section 11.5.

Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

Beneficial Ownership Regulation” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.18.

Benefited Lender” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.8(a).

 

-7-


Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

Board” shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (or any successor).

Borrower” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

Borrowing” shall mean Loans of the same Class and Type, made, converted, or continued on the same date and, in the case of LIBOR Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

Borrowing Base Basket” shall mean, as of any date, an amount equal to 90% of the book value of all credit card receivables and 90% of the net orderly liquidation value of all inventory.

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, and, if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a LIBOR Loan, any fundings, disbursements, settlements, and payments in respect of any such LIBOR Loan, or any other dealings in Dollars to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such LIBOR Loan, such day shall be a day on which dealings in deposits in Dollars are conducted by and between banks in the applicable London interbank market.

Capital Expenditures shall mean, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities and including in all events all amounts expended or capitalized under Capital Leases) by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be included as additions during such period to property, plant, or equipment reflected in the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (including capitalized software expenditures, website development costs, website content development costs, customer acquisition costs and incentive payments, conversion costs, and contract acquisition costs).

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 on the balance sheet of that Person, subject to Section 1.12.

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, subject to Section 1.12.

 

-8-


Capitalized Software Expenditures” shall mean, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by the Borrower and the 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 the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

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,

(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

 

-9-


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, 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 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,

(xiii)    investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets, in money market investment programs that are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or that are administered by financial institutions meeting the qualifications specified in clause (iv) above, in each case the portfolios of which are limited such that substantially all of such investments are of the character, quality and maturity described in clauses (i) through (xii) above, and

(xiv)    Credit Card Receivables.

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 (other than Credit Card Receivables) 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 any Person that, at the time it enters into a Cash Management Agreement with the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, is an Agent or a Lender or an Affiliate of an Agent or a Lender or (ii) any Person that is designated by the Borrower as a “Cash Management Bank” by written notice to the Administrative Agent substantially in the form of Exhibit L-2 or such other form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

-10-


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, 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) and other services related, ancillary or complementary to the foregoing.

Casualty Event” shall mean, with respect to any Collateral, any loss of or damage to, or any condemnation or other taking by a Governmental Authority of, such Collateral for which Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries receives insurance proceeds or proceeds of a condemnation award in respect of any equipment, fixed assets, or real property (including any improvements thereon) to replace or repair such equipment, fixed assets, or real property; provided that with respect to any Casualty Event, the Borrower shall not be obligated to make any prepayment otherwise required by Section 5.2 unless and until the aggregate amount of Net Cash Proceeds from all such Casualty Events, after giving effect to the reinvestment rights set forth herein, exceeds the greater of (a) $75,000,000 and (b) 15% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) (the “Casualty Prepayment Trigger”) in any fiscal year of the Borrower, and then from such Net Cash Proceeds in excess of the Casualty Prepayment Trigger.

CFC” shall mean a Subsidiary of Holdings that is a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code.

CFC Holding Company” shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower substantially all of the assets of which consist of equity and/or indebtedness 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 Restatement Effective 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 Restatement Effective Date or (iii) compliance by any Lender with any guideline, request, directive, or order issued or made after the Restatement Effective Date by any central bank or other governmental 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, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

Change of Control” shall mean and be deemed to have occurred if (i) 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, 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 35% thereof, unless, in case of clause (i) above, the Permitted Holders have, at such time, the right or the ability by voting power, contract, or otherwise to elect or designate for election at least a majority of the board of directors of Holdings; (ii) at any time, a Change of Control (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement or the New Senior Notes) shall have occurred; or (iii) Holdings shall cease to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the issued and outstanding equity interests of the Borrower. For the purpose of clauses (ii) and (iii) at any time when a majority of the outstanding Voting Stock of Holdings is directly or indirectly owned by a Parent Entity or, if applicable, a Parent Entity acts as the manager,

 

-11-


managing member or general partner of Holdings, references in this definition to “Holdings” shall be deemed to refer to the ultimate Parent Entity that directly or indirectly owns such Voting Stock or acts as (or, if applicable, is a Parent Entity that directly or indirectly owns a majority of the outstanding Voting Stock of) such manager, managing member or general partner. For purposes of this definition, (i) ”beneficial ownership” shall be as defined in Rules 13(d)-3 and 13(d)-5 under the Exchange Act, (ii) the phrase Person or “group” is within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the 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) if any Person or “group” includes one or more Permitted Holders, the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings or the Borrower, as applicable, directly or indirectly owned by the Permitted Holders that are part of such Person or “group” shall not be treated as being owned by such Person or “group” for purposes of determining whether clause (ii) of this definition is triggered and (iv) 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.

Class” (i) when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, shall refer to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Initial Term Loans, New Term Loans (of each Series), Extended Term Loans (of the same Extension Series) or Replacement Term Loans (of the same Series), and (ii) when used in reference to any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is an Initial Term Loan Commitment or a New Term Loan Commitment.

Closing Date” shall mean November 6, 2020.

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 Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as collateral agent under the Security Documents, or any successor collateral agent pursuant to Section 12.9, and any Affiliate or designee of Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, may act as the Collateral Agent under any Credit Document.

Commitments” shall mean, with respect to each Lender (to the extent applicable), such Lender’s Initial Term Loan Commitment or New 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(a).

Compliance Certificate” shall mean a certificate of a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 9.1(d) for the applicable Test Period.

Confidential Information” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.16.

 

-12-


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 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.

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 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 paid or accrued during such period deducted, including any penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from any tax examinations (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income and any payments to any direct or indirect parent in respect of such taxes, plus

(b)    Fixed Charges of such Person 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 calculating such Consolidated Net Income, plus

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

(d)    any expenses, fees, charges, or losses (other than depreciation or amortization expense) related to any Equity Offering, Permitted Investment, Restricted Payment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization, or the incurrence of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by this Agreement (including a refinancing thereof) (whether or not successful and including any such transaction consummated prior to the Restatement Effective Date), including (1) such fees, expenses, or charges related to the incurrence of the ABL Loans and the Loans hereunder and all Transaction Expenses, (2) such fees, expenses, or charges related to the offering of the Credit Documents and any other credit facilities, and (3) any amendment or other modification of the ABL Loans, the Loans hereunder or other Indebtedness, 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, write downs, expenses, losses, or 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 represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be deducted from Consolidated EBITDA to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period), plus

 

-13-


(f)    the amount of any net income (loss) 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)    the amount of management, monitoring, consulting, and advisory fees (including termination fees) and related indemnities and expenses paid or accrued in such period to the Initial Investors or any of their respective Affiliates, plus

(h)    costs of surety bonds incurred in such period in connection with financing activities, plus

(i)    increases in Consolidated EBITDA projected by the Borrower in good faith to result from Permitted Acquisitions or transactions involving new or expanded services, facilities, lines of business or operations, in each case which have been consummated or are reasonably expected to be consummated pursuant to agreements or letters of intent that have been entered into with respect thereto, reflecting any projected increase in the businesses and services of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and such Acquired Entity or Business or new or expanded services, facilities, lines of business or operations, in each case attributable to the applicable transaction and that are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable, plus

(j)    the amount of reasonably identifiable and factually supportable “run-rate” cost savings and revenue synergies, operating expense reductions, operating enhancements and other synergies that are projected by the Borrower in good faith to result from actions either taken or expected to be taken within 24 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 and revenue synergies, operating expense reductions, and synergies shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such cost savings and revenue synergies, operating expense reductions, operating enhancements or other synergies had been realized on the first day of such period), plus

(k)    the amount of loss or discount on sale of receivables and related assets to the Receivables Subsidiary in connection with a Receivables Facility, plus

(l)    any costs or expense incurred by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any 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 the Borrower or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower (other than Disqualified Stock), plus

(m)    the amount of expenses relating to payments made to option, phantom equity or profits interest holders of the Borrower or any of its any direct or indirect subsidiaries or parent companies in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to equity holders 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 equity holders 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

 

-14-


(n)    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 the Borrower’s and the Restricted Subsidiaries’ proportionate share of such joint venture’s Consolidated Net Income (determined as if such joint venture were a Restricted Subsidiary), 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 (2) below for any previous period and not added back, plus

(p)    to the extent not already included in the 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 the Borrower has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer and only to the extent that such amount is (A) not denied by the applicable carrier in writing within 180 days and (B) in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of the determination by the Borrower 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)    charges, expenses, and other items described in (1) the Lender Presentation or (2) any quality of earnings report reasonably prepared in good faith by a nationally recognized accounting firm in connection with any Specified Transaction actually consummated by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries and delivered to the Administrative Agent, plus

(r)    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 Topic 715—Compensation—Retirement Benefits, and any other items of a similar nature, plus

(s)    the aggregate amount of “run-rate” Consolidated EBITDA reasonably expect to be derived from contracted revenue under any contract in place as of the end of such period projected by Holdings in good faith for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of Holdings following the end of such period, as if such contracted revenue was applicable (calculated, if applicable, using the historical average derived from such contract over the immediately preceding three year period and without duplication of any Consolidated EBITDA actually reflected in such four consecutive fiscal quarter period) during the entire period, plus

 

-15-


(t)    any costs or expenses realized in connection with or resulting from stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options or other rights of officers, directors and employees, in each case of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, plus

(u)    pre-opening costs and expenses in connection with new retail locations and losses from any such new location during the first year after opening, plus

(v)    costs and expenses in connection with project ramp-ups that are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable (in the good faith determination of the Borrower),

(w)    the amount of any loss attributable to a new store, distribution center, facility or business until the date that is 24 months after the date of commencement of construction or the date of acquisition or launch thereof, as the case may be; provided that (A) such losses are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable and certified by a responsible officer of the Borrower, (B) losses attributable to such store, distribution center, facility or business after 24 months from the date of commencement of construction or the date of acquisition of such store, distribution center or facility, as the case may be, shall not be included in this clause (s), and (C) no amounts shall be added pursuant to this clause (s) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges relating to such cost savings or revenue enhancements that are included in clause (i) above with respect to such period,

(ii)    decreased by (without duplication), non-cash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person 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, plus

(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.

 

-16-


For the avoidance of doubt:

(i)    to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income, 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 for any period, without duplication, (1) the Acquired EBITDA of any Person or business, or attributable to any property or asset acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary 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 the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary 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, there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA 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 the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business, or asset so sold or disposed of, a “Sold Entity or Business”), and the Disposed EBITDA of any Restricted Subsidiary that is converted into an Unrestricted Subsidiary during such period (each, a “Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary”) based on the actual Disposed EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such sale, transfer, or disposition 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.

Consolidated First Lien Secured 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, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis consisting of third party Indebtedness for borrowed money as of such date secured by a Lien on all of the Collateral that ranks on an equal priority basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with Liens on all of the Collateral securing the Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, any Indebtedness under the ABL Facility shall constitute Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt.

Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (i) Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt as of such date of determination, minus cash and Cash Equivalents (in each case, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower for the Test Period most recently ended on or prior to such date of determination, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt and Consolidated EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Pro Forma Basis.

 

-17-


Consolidated Interest Expense” shall mean 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, 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 (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 Permitted Receivables Financing, (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.

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 for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income, of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, and on an after-tax basis to the extent appropriate, and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that, without duplication,

(i)    extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) or expenses (including any unusual or non-recurring operating expenses directly attributable to the implementation of cost savings initiatives and any accruals or reserves in respect of any extraordinary, non- recurring or unusual items), severance, relocation costs, integration and facilities’ or bases’ opening costs and other business optimization expenses (including related to new product introductions and other strategic or cost savings initiatives), restructuring charges, accruals or reserves (including restructuring and integration costs related to acquisitions and adjustments to existing reserves), whether or not classified as restructuring expense on the consolidated financial statements, signing costs, retention or completion bonuses, other executive recruiting and retention costs, transition costs, costs related to closure/consolidation of facilities or bases and curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans (including any settlement of pension liabilities and charges resulting from changes in estimates, valuations and judgments), shall be excluded,

 

-18-


(ii)    at the election of the Borrower, subject to the provisions set forth in Section 1.3, 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, shall be excluded,

(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,

(iv)    any 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 the Borrower, shall be excluded,

(v)    the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not the Borrower or a Subsidiary, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be excluded; provided that Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower shall be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments that are actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash or Cash Equivalents) to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, shall be excluded,

(vi)    solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (iii)(A) of Section 10.5, the Net Income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Guarantor) shall be excluded to the extent the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule, or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, unless such restriction with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions (a) has been legally waived, or otherwise released, (b) is imposed pursuant to this Agreement and other Credit Documents, the ABL Credit Documents, Permitted Debt Exchange Notes, New Term Loans, or Permitted Other Indebtedness, or (c) arises pursuant to an agreement or instrument if the encumbrances and restrictions contained in any such agreement or instrument taken as a whole are not materially less favorable to the Secured Parties than the encumbrances and restrictions contained in the Credit Documents (as determined by the Borrower in good faith); provided that Consolidated Net Income of the referent Person will be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) or Cash Equivalents to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein, shall be excluded,

(vii)    effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Borrower and the 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 Restatement Effective Date or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, shall be excluded,

 

-19-


(viii)    (a) any 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 No. 144) 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 including stock appreciation or similar rights, phantom equity, stock options, restricted stock, capital or profits interests or other rights to officers, directors, managers, or employees 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 Restatement Effective 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 Restatement Effective 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,

(xiii)    to the extent covered by insurance or indemnification and actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Borrower has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer 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 the Borrower 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,

(xiv)    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,

(xv)    any costs or expenses incurred during such period relating to environmental remediation, litigation, or other disputes in respect of events and exposures that occurred prior to the Restatement Effective Date shall be excluded,

 

-20-


(xvi)    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 shall be excluded, and

(xvii)     any amounts paid pursuant to clause (15) of Section 10.5(b) other than subclause (E)(ii) thereof that are used to fund payments that, if paid by the Borrower would have reduced Net Income, shall be included to reduce Net Income.

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 the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries at such date.

Consolidated Total Debt” shall mean, as at any date of determination, an amount equal to the sum of the aggregate amount of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Capitalized Lease Obligations and debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes and similar instruments (and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Hedging Obligations); provided that (i) Consolidated Total Debt shall not include Letters of Credit (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement), except to the extent of Unpaid Drawings (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) thereunder and (ii) the amount of any Indebtedness outstanding under the ABL Facility on any date shall be deemed to be the average daily amount of such Indebtedness thereunder for the most recent twelve month period ending on such date (and for any period ending prior to the one year anniversary of the Restatement Effective Date, the average daily amount outstanding thereunder during such period).

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 cash and Cash Equivalents (in each case, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower for the Test Period most recently ended on or prior to such date of determination, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Total Debt and Consolidated EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Pro Forma Ratio.

Consolidated Working Capital” shall mean, at any date, the excess of (i) the sum of all amounts (other than cash and Cash Equivalents) that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries at such date excluding the current portion of current and deferred income taxes over (ii) the sum of all amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current liabilities” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date, but excluding (for purposes of both clauses (i) and (ii) above), without duplication, (a) the current portion of any Funded Debt, (b) all Indebtedness consisting of Loans, ABL Loans and Letter of Credit Exposure (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) and Capital Leases to the extent otherwise included therein, (c) the current portion of interest, (d) the current portion of current and deferred income taxes, (e) any liabilities that are not Indebtedness and will not be settled in cash or Cash Equivalents during the next succeeding twelve month period after such date, (f) the effects from applying purchase accounting, (g) any accrued professional liability risks, (h) restricted marketable securities, and (i) deferred revenue reflected within current liabilities; provided that, for purposes of calculating Excess Cash Flow, increases or decreases in working capital (A) arising from acquisitions or dispositions by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be measured from the date on which such acquisition or disposition occurred and (B) shall exclude (I) the impact of non-cash adjustments contemplated in the Excess Cash Flow calculation, (II) the impact of adjusting

 

-21-


items in the definition of “Consolidated Net Income” and (III) any changes in current assets or current liabilities as a result of (x) the effect of fluctuations in the amount of accrued or contingent obligations, assets or liabilities under hedging agreements or other derivative obligations, (y) any reclassification, other than as a result of the passage of time, in accordance with GAAP of assets or liabilities, as applicable, between current and noncurrent or (z) the effects of acquisition method accounting.

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.

Contract Consideration” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of Excess Cash Flow.

Contractual Requirement shall have the meaning provided in Section 8.3.

Converted Restricted Subsidiary shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term Consolidated EBITDA.

Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term Consolidated EBITDA.

Converting Term Lender” means each Existing Term Lender that has elected to convert its Existing Term Loans to Initial Term Loans pursuant to Amendment No. 3.

Converting Term Loans” means each Existing Term Loan as to which the Lender thereof is a Converting Term Lender.

Credit Card Receivables” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the amount due from third-party financial institutions for credit and debit card transactions that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “cash equivalents” (or any like caption) on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date.

Credit Documents shall mean this Agreement, each Joinder Agreement, each Extension Amendment, each Permitted Repricing Amendment, the Guarantees, the Security Documents, and any promissory notes issued by the Borrower pursuant hereto.

Credit Event shall mean and include the making (but not the conversion or continuation) of a Loan.

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.

 

-22-


Credit Party shall mean Holdings, the Borrower and the other Guarantors.

Debt Incurrence Prepayment Event” shall mean any issuance or incurrence by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness (excluding any Indebtedness permitted to be issued or incurred under Section 10.1 other than Section 10.1(w)(i)).

Declined Proceeds shall have the meaning provided in Section 5.2(f).

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).

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.

Deferred Net Cash Proceeds shall have the meaning provided such term in the definition of Net Cash Proceeds.

Deferred Net Cash Proceeds Payment Date shall have the meaning provided such term in the definition of Net Cash Proceeds.

Designated Non-Cash Consideration shall mean the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by the Borrower 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 the Borrower, setting forth the basis of such valuation, executed by either a senior vice president or the principal financial officer of 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 the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower (in each case other than Disqualified Stock) that is issued for cash (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an officer’s certificate executed by the principal financial officer of the Borrower or parent company thereof, as the case may be, on the issuance date thereof, the cash proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (iii) of Section 10.5(a).

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 (determined as if references to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the definition of Consolidated EBITDA were references to such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary and its respective Subsidiaries), 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.

 

-23-


Disqualified Lenders” shall mean such Persons (i) that have been specified in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners by the Sponsor as being Disqualified Lenders prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on October 27, 2020, (ii) who are competitors of the Sponsor, Borrower and/or their Affiliates that are separately identified in writing by the Borrower or the Sponsor to the Administrative Agent from time to time (it being understood and agreed that the consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required with respect to the designation of any competitor of the Sponsor), and (iii) in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), any of their Affiliates (other than any such Affiliate that is affiliated with a financial investor in such Person and that is not itself an operating company or otherwise an Affiliate of an operating company so long as such Affiliate is a bona fide Fund) that are either (a) identified in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent from time to time or (b) clearly identifiable on the basis of such Affiliate’s name. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) each Credit Party and the Lenders acknowledge and agree that the Administrative Agent shall not have any responsibility or obligation to determine whether any Lender or potential Lender is a Disqualified Lender and the Administrative Agent shall have no liability with respect to any assignment or participation made to a Disqualified Lender and (y) any such designation of a Disqualified Lender may not apply retroactively to disqualify any Person that has previously acquired an assignment or participation in any Credit Facility.

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 putable 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 Term Loan Maturity Date hereunder; provided that if such Capital Stock is issued to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death, or disability.

Dollar Equivalent” shall mean, at any time, (i) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, such amount, and (ii) with respect to any amount denominated in any currency other than Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars, as determined by the Administrative Agent on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined on the most recent date of determination) for the purchase of Dollars with such currency.

Dollars and “$” shall mean dollars in lawful currency of the United States.

Domestic Subsidiary” shall mean each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia.

EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

 

-24-


EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

Effective Yield” shall mean, as to any Indebtedness, the effective yield on such Indebtedness in the reasonable determination of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower which is consistent with generally accepted financial practices, taking into account the applicable interest rate margins, any interest rate floors (the effect of which floors shall be determined in a manner set forth in the proviso below), or similar devices and all fees, including upfront or similar fees or original issue discount (amortized over the shorter of (i) the remaining weighted average life to maturity of such Indebtedness and (ii) the four years following the date of incurrence thereof) payable generally to Lenders or other institutions providing such Indebtedness in the initial primary syndication thereof, but excluding any arrangement, structuring, ticking, or other similar fees payable in connection therewith that are not generally shared with the relevant Lenders and, if applicable, amendment fees paid generally to consenting Lenders; provided that with respect to any Indebtedness that includes a “LIBOR floor” or “ABR floor,” (a) to the extent that the Adjusted LIBOR Rate (with an Interest Period of three months) or ABR (without giving effect to any floors in such definitions), as applicable, on the date that the Effective Yield is being calculated (in the reasonable discretion of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent) is less than such floor, the amount of such difference shall be deemed added to the interest rate margin for such Indebtedness for the purpose of calculating the Effective Yield and (b) to the extent that the Adjusted LIBOR Rate (with an Interest Period of three months) or ABR (without giving effect to any floors in such definitions), as applicable, on the date that the Effective Yield is being calculated is greater than such floor, then the floor shall be disregarded in calculating the Effective Yield.

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, investigation, 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 including, without limitation, ambient air, indoor air, surface water, groundwater, soil, land surface and subsurface strata, and natural resources such as wetlands, flora and fauna.

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, including, without limitation, ambient air, indoor air, surface water, groundwater, soil, land surface and subsurface strata and natural resources such as flora, fauna, or wetlands, 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.

 

-25-


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.

Equity Offering” shall mean any public or private sale of common stock or preferred stock of the Borrower, 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 its direct or indirect parent company’s common stock registered on Form S-8, (ii) issuances to any Subsidiary of Holdings or the Borrower 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).

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 that would reasonably be expected to result in liability to a Credit Party; (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 under Section 4042 of ERISA 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 (other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA), 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 under Section 4041 of ERISA 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 from any Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a “substantial employer (within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA), or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA, or the complete or partial withdrawal (within the meaning of Section 4203 or 4205 of ERISA) from any 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 or 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” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

 

-26-


Event of Default shall have the meaning provided in Section 11.

Excess Cash Flow shall mean, for any period, an amount equal to the excess of:

(i)    the sum, without duplication (in each case, for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis), of:

(a)    Consolidated Net Income for such period,

(b)    an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash charges to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income and cash receipts to the extent excluded in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income,

(c)    decreases in Consolidated Working Capital for such period (other than (1) reclassification of items from short-term to long-term or vice versa and (2) any such decreases arising from acquisitions or Asset Sales by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries completed during such period or the application of purchase accounting),

(d)    an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash loss on Asset Sales by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (other than Asset Sales in the ordinary course of business) to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income,

(e)    cash receipts in respect of Hedge Agreements during such period to the extent not otherwise included in Consolidated Net Income,

(f)    increases in current and non-current deferred revenue to the extent deducted or not included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, and

(g)    extraordinary gains actually received in cash;

over (ii) the sum, without duplication, of:

(a)    an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash credits included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, cash charges to the extent excluded in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, and Transaction Expenses to the extent not deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income and paid in cash during such period,

(b)    [reserved],

(c)    the aggregate amount of all principal payments of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (including (1) the principal component of payments in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, (2) the amount of any scheduled repayment of Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.5, and (3) the amount of a mandatory prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to Section 5.2(a) to the extent required due to an Asset Sale that resulted in an increase to Consolidated Net Income and not in excess of the amount of such increase but excluding (A) all other prepayments of Term Loans and (B) all prepayments of ABL Loans (and any other revolving loans (unless there is an equivalent permanent reduction in commitments thereunder)) made during such period, except to the extent financed with the proceeds of other long-term Indebtedness of the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries,

 

-27-


(d)    an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash gain on Asset Sales by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (other than Asset Sales in the ordinary course of business) to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income,

(e)    increases in Consolidated Working Capital for such period (other than (1) reclassification of items from short-term to long-term or vice versa and (2) any such increases arising from acquisitions or Asset Sales by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries completed during such period or the application of purchase accounting),

(f)    [reserved],

(g)    [reserved],

(h)    [reserved],

(i)    [reserved],

(j)    the aggregate amount of any premium, make-whole, or penalty payments actually paid in cash by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that are made in connection with any prepayment of Indebtedness to the extent that such payments are not deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income,

(k)    [reserved],

(l)    the amount of taxes (including penalties and interest) paid in cash or tax reserves set aside or payable (without duplication) in such period to the extent they exceed the amount of tax expense deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period,

(m)    cash expenditures in respect of Hedge Agreements during such period to the extent not deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income,

(n)    decreases in current and non-current deferred revenue to the extent included or not deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, and

(o)    extraordinary losses actually paid in cash.

Excluded Contribution” shall mean net cash proceeds, the Fair Market Value of marketable securities, or the Fair Market Value of Qualified Proceeds received by the Borrower from (i) contributions to its common equity capital, and (ii) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Borrower or to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Borrower) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Borrower, in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an officer’s certificate executed by either a senior vice president or the principal financial officer of the Borrower on the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Equity Interests are sold, as the case may be, which are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (iii) of Section 10.5(a); provided that any non-cash assets shall qualify only if acquired by a parent of the Borrower in an arm’s-length transaction within the six months prior to such contribution.

Excluded Property” shall have the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

 

-28-


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 Voting Stock and Stock Equivalents entitled to vote of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC or any CFC Holding Company, any such Voting Stock or Stock Equivalents of any class of such Foreign Subsidiary or CFC Holding Company in excess of 66% of the total voting power of all such Voting Stock or Stock Equivalents of such Foreign Subsidiary or CFC Holding Company (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, such 66% limitation shall not apply to (x) Capital Stock other than Voting Stock or (y) Stock Equivalents that are not entitled to vote), (iii) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents to the extent the pledge thereof would violate any applicable Requirements of Law (including any legally effective requirement to obtain the consent of any Governmental Authority unless such consent has been obtained), (iv) in the case of (A) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary to the extent such Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents are subject to a Lien permitted by clause (ix) of the definition of Permitted Lien or (B) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary that is not Wholly-Owned by the Borrower 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 (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 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 the Borrower or any Subsidiary to obtain any such consent) and for so long as such Contractual Requirement or replacement or renewal thereof is in effect, 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 the right to terminate its obligations thereunder (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), (v) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary to the extent that the pledge of such Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents would result in materially adverse tax consequences to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any direct or indirect parent entity as reasonably determined by the Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, (vi) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents that are margin stock, and (vii) any Capital Stock and Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary that is not a Material Subsidiary or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, a captive insurance Subsidiary, an SPV or any special purpose entity.

Excluded Subsidiary shall mean (i) each Subsidiary, in each case, for so long as any such Subsidiary does not (on (x) a consolidated basis with its Restricted Subsidiaries, if determined on the Restatement Effective Date by reference to the Historical Financial Statements or (y) a consolidated basis with its Restricted Subsidiaries, if determined after the Restatement Effective Date by reference to the financial statements delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.1(a) and (b)) constitute a Material Subsidiary, (ii) each Subsidiary that is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary on any date such Subsidiary would otherwise be required to become a Guarantor pursuant to the requirements of Section 9.11 (for so long as such Subsidiary remains a non-Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary), (iii) any CFC Holding Company, (iv) any Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC, (v) any Foreign Subsidiary, (vi) each Subsidiary that is prohibited by any applicable Contractual Requirement or

 

-29-


Requirements of Law from guaranteeing or granting Liens to secure 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), (vii) each Subsidiary with respect to which, as reasonably determined by the Borrower, the consequence of providing a Guarantee of the Obligations would adversely affect the ability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to satisfy applicable Requirements of Law, (viii) each Subsidiary with respect to which, as reasonably determined by the Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, providing such a Guarantee would result in material adverse tax consequences to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (ix) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, 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 (x) each Unrestricted Subsidiary, (xi) any Receivables Subsidiary, (xii) 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 and (xiii) each SPV or not-for-profit Subsidiary.

Excluded Swap Obligation” shall mean, with respect to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Credit Party, (a) any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Obligations of such Person of, or the grant by such Person 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 Persons 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) any Taxes imposed on or measured by such recipient’s overall net income, net profits, or branch profits (however denominated), and franchise (and similar) Taxes imposed on such recipient (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 between such recipient and such jurisdiction (other than any such connection arising solely from such recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Credit Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Credit Document), (ii) 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 Credit Document that is required to be imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of a Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to laws in force at the time such Lender (a) acquires such interest in the applicable Loan or Commitment or (b) 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 in each case to the extent that amounts with respect to such withholding Tax were payable pursuant to Section 5.4 either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender acquired the applicable interest in a Loan or

 

-30-


Commitment or to such Lender immediately before such Lender designated a new lending office,(iii) any Taxes attributable to such recipient’s failure to comply with Section 5.4(e), or (iv) any withholding Tax imposed under FATCA.

Existing ABL Facility” shall mean that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of July 2, 2015, by and among the Borrower, certain of the Borrower’s subsidiaries, the lenders from time to time party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Existing Administrative Agent” shall mean Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as administrative agent and collateral agent for the Existing Term Loan Facility.

Existing Debt Facilities” shall mean the Existing Term Loan Facility and the Existing ABL Facility.

Existing Term Lender” means a Term Lender that holds Existing Term Loans immediately prior to the Restatement Effective Date.

Existing Term Loan” means each “Term Loan” as defined in the Existing Term Loan Facility.

Existing Term Loan Class” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(g)(i).

Existing Term Loan Facility” shall mean the Credit Agreement, dated as of August 3, 2011, as amended by that Amendment No. 1, dated as of November 6, 2012, and that Amendment No. 2, dated as of July 2, 2015 by and among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto and the Existing Administrative Agent.

Existing Term Loan Repayment Amount” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.5(c).

Extended Repayment Date” 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 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 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.

 

-31-


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 successor version described above) any intergovernmental agreements (or related legislation or official administrative rules or practices) implementing the foregoing, and any laws, fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules guidance notes and practices adopted by a U.S. or non-U.S. jurisdiction to effect the foregoing.

Federal Funds Effective Rate” shall mean, for any day, the weighted average of the per annum rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by depository institutions on such day, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; provided that (i) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (ii) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be the average rate charged to the Administrative Agent on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

Fees” shall mean all amounts payable pursuant to, or referred to in, Section 4.1.

First Lien Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean an Intercreditor Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit I-1 (with such changes to such form as may be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower) among the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, and the representatives for purposes thereof for holders of one or more classes of First Lien Obligations (other than the Obligations).

First Lien Obligations” shall mean the Obligations and the other Indebtedness that is secured by Liens on all of the Collateral that rank on an equal priority basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations.

First Lien Secured Leverage Test” shall mean, as of any date of determination, with respect to the last day of the most recently ended Test Period, either (i) the Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio shall be no greater than 2.00:1.00 or (ii) in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or Permitted Investment (or series of Permitted Acquisitions and/or Permitted Investments), the Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio shall be less than or equal to the Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio immediately prior to such Permitted Acquisition or Permitted Investment (or series of Permitted Acquisitions and/or Permitted Investments).

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDA for the Test Period most recently ended on or prior to such date of determination to (ii) the Fixed Charges for such Test Period, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Pro Forma Basis.

 

-32-


Fixed Charges” shall mean, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of:

(i)    Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis 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.

Flood Insurance Laws” collectively, (i) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (which comprehensively revised the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 and the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973) as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto and (iii) 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 and regulations or with the terms of such Foreign Plan or Foreign Benefit Arrangement.

Foreign Subsidiary” shall mean each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

Fund” shall mean any Person (other than a natural Person) that is engaged or advises funds or other investment vehicles that are engaged in making, purchasing, holding, or investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course.

Funded Debt” shall mean all Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for borrowed money that matures more than one year from the date of its creation or matures within one year from such date that is renewable or extendable, at the option of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, to a date more than one year from the date of its creation or arises under a revolving credit or similar agreement that obligates the lender or lenders to extend credit during a period of more than one year from such date (including all amounts of such Funded Debt required to be paid or prepaid within one year from the date of its creation), and, in the case of the Credit Parties, Indebtedness in respect of the Loans.

 

-33-


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 Restatement Effective 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 Restatement Effective Date, the Borrower 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 the Borrower’s election to apply IFRS shall remain as previously calculated or determined in accordance with GAAP. 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.

Gochman Investors” shall mean (i) each of David E Gochman and Molly Gochman, (ii) any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of any of the individuals referred to in clause (i) and (iii) any Person more than 50% of the Equity Interests of which is owned or controlled by any of the individuals referred to in clause (i), including MSI 2011 LLC and MG Family Limited Partnership.

General Asset Sale Exception” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Asset Sale”.

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 body exercising such powers or functions, 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 Term Loan Holdings Guarantee made by Holdings, the Texas Intermediate Holdcos and each other Intermediate Holdco (subject to Section 9.14), substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1, and the Amended and Restated Term Loan Guarantee made by each other Guarantor, substantially in the form of Exhibit B-2, in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and (ii) any other guarantee of the Obligations made by any Subsidiary of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

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;

 

-34-


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 Restatement Effective 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) each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is party to the Guarantee on the Restatement Effective Date, (ii) each Subsidiary of Holdings that becomes a party to the Guarantee after the Restatement Effective Date pursuant to Section 9.11, Section 9.14 or otherwise and (iii) Holdings and the Texas Intermediate Holdcos; provided that in no event shall any Excluded Subsidiary be required to be a Guarantor (unless such Subsidiary is no longer an Excluded Subsidiary).

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.

Hedge Bank” shall mean (i) (a) any Person that, at the time it enters into a Hedge Agreement with the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, is a Lender, an Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Agent and (b) with respect to any Hedge Agreement entered into prior to the Restatement Effective Date, any Person that is a Lender or an Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Agent on the Restatement Effective Date and (ii) any other Person that is designated by the Borrower as a “Hedge Bank” by written notice to the Administrative Agent substantially in the form of Exhibit L-1 or such other form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

Hedging Obligations” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under any Hedge Agreements.

 

-35-


Historical Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended February 3, 2018, February 2, 2019 and February 1, 2020, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal years of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

Holdings” shall mean (i) New Academy Holding Company, LLC or (ii) after the Restatement Effective Date, any other Person or Persons (“New Holdings”) that is a Subsidiary of Holdings or of any Parent Entity of Holdings (or the previous New Holdings, as the case may be) but not the Borrower (“Previous Holdings”); provided that (a) such New Holdings directly or indirectly through Intermediate Holdcos owns 100% of the Equity Interests of the Borrower, (b) New Holdings shall expressly assume all the obligations of Previous Holdings under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (c) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, an opinion of counsel shall be delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent to the effect that, without limitation, such substitution does not violate this Agreement or any other Credit Document, (d) all Capital Stock of the Borrower shall be pledged to secure the Obligations and (e) (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such substitution and such substitution does not result in any Event of Default and (ii) such substitution does not result in any adverse tax consequences to any Lender (unless reimbursed hereunder) or to the Administrative Agent (unless reimbursed hereunder); provided, further, that if each of the foregoing is satisfied, Previous Holdings shall be automatically released of all its obligations under the Credit Documents and any reference to “Holdings” in the Credit Documents shall be meant to refer to New Holdings.

IFRS” shall have the meaning given to such term in the definition of GAAP.

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

Impacted Loans” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.10(a).

Increased Amount Date shall mean the date of effectiveness of any New Term Loan Commitments.

incur” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.1.

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 the Borrower solely by reason of push down accounting under GAAP shall be excluded, (ii) to the extent not otherwise

 

-36-


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, (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 of 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 or (9) asset retirement obligations and obligations in respect of workers’ compensation (including pensions and retiree medical care) that are not overdue by more than 60 days. 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 all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, shall exclude all intercompany Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 365 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

Indemnified Liabilities shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.5.

“Indemnified Person” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.5.

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 Investors” shall mean shall mean Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P and its Affiliates, but not including, however, any portfolio companies of any of the foregoing.

Initial Term Loan” shall mean any loan in Dollars converted or made pursuant to clauses (a) or (b) of Section 2.01, respectively.

Initial Term Loan Commitment” shall mean, in the case of each Lender that is a Lender on the Restatement Effective Date, (x) such Lender’s Additional Initial Term Commitment and (y) the agreement of such Lender to convert the principal amount of its Term Loans (as set forth in such Lender’s Consent (as defined in Amendment No. 3)) for an equal principal amount of Initial Term Loans on the Restatement Effective Date. The aggregate amount of the Initial Term Loan Commitments as of the Restatement Effective Date is $400,000,000.

Initial Term Loan Lender shall mean each Additional Initial Term Lender and Converting Term Lender.

 

-37-


Initial Term Loan Maturity Date” shall mean November 6, 2027 or, if such date is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day.

Initial Term Loan Repayment Amount shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.5(b).

Initial Term Loan Repayment Date shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.5(b).

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.

Intellectual Property” shall mean U.S. 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, Internet 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, divisionals, re-issues, re-examinations, 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.

Intermediate Holdcos” shall mean the Texas Intermediate Holdcos and any other Subsidiary of Holdings that becomes a party to the Guarantee in the form of Exhibit B-1 after the Restatement Effective Date pursuant to Section 9.11(y).

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 consolidated balance sheet (excluding the footnotes) of the Borrower 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 the Borrower and the 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.

For purposes of the definition of Unrestricted Subsidiary and Section 10.5,

(i)    Investments shall include the portion (proportionate to the Borrower’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Borrower at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount (if positive) equal to (a) the Borrower’s Investment in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less (b) the portion (proportionate to the Borrower’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

 

-38-


(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 the Borrower 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 Rating Agency.

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 a the Borrower 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

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

IPO” refers to the initial public offering of Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc.’s common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, which such IPO closed on October 6, 2020.

ISDA Definitions” means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any successor thereto, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet for interest rate derivatives published from time to time by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or such successor thereto.

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.

Joint Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners” shall mean Credit Suisse Loan Funding LLC, KKR Capital Markets LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Capital One N.A., U.S. Bank National Association, Regions Capital Markets (a division of Regions Bank) and BBVA Securities Inc.

Junior Debt” shall mean any Indebtedness (other than any permitted intercompany Indebtedness owing to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) in respect Subordinated Indebtedness in excess of $50,000,000.

KKR” shall mean each of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. and KKR 2006 Fund L.P.

 

-39-


Latest Term Loan Maturity Date” shall mean, at any date of determination, the latest maturity or expiration date applicable to any Term Loan hereunder at such time, including the latest maturity or expiration date of any New Term Loan or any Extended Term Loan, in each case as extended in accordance with this Agreement from time to time.

LCT Election” shall have the meaning provided in Section 1.12(a).

LCT Test Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 1.12(a).

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, which refusal or failure is not cured within one business day after the date of such refusal or failure, unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent 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 or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one business day 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 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 the ABL Facility, 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 in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that it will comply with its funding obligations under this Agreement, (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 becomes the subject of a Bail-in Action.

Lender Presentation” shall mean the lender presentation dated October 21, 2020 and presented to the Lenders in connection with the syndication of the Loans under this Agreement.

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”), other than via an Undisclosed Administration, 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.

LIBOR” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of LIBOR Rate.

LIBOR Loan shall mean any Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBOR Rate.

LIBOR Rate” shall mean,

 

-40-


(i)    for any Interest Period with respect to a LIBOR Loan, the rate per annum equal to the offered rate administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (“LIBOR”) 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 of LIBOR 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 Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; and

(ii)    for any interest calculation with respect to an ABR Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to LIBOR, at or about 11:00 a.m., London time, determined on such date for Dollar deposits with a term of one month commencing that day; provided that to the extent a comparable or successor rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection herewith, the approved rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided, further, that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such approved rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent in consultation with the Borrower.

LIBOR Screen Rate” means the LIBOR quote on the applicable screen page the Administrative Agent designates to determine LIBOR (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time).

LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate, any conforming changes to the definition of ABR, Interest Period, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other administrative matters as may be appropriate, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, to reflect the adoption of such LIBOR Successor Rate and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such LIBOR Successor Rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent determines in consultation with the Borrower).

LIBOR Successor Rate” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.1(c).

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 to Intellectual Property be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Limited Condition Transaction” shall mean any transaction by one or more of Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing.

Loan” shall mean any Term Loan or any other loan made by any Lender pursuant to this Agreement.

 

-41-


Master Agreement” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Hedge Agreement.”

Material Adverse Effect” shall mean a circumstance or condition affecting the business, assets, operations, properties, or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that would, individually or in the aggregate, materially adversely affect (i) the ability of the Borrower 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 (ii) the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under the Credit Documents.

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 the Borrower and the 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 the Borrower and the 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 Restatement Effective Date, Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Material Subsidiaries (other than Subsidiaries that are Excluded Subsidiaries by virtue of any of clauses (ii) through (xiii) 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 the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries at such date or (b) revenues during such Test Period equal to or greater than 10.0% of the consolidated revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP, then the Borrower 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 Carveout Amount” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(d).

Maturity Date shall mean the Initial Term Loan Maturity Date, the New Term Loan Maturity Date or the maturity date of an Extended Term Loan, as applicable.

Maximum Incremental Facilities Amount” shall mean, at any date of determination, the sum of (i) (x) the greater of (A) $480,000,000 and (B) 100% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) plus (ii) the aggregate amount of voluntary prepayments of the Term Loans (including purchases of Initial Term Loans by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at or below par, in which case the amount of voluntary prepayments of such Term Loans shall be deemed to equal the face amount of such Term Loans so purchased) and Permitted Other Indebtedness that is secured on a pari passu basis with the Term Loans, in each case, other than from proceeds of the Incurrence of long-term Indebtedness, plus (iii) an amount equal to the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness that is secured on a pari passu basis with the Term Loans that is substantially simultaneously refinanced with New Term Loans incurred pursuant to this clause (iii), plus (iv) an amount such that, after giving effect to the Incurrence of such amount the Borrower would be (a) in compliance on a Pro Forma Basis (including any adjustments required by such definition as a result of a contemplated Permitted Acquisition or Permitted Investment, but excluding any concurrent incurrence of Indebtedness pursuant to clauses (i) through (iii) above or the ABL Facility and without netting the cash proceeds of any New Term Loans), with the First Lien Secured Leverage Test (assuming that all Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 2.14(a) or Section 10.1(x) on such date of determination would be included in the definition of Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt, whether or not such Indebtedness would otherwise be so included) minus (v) the sum of (a) the aggregate principal

 

-42-


amount of New Term Loan Commitments incurred pursuant to Section 2.14(a) in reliance on clause (i) of this definition prior to such date and (b) the aggregate principal amount of Permitted Other Indebtedness issued or incurred (including any unused commitments obtained) pursuant to
Section 10.1(x)(i)(a) in reliance on clause (i) of this definition prior to such date.

MFN Protection” shall have the meaning set forth in the proviso to Section 2.14(d)(iii).

Minimum Borrowing Amount shall mean (i) with respect to a Borrowing of LIBOR Loans, $5,000,000 and (ii) with respect to a Borrowing of ABR Loans, $1,000,000.

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.

Mortgage” shall mean a mortgage, deed of trust, deed to secure debt, trust deed, or other security document entered into by the owner of a Mortgaged Property and the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in respect of that Mortgaged Property to secure the Obligations, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent and the Borrower, together with such terms and provisions as may be required by local laws, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Mortgaged Property” shall mean, initially, each parcel of real estate and the improvements thereto owned in fee by a Credit Party and identified on Schedule 1.1(a), and each other parcel of owned real property and improvements thereto with respect to which a Mortgage is granted pursuant to Section 9.14. For the avoidance of doubt, Mortgaged Property shall not include any owned real property located in a special flood hazard area.

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 Prepayment Event and any incurrence of Permitted Other Indebtedness, (i) the gross cash proceeds (including payments from time to time in respect of installment obligations, if applicable, but only as and when received) received by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of such Prepayment Event or incurrence of Permitted Other Indebtedness, as the case may be, less (ii) the sum of:

(a)    the amount, if any, of all taxes (without duplication with the netting of such taxes envisioned in Section 5.2(a)(iv), including in connection with any repatriation of funds) paid or estimated to be payable by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such Prepayment Event or incurrence of Permitted Other Indebtedness,

(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 Prepayment Event and (2) retained by the Borrower 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 a Prepayment Event occurring on the date of such reduction,

 

-43-


(c)    the amount of any Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Permitted Other Indebtedness) secured by a Lien on the assets that are the subject of such Prepayment Event to the extent that the instrument creating or evidencing such Indebtedness requires that such Indebtedness be repaid upon consummation of such Prepayment Event,

(d)    in the case of any Asset Sale Prepayment Event or Casualty Event or Permitted Sale Leaseback, the amount of any proceeds of such Prepayment Event that the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has reinvested (or intends to reinvest within the Reinvestment Period or has entered into a binding commitment prior to the last day of the Reinvestment Period to reinvest) in the business of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that any portion of such proceeds that has not been so reinvested within such Reinvestment Period (with respect to such Prepayment Event, the “Deferred Net Cash Proceeds”) shall, unless the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary has entered into a binding commitment prior to the last day of such Reinvestment Period to reinvest such proceeds no later than 180 days following the last day of such Reinvestment Period, (1) be deemed to be Net Cash Proceeds of an Asset Sale Prepayment Event, Casualty Event, or Permitted Sale Leaseback occurring on the last day of such Reinvestment Period or, if later, 180 days after the date the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary has entered into such binding commitment, as applicable (such last day or 180th day, as applicable, the “Deferred Net Cash Proceeds Payment Date”), and (2) be applied to the repayment of Term Loans in accordance with Section 5.2(a)(i);

(e)    in the case of any Asset Sale Prepayment Event, Casualty Event, or Permitted Sale Leaseback by a non-Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary, the pro rata portion of the Net Cash Proceeds thereof (calculated without regard to this clause (e)) attributable to non-controlling interests and not available for distribution to or for the account of the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary as a result thereof;

(f)    in the case of any Asset Sale Prepayment Event or Permitted Sale Leaseback, 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 a Prepayment Event occurring on the date of such reduction solely to the extent that the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiaries receives cash in an amount equal to the amount of such reduction; and

(g)    all fees and out-of-pocket expenses paid by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any of the foregoing (for the avoidance of doubt, including, (1) in the case of the issuance of Permitted Other Indebtedness, any fees, underwriting discounts, premiums, and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with such issuance and (2) attorney’s fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and recording charges, transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes, underwriting discounts and commissions, 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, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends.

 

-44-


New Senior Notes” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

Net Short Lender” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.1.

New Term Loan shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(c).

New Term Loan Commitments” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(a).

New Term Loan Lender shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(c).

New Term Loan Maturity Date shall mean the date on which a New Term Loan matures.

New Term Loan Repayment Amount” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.5(c).

New Term Loan Repayment Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.5(c).

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-Credit Party Permitted Other Indebtedness” shall have the meaning specified in the definition of Permitted Other Indebtedness.

Non-Credit Party Permitted Other Indebtedness Amount” means the greater of (A) $480,000,000 and (B) 100.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period.

Non-Converting Term Loan” means each Term Loan outstanding immediately prior to the Restatement Effective Date other than a Converting Term Loan.

Non-Defaulting Lender” shall mean and include each Lender other than a Defaulting Lender.

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(a).

Notice of Conversion or Continuation shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.6(a).

Obligations shall mean all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants, and duties of, any Credit Party arising under any Credit Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or under any Secured Cash Management Agreement or 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 the Borrower or any of the 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 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 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.

 

-45-


OFAC” shall have the meaning provided in Section 8.10.

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, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, 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, (“Assignment Taxes”) to the extent such Assignment Taxes are imposed as a result of a present or former connection between the Lender and the taxing jurisdiction (other than a connection arising solely from having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any transaction pursuant to or enforced any Credit Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Credit Document), except to the extent that any such action described in this proviso is requested or required by the Borrower pursuant to Section 13.7 or (ii) Excluded Taxes.

Overnight Rate shall mean, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate and (b) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

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.

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.

Pension Plan” shall mean any “employee pension benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), but excluding any Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA, Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, 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.

Permitted Acquisition” shall have the meaning provided in clause (iii) of the definition of Permitted Investment.

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 the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary and another Person; provided that any cash or Cash Equivalents received must be applied in accordance with Section 10.4.

 

-46-


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).

Permitted Debt Exchange Offer” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.15(a).

Permitted Holders” shall mean each of (i) the Initial Investors and the Gochman Investors and their respective Affiliates (other than any portfolio company of an Initial Investor) and members of management of the Borrower (or their respective direct or indirect parent or management investment vehicle) who are holders of Equity Interests of Holdings (or its direct or indirect parent company or management investment vehicle) and any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision) of which any of the foregoing are members; provided that, in the case of such group and without giving effect to the existence of such group or any other group, such Initial Investors and the Gochman Investors, their respective Affiliates (other than any portfolio company of an Initial Investor) and members of management, collectively, have beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of Holdings or any other direct or indirect Parent Entity, (ii) any direct or indirect Parent Entity formed not in connection with, or in contemplation of, a transaction (other than the Transactions) that, assuming such parent was not formed after giving effect thereto, would constitute a Change of Control and (iii) any entity (other than a Parent Entity) through which a Parent Entity described in clause (ii) directly or indirectly holds Equity Interests of Holdings and has no other material operations other than those incidental thereto.

Permitted Investments” shall mean:

(i)    any Investment in the Borrower 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 the Borrower 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, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, and, in each case, any Investment held by such Person; provided that such Investment was not acquired by such Person in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, consolidation, 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;

(v)    (a) any Investment existing or contemplated on the Restatement Effective 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 Restatement Effective Date except pursuant to the terms of such Investment (including in respect

 

-47-


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 Restatement Effective Date;

(vi)    any Investment acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (a) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Borrower or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization, or recapitalization of the Borrower of such other Investment or accounts receivable or (b) as a result of a foreclosure by the Borrower 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 Investment in a Similar Business having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (viii) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (a) $168,000,000 and (b) 35% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) 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 (viii) 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 (viii) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(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 for Restricted Payments under clause (iii) of Section 10.5(a);

(x)    guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under Section 10.1 and Investments to the extent constituting Permitted Liens;

(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 clause (b) 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 (without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash or marketable securities), not to exceed the greater of (a) $190,000,000 and (b) 40% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) 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

 

-48-


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 the Borrower, are necessary or advisable to effect a Receivables Facility or any repurchases in connection therewith;

(xv)    advances to, or guarantees of Indebtedness of, employees not in excess of the greater of (a) $25,000,000 and (b) 5% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) 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 the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent company thereof and (b) promissory notes received from stockholders of the Borrower, any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with the exercise of stock options in respect of the Equity Interests of the Borrower, any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries;

(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 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 pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons, in the ordinary course of business;

(xxii)    advances of payroll payments to employees in the ordinary course of business;

(xxiii)    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 Borrower;

(xxiv)    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”.

 

-49-


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 contested taxes or import duties or 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, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, and mechanics’ 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 which 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 are not required to be paid pursuant to Section 8.11, or for property Taxes on property of the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries has determined to abandon if the sole recourse for such Tax 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;

(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, taken as a whole;

(vi)    Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be outstanding pursuant to clause (a), (b)(i) (so long as such Liens are subject to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement), (b)(ii), (d), (l)(ii), (m) (to the extent relating to another clause of Section 10.1 set forth in this clause (vi)), (r), (w), (x), (y) or (aa) 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

 

-50-


any assets other than the assets owned by the Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties; (c) in the case of Liens on the Collateral pursuant to this clause (vi) securing Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations, Ratio Debt, New Term Loans or Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(l)(ii), in each case that constitute First Lien Obligations, the applicable Permitted Other Indebtedness Secured Parties or lenders with respect to such Ratio Debt, New Term Loans or Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(l)(ii) (or a representative thereof on behalf of such holders), as applicable, 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 the first such issuance of Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations, Ratio Debt, New Term Loans or Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(l)(ii), the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent and the representative for the holders of such Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations, Ratio Debt, New Term Loans or Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(l)(ii), as applicable, shall have entered into the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, and (2) in the case of subsequent issuances of Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations, Ratio Debt, New Term Loans or Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(l)(ii), the representative for the holders of such Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations, Ratio Debt, New Term Loans or Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(l)(ii), as applicable, shall have become a party to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof; and (d) in the case of Liens on the Collateral pursuant to this clause (vi) securing Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations, Ratio Debt, New Term Loans or Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(l)(ii), in each case that do not constitute First Lien Obligations, the applicable Permitted Other Indebtedness Secured Parties or lenders with respect to such Ratio Debt, New Term Loans or Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(l)(ii) (or a representative thereof on behalf of such holders), as applicable, 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 the first such issuance of Permitted Other Indebtedness, Ratio Debt, New Term Loans or Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(l)(ii), the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent and the representative of the holders of such Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations, Ratio Debt, New Term Loans or Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(l)(ii), as applicable, shall have entered into the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, and (2) in the case of subsequent issuances of Permitted Other Indebtedness, Ratio Debt, New Term Loans or Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(l)(ii), the representative for the holders of such Permitted Other Indebtedness, Ratio Debt, New Term Loans or Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(l)(ii), as applicable, shall have become a party to the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof; and without any further consent of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be authorized to execute and deliver on behalf of the Secured Parties the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement as contemplated by this clause (vi);

(vii)    subject to Section 9.14, other than with respect to Mortgaged Property, Liens existing on the Restatement Effective Date; provided that any Lien securing Indebtedness or other obligations in excess of (a) $5,000,000 individually or (b) $25,000,000 in the aggregate (when taken together with all other Liens securing obligations outstanding in reliance on this clause (b) that are not listed on Schedule 10.2) shall only be permitted if set forth 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

 

-51-


Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Borrower 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 the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Borrower 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 the Borrower 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);

(iii)    (x) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party owing to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 10.1;

(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;

(xiv)    Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases or consignments entered into by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(xv)    Liens in favor of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

-52-


(xvi)    Liens on equipment of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary granted in the ordinary course of business to the Borrower’s 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 (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, the 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) $240,000,000 and (b) 50% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) at the time of the incurrence of such Lien; provided that at the Borrower’s election, (i) in the case of Liens securing Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations that constitute First Lien Obligations (the “Permitted First Lien Indebtedness”), the applicable Permitted Other Indebtedness Secured Parties (or a representative thereof on behalf of such holders) shall enter into security documents with terms and conditions not materially more restrictive to the Borrower and the Subsidiary Credit Parties, taken as a whole, than the terms and conditions of the Security Documents and (1) in the case of the first such issuance of Permitted Other Indebtedness constituting First Lien Obligations, the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent and the representative for the holders of such Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations shall have entered into the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (2) in the case of subsequent issuances of Permitted Other Indebtedness constituting First Lien Obligations, the representative for the holders of such Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations shall have become a party to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof; and (ii) in the case of Liens securing Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations that do not constitute First Lien Obligations, the applicable Permitted Other Indebtedness Secured Parties (or a representative thereof on behalf of such holders) shall enter into security documents with terms and conditions not materially more restrictive to the Borrower and the Subsidiary Credit Parties, taken as a whole, than the terms and conditions of the Security Documents and shall (x) in the case of the first such issuance of Permitted Other Indebtedness that do not constitute First Lien Obligations, the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent and the representative of the holders of such Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations shall have entered into the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (y) in the case of subsequent issuances of Permitted Other Indebtedness that do not constitute First Lien Obligations, the representative for the holders of such Permitted Other Indebtedness shall have become a party to the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof; and without any further consent of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be authorized to execute and deliver on

 

-53-


behalf of the Secured Parties the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement contemplated by this clause (xx); provided that any such Permitted First Lien Indebtedness incurred in the form of term loans shall be subject to the Effective Yield restrictions applicable to New Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.14(d)(iii);

(xxi)    Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 11.5 or Section 11.10;

(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 of Indebtedness, (b) relating to pooled deposits or sweep accounts of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, or (c) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(xxvii)    Liens (a) solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement 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 the Borrower 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;

 

-54-


(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 the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

(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 the Borrower 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, and

(xxxviii)    to the extent pursuant to a Requirements of Law, Liens on cash or Permitted Investments securing Swap Agreements in the ordinary course of business.

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 subordinated or senior Indebtedness (which Indebtedness may (i) be unsecured, (ii) have the same lien priority as the First Lien Obligations (without regard to control of remedies); provided that if such Indebtedness is in the form of secured first lien term loans, then such Indebtedness shall be subject to any applicable MFN Protection as if such Indebtedness were New Term Loans, or (iii) be secured by a Lien ranking junior to the Liens securing the First Lien Obligations), (a) except with respect to (x) the Maturity Carveout Amount and (y) customary bridge loans, the terms of which do not provide for any scheduled repayment, mandatory repayment, or redemption or sinking fund obligations prior to, at the time of Incurrence, the Latest Term Loan Maturity Date (or in the case of refinancing Indebtedness, the maturity debt of such Refinanced Indebtedness)

 

-55-


(other than, in each case, customary offers or obligations to repurchase or repay upon a change of control, excess cash flow sweep, asset sale, or casualty or condemnation event, AHYDO payments and customary acceleration rights after an event of default), (b) of which no financial maintenance covenant is included for the benefit of any such Indebtedness unless such financial maintenance covenant is also added for the benefit of any corresponding Loans remaining outstanding after the issuance or Incurrence of such Indebtedness (it being understood that (1) to the extent that any 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 financial maintenance covenant is also added for the benefit of the remaining outstanding Loans or (2) no consent shall be required by the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders if any covenants are only applicable after the Latest Term Loan Maturity Date) and (c) except with respect to such Indebtedness in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the Non-Credit Party Permitted Other Indebtedness Amount (“Non-Credit Party Permitted Other Indebtedness”), (A) of which no Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Borrower or a Guarantor) is an obligor and (B) that, if secured, is not secured by a lien on any assets of Holdings or its Subsidiaries other than the Collateral.

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 the Borrower or any Subsidiary 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, the Borrower or 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 the Borrower or 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 Borrower and/or 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 Person under any Permitted Other Indebtedness Document.

Permitted Other Indebtedness Secured Parties” shall mean the holders from time to time of secured Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations (and any representative on their behalf).

Permitted Other Provision” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(g)(i).

Permitted Sale Leaseback” shall mean any Sale Leaseback consummated by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries after the Restatement Effective Date; provided that any such Sale Leaseback not between the Borrower and a Restricted Subsidiary is consummated for fair value as determined at the time of consummation in good faith by (i) the Borrower 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 (a) $192,000,000 and (b) 40% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) at the time of the incurrence of such Sale Leaseback, the board of directors (or analogous governing body) of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary (which such determination may take into account any retained interest or other Investment of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, and any other material economic terms of, such Sale Leaseback).

 

-56-


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” (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA), 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, with respect to any such plan that is that is subject to Title IV of ERISA, Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, 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 Amended and Restated 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 C.

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 last day of the sixth full consecutive fiscal quarter immediately following the date on which such Permitted Acquisition is consummated.

Prepayment Event” shall mean any Asset Sale Prepayment Event, Debt Incurrence Prepayment Event, Casualty Event, or any Permitted Sale Leaseback.

primary obligor” shall have the meaning provided such term in the definition of Contingent Obligations.

Prime Rate shall mean the “prime rate” referred to in the definition of ABR.

Pro Forma Adjustment shall mean, for any Test Period that includes all or any part of a fiscal quarter included in any Post-Acquisition Period, with respect to the Acquired EBITDA of the applicable Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary or the Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower, the pro forma increase or decrease in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, projected by the Borrower in good faith as a result of (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 the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that (a) at the election of the Borrower, such Pro Forma Adjustment shall not be required to be determined for any Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the aggregate consideration paid in connection with such acquisition was less than $10,000,000; 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.

 

-57-


Pro Forma Basis,” Pro Forma Compliance,” and “Pro Forma Effect shall mean, with respect to compliance with any test, financial ratio, or covenant hereunder, that (i) to the extent applicable, a Pro Forma Adjustment shall have been made and (ii) all Specified Transactions and the following transactions in connection therewith shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement in such test or covenant: (a) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person subject to such Specified Transaction, (1) in the case of a sale, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all Capital Stock in any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any division, product line, or facility used for operations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, shall be excluded, and (2) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition or Investment described in the definition of Specified Transaction, shall be included, (b) any retirement of Indebtedness, and (c) other than as set forth in the definition of Maximum Incremental Facilities Amount, any incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith (it being agreed that if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, such Indebtedness shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate that is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination); provided that, without limiting the application of the Pro Forma Adjustment pursuant to clause (a) above, the foregoing pro forma adjustments may be applied to any such test or covenant solely to the extent that such adjustments are consistent with the definition of Consolidated EBITDA and give effect to operating expense reductions that are (x)(1) directly attributable to such transaction, (2) expected to have a continuing impact on the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, and (3) factually supportable or (y) otherwise consistent with the definition of Pro Forma Adjustment.

Pro Forma Entity” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term Acquired EBITDA.

Pro Forma Financial Statements” shall have the meaning provided in Section 6.12.

Prohibited Transaction” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975(c) of the Code.

PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

Public Company Costs” 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, and listing fees.

Qualified Proceeds” shall mean assets that are used or useful in, or Capital Stock of any Person engaged in, a Similar Business.

Qualified Stock” of any Person shall mean Capital Stock of such Person other than Disqualified Stock of such Person.

 

-58-


Real Estate shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.1(f).

Receivables Assets” means (a) the accounts receivable, royalties or other revenue streams, (b) rights to payment (including pursuant to the terms of Joint Ventures) subject to a Receivables Facility and (c) other assets customarily transferred together with any of the foregoing in a Receivables Facility and the proceeds thereof, including for the avoidance of doubt the underlying assets and related contracts generating any such receivables, royalties, revenue or rights to payment.

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 the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Receivables Subsidiary) pursuant to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary sells, directly or indirectly, grants a security interest in or otherwise transfers its Receivables Assets 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 the Borrower or any Subsidiary makes an Investment and to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary transfers accounts receivables and related assets.

Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (1) if such Benchmark is USD LIBOR, 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the day that is two London banking days preceding the date of such setting, and (2) if such Benchmark is not USD LIBOR, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

Refinanced Term Loans” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.1.

Refinancing Indebtedness” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.1(m).

Refinancing Permitted Other Indebtedness” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.1(x).

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 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.

 

-59-


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.

Reinvestment Period shall mean 540 days following the date of receipt of Net Cash Proceeds of an Asset Sale Prepayment Event, Casualty Event, or Permitted Sale Leaseback.

Rejection Notice” shall have the meaning provided in Section 5.2(f).

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 the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries in exchange for assets transferred by the Borrower 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 or migration through the environment.

Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor thereto.

Removal Effective Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.9(b).

Repayment Amount shall mean the Initial Term Loan Repayment Amount, a New Term Loan Repayment Amount with respect to any Series, 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 DOL Reg. § 4043.

 

-60-


Repricing Transaction” shall mean (i) the incurrence by the Borrower of any Indebtedness in the form of a similar term B loan that is broadly marketed or syndicated to banks and other institutional investors (a) having an Effective Yield for the respective Type of such Indebtedness that is less than the Effective Yield for the Initial Term Loans of the respective equivalent Type, but excluding Indebtedness incurred in connection with a Change of Control, Transformative Acquisition or Transformative Disposition and (b) the proceeds of which are used to prepay (or, in the case of a conversion, deemed to prepay or replace), in whole or in part, outstanding principal of Initial Term Loans or (ii) any effective reduction in the Effective Yield for the Initial Term Loans (e.g., by way of amendment, waiver or otherwise), except for a reduction in connection with a Change of Control, Transformative Acquisition or Transformative Disposition. Any determination by the Administrative Agent with respect to whether a Repricing Transaction shall have occurred shall be conclusive and binding on all Lenders holding the Initial Term Loans.

Required Lenders shall mean, at any date, Non-Defaulting Lenders having or holding a majority of the sum of (i) the Adjusted Total Term Loan Commitment at such date and (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans (excluding Term Loans held by Defaulting Lenders) at such date.

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.

Resignation Effective Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.9(a).

Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.

Restatement Effective Date” shall mean the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date (as defined in Amendment No. 3).

Restatement Effective Date Refinancing” shall mean the repayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other discharge of the Existing Debt Facilities and termination and/or release of any security interests and guarantees in connection therewith (other than as set forth in Section 13.23).

Restricted Investment” shall mean an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

Restricted Payment” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.5(a).

Restricted Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Retained Asset Sale Proceeds” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.4.

Retained Declined Proceeds shall have the meaning provided in Section 5.2(f).

Retired Capital Stock” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.5(b)(2).

 

-61-


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 the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any real or tangible personal property, which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person in contemplation of such leasing.

Sanctioned Country” means any country or territory that may, from time to time, be the target of Sanctions (presently, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, or the Crimea region of Ukraine).

Sanctioned Person” means any Person that is the target of Sanctions, including: (a) any Person listed in any list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC or other applicable U.S. or non-U.S. authority under Sanctions; (b) any Person 50% or more owned or, where relevant under applicable Sanctions, controlled by any such Person or Persons or acting for or on behalf of such Person; or (c) any person organized or ordinarily resident in a Sanctioned Country.

Sanctions” means comprehensive economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the OFAC or (b) any other applicable governmental entities of other countries, regions or jurisdictions.

Scheduled Unavailability Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.1(b).

SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean a First Lien/Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit I-2 (with such changes to such form as may be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower) among the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the representatives for purposes thereof of any other Permitted Other Indebtedness Secured Parties that are holders of Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations having a Lien on the Collateral ranking junior to the Lien securing the Obligations.

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 the Borrower 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.

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, the Borrower may deliver one notice designating all Hedge

 

-62-


Agreements entered into pursuant to a specified Master Agreement as “Secured Hedge Agreements”. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, a Hedge Agreement with a Restricted Subsidiary shall remain a Secured Hedge Agreement notwithstanding that such Restricted Subsidiary is subsequently designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary, 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 and each Lender, in each case with respect to the Credit Facilities, each Hedge Bank that is party to any Secured Hedge Agreement with Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, each Cash Management Bank that is party to a Secured Cash Management Agreement with the Borrower 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 Amended and Restated 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 D, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Security Documents shall mean, collectively, the Pledge Agreement, the Security Agreement, the Mortgages, if executed, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, if executed, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if executed, the First Lien/Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement 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 Security Documents (including intellectual property security agreements) to secure the Obligations or to govern the lien priorities of the holders of Liens on the Collateral.

Senior Secured Notes Indenture” shall mean the indenture for the Senior Secured Notes, dated as of the date hereof, between the Borrower, Holdings, Texas Intermediate Holdcos and certain other Subsidiary of the Company party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee.

Series” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(a).

Significant Subsidiary” shall mean, at any date of determination, (a) any Restricted Subsidiary whose gross revenues (when combined with the gross revenues of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries after eliminating intercompany obligations) for the Test Period most recently ended on or prior to such date were equal to or greater than 10% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined in accordance with GAAP or (b) each other Restricted Subsidiary that, when such Restricted Subsidiary’s total gross revenues (when combined with the total gross revenues of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries after eliminating intercompany obligations) are aggregated with each other Restricted Subsidiary (when combined with the total gross revenues of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries after eliminating intercompany obligations) that is the subject of an Event of Default described in Section 11.5 would constitute a “Significant Subsidiary” under clause (a) above.

Similar Business” shall mean any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Restatement Effective Date or any business that is similar, reasonably related, synergistic, incidental, or ancillary thereto.

 

-63-


Sold Entity or Business shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term Consolidated EBITDA.

Solvent” shall mean, after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions, (i) the sum of the liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, does not exceed the present fair saleable value of the present assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis; (ii) the fair value of the property of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, is greater than the total amount of liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis; (iii) the capital of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, is not unreasonably small in relation to their business as contemplated on the date hereof; and (iv) the Borrower and its Restricted 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).

Specified Transaction shall mean, with respect to any period, any Investment (including a Permitted Acquisition), any asset sale, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, Restricted Payment, Subsidiary designation, New Term Loan or other event or action (including a restructuring or business optimization event) that in each case by the terms of this Agreement requires Pro Forma Compliance with a test or covenant hereunder or requires such test or covenant to be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

Sponsor” shall mean any of KKR and its Affiliates (including the funds, partnerships and other co-investment vehicles managed, advised or controlled thereby but other than, in each case, any portfolio company of any of the foregoing).

Sponsor Management Agreement” shall mean the management agreement between certain of the management companies associated with the Initial Investors and the Borrower, as in effect on August 3, 2011 and as may be amended, modified, supplemented, restated, replaced or substituted so long as such amendment, modification, supplement, restatement, replacement or substitution is not, when taken as a whole, materially disadvantageous to the Lenders compared to the management agreement in effect on August 3, 2011.

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.

SPV” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.6(g).

Statutory Reserves” 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 percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) established by the Board and any other banking authority, domestic or foreign, to which the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including any branch, Affiliate or other fronting office making or holding a Loan) is subject to Eurocurrency Liabilities (as defined in Regulation D of the Board). LIBOR Rate Loans shall be deemed to constitute Eurocurrency Liabilities and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D. Statutory Reserves shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

 

-64-


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.

Subordinated Indebtedness” shall mean Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Guarantor that is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the obligations of 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% 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% equity interest at the time. Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references herein to a Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

Subject Lien” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.2(a).

Successor Borrower” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.3(a).

Swap Obligation” shall mean, with respect to the Borrower any Subsidiary 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 Initial Term Loan Commitment and, if applicable, New Term Loan Commitment with respect to any Series and Replacement Term Loan Commitment with respect to any Series.

Term Loan Extension Request” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14 (g)(i).

Term Loan Lender shall mean, at any time, any Lender that has a Term Loan Commitment or an outstanding Term Loan.

Term Loans shall mean the Initial Term Loans, any New Term Loans, any Replacement Term Loans, and any Extended Term Loans, collectively.

Termination Date shall mean the date on which the Loans, together with interest, Fees and all other Obligations Incurred hereunder (other than contingent obligations as to which no valid demand has been made, Secured Hedge Obligations and Secured Cash Management Obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement), are paid in full.

 

-65-


Test Period” shall mean, for any determination under this Agreement, the four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower’s most recently ended on or prior to such date of determination 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 fiscal quarters at the end of which financial statements are available).

Texas Intermediate Holdcos” means Associated Investors L.L.C., a Texas limited liability company, and Academy Managing Co., L.L.C., a Texas limited liability company.

Total Credit Exposure” shall mean, at any date, the sum, without duplication, of (i) the Total Term Loan Commitment at such date, and (ii) without duplication of clause (i), the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Term Loans at such date.

Total Initial Term Loan Commitment shall mean the sum of the Initial Term Loan Commitments of all Lenders.

Total Term Loan Commitment shall mean the sum of (i) the Initial Term Loan Commitments and (ii) the New Term Loan Commitments, if applicable, of all the Lenders.

Transaction Expenses shall mean any fees, costs, or expenses incurred or paid by the Borrower, or any of their 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, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the ABL Credit Agreement, the Senior Secured Notes Indenture, the Restatement Effective Date Refinancing and the consummation of any other transactions in connection with the foregoing (including 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).

Transformative Acquisition” shall mean any acquisition by Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that (i) is not permitted by the terms of the Credit Documents immediately prior to the consummation of such acquisition, (ii) if permitted by the terms of the Credit Documents immediately prior to the consummation of such acquisition, would not provide the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries with adequate flexibility under the Credit Documents for the continuation and/or expansion of their combined operations following such consummation, as determined by the Borrower acting in good faith, or (iii) results in a refinancing of the Initial Term Loans that involves an upsizing in connection with such acquisition.

Transformative Disposition” shall mean any disposition by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that (i) is not permitted by the terms of the Credit Documents immediately prior to the consummation of such disposition, (ii) if permitted by the terms of the Credit Documents immediately prior to the consummation of such disposition, would not provide the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries with a durable capital structure following such consummation, as determined by the Borrower acting in good faith, or (iii) results in a refinancing of the Initial Term Loans that involves a downsizing in connection with such disposition.

Type” shall mean as to any Term Loan, its nature as an ABR Loan or a LIBOR Loan.

 

-66-


UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended form time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.

UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.

Undisclosed Administration” shall mean in relation to a Lender or its parent company the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official by a supervisory authority or regulator under or based on the law in the country where such Lender or such parent company is subject to home jurisdiction supervision if applicable law requires that such appointment is not to be publicly disclosed.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” shall mean (i) any Subsidiary of the Borrower which at the time of determination is an Unrestricted Subsidiary (as designated by the board of directors of the Borrower, as provided below) and (ii) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The board of directors of the Borrower may designate any Subsidiary of the Borrower (including any existing Subsidiary and any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary, provided that:

(a)    such designation complies with Section 10.5; and

(b)    immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Event of Default under Section 11.1 or 11.5 shall have occurred and be continuing.

The board of directors of the Borrower may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Event of Default under Section 11.1 or 11.5 shall have occurred and be continuing.

Any such designation by the board of directors of the Borrower shall be notified by the Borrower 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 the Borrower certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

U.S.” and “United States” shall mean the United States of America.

USD LIBOR” means the London interbank offered rate for U.S. dollars.

U.S. Lender” shall have the meaning provided in Section 5.4(e)(ii)(A).

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 or managers (or similar governing authority) of such Person.

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.

 

-67-


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 and the Administrative Agent.

Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write- down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.

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.

 

-68-


(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.

(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)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of determining compliance with any test or covenant contained in this Agreement with respect to any period during which any Specified Transaction occurs, the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio, the Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio, and the First Lien Secured Leverage Test shall each be calculated with respect to such period and such Specified Transaction on a Pro Forma Basis.

(c)    Where reference is made to “the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis” or similar language, such combination shall not include any Subsidiaries of the Borrower other than Restricted Subsidiaries.

1.4    Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower 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 Requirements of Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing, or interpreting such Requirements of Law.

1.6    Exchange Rates. 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

 

-69-


Indebtedness, Lien or Restricted Investment is incurred or after such Asset Sale or Restricted Payment is 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 or Consolidated First Lien Secured 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.

1.7    Rates. The Administrative Agent does not warrant, nor accept responsibility, nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to the administration, submission, or any other matter related to the rates in the definition of LIBOR Rate or with respect to any comparable or successor rate thereto.

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    Compliance with Certain Sections. In the event that any Lien, Investment, Indebtedness (whether at the time of incurrence or upon application of all or a portion of the proceeds thereof), disposition, Restricted Payment, Affiliate transaction, Contractual Requirement, or prepayment of Indebtedness meets the criteria of one or more than one of the categories of transactions then permitted pursuant to any clause, subsection or underlying defined term of Section 9.9 or any clause, subsection or underlying defined term of Sections 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5 or 10.6, then such transaction (or portion thereof) at any time shall be allocated to one or more of such clauses or subsections within the relevant sections as determined by the Borrower in its sole discretion at such time.

1.12    Pro Forma and Other Calculations.

(a)    For purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio, Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations, and disposed operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP) that have been made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during the Test Period or subsequent to such Test Period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the date of determination shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations, and disposed operations (and the change in any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in Consolidated EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the Test Period. If, since the beginning of such period, any Person (that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period) shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, or disposed operation that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then

 

-70-


the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio and Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio shall be calculated giving Pro Forma Effect thereto for such Test Period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, or disposed operation had occurred at the beginning of the Test Period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Agreement that does not require compliance with a financial ratio or test (including, without limitation, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio and Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio) (any such amounts, including amount incurred under Consolidated EBITDA grower basket, the “Fixed Amounts”) substantially concurrently with any amounts Incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Agreement that requires compliance with any such financial ratio or test (any such amounts, the “Incurrence Based Amounts”), it is understood and agreed that the Fixed Amounts (and any cash proceeds thereof) shall be disregarded in the calculation of the financial ratio or test applicable to the Incurrence Based Amounts in connection with such substantially concurrent Incurrence. In connection with the Incurrence of any Indebtedness pursuant to Section 2.14, the definitions of Required Lenders and Required Initial Term Loan Lenders shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis in accordance with this Section 1.12, Section 2.14 and the definition of Maximum Incremental Facilities Amount.

(b)    Whenever Pro Forma Effect is to be given to a transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Borrower (and may include, for the avoidance of doubt and without duplication, cost savings, and operating expense reductions resulting from such Investment, acquisition, merger, or consolidation which is being given Pro Forma Effect that have been or are expected to be realized; provided that such costs savings and operating expense reductions are made in compliance with the definition of Pro Forma Adjustment). 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 determination 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 the Borrower 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.

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 the Credit Documents which requires the calculation of the Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio, Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio or the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio;

 

-71-


(ii)    determining the accuracy of representations and warranties in Section 8 and/or whether a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing under Section 11; or

(iii)    testing availability under baskets set forth in the Credit Documents (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”) (it being understood and agreed that the Borrower may elect to revoke any LCT Election in its sole discretion), 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 or such later date as the Borrower may elect (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. 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 the Borrower 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 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 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 until such time as the Limited Condition Transaction has been consummated or the definitive agreement with respect thereto has been terminated or expires.

(b)    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 as discontinued operations, no Pro Forma Effect shall be given to any discontinued operations (and the Consolidated 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.

(c)    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.

(d)    All leases of any Person that are or would be characterized as operating leases in accordance with GAAP immediately prior to January 1, 2017 (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 to be recharacterized as Capital Leases.

 

-72-


(e)    Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, all computations of Excess Cash Flow, Consolidated Total Assets, Available Amount, Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio, Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio and other financial ratios and financial calculations (and all definitions (including accounting terms) used in determining any of the foregoing) shall be calculated, in each case, with respect to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

Section 2.    Amount and Terms of Credit.

2.1    Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in Amendment No. 3:

(a)    Each Converting Term Lender severally agrees that its Converting Term Loans are hereby converted to a like principal amount of Initial Term Loans on the Restatement Effective Date. All Converting Term Loans will have the Types and Interest Periods specified in the Notice of Borrowing delivered in connection therewith. All accrued and unpaid interest on the Converting Term Loans to, but not including, the Restatement Effective Date shall be payable on the Restatement Effective Date, but no amounts under Section 2.11 shall be payable in connection with such conversion.

(b)    Each Additional Initial Term Lender severally agrees to make an Additional Initial Term Loan to the Borrower on the Restatement Effective Date in the principal amount equal to its Additional Initial Term Commitment on the Restatement Effective Date. The Borrower shall prepay the aggregate principal amount of the Non-Converting Term Loans with the aggregate gross proceeds of the Additional Initial Term Loans, concurrently with the receipt thereof. All accrued and unpaid interest on the Non-Converting Term Loans to, but not including, the Restatement Effective Date shall be paid on the Restatement Effective Date, and the Borrower will make any payments required under Section 2.11 with respect to the Non-Converting Term Loans in accordance therewith.

(c)    Such Initial Term Loans (i) may at the option of the Borrower be incurred and maintained as, and/or converted into, ABR Loans or LIBOR Loans; provided that all Term Loans made by each of the Lenders pursuant to the same Borrowing shall, unless otherwise specifically provided herein, consist entirely of Term Loans of the same Type, (ii) may be repaid or prepaid (without premium or penalty other than as set forth in Section 5.1(b)) in accordance with the provisions hereof, but once repaid or prepaid, may not be reborrowed, (iii) shall not exceed for any such Lender the Initial Term Loan Commitment of such Lender, and (iv) shall not exceed in the aggregate the Total Initial Term Loan Commitments. On the Initial Term Loan Maturity Date, all then unpaid Initial Term Loans shall be repaid in full in Dollars.

2.2    Minimum Amount of Each Borrowing; Maximum Number of Borrowings. The aggregate principal amount of each Borrowing of Term Loans shall be in a minimum amount of at least the Minimum Borrowing Amount for such Type of Loans and in a multiple of (i) in the case of any LIBOR Loan, $1,000,000 and (ii) in the case of any ABR Loan, $100,000 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 LIBOR Loans that are Term Loans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the full amount of the Initial Term Loans shall be borrowed in a single draw on the Restatement Effective Date.

2.3    Notice of Borrowing.

(a)    In the case of a Borrowing of Initial Term Loans to be made on the Restatement Effective Date, the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office prior to (i) 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) at least one Business Day’s prior written notice if such Initial Term

 

-73-


Loans are to be ABR Loans and (ii) 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) at least three Business Days’ prior written notice if such Initial Term Loans are to be LIBOR Loans with an Interest Period of one, two, three or six months, or 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) at least four Business Days’ prior written notice for any LIBOR Loans with an Interest Period other than one, two, three or six months. Such notice (a “Notice of Borrowing”) shall specify (A) the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans to be made, (B) the date of the Borrowing (which shall be the Restatement Effective Date), (C) whether the Term Loans shall consist of ABR Loans and/or LIBOR Loans and, if the Term Loans are to include LIBOR Loans, the Interest Period to be initially applicable thereto and (D) the wire instruction of such Borrowing. 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 LIBOR 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 advise the applicable Lenders of any notice given pursuant to this Section 2.3(a) (and the contents thereof), and of each Lender’s pro rata share of the requested Borrowing.

(b)    Without in any way limiting the obligation of the Borrower to confirm in writing any notice it 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 the Borrower.

2.4    Disbursement of Funds.

(a)    No later than 12:00 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 Restatement Effective Date, such funds may be made available at such earlier time as may be agreed among the Lenders, the Borrower, 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 make available to the Borrower, by depositing to an account designated by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent the aggregate of the amounts so made available in Dollars. 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 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.

 

-74-


(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 Initial Term Loan Lenders, on the Initial Term Loan Maturity Date, the then outstanding Initial Term Loans.

(b)    The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Initial Term Loan Lenders, (i) on the last Business Day of each of March, June, September and December, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending January 31, 2021 (each such date, an “Initial Term Loan Repayment Date”), a principal amount of Term Loans equal to the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Initial Term Loans made on the Restatement Effective Date multiplied by 0.25% and (ii) on the Initial Term Loan Maturity Date, any remaining outstanding amount of Initial Term Loans (the repayment amounts in clauses (i) and (ii) above, each, an “Initial Term Loan Repayment Amount”). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the amounts set forth in clause (b) may be adjusted in connection with any New Term Loans that are intended to be fungible with the Initial Term Loans.

(c)    In the event that any New Term Loans are made, such New Term Loans shall, subject to Section 2.14(d), be repaid by the Borrower in the amounts (each, a “New Term Loan Repayment Amount”) and on the dates (each a “New Term Loan Repayment Date”) set forth in the applicable Joinder Agreement. In the event that any Extended Term Loans are established, such Extended Term Loans 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.

(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 Initial Term Loan or New Term Loan, the Type of each Loan made 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.

 

-75-


(g)    The Borrower hereby agrees that, upon request of any Lender at any time and from time to time after the Borrower has 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 G, evidencing the Initial Term Loans and New Term Loans 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 at least $5,000,000 of the outstanding principal amount of Term 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 LIBOR Loans as LIBOR Loans for an additional Interest Period; provided that (i) no partial conversion of LIBOR Loans shall reduce the outstanding principal amount of LIBOR Loans made pursuant to a single Borrowing to less than the Minimum Borrowing Amount, (ii) ABR Loans may not be converted into LIBOR 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) LIBOR Loans may not be continued as LIBOR Loans 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 prior written notice 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 LIBOR Loans, or (ii) 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) one Business Day prior to the proposed day 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 LIBOR Loans, the Interest Period to be initially applicable thereto. If no Interest Period is specified in any such notice with respect to any conversion to or continuation as a LIBOR 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 LIBOR Loans denominated in Dollars and the Administrative Agent has or the Required Lenders have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such continuation, such LIBOR 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 LIBOR Loans, the Borrower has failed to elect a new Interest Period to be applicable thereto as provided in clause (a), the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to convert such Borrowing of LIBOR Loans into a Borrowing of ABR Loans, effective as of the expiration date of such current Interest Period.

 

-76-


2.7    Pro Rata Borrowings. Each Borrowing of Initial Term Loans under this Agreement shall be made by the Lenders pro rata on the basis of their then-applicable Initial Term Loan Commitments. Each Borrowing of New Term Loans under this Agreement shall be made by the Lenders pro rata on the basis of their then-applicable New Term Loan 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.

(b)    The unpaid principal amount of each LIBOR 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 LIBOR Loans plus the relevant Adjusted LIBOR Rate.

(c)    If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under Section 11.1 or Section 11.5 and, 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% 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 Dollars; 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 LIBOR 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 and (iii) 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.

(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 LIBOR 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.

 

-77-


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 LIBOR 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, two, three or six month period (or if approved by all the Lenders making such LIBOR 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:

(c)    the initial Interest Period for any Borrowing of LIBOR 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;

(d)    if any Interest Period relating to a Borrowing of LIBOR Loans begins on the last Business Day 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;

(e)    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 LIBOR 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 preceding Business Day; and

(f)    the Borrower shall not be entitled to elect any Interest Period in respect of any LIBOR Loan if such Interest Period would extend beyond the Maturity Date of such Loan.

2.10    Increased Costs, Illegality, Etc.

(g)    In the event that (x) in the case of clause (i) below, the Administrative Agent and (y) in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) below, the Required Initial Term Loan Lenders (with respect to Term Loans) shall have reasonably determined (which determination shall, absent clearly demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto):

(i)    on any date for determining the Adjusted LIBOR Rate for any Interest Period that (x) deposits in the principal amounts and currencies of the Loans comprising such LIBOR Borrowing are not generally available in the relevant market or (y) by reason of any changes arising on or after the Closing Date affecting the interbank LIBOR market, adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining the applicable interest rate on the basis provided for in the definition of Adjusted LIBOR Rate; or

(ii)    at any time, that such Lenders shall incur increased costs or reductions in the amounts received or receivable hereunder with respect to any LIBOR Loans (other than with respect to Taxes) because of any Change in Law;

(iii)    that a Change in Law shall subject any such Lenders to any Tax (other than (1) Indemnified Taxes, (2) Excluded Taxes or (3) Other Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or

 

-78-


(iv)    at any time, that the making or continuance of any LIBOR Loan has become unlawful by compliance by such Lenders in good faith with any law, governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order (or would conflict with any such governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order not having the force of law even though the failure to comply therewith would not be unlawful), or has become impracticable as a result of a contingency occurring after the Closing Date that materially and adversely affects the interbank LIBOR market;

(such Loans, “Impacted Loans”), then, and in any such event, such Required Lenders, as applicable (or the Administrative Agent, in the case of clause (i) above) shall within a reasonable time thereafter give notice (if by telephone, confirmed in writing) to the Borrower and to the Administrative Agent of such determination (which notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to each of the other Lenders). Thereafter (x) in the case of clause (i) above, LIBOR Loans shall no longer be available until such time as the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice by the Administrative Agent no longer exist (which notice the Administrative Agent agrees to give at such time when such circumstances no longer exist), and any Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion or Continuation given by the Borrower with respect to LIBOR Loans that have not yet been incurred shall be deemed rescinded by the Borrower, (y) in the case of clause (ii) above, the Borrower shall pay to such Lenders, promptly after receipt of written demand therefor such additional amounts (in the form of an increased rate of, or a different method of calculating, interest or otherwise as such Required Lenders in their reasonable discretion shall determine) as shall be required to compensate such Lenders for such actual increased costs or reductions in amounts receivable hereunder (it being agreed that a written notice as to the additional amounts owed to such Lenders, showing in reasonable detail the basis for the calculation thereof, submitted to the Borrower by such Lenders shall, absent clearly demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto), and (z) in the case of clause (iv) above, the Borrower shall take one of the actions specified in subclause (x) or (y), as applicable, of Section 2.10(b) promptly and, in any event, within the time period required by law.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Administrative Agent has made the determination described in Section 2.10(a)(i)(x), the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Borrower and the affected Lenders, may establish an alternative interest rate for the Impacted Loans, in which case, such alternative rate of interest shall apply with respect to the Impacted Loans until (1) the Administrative Agent revokes the notice delivered with respect to the Impacted Loans under clause (x) of the first sentence of the immediately preceding paragraph, (2) the Administrative Agent or the affected Lenders notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that such alternative interest rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding the Impacted Loans, or (3) any Lender determines that any law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for such Lender or its applicable lending office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to such alternative rate of interest or to determine or charge interest rates based upon such rate or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to do any of the foregoing and provides the Administrative Agent and the Borrower written notice thereof.

(h)    At any time that any LIBOR Loan is affected by the circumstances described in Section 2.10(a)(ii) or (iv), the Borrower may (and in the case of a LIBOR Loan affected pursuant to Section 2.10(a)(iv) shall) either (x) if a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion or Continuation with respect to the affected LIBOR Loan has been submitted pursuant to Section 2.3 but the affected LIBOR Loan has not been funded or continued, cancel such requested Borrowing by giving the Administrative Agent written notice thereof on the same date that the Borrower was notified by Lenders pursuant to Section 2.10(a)(ii) or (iv) or (y) if the affected LIBOR Loan is then outstanding, upon at least three Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent, require the affected Lender to convert each such LIBOR Loan into an ABR Loan; provided that if more than one Lender is affected at any time, then all affected Lenders must be treated in the same manner pursuant to this Section 2.10(b).

 

-79-


(i)    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 respective 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 respective parent or its Affiliate could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or its respective parent’s policies with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity), then from time to time, promptly after written 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 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(c), 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(c) promptly following receipt of such notice.

(j)    If the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBOR Rate determined or to be determined for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (as certified by such Lenders) of making or maintaining their affected LIBOR Loans during such Interest Period, the Administrative Agent shall give telecopy or telephonic notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders as soon as practicable thereafter (which notice shall include supporting calculations in reasonable detail). If such notice is given, (i) any LIBOR Loan requested to be made on the first day of such Interest Period shall be made an ABR Loan, (ii) any Loans that were to have been converted on the first day of such Interest Period to LIBOR Loans shall be continued as an ABR Loan and (iii) any outstanding LIBOR Loans shall be converted, on the first day of such Interest Period, to ABR Loans. Until such notice has been withdrawn by the Administrative Agent, no further LIBOR Loans shall be made or continued as such, nor shall the Borrower have the right to convert ABR Loans to LIBOR Loans.

2.11    Compensation. If (a) any payment of principal of any LIBOR 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 LIBOR 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 LIBOR Loans is not made as a result of a withdrawn Notice of Borrowing or a failure to satisfy borrowing conditions, (c) any ABR Loan is not converted into a LIBOR Loan as a result of a withdrawn Notice of Conversion or Continuation, (d) any LIBOR Loan is not continued as a LIBOR 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 LIBOR 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

 

-80-


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 LIBOR 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. The obligations of the Borrower under this Section 2.11 shall survive the payment in full of the Loans and the termination of this Agreement.

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(b) 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 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 or 2.11 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 or 2.11, 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, elect to request the establishment of one or more additional tranches of term loans or increases in Term Loans of any Class (the commitments thereto, the “New Term Loan Commitments”) by an aggregate amount not in excess of the Maximum Incremental Facilities Amount in the aggregate and not less than $10,000,000 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 New Term Loan Commitments obtained on or prior to such date) which may be Incurred in Dollars, Euros or Pounds Sterling. The Borrower may approach any Lender or any Person (other than a natural Person) to provide all or a portion of the New Term Loan Commitments; provided that any Lender offered or approached to provide all or a portion of the New Term Loan Commitments may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide a New Term Loan Commitment. In each case, such New Term Loan Commitments shall become effective as of the applicable Increased Amount Date; provided that (i) no Event of Default (except in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, other Permitted Acquisition or Permitted Investment, in which case the standard shall be 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 New Term Loan Commitments, as applicable, and subject to Section 1.12, (ii) the New Term Loan 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 (iii) the Borrower shall make any payments required pursuant to Section 2.11 in connection with the New Term Loan Commitments, as applicable. No Lender shall have any obligation to provide any Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.14(a). Any New Term Loans made on an Increased Amount Date shall, at the election of

 

-81-


the Borrower and agreed to by Lenders providing such New Term Loan Commitments, be designated as (a) a separate series (a “Series”) of New 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)    [Reserved].

(c)    On any Increased Amount Date on which any New Term Loan Commitments of any Series are effective, subject to the satisfaction of the foregoing terms and conditions, (i) each Lender with a New Term Loan Commitment (each, a “New Term Loan Lender”) of any Series shall make a Loan to the Borrower (a “New Term Loan”) in an amount equal to its New Term Loan Commitment of such Series, and (ii) each New Term Loan Lender of any Series shall become a Lender hereunder with respect to the New Term Loan Commitment of such Series and the New Term Loans of such Series made pursuant thereto.

(d)    The terms and provisions of the New Term Loans and New Term Loan Commitments of any Series shall be on terms and documentation set forth in the Joinder Agreement as determined by the Borrower; provided that (i) the applicable New Term Loan Maturity Date of each Series shall be no earlier than the Initial Term Loan Maturity Date; (ii) the weighted average life to maturity of all New Term Loans shall be no shorter than the weighted average life to maturity of the then existing Initial Term Loans as calculated without giving effect to any prepayments made in connection with the Initial Term Loans; (iii) the pricing, interest rate margins, discounts, premiums, rate floors, fees, and, subject to clauses (i) and (ii) above, amortization schedule applicable to any New Term Loans shall be determined by the Borrower and the Lenders thereunder; provided that, with respect to any broadly syndicated New Term Loan Incurred pursuant to clause (i) of the definition of Maximum Incremental Facilities Amount that matures earlier than the date that is two years after the Initial Term Loan Maturity Date, only during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the date that is six months after the Closing Date, if the Effective Yield for LIBOR Loans or ABR Loans in respect of such New Term Loans exceeds the Effective Yield for LIBOR Loans or ABR Loans in respect of the then existing Initial Term Loans of the same currency by more than 0.50%, the Applicable Margin for LIBOR Loans or ABR Loans in respect of the then existing Initial Term Loans of the same currency shall be adjusted so that the Effective Yield in respect of the then existing Initial Term Loans of the same currency is equal to the Effective Yield for LIBOR Loans or ABR Loans in respect of the New Term Loans minus 0.50%; provided that, any amendments to the applicable margin on the Initial Term Loans that became effective subsequent to the Restatement Effective Date but prior to the time of such New Term Loans shall be included in the calculation of the Effective Yield (the terms of this proviso to this clause (iii), the “MFN Protection”); and (iv) to the extent such terms and documentation are not consistent with the then existing Initial Term Loans (except to the extent permitted by clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above), they shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (it being understood that, (1) to the extent that any 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 financial maintenance covenant is added for the benefit of any corresponding Term Loans remaining outstanding after the issuance or incurrence of such Indebtedness and (2) no consent shall be required by the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders if any covenants or other provisions are only applicable after the Latest Term Loan Maturity Date); provided, further, that (x) clauses (i) and (ii) shall not apply to up to an amount equal to the greater of (A) $480,000,000 or (B) 100% of Consolidated EBITDA for the four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower most recently ended on or prior to such date of determination in respect of New Term Loans or Permitted Other Indebtedness (as selected by the Borrower) (the “Maturity Carveout Amount”) and (y) the MFN Protection shall not apply to (I) up to the greater of (A) $480,000,000 and (B) 100.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (as selected by the Borrower) of New Term Loans and (II) any New Term Loans Incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or other Permitted Investment.

 

-82-


(e)     [Reserved].

(f)    Each Joinder Agreement 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.

(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 Initial Term Loan Maturity Date (a “Permitted Other Provision”); provided, however, that (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 Joinder Agreement, 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 (“AHYDO”) 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 Initial Term Loan Maturity Date. 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 penultimate sentence of Section 5.1(a). 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.

(i)     [Reserved].

(ii)     Any Lender (an “Extending Lender”) wishing to have all or a portion of its Term Loans converted into Extended Term Loans shall notify the Administrative Agent (an “Extension Election”) on or prior to the date specified in such Extension Request of the amount

 

-83-


of its Term Loans of the Existing Class or Existing Classes subject to such Extension Request that it has elected to convert into Extended Term Loans. In the event that the aggregate amount of Term Loans of the Existing Class or Existing Classes subject to Extension Elections exceeds the amount of Extended Term Loans requested pursuant to the Extension Request or Loans of the Existing Class or Existing Classes subject to Extension Elections shall be converted to Extended Term Loans on a pro rata basis based on the amount of Loans in each such Extension Election.

(iii)     Extended Term Loans 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 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 in an aggregate principal amount that is less than $10,000,000. 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 Section 2.5 or the applicable Joinder Agreement 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 New 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 New Term Loans provided for in any Joinder Agreement and (2) consents applicable to holders of any Extended Term Loans 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.

(iv)     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, on any date on which any Existing Class is converted to extend the related scheduled maturity date(s) in accordance with clause (i) above (an “Extension Date”), 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).

(v)     The Administrative Agent and the Lenders 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 on

 

-84-


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.

(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 Restatement Effective 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, (vi) 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 (vii) any applicable Minimum Tender Condition shall be satisfied.

(b)    With respect to all Permitted Debt Exchanges effected by 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 $10,000,000 in 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.

 

-85-


(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 Requirements of 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.

(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, 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; third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement; fourth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower or the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower or any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and fifth, 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 in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made 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 all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments hereunder. 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 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.

 

-86-


(iii)    Certain Fees. 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)    Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein, 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, 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. Benchmark Replacement

3.1    LIBOR Rate Successor. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Credit Documents, if the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Borrower, determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Borrower or the Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with, in the case of the Required Lenders, a copy to Borrower) that the Borrower or the Required Lenders (as applicable) have determined, that:

(a)    adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining LIBOR for any requested Interest Period, including, without limitation, because the LIBOR Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or

(b)    the administrator of the LIBOR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which LIBOR or the LIBOR Screen Rate shall no longer be made available, or used for determining the interest rate of loans (such specific date, the “Scheduled Unavailability Date”), or

(c)    syndicated loans then currently being executed, or that include language similar to that contained in this Section 1.13, are being executed or amended (as applicable) to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark interest rate to replace LIBOR,

then, reasonably promptly after such determination by the Administrative Agent or receipt by the Administrative Agent of such notice, as applicable, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend this Agreement to replace LIBOR with an alternate benchmark rate (including any mathematical or other adjustments to the benchmark (if any) incorporated therein), giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar Dollar denominated syndicated credit facilities for such alternative benchmarks (any such proposed rate, a “LIBOR Successor Rate”), together with any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes and any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrower unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders do not accept such amendment.

 

-87-


If no LIBOR Successor Rate has been determined and the circumstances under clause (a) above exist or the Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred (as applicable), then (x) the LIBOR Successor Rate may be determined by the Required Lenders and the Borrower, subject to the consent by the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld), or (y) to the extent the Administrative Agent determines in good faith that the consents referenced in the preceding clause (x) are not attainable following commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such consents, a comparable successor rate that is the prevailing market standard for credit agreements of this type for the replacement of or successors to the eurodollar rate in the U.S. syndicated loan market as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent (in consultation with the Borrower), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of such amendment. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain LIBOR Loans shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected LIBOR Loans or Interest Periods), and (y) the Adjusted LIBOR Rate component shall no longer be utilized in determining ABR. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans (to the extent of the affected LIBOR Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of ABR Loans (subject to the foregoing clause (y)) in the amount specified therein.

Notwithstanding anything else herein, in no event shall the LIBOR Successor Rate be less than 0.75% for purposes of this Agreement.

Section 4. Fees

4.1    Fees.

(a)    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.

(b)    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    [Reserved].

4.3    Mandatory Termination of Commitments.

(a)    The Initial Term Loan Commitments shall terminate upon funding on the Restatement Effective Date.

(b)    The New Term Loan Commitment for any Series shall, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Joinder Agreement, terminate upon funding on the Increased Amount Date for such Series.

Section 5. Payments

5.1    Voluntary Prepayments.

(a)    The Borrower shall have the right to prepay Loans, including Term Loans, other than as set forth in Section 5.1(b), without premium or penalty, in whole or in part from time to time on the

 

-88-


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 LIBOR 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 LIBOR Loans, three Business Days prior to or (ii) in the case of ABR Loans, one Business Day prior to the date of such prepayment and shall promptly be transmitted by the Administrative Agent to each of the Lenders; (2) each partial prepayment of (i) any Borrowing of LIBOR Loans shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 and in multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (ii) any ABR Loans shall be in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 and in multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof, provided that no partial prepayment of LIBOR Loans made pursuant to a single Borrowing shall reduce the outstanding LIBOR Loans made pursuant to such Borrowing to an amount less than the applicable Minimum Borrowing Amount for such LIBOR Loans, and (3) in the case of any prepayment of LIBOR 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 may 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 may specify and (b) applied to reduce Initial Term Loan Repayment Amounts, any New 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 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 of a Defaulting Lender.

(b)    In the event that, on or prior to the six-month anniversary of the Restatement Effective Date, the Borrower (i) makes any prepayment of Initial Term Loans in connection with any Repricing Transaction the primary purpose of which is to decrease the Effective Yield on such Term Initial Term Loans or (ii) effects any amendment of this Agreement resulting in a Repricing Transaction the primary purpose of which is to decrease the Effective Yield on the Initial Term Loans, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of each of the applicable Lenders, (x) in the case of clause (i), a prepayment premium of 1.00% of the principal amount of the Initial Term Loans being prepaid in connection with such Repricing Transaction and (y) in the case of clause (ii), an amount equal to 1.00% of the aggregate amount of the applicable Initial Term Loans outstanding immediately prior to such amendment that are subject to an effective pricing reduction pursuant to such Repricing Transaction.

5.2    Mandatory Prepayments.

(a)    Term Loan Prepayments.

(i)    On each occasion that a Prepayment Event occurs, the Borrower shall, within three Business Days after receipt of the Net Cash Proceeds of a Debt Incurrence Prepayment Event (other than one covered by clause (iii) below) and within ten Business Days after the occurrence of any other Prepayment Event (or, in the case of Deferred Net Cash Proceeds, within ten Business Days after the Deferred Net Cash Proceeds Payment Date), prepay, in accordance with clause (c) below, Term Loans with an equivalent principal amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds from such Prepayment Event; provided that, with respect to an Asset Sale Prepayment Event, a Casualty Event or a Permitted Sale Leaseback, the percentage in this Section 5.2(a)(i) shall be reduced to (x) 50% if the Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio on the date of prepayment (prior to giving effect thereto but, at the election of the

 

-89-


Borrower, giving effect to any prepayment described in Section 5.2(a)(ii)(y) below and as certified by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower) is less than or equal to 1.25:1.00 but greater than 1.00:1.00 and (y) 0% if the Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio on the date of prepayment (prior to giving effect thereto but, at the election of the Borrower, giving effect to any prepayment described in Section 5.2(a)(ii)(y) below and as certified by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower) is less than or equal to 1.00:1.00 (any amount of Net Cash Proceeds not required to prepay Term Loans pursuant to this Section 5.2(a)(i), “Retained Asset Sale Proceeds”); provided, further, that, with respect to the Net Cash Proceeds of an Asset Sale Prepayment Event, Casualty Event or Permitted Sale Leaseback, the Borrower may use a portion of such Net Cash Proceeds to prepay or repurchase Permitted Other Indebtedness (and with such prepaid or repurchased Permitted Other Indebtedness permanently extinguished) with a Lien on the Collateral ranking equal with the Liens securing the Obligations to the extent any applicable Permitted Other Indebtedness Document requires the issuer of such Permitted Other Indebtedness to prepay or make an offer to purchase such Permitted Other Indebtedness with the proceeds of such Prepayment Event, in each case in an amount not to exceed the product of (x) the amount of such Net Cash Proceeds multiplied by (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the outstanding principal amount of the Permitted Other Indebtedness with a Lien on the Collateral ranking equal with the Liens securing the Obligations and with respect to which such a requirement to prepay or make an offer to purchase exists and the denominator of which is the sum of the outstanding principal amount of such Permitted Other Indebtedness and the outstanding principal amount of Term Loans.

(ii)    Not later than ten Business Days after the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 9.1(a) for any fiscal year (commencing with and including the fiscal year ending January 31, 2022), if, and solely to the extent, Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year exceeds $10,000,000, the Borrower shall prepay (or cause to be prepaid), in accordance with clause (c) below, Term Loans with a principal amount equal to (x) 50% of Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year; provided that (A) the percentage in this Section 5.2(a)(ii) shall be reduced to 25% if the Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio on the date of prepayment (prior to giving effect thereto but giving effect to any prepayment described in clause (y) below and as certified by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower) for the most recent Test Period ended prior to such prepayment date is less than or equal to 1.25 to 1.00 but greater than 1.00 to 1.00 and (B) no payment of any Term Loans shall be required under this Section 5.2(a)(ii) if the Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio on the date of prepayment (prior to giving effect thereto but giving effect to any prepayment described in clause (y) below and as certified by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower) for the most recent Test Period ended prior to such prepayment date is less than or equal to 1.00 to 1.00, minus (y) the principal amount of Term Loans voluntarily prepaid pursuant to Section 5.1 or Section 13.6 (in each case, including purchases of the Loans by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at or below par, in which case the amount of voluntary prepayments of Loans shall be deemed not to exceed the actual purchase price of such Loans below par) and all voluntary prepayments of Permitted Other Indebtedness or Ratio Debt (in each case secured with a Lien on the Collateral ranking pari passu with the Liens securing the Obligations) during such fiscal year or after such fiscal year and prior to the date of the required Excess Cash Flow payment (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, any such voluntary prepayments that have not been applied to reduce the payments which may be due from time to time pursuant to this Section 5.2(a)(ii) shall be carried over to subsequent periods, and may reduce the payments due from time to time pursuant to this Section 5.2(a)(ii) during such subsequent periods, until such time as such voluntary prepayments reduce such payments which may be due from time to time) other than to the extent any such prepayment is funded with the proceeds of Funded Debt; provided that, to the

 

-90-


extent the sum of the amounts specified in this clause (y) exceed the prepayments required to be made pursuant to clause (x), the full amount of any such excess shall carry over and be deducted from required payments in subsequent years until such time as no excess remains, minus (z) (A) the aggregate amount of cash consideration paid by Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) in connection with Permitted Acquisitions or Investments (including acquisitions (but excluding Permitted Investments of the type described in clauses (i) and (ii) thereof) made during such period constituting Permitted Investments or made pursuant to Section 10.5 to the extent that such Investments, were not financed with the proceeds received from (1) the issuance or incurrence of long-term Indebtedness or (2) the issuance of Capital Stock, (B) the amount of dividends paid in cash during such period (on a consolidated basis) by Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, to the extent such dividends were not financed with the proceeds received from (1) the issuance or incurrence of long-term Indebtedness or (2) the issuance of Capital Stock, (C) payments in cash by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of any purchase price holdbacks, earn-out obligations and long-term liabilities of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries other than Indebtedness, to the extent not already deducted from Consolidated Net Income, (D) the aggregate amount of Capital Expenditures or acquisitions of Intellectual Property accrued or made in cash during such period, except to the extent that such Capital Expenditures or acquisitions were financed with the proceeds of long-term Funded Debt of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries (unless such Indebtedness has been repaid other than with the proceeds of long-term Funded Debt other than intercompany loans) and (E) (1) the aggregate consideration required to be paid in cash by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to binding contracts, commitments, letters of intent or purchase orders (the “Contract Consideration”) entered into prior to or during such period and (2) any planned cash expenditures by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (the “Planned Expenditures”), in the case of each of clauses (1) and (2), relating to Permitted Acquisitions (or other Investments), Capital Expenditures, or acquisitions of Intellectual Property or other assets to be consummated or made during the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower following the end of such period (except to the extent financed with any of the proceeds received from (A) the issuance or incurrence of long-term Indebtedness or (B) the issuance of Equity Interests); provided that to the extent that the aggregate amount of cash actually utilized to finance such Permitted Acquisitions (or other Investments), Capital Expenditures, or acquisitions of Intellectual Property or other assets during such following period of four consecutive fiscal quarters is less than the Contract Consideration and Planned Expenditures, the amount of such shortfall shall be added to the calculation of the prepayment required pursuant to this Section 5.2(a)(ii), at the end of such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters.

(iii)    On each occasion that Permitted Other Indebtedness is issued or incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(w), the Borrower shall within three Business Days of receipt of the Net Cash Proceeds of such Permitted Other Indebtedness prepay, in accordance with clause (c) below, Term Loans with a principal amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds from such issuance or incurrence of Permitted Other Indebtedness.

(iv)    Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 5.2, (A) to the extent that any or all of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Prepayment Event by a Subsidiary that is not the Borrower or a Subsidiary Credit Party giving rise to a prepayment pursuant to clause (i) above (a “Non-Credit Party Prepayment Event”) or Excess Cash Flow are prohibited or delayed by any Requirements of Law from being repatriated to the Borrower and the Subsidiary Credit Parties, an amount equal to the portion of such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected will not be required to be applied to repay Loans at the times provided in clauses (i) and (ii) above, as

 

-91-


the case may be, but only so long, as the applicable Requirements of Law will not permit repatriation to the Borrower and the Subsidiary Credit Parties (the Credit Parties hereby agreeing to cause the applicable Subsidiary to promptly take all actions reasonably required by the applicable Requirements of Law to permit repatriation), and once a repatriation of any of such affected Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow is permitted under the applicable Requirements of Law, an amount equal to such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow will be promptly (and in any event not later than ten Business Days after such repatriation is permitted) applied (net of any taxes that would be payable or reserved against if such amounts were actually repatriated whether or not they are repatriated) to the repayment of the Loans pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above, as applicable, and (B) to the extent that the Borrower has determined in good faith that repatriation of any of or all the Net Cash Proceeds of any Non-Credit Party Prepayment Event or Excess Cash Flow would have a material adverse tax consequence to the Borrower or any Subsidiary with respect to such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow, an amount equal to the Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected may be retained by the applicable Subsidiary; provided that in the case of this clause (B), on or before the date on which any Net Cash Proceeds from any Non-Credit Party Prepayment Event so retained would otherwise have been required to be applied to reinvestments or prepayments pursuant to clause (i) above or, in the case of Excess Cash Flow, a date on or before the date that is eighteen months after the date an amount equal to such Excess Cash Flow would have so required to be applied to prepayments pursuant to clause (ii) above unless previously actually repatriated in which case such repatriated Excess Cash Flow shall have been promptly applied to the repayment of the Term Loans pursuant to clause (ii) above, (x) the Borrower shall apply an amount equal to such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow to such reinvestments or prepayments as if such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow had been received by the Borrower and the Subsidiary Credit Parties rather than such Subsidiary, less the amount of any taxes that would have been payable or reserved against if such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow had been repatriated (or, if less, the Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow that would be calculated if received by such Foreign Subsidiary) or (y) such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow shall be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement, including Section 5 shall be construed to require any Subsidiary to repatriate cash.

(b)    [Reserved].

(c)    Application to Repayment Amounts. Subject to Section 5.2(f), each prepayment of Term Loans required by Section 5.2(a)(i) or (ii) shall be allocated pro rata among the Initial Term Loans, the New Term Loans and the Extended Term Loans based on the applicable remaining Repayment Amounts due thereunder and shall be applied within each Class of Term Loans in respect of such Term Loans in direct order of maturity thereof or as otherwise directed by the Borrower; provided that if any Class of Extended Term Loans have been established hereunder, the Borrower may allocate such prepayment in its sole discretion to the Term Loans of the Existing Term Loan Class, if any, from which such Extended Term Loans were converted (except, as to Term Loans made pursuant to a Joinder Agreement, as otherwise set forth in such Joinder Agreement, or as to a Replacement Term Loan). Subject to Section 5.2(f), with respect to each such prepayment, the Borrower will, not later than the date specified in Section 5.2(a) for making such prepayment, give the Administrative Agent written notice which shall include a calculation of the amount of such prepayment to be applied to each Class of Term Loans requesting that the Administrative Agent provide notice of such prepayment to each Initial Term Loan Lender, New Term Loan Lender or Lender of Extended Term Loans, as applicable.

(d)    Application to Term Loans. With respect to each prepayment of Term Loans required by Section 5.2(a), the Borrower may, if applicable, designate the Types of Loans that are to be prepaid and

 

-92-


the specific Borrowing(s) pursuant to which made; provided, that if any Lender has provided a Rejection Notice in compliance with Section 5.2(f), such prepayment shall be applied with respect to the Term Loans to be prepaid on a pro rata basis across all outstanding Types of such Term Loans in proportion to the percentage of such outstanding Term Loans to be prepaid represented by each such Class. In the absence of a Rejection Notice or 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.

(e)    [Reserved].

(f)    Rejection Right. The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any mandatory prepayment of Term Loans required to be made pursuant to Section 5.2(a) at least three Business Days prior to the date of such prepayment. Each such notice shall specify the date of such prepayment and provide a reasonably detailed calculation of the amount of such prepayment. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender holding Term Loans of the contents of such prepayment notice and of such Lender’s pro rata share of the prepayment. Each Term Loan Lender may reject all (but not less than all) of its pro rata share of any mandatory prepayment other than any such mandatory prepayment with respect to a Debt Incurrence Prepayment Event under Section 5.2(a)(i) or Permitted Other Indebtedness under Section 5.2(a)(iii) (such declined amounts, the “Declined Proceeds”) of Term Loans required to be made pursuant to Section 5.2(a) by providing written notice (each, a “Rejection Notice”) to the Administrative Agent no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) one Business Day after the date of such Lender’s receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent regarding such prepayment. If a Lender fails to deliver a Rejection Notice to the Administrative Agent within the time frame specified above, any such failure will be deemed an acceptance of the total amount of such mandatory prepayment of Term Loans. Any Declined Proceeds remaining after offering such Declined Proceeds to the Lenders in accordance with the terms hereof shall be retained by the Borrower (“Retained Declined Proceeds”).

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, as the case may be, not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) 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 and all other payments under each Credit Document shall, unless otherwise specified in such Credit Document, be made in Dollars. The Administrative Agent will thereafter cause to be distributed on the same day (if payment was actually received by the Administrative Agent prior to 12:00 noon (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 12:00 noon (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,

 

-93-


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 applicable Withholding Agent shall be required by applicable law to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment under any Credit Document, 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 indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 15 days after receipt of written 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 or paid 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. Any resulting refund shall be governed by Section 5.4(f).

(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

 

-94-


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 to 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, or to enable to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to comply with any withholding or information reporting requirements. 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 Restatement Effective 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) promptly 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. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to deliver to the Borrower and to any successor Administrative Agent any documentation provided to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 5.4(e).    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding three sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in paragraphs (e)(ii)(A), (ii)(B)(1) through (ii)(B)(4), (ii)(C) and (ii)(D) of this Section 5.4(e)) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

(ii)    Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

 

  (A)

any Lender that is a “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 on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) two executed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding and 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;

 

-95-


  (B)

each Non-U.S. Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) two copies of whichever of the following is applicable:

(1)    executed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E (or any applicable successor form) claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party;

(2)    executed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or any successor form thereto);

(3)    in the case of a Non-U.S. 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, J-2, J-3 or J-4, as applicable, (a “Non-Bank Tax Certificate”), 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 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” 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 and (y) executed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E (or any applicable successor form);

(4)    where such Non-U.S. 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), executed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY (or any successor thereto) and all required 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)) (provided that, if the Non-U.S. Lender is a partnership and not a participating Lender, the Non-Bank Tax Certificate(s) may be provided by the Non-U.S. Lender on behalf of each direct or indirect partner); or

(5)    executed copies 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)

each 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

 

-96-


  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 an applicable Form W-8 (together with any required accompanying documentation) 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.

(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. 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 Governmental Authority (provided that the Administrative Agent or such Lender may delete any information therein that it reasonably 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 the Borrower 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 paragraph (f) 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 reasonably 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 “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.

 

-97-


5.5    Computations of Interest and Fees.

(a)    Except as provided in the next succeeding sentence, interest on LIBOR 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 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.

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 Initial Borrowing

The initial Borrowing under this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent, except as otherwise agreed between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

6.1    Credit Documents.

The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received:

 

-98-


(a)    Amendment No. 3, executed and delivered by a duly Authorized Officer of the Borrower, the Guarantors, and each Lender with an Initial Term Loan Commitment.

(b)    this Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly Authorized Officer of the Borrower, Holdings and the Texas Intermediate Holdcos;

(c)    the Guarantees, executed and delivered by a duly Authorized Officer of each of the respective Guarantors;

(d)    the Pledge Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly Authorized Officer of Holdings, the Borrower and each Guarantor;

(e)    the Security Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly Authorized Officer of the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor;

(f)    the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly Authorized Officer of each of the ABL Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent; and

(g)    the Resignation and Appointment Agreement, executed and delivered by Borrower, Holdings, the Texas Intermediate Holdcos, the Existing Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent.

6.2    Collateral. Except for any items referred to on Schedule 9.14:

(a)    All outstanding equity interests in whatever form of 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)    The Collateral Agent shall have received the certificates representing securities of each Credit Party’s Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries and all promissory notes evidencing Indebtedness that is owing to the Borrower or any other Credit Party, in each case, 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 allonges endorsed in blank;

(c)    All Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and intellectual property security agreements required to be filed, registered or recorded to create the Liens intended to be created by any Security Document and perfect such Liens to the extent required by such Security Document shall have been delivered to the Collateral Agent, and shall be in proper form, for filing, registration or recording; and

(d)    Evidence that all other actions, recordings and filings required by the Security Documents shall have been taken, completed or otherwise provided for thereunder and as provided for therein.

6.3    Legal Opinions. The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received the executed legal opinion, in customary form, of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, special New York counsel to the Credit Parties. The Borrower hereby instructs and agrees to instruct the other Credit Parties to have such counsel deliver such legal opinions.

6.4    [Reserved].

 

-99-


6.5    Closing Certificates. The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received a certificate of each of Holdings, the Borrower and the other Guarantors, dated the Restatement Effective Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit E, with appropriate insertions, executed by any Authorized Officer and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of Holdings, the Borrower and each other Guarantor, as applicable, and attaching the documents referred to in Section 6.6 and (y) an Authorized Officer certifying compliance with Section 7.1 and certifying that, since January 31, 2020, there has not been any event, change, development, occurrence, or effect that has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

6.6    Authorization of Proceedings of the Borrower and the Guarantors; Corporate Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a copy of the resolutions of the board of directors or other managers of Holdings, the Borrower and the other Guarantors (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 Holdings, the Borrower and the other Guarantors, and (iii) signature and incumbency certificates (or other comparable documents evidencing the same) of the Authorized Officers of Holdings, the Borrower and the other Guarantors executing the Credit Documents to which it is a party.

6.7    Fees. The Agents and Lenders shall have received, substantially simultaneously with the funding of the Initial Term Loans, fees and, to the extent invoiced at least three business days prior to the Restatement Effective Date (except as otherwise reasonably agreed by the Borrower) expenses in the amounts previously agreed in writing to be received on the Restatement Effective Date (which amounts may, at the Borrower’s option, be offset against the proceeds of the Initial Term Loans). Simultaneous with funding of the Initial Term Loans, the Term Loan Lenders (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Facility) under the Existing Term Loan Facility shall have been paid all accrued principal, interest indemnities, cost reimbursements and other obligations, if any, then due and owing under the Existing Term Loan Facility.

6.8    [Reserved].

6.9    Solvency Certificate. On the Restatement Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Vice President-Finance, a Director, a Manager, or any other senior financial officer of the Borrower to the effect that after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions, the Borrower on a consolidated basis with the Restricted Subsidiaries is Solvent.

6.10    [Reserved].

6.11    Patriot Act. The Administrative Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers shall have received at least two Business Days prior to the Restatement Effective Date such documentation and information as is reasonably requested in writing at least ten calendar days prior to the Restatement Effective Date by the Administrative Agent or the Joint Lead Arrangers about the Credit Parties to the extent required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Patriot Act.

6.12    Financial Statements. The Joint Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners shall have received the Historical Financial Statements.

 

-100-


6.13    No Material Adverse Effect. Since January 31, 2020, there has not occurred any event, occurrence or development that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

6.14 Refinancing. Substantially simultaneously with the funding of the Initial Term Loans, the Restatement Effective Date Refinancing shall be consummated.

For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 6 on the Restatement Effective 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 Restatement Effective Date specifying its objection thereto.

Section 7. Conditions Precedent to All Credit Events.

Subject to Section 1.12, the agreement of each Lender to make any Loan requested to be made by it on any date, including any New Term Loans and/or any Replacement Term Loans is subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by such applicable Lender) 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 Credit Event on the Closing Date or pursuant to any Loan made pursuant to any section of this Agreement which provides for alternative conditions (which shall be subject to the applicable terms of such section, as applicable) (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (ii) 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. Prior to the making of each Term Loan, the Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing meeting the requirements of Section 2.3.

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 and to make the Loans as provided for herein, the Borrower (and, with respect to Sections 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.10 and 8.19 only, Holdings and each Texas Intermediate Holdco) makes 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 (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):

 

-101-


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.

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 consummation of the Transactions and 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 (after giving effect to the Transactions).

8.4    Litigation. There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing against the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

8.5    Margin Regulations. Neither the making of any Loan hereunder nor the use of the proceeds thereof will violate the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of the Board.

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.

 

-102-


8.7    Investment Company Act. None of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary 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 the Borrower, any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their respective authorized representatives to the Administrative Agent, any Joint Lead Arranger, and/or any Lender on or before the Restatement Effective Date (including all such written information and data contained in (i) the Lender Presentation (as updated prior to the Restatement Effective Date and including all information incorporated by reference therein) and (ii) the Credit Documents) 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 the 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 statements or information) or other forward looking information and information of a general economic or general industry nature.

(b)    The projections (including financial estimates, 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 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.

(c)    To the knowledge of the Borrower, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification is accurate in all material respects as of the Restatement Effective Date.

8.9    Financial Condition; Financial Statements.

(a)    (i) The unaudited historical consolidated financial information of the Borrower as set forth in the Lender Presentation, and (ii) the Historical Financial Statements, in each case present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Borrower at the respective dates of said information, statements and results of operations for the respective periods covered thereby. The Historical Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied except to the extent provided in the notes to said financial statements.

(b)    There has been no Material Adverse Effect since the Restatement Effective Date.

Each Lender and the Administrative Agent hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may be required to restate historical financial statements as the result of the implementation of changes in GAAP or IFRS, or the respective interpretation thereof, and that such restatements will not result in a Default or an Event of Default under the Credit Documents.

 

-103-


8.10    Compliance with Laws; No Default. Each Credit Party is in compliance with all Requirements of Law applicable to it or its property, including without limitation, all applicable laws administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) or the U.S. Department of State and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, except where the failure to be so in compliance would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing.

Neither Holdings nor its Restricted Subsidiaries, nor their respective directors, officers, or, to the knowledge of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries, their employees or agents, is (i) a Sanctioned Person; (ii) operating, organized or ordinarily resident in a Sanctioned Country; or (iii) engaged, directly or knowingly indirectly, in dealings or transactions involving Sanctioned Persons or Sanctioned Countries. The Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries will not use the proceeds of the Loans, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner, or other Person to fund activities or business of or with any Sanctioned Person or Sanctioned Country, or in violation of Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

Holdings, the Borrowers, their Restricted Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries, their respective directors, officers employees and agents, are in compliance with in all material respects Sanctions, Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

No part of the proceeds of the loans will be used by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and to the knowledge of Holding or its Restricted Subsidiaries, their respective directors, officers, employees or agents, in violation of Anti-Corruption Laws.

8.11    Tax Matters. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) each of 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 withholding agent) that have become due, other than those being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings if it has maintained adequate reserves (in the good faith judgment of management of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable) with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (b) each of the Borrower and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries has paid, or has provided adequate reserves (in the good faith judgment of management of 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 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, 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 the Borrower (and the direct and indirect ownership interest of the Borrower therein), in each case existing on the Restatement Effective Date.

 

-104-


8.14    Intellectual Property. Each of the Borrower and the 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 to own or have a right to use such Intellectual Property would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The operation of their respective businesses by each of the Borrower and the 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.

8.15    Environmental Laws.

(a)    Except as set forth on Schedule 8.15, or as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) each of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective operations and properties are in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws; (ii) none of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has received written notice of any Environmental Claim; (iii) none of the Borrower or 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 the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries.

(b)    Except as set forth on Schedule 8.15, none of the Borrower 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.

(a)    (i) Each of the Borrower and the 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 and (ii) no Mortgage encumbers improved Real Estate that is located in an area that has been identified by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development as an area having special flood hazards within the meaning of the Flood Insurance Laws, unless flood insurance available under such Flood Insurance Laws has been obtained in accordance with Section 9.3(b).

(b)    Set forth on Schedule 1.1(a) is a list of each real property owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Credit Party as of the Restatement Effective Date having a Fair Market Value in excess of the greater of (a) $25,000,000 and (b) 5% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period.

8.17    Solvency. On the Restatement Effective 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, the Borrower on a consolidated basis with the Restricted Subsidiaries will be Solvent.

8.18    Patriot Act. On the Restatement Effective Date, the use of proceeds of the Loans will not violate the Patriot Act in any material respect.

 

-105-


8.19    Security Interest in Collateral. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, the Credit Documents create legal, valid, and enforceable Liens on all of the Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit itself and the other Secured Parties, subject, as to enforceability, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity and principles of good faith and dealing, and upon the making of such filings and taking of such other actions required to be taken hereby or by the applicable Credit Documents (including the filing of appropriate UCC financing statements with the office of the Secretary of State of the state of organization of each Credit Party or equivalent filings under applicable foreign law, the filing of appropriate notices with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the U.S. Copyright Office, and the proper recordation of Mortgages and fixture filings with respect to any Mortgaged Property, in each case in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and the delivery to the Collateral Agent of any stock certificates or promissory notes required to be delivered pursuant to the applicable Credit Documents), such Liens constitute perfected and continuing Liens on the Collateral of the type required by the Security Documents securing the Obligations to the extent such Liens may be perfected by such filings and the taking of such other actions subject to no other Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 10.2).

8.20    Insurance. The properties of the Credit Parties and the Restricted Subsidiaries are insured as required by Section 9.3 of this Agreement.

Section 9.    Affirmative Covenants.

The Borrower (and, with respect to Sections 9.11, 9.12 and 9.14 only, Holdings) hereby covenants and agrees that on the Restatement Effective Date and thereafter, until the Commitments have terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Loans, together with interest, Fees and all other Obligations incurred hereunder (other than contingent indemnity obligations, Secured Hedge Obligations and Secured Cash Management Obligations), 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) (or, if such financial statements are not required to be filed with the SEC, on or before the date that is 90 days after the end of each such fiscal year), the consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and the 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 figures for the preceding fiscal years, 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 the Borrower or any of the Material Subsidiaries (or group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Material Subsidiary) as a going concern (other than any 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 the Borrower (or, if such financial statements are not required to be filed with the SEC, on

 

-106-


or before the date that is 45 days after the end of each such quarterly accounting period), the consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and the 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, commencing with the quarter ending August 1, 2015, setting forth comparative consolidated 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 the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP (except as noted therein), subject to changes resulting from normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

(c)    Officer’s Certificates. Not later than five days after the delivery of the financial statements provided for in Sections 9.1(a) and (b), a certificate of an Authorized Officer of 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 Unrestricted Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year or period, as the case may be, from the Restricted Subsidiaries and Unrestricted Subsidiaries, respectively, provided to the Lenders on the Restatement Effective Date or the most recent fiscal year or period, as the case may be and (ii) the then applicable Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio. At the time of the delivery of the financial statements provided for in Section 9.1(a), a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower setting forth changes to the legal name, jurisdiction of formation, type of entity and organizational number (or equivalent) to the Person organized in a jurisdiction where an organizational identification number is required to be included in a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement, in each case for each Credit Party or confirming that there has been no change in such information since the Restatement Effective Date or the date of the most recent certificate delivered pursuant to this clause (d), as the case may be.

(d)    Notice of Default or Litigation. Promptly after an Authorized Officer of the Borrower 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 the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto and (ii) any litigation or governmental proceeding pending against the Borrower 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.

(e)    Environmental Matters. Promptly after an Authorized Officer of the Borrower 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.

 

-107-


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.

(f)    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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall send to the holders of any publicly issued debt of the Borrower 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 the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary will be required to disclose or permit the inspection or discussion of any document, information or other matter (i) that constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or their respective contractors) is prohibited by law, or any binding agreement, (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 or the limitations set forth in Section 9.2.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to clauses (a), (b), and (g) 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) the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet; (ii) such documents are posted on the Borrower’s 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 (A) 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 and (B) the Borrower shall notify (which notification may be by facsimile or electronic transmission) the Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents on any website described in this paragraph. 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.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section may be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries by furnishing (A) the Form 10-K or 10-Q (or the equivalent), as applicable, of the Borrower (or a parent company thereof) filed with the SEC or with a similar regulatory authority in a foreign jurisdiction or (B) the applicable financial statements of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings); provided that to the extent such information relates to a parent of the Borrower, such information is accompanied by consolidating information, which may be unaudited, that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such parent, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a stand-alone basis, on the other hand.

 

-108-


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. The Borrower 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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower and any such Subsidiary and discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Borrower 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 the Borrower’s expense, and (c) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.2, none of the Borrower 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 that (i) constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors) is prohibited by law or any agreement binding on a third-party or (iii) 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 the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice. The Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders shall give the Borrower the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Borrower independent public accountants.

9.3    Maintenance of Insurance. (a) The Borrower 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 the Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Borrower) 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 the Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of management of the Borrower) 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 the Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of management of the Borrower) 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 and (b) with respect to each Mortgaged Property, the Borrower will obtain flood insurance in such form and in such total amount as may reasonably be required by the Collateral Agent, if at any time the area in which any improvements located on any Mortgaged Property is designated a “special flood hazard area” in any Flood Insurance Rate Map published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency), and otherwise comply with the Flood

 

-109-


Insurance Laws. Each such policy of insurance shall (i) 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 casualty insurance policy, contain a mortgagee/loss payable clause or endorsement that names the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties as the mortgagee/loss payee thereunder.

9.4    Payment of Taxes. The Borrower will pay and discharge, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, all 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 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 the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that neither the Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be required to pay any such Tax that is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings if it has maintained adequate reserves (in the good faith judgment of management of the Borrower) with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP or the failure to pay would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

9.5    Preservation of Existence; Consolidated Corporate Franchises. The Borrower 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 the Borrower 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. The Borrower 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 the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and 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 (a), (b), and (c) of this Section 9.6, where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

9.7    ERISA. (a) The Borrower 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

 

-110-


promptly after receipt thereof; provided, further, that the rights granted to the Administrative Agent in this Section shall be exercised not more than once during a 12-month period, and (b) the Borrower 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.

9.8    Maintenance of Properties. The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, (i) keep and maintain all tangible property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear, casualty, and condemnation excepted and (ii) prosecute, maintain, enforce and protect its Intellectual Property material to the conduct of its business, except, in each case, 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. The Borrower will conduct, and cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to conduct, all transactions with any of its Affiliates (other than the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $25,000,000 at the time of such Affiliate transaction, for any individual transaction or series of related transactions on terms that are at least substantially as favorable to the Borrower 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 the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in good faith; provided that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to (a) the payment of fees to the Sponsor for management, consulting and financial services rendered to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the Sponsor Management Agreement and customary investment banking fees paid to the Sponsor for services rendered to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in connection with divestitures, acquisitions, financings and other transactions which payments are approved by a majority of the board of directors of the Borrower in good faith, (b) transactions permitted by Section 10.5, (c) consummation of the Transactions and the payment of the Transaction Expenses, (d) the issuance of Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any of its Subsidiaries not otherwise prohibited by the Credit Documents, (e) loans, advances and other transactions between or among the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any joint venture (regardless of the form of legal entity) in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has invested (and which Subsidiary or joint venture would not be an Affiliate of the Borrower but for the Borrower’s or a Subsidiary’s ownership of Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents in such joint venture or Subsidiary) to the extent permitted under Section 10, (f) employment and severance arrangements between the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees or consultants (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), (g) payments by the Borrower (and any direct or indirect parent thereof) and the Subsidiaries pursuant to the tax sharing agreements among the Borrower (and any such parent) and the Subsidiaries that are permitted under Section 10.5(b)(15); provided that in each case the amount of such payments in any fiscal year does not exceed the amount that the Borrower, the Restricted Subsidiaries and the Unrestricted Subsidiaries (to the extent of the amount received from Unrestricted Subsidiaries) would have been required to pay in respect of such foreign, federal, state and/or local taxes for such fiscal year had the Borrower, the Restricted Subsidiaries and the Unrestricted Subsidiaries (to the extent described above) paid such taxes separately from any such direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower, (h) the payment of customary fees and reasonable out of pocket costs to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, directors, managers, consultants, officers or employees of the Borrower (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 the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, (i) transactions undertaken pursuant to membership in a purchasing consortium, (j) transactions pursuant to any

 

-111-


agreement or arrangement as in effect as of the Restatement Effective 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 Restatement Effective Date as determined by the Borrower in good faith), (k) customary payments by the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent) and any Restricted Subsidiaries to the Sponsor made for any financial advisory, consulting, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities (including in connection with acquisitions or divestitures), (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 and (n) any customary transactions with a Receivables Subsidiary effected as part of a Receivables Facility.

9.10    End of Fiscal Years. The Borrower 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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower and the Administrative Agent will, and are hereby authorized by the Lenders to, make any adjustments to this Agreement that are necessary in order to reflect such change in financial reporting.

9.11    Additional Guarantors and Grantors. Subject to any applicable limitations set forth in the Security Documents, (x) the Borrower will cause each direct or indirect Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) formed or otherwise purchased or acquired after the Closing Date (including pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition) and the Borrower will cause each other Subsidiary that ceases to constitute an Excluded Subsidiary and (y) subject to Section 9.14, Holdings will cause each direct or indirect Subsidiary (other than the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) formed or otherwise purchased or acquired after the Closing Date that directly or indirectly through a Subsidiary own or holds any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of the Borrower that is required to Guarantee the Obligations pursuant to Section 9.14, in each case, within 60 days from the date of such formation, acquisition or cessation, and the Borrower may at its option cause any other 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 Borrower and the Subsidiary Credit Parties (or in the case of clause (y) above, to substantially the same extent as created and perfected by Holdings and the Texas Intermediate Holdcos) on the Closing Date and pursuant to Section 9.14(d) in the case of such Credit Parties. For the avoidance of doubt, 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).

 

-112-


9.12    Pledge of Additional Stock and Evidence of Indebtedness. Subject to 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 to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any direct or indirect parent entity as reasonably determined by the Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, Holdings 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 (a) $48,000,000 and (b) 10% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) at the time of any disposition of assets pursuant to Section 10.4(b) received by Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Guarantors in connection with any disposition of assets pursuant to Section 10.4(b), and (iii) any promissory notes executed after the Closing Date evidencing Indebtedness in excess of the greater of (a) $48,000,000 and (b) 10% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) at the time such promissory note is executed of Holdings or any Subsidiary 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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower or any Subsidiary 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. The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Initial Term Loans and borrowings under the ABL Facility to effect the Transactions, with any remaining amounts available for general corporate purposes.

9.14    Further Assurances.

(a)    Subject to 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 the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

(b)    Subject to 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 to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or direct or indirect parent entity 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

 

-113-


excluding any real estate which the applicable Credit Party intends to dispose of pursuant to a Permitted Sale Leaseback so long as actually disposed of within 540 days of acquisition (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree)) with a book value in excess of the greater of (a) $25,000,000 and (b) 5% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) (at the time of acquisition) are acquired by the Borrower or any other Subsidiary 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 or that constitute a fee interest in real property in the United States, the Borrower will notify the Collateral Agent, and, if requested by the Collateral Agent, the Borrower will cause such assets to be subjected to a Lien securing the Obligations (provided, however, that in the event any Mortgage delivered pursuant to this clause (b) shall incur any mortgage recording tax or similar charges in connection with the recording thereof, such Mortgage shall not secure an amount in excess of the Fair Market Value of the applicable Mortgaged Property) 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)    Any Mortgage delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the preceding clause (b) shall, if requested by the Collateral Agent, be received as soon as commercially reasonable but in no event later than 90 days (except as set forth in the preceding clause (b)), unless extended by the Administrative Agent acting reasonably and accompanied by (x) a policy or policies (or an unconditional binding commitment therefor to be replaced by a final title policy) of title insurance issued by a nationally recognized title insurance company, in such amounts as reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent not to exceed the Fair Market Value of the applicable Mortgaged Property, insuring the Lien of each Mortgage as a valid first Lien on the Mortgaged Property described therein, free of any other Liens except as expressly permitted by Section 10.2 or as otherwise permitted by the Administrative Agent and otherwise in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, together with such endorsements, coinsurance and reinsurance as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request but only to the extent such endorsements are (i) available in the relevant jurisdiction (provided in no event shall the Administrative Agent request a creditors’ rights endorsement) and (ii) available at commercially reasonable rates, (y) an opinion of local counsel to the applicable Credit Party in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, (z) a completed “Life-of-Loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency Standard Flood Hazard Determination, and if any improvements on such Mortgaged Property are located in a special flood hazard area, (i) a notice about special flood hazard area status and flood disaster assistance duly executed by the applicable Credit Parties and (ii) evidence of insurance required by Section 9.3 in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (aa) an ALTA survey in a form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent or such existing survey together with a no-change affidavit sufficient for the title company to remove all standard survey exceptions from the Title Policy related to such Mortgaged Property and issue the endorsements required in (x) above.

(d)    Post-Closing Covenant. The Borrower 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    Maintenance of Ratings. The Borrower will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain (but not maintain any specific rating) a corporate family and/or corporate credit rating in respect of the Borrower, as applicable, and ratings in respect of the credit facilities provided pursuant to this Agreement, in each case, from each of S&P and Moody’s.

 

-114-


9.16    Lines of Business. The Borrower and the 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 the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, on the Restatement Effective 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).

9.17    Patriot Act. The Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall promptly provide such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Credit Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request with respect to applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations (including the Patriot Act).

Section 10. Negative Covenants.

The Borrower (and, with respect to Section 10.7 only, Holdings and each Intermediate Holdco) hereby covenants and agrees that on the Restatement Effective Date and thereafter, until the Termination Date:

10.1    Limitation on Indebtedness. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries 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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower and its 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, (A) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries is at least 2.00:1.00 or (B) the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), if, after giving effect thereto, the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) shall be less than or equal to 2.25:1.00 (Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this paragraph, “Ratio Debt”).

The foregoing limitations will not apply to:

(a)    Indebtedness arising under the Credit Documents;

(b)     (i) Indebtedness represented by the ABL Facility and any guarantee thereof in an aggregate principal amount (together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof and all accrued interest, fees and expenses) not to exceed the greater of (A) $1,000,000,000 and (B) the Borrowing Base Basket as of the date of such incurrence and (ii) Indebtedness represented by the New Senior Notes and any guarantee thereof; provided that such New Senior Notes have been defeased;

(c)    (i) Indebtedness (including any unused commitment) outstanding on the Restatement Effective Date listed on Schedule 10.1 and (ii) intercompany Indebtedness (including any unused commitment) outstanding on the Restatement Effective Date listed on Schedule 10.1 (other than intercompany Indebtedness owed by a Credit Party to another Credit Party);

 

-115-


(d)    Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations), Disqualified Stock and preferred stock incurred by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, to finance the purchase, lease, construction, installation, maintenance, 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 the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary under or pursuant to any “synthetic lease” transactions to on-balance sheet Indebtedness of the Borrower 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) $168,000,000 and (y) 35% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) at the time of incurrence; provided that Capitalized Lease Obligations incurred by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to this clause (d) in connection with a Permitted Sale Leaseback shall not be subject to the foregoing limitation so long as the proceeds of such Permitted Sale Leaseback are used by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary to permanently repay outstanding Term Loans or other Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the assets subject to such Permitted Sale Leaseback (excluding any Lien ranking junior to the Lien securing the Obligations);

(e)    Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower 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, 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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations; 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 the 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 another Restricted Subsidiary or the Borrower; provided that if a Subsidiary Guarantor incurs such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor as the case may be; provided, further, that any subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Borrower or another Subsidiary Guarantor) shall be deemed, in each case to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause;

 

-116-


(i)    shares of preferred stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Borrower 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 the Borrower 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;

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

(k)     (i) obligations in respect of self-insurance, performance, bid, appeal, and surety bonds and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments related thereto, in each case, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(l)     (i) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and preferred stock of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference (together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) up to 100% of the net cash proceeds received by the Borrower since immediately after the Restatement Effective Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Borrower or cash contributed to the capital of the Borrower (in each case, other than Excluded Contributions or proceeds of Disqualified Stock or sales of Equity Interests to any of the Borrower’s 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 (a) and (c) of the definition thereof) and (ii) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of the Borrower 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 pursuant to this clause (l)(ii), does not at any one time outstanding exceed the sum of (A) the greater of (x) $240,000,000 and (y) 50% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) at the time of incurrence and (B) additional Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the Available Amount that is not otherwise applied pursuant to Section 10.5(a)(iii) as in effect immediately prior to the Incurrence of such Indebtedness (and after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto) (it being further understood that any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock incurred pursuant to this clause (l)(ii) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (l)(ii) but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of the first paragraph of this Section 10.1 from and after the first date on which the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock under the first paragraph of this Section 10.1 without reliance on this clause (l)(ii));

(m)    the incurrence or issuance by the Borrower 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 clauses (b) and (c) above, clause (l)(i) and this clause (m) or clause (n) or clause (r) below or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock issued to so refinance, replace, refund, extend, renew, defease, restructure, amend, restate or otherwise modify (collectively, “refinance”) such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock (the “Refinancing Indebtedness”) prior to its respective maturity; provided that such Refinancing Indebtedness (1) 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

 

-117-


Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being refinanced, (2) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (i) Indebtedness that is unsecured or secured by a Lien ranking junior to the Liens securing the Obligations, such Refinancing Indebtedness is unsecured or secured by a Lien ranking junior to the Liens securing the Obligations, (ii) Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness must be Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, respectively, and (iii) 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 not include Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor;

(n)    Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of (x) the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary incurred or issued to finance an acquisition, merger, or consolidation or (y) Persons that are acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms hereof (including designating an Unrestricted Subsidiary a Restricted Subsidiary); provided that after giving effect to any such acquisition, merger, consolidation or designation described in this clause (n), (i) either (1) the Borrower would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of this Section 10.1 or (2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries is equal to or greater than that immediately prior to such acquisition, merger, consolidation or designation or (ii) either (1) the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) shall be either (A) less than or equal to the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio immediate prior to such acquisition, merger, consolidation or designation or (2) less than or equal to 2.25:1.00;

(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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower 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 Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Borrower;

(r)    Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors in an amount not to exceed, in the aggregate at any one time outstanding, the greater of (x) $190,000,00 and (y) 40% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) (it being understood that any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (r) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (r) but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of the first paragraph of this covenant from and after the first date on which such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred such Indebtedness under the first paragraph of this covenant without reliance on this clause (r));

 

-118-


(s)    Indebtedness of the Borrower 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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries with such banks or financial institutions that arises in connection with ordinary banking arrangements to manage cash balances of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(u)    Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by the Borrower 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 the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower to the extent described in clause (4) of Section 10.5(b);

(v)    Indebtedness in respect of a Receivables Facility;

(w)    Indebtedness in respect of (i) Permitted Other Indebtedness to the extent that the Net Cash Proceeds therefrom are applied to the prepayment of Term Loans in the manner set forth in Section 5.2(a)(i) 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;

(x)    Indebtedness in respect of (i) Permitted Other Indebtedness; provided that the aggregate principal amount of all such Permitted Other Indebtedness issued or incurred pursuant to this clause (i) shall not exceed the Maximum Incremental Facilities Amount 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), (y) such Indebtedness otherwise complies with the definition of Permitted Other Indebtedness, and (z) in the case of a refinancing of Permitted Other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (i) above with other Permitted Other Indebtedness (“Refinancing Permitted Other Indebtedness”);

(y)    (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; and

 

-119-


(z)    all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (a) through (y) above.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 10.1: (i) in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock described in clauses (a) through (z) above or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 10.1, the Borrower, in its sole discretion, will classify and may reclassify (including within the definition of Maximum Incremental Facilities Amount) such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock (or any portion thereof) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock in one of the above clauses or paragraphs; and (ii) at the time of incurrence, the Borrower will be entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in this Section 10.1; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the ABL Facility on the Restatement Effective Date will be treated as incurred under clause (b)(i) above.

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 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.

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.

 

-120-


10.2    Limitation on Liens.

(a)    The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its 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 the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (each, a “Subject Lien”) that secures obligations under any Indebtedness on any asset or property of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, except:

(i)    if such Subject Lien is a Permitted Lien;

(ii)    any other Subject Lien on assets or property constituting Collateral if the obligations secured by such Subject Lien are junior to the Obligations; provided that at the Borrower’s election, in the case of Liens securing Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations, the applicable Permitted Other Indebtedness Secured Parties (or a representative thereof on behalf of such holders) shall enter into security documents with terms and conditions not materially more restrictive to the Borrower and the Subsidiary Credit Parties, taken as a whole, than the terms and conditions of the Security Documents and shall (x) in the case of the first such issuance of Permitted Other Indebtedness, the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent and the representative of the holders of such Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations shall have entered into the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (y) in the case of subsequent issuances of Permitted Other Indebtedness, the representative for the holders of such Permitted Other Indebtedness shall have become a party to the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof; and without any further consent of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be authorized to execute and deliver on behalf of the Secured Parties the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement contemplated by this clause (ii); and

(iii)    in the case of any Subject Lien on assets or property not constituting Collateral, any Subject Lien if (i) the Obligations are equally and ratably secured with (or on a senior basis to, in the case such Subject Lien secures any Junior Debt) the obligations secured by such Subject Lien or (ii) such Subject Lien is a Permitted Lien.

(b)    Any Lien created for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to 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. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its 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 the Borrower or any other Person may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the Borrower; provided that (A) 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 the Borrower (such other Person, the “Successor Borrower”), (1) the Successor Borrower shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof, (2) the Successor Borrower shall expressly assume all the obligations of 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

 

-121-


the Guarantee, confirmed that its guarantee thereunder shall apply to any Successor Borrower’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) each mortgagor of a Mortgaged Property, unless it is the other party to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, shall have affirmed that its obligations under the applicable Mortgage shall apply to its Guarantee as reaffirmed pursuant to clause (3), and (6) the Successor Borrower 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 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 Borrower will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Borrower under this Agreement);

(b)    so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any other Person (in each case, other than the Borrower) may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into any one or more Subsidiaries of the Borrower; provided that (i) in the case of any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving one or more Restricted Subsidiaries, (A) a Restricted Subsidiary shall be the continuing or surviving Person or (B) the Borrower shall cause the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation (if other than a Restricted Subsidiary) to become a Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) in the case of any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving one or more Subsidiary Guarantors, a Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary 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)     [reserved];

(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 Subsidiary Guarantor 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 Subsidiary Guarantor or the Borrower;

(e)    any Subsidiary 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 a Subsidiary Guarantor; provided that the consideration for any such disposition by any Person other than a Subsidiary Guarantor shall not exceed the fair value of such assets;

(f)    any Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders; and

 

-122-


(g)    the Borrower and the 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 (which for purposes of this Section 10.3(g), will include any disposition below the dollar threshold set forth in clause (d) of the definition of “Asset Sale”) permitted by Section 10.4 or an investment permitted pursuant to Section 10.5 or an investment that constitutes a Permitted Investment.

10.4    Limitation on Sale of Assets. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale, unless:

(a)    the Borrower 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; and

(b)    except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, if the property or assets sold or otherwise disposed of have a Fair Market Value in excess of the greater of (a) $50,000,000 and (b) 1.5% of Consolidated Total Assets for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) at the time of such disposition, either (A) at least 75% of the aggregate consideration therefor received by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents or (B) at least 50% of the consideration therefor received by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents (provided that the Net Cash Proceeds received pursuant to this clause (B) must be used to repay the Loans in accordance with Section 5.2(a) within three (3) Business Days of receipt thereof and without giving effect to clause (d) of the definition of Net Cash Proceeds); provided that the amount of:

(i)     any liabilities (as reflected on the Borrower’s 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 the Borrower’s consolidated balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto if such incurrence or accrual had taken place on or prior to the date of such consolidated balance sheet, as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of the Borrower, 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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Borrower 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;

(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 the Borrower and all Restricted Subsidiaries have been validly released from any Guarantee of payment of such Indebtedness in connection with such Asset Sale; and

 

-123-


(iv)     any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by the Borrower 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 sum of (i) the greater of $210,000,000 and 6% of Consolidated Total Assets at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration, (ii) at the election of the Borrower, the General Asset Sale Exception (less any amount used under such exception) and (iii) at the election of the Borrower, the Available Amount (less any amount used thereunder), 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 clause (b) of this provision and for no other purpose.

Within the Reinvestment Period after the Borrower’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s receipt of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Asset Sale, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary shall apply the Net Cash Proceeds from such Asset Sale:

(i)    to prepay Loans or Permitted Other Indebtedness in accordance with Section 5.2(a)(i); and/or

(ii)    to make investments in the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; provided that the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries will be deemed to have complied with this clause (ii) if and to the extent that, within the Reinvestment Period after the Asset Sale that generated the Net Cash Proceeds, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary has entered into and not abandoned or rejected a binding agreement or letter of intent to consummate any such investment described in this clause (ii) with the good faith expectation that such Net Cash Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment within 180 days of such commitment and, in the event any such commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before the Net Cash Proceeds are applied in connection therewith, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary prepays the Loans in accordance with Section 5.2(a)(i).

(c)    Pending the final application of any Net Cash Proceeds pursuant to this covenant, the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary may apply such Net Cash Proceeds temporarily to reduce Indebtedness outstanding under the ABL Facility or any other revolving credit facility or otherwise invest such Net Cash Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Agreement.

10.5    Limitation on Restricted Payments.

(a)    the Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(1)    declare or pay any dividend or make any payment or distribution on account of the Borrower’s 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 the Borrower payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower 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 Subsidiary other than a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, the Borrower 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;

 

-124-


(2)    purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Borrower, Holdings or any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower, 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 Junior Debt of the Borrower 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 Junior Debt 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:

(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 shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof); provided that the foregoing condition shall not apply to amounts attributable to subclauses (B), (C), (F) and (G) of clause (iii) below;

(ii)    [reserved]; and

(iii)    such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries after the Restatement Effective Date (other than as set forth in Section 10.5(b)), is less than the sum of (without duplication) (the sum of the amounts attributable to clauses (A) through (G) below is referred to herein as the “Available Amount”):

 

  (A)

(i) 100% of Consolidated EBITDA since August 2, 2020 and ending with the most recently ended Test Period less (ii) the Fixed Charges since August 2, 2020 and ending with the most recently ended Test Period multiplied by 1.50, plus

 

  (B)

100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the Fair Market Value of marketable securities or other property received by the Borrower since immediately after the Restatement Effective Date (other than net cash proceeds from ABL Cure Amounts or 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 the Borrower, 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, manager or consultant of

 

-125-


  the Borrower, any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower and the Borrower’s Subsidiaries after the Restatement Effective 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 the Borrower, Equity Interests of Holdings or any other direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower (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 the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary that has been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests of the Borrower or Holdings or any other direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower; 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 the Borrower sold to a Restricted Subsidiary or the Borrower, 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 the Borrower following the Restatement Effective Date (other than net cash proceeds from ABL Cure Amounts 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 the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) of Restricted Investments made by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constitute Restricted Investments made by the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, after the Restatement Effective Date; or (B) the sale (other than to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than in each case to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Borrower 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 Restatement Effective Date, plus

 

-126-


  (E)

in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary after the Restatement Effective 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 the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (7) of Section 10.5(b) below or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment, plus

 

  (F)

the aggregate amount of any Retained Declined Proceeds and Retained Asset Sale Proceeds since the Restatement Effective Date, plus

 

  (G)

an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $144,000,000 and (y) 30.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis).

(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 Junior Debt of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any Equity Interests of Holdings or any other direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower, in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Equity Interests of the Borrower or any direct or indirect Parent Entity or management investment vehicle to the extent contributed to the Borrower (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 Holdings or any other direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower) 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 Junior Debt of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, new Indebtedness of the Borrower 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 Junior Debt 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 Junior Debt 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 Junior Debt 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 Junior Debt

 

-127-


being so redeemed, defeased, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired, (D) if such Junior Debt so purchased, exchanged, redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired for value is (i) unsecured then such new Indebtedness shall be unsecured or (ii) Permitted Other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(x)(i)(b) and is 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 Junior Debt being so redeemed, defeased, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired;

(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 the Borrower or Holdings, Intermediate Holdco or any direct or indirect Parent Entity or management investment vehicle held by any future, present or former employee, director, manager or consultant of the Borrower, 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 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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower or any direct or indirect Parent Entity or management investment vehicle in connection with the Transactions; provided that, except with respect to non-discretionary Restricted Payments, the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (4) subsequent to the Restatement Effective Date do not exceed in any calendar year the greater of (a) $82,000,000 and (b) 17% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) (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: (A) the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower and, to the extent contributed to the Borrower, the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests of Holdings or any other direct or indirect Parent Entity or management investment vehicle, in each case to any future, present or former employees, directors, managers or consultants of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, Holdings or any other direct or indirect Parent Entity or management investment vehicle that occurs after the Restatement Effective Date, to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of clause (iii) of Section 10.5(a), plus (B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries after the Restatement Effective Date, less (C) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made pursuant to clauses (A) and (B) of this clause (4); and provided, further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from any future, present or former employees, directors, managers or consultants of the Borrower, Holdings or any other direct or indirect Parent Entity or management investment vehicle or any Restricted Subsidiary, or their estates, descendants, family, spouse or former spouse in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Borrower, Holdings or any other 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;

 

-128-


(5)    the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Borrower 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 to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of Fixed Charges;

(6)    (A) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued by the Borrower after the Restatement Effective Date; (B) the declaration and payment of dividends to Holdings or any other direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower, 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 Restatement Effective Date; provided that the amount of dividends paid pursuant to this clause (B) shall not exceed the aggregate amount of cash actually contributed to the Borrower 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, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis would have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00;

(7)    Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (7) that are at the time outstanding, without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash, Cash Equivalents or marketable securities, not to exceed the greater of (x) $108,000,000 and (y) 22.5% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

(8)    (i) payments made or expected to be made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of withholding or similar taxes payable upon exercise of Equity Interests by any future, present or former employee, director, manager, or consultant and repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants and (ii) payments or other adjustments to outstanding Equity Interests in accordance with any management equity plan, stock option plan or any other similar employee benefit plan, agreement or arrangement in connection with any Restricted Payment;

(9)    on the Borrower’s common stock (or the payment of dividends to Holdings) in Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount per annum not to exceed the sum of (a) 6.0% of the net cash proceeds received by or contributed to the Borrower in or from the IPO and (b) 7.0% of the market capitalization of the Borrower after the IPO;

(10)    Restricted Payments in an amount that does not exceed the amount of Excluded Contributions made since the Restatement Effective Date;

(11)    Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (11) not to exceed the greater of (x) $160,000,000 and (y) 33.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) at the time made; (12) distributions or payments of Receivables Fees;

 

-129-


(13)    [reserved];

(14)    other Restricted Payments; provided that, after giving Pro Forma Effect to such Restricted Payments, the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio is equal to or less than 1.25:1.00, provided that, with respect to Restricted Investments, the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio is equal to or less than 1.40:1.00;

(15)    the declaration and payment of dividends by the Borrower to, or the making of loans to, Holdings, any Intermediate Holdco or any other direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent company to pay: (A) franchise and excise taxes, and other fees and expenses, in each case, required to maintain its organizational existence, (B) consolidated, combined or similar foreign, federal, state and local income and similar taxes (including if the Borrower is treated as a partnership or an entity disregarded from its owner for United States federal income tax purposes and its taxable income is entirely included on an income tax return of one or more direct or indirect parent companies each of which is treated as a subchapter C corporation), to the extent that such income or similar taxes are attributable to the income, revenue, receipts or capital of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and, to the extent of the amount actually received from its Unrestricted Subsidiaries, in amounts required to pay such taxes to the extent attributable to the income, revenue, receipts or capital of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries and including any interest or penalties related thereto; provided that in each case the amount of such payments with respect to any fiscal year does not exceed the amount that the Borrower, the Restricted Subsidiaries and the Unrestricted Subsidiaries (to the extent described above) would have been required to pay in respect of such foreign, federal, state and local income taxes, including any interest or penalties related thereto, for such fiscal year had the Borrower, the Restricted Subsidiaries and the Unrestricted Subsidiaries (to the extent described above) been a stand-alone taxpayer or stand-alone group (separate from any such direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower) for all fiscal years ending after the Restatement Effective Date, (C) customary salary, bonus, and other benefits payable to officers, employees, directors, and managers of Holdings, any Intermediate Holdco or any other direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower to the extent such salaries, bonuses, and other benefits are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including the Borrower’s proportionate share of such amount relating to such parent company being a public company, (D) general corporate or other operating (including, without limitation, expenses related to auditing or other accounting matters) and overhead costs and expenses of Holdings, any Intermediate Holdco or any other direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower to the extent such costs and expenses are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including the Borrower’s proportionate share of such amount relating to such parent company being a public company, (E) amounts required for any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower to pay fees and expenses incurred by any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower related to (i) the maintenance by such parent entity of its corporate or other entity existence and (ii) transactions of such parent company of the Borrower of the type described in clause (xi) of the definition of Consolidated Net Income, (F) cash payments in lieu of issuing fractional shares in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Interests of the Borrower or any such direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower, and (G) repurchases deemed to occur upon the cashless exercise of stock options;

 

-130-


(16)    the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests of the Borrower deemed to occur in connection with paying cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Equity Interests in connection with a share dividend, distribution, share split, reverse share split, merger, consolidation, amalgamation or other business combination of the Borrower, in each case, permitted under this Agreement;

(17)    the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Borrower 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 Junior Debt in an aggregate amount pursuant to this clause (18) not to exceed the greater of (x) $120,000,000 and (y) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis);

(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; and

(2)    the prepayment, redemption, defeasance, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement for value of Junior Debt of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that after giving Pro Forma Effect to such prepayments, redemptions, defeasances, repurchases or other acquisitions or retirements for value, the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio is equal to or less than 1.40:1.00.

provided that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (11), (14), and (18), 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 shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof).

The Borrower 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 the Borrower and the 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, and all outstanding Indebtedness and Liens of the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be an incurrence of any Indebtedness and Liens by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower. 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 (7), (10), or (11) of Section 10.5(b), or pursuant to the definition of Permitted Investments, if the Indebtedness would be permitted at such time pursuant to Section 10.1, if the Liens would be permitted at such time pursuant to Section 10.2, and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Agreement.

For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, in the event that a proposed Restricted Payment or Investment (or a portion thereof) meets the criteria of clauses (1) through (18) above or is entitled to be made pursuant to Section 10.5(a) and/or one or more of the exceptions contained in the definition of Permitted Investments, the Borrower will be entitled to classify or later reclassify (based on circumstances existing on the date of such reclassification) such Restricted Payment (or portion

 

-131-


thereof) among such clauses (1) through (18), Section 10.5(a) and/or one or more of the exceptions contained in the definition of “Permitted Investments”, in a manner that otherwise complies with this covenant.

(c)    Prior to the Initial Term Loan Maturity Date, to the extent any Permitted Debt Exchange Notes are issued pursuant to Section 10.1(y) for the purpose of consummating a Permitted Debt Exchange, (i) the Borrower will not, and will not permit its Restricted Subsidiaries to, prepay, repurchase, redeem or otherwise defease or acquire any Permitted Debt Exchange Notes unless the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary shall concurrently voluntarily prepay Term Loans pursuant to Section 5.1(a) 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) the Borrower 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(y), 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. The Borrower will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any such Restricted Subsidiary to:

(a)     (i) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Borrower 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 the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(b)    make loans or advances to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; or

(c)    sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Borrower 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 Restatement Effective Date, including pursuant to this Agreement and the related documentation and related Hedging Obligations;

(ii)    the ABL Credit Document and the ABL Loans;

(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;

 

-132-


(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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower 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 Restatement Effective 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;

(xii)    restrictions created in connection with any Receivables Facility that, in the good faith determination of the board of directors of the Borrower, 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 the Borrower’s 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 their respective obligations under the Credit Documents as and when due (as determined in good faith by the Borrower).

 

-133-


10.7    Permitted Activities. None of Holdings or the Texas Intermediate Holdcos shall engage in any material operating or business activities; provided that the following and activities incidental thereto shall be permitted in any event: (i) such Person’s ownership of the Equity Interests set forth next to such Person’s name on Schedule 10.5 and activities incidental thereto, (ii) the maintenance of each Person’s legal existence (including the ability to incur fees, costs and expenses relating to such maintenance), (iii) the performance of each Person’s obligations with respect to the Credit Documents, the ABL Credit Documents and any other Indebtedness and any other agreements contemplated hereby and thereby, (iv) any public offering of its common stock or any other issuance or sale of its Equity Interests, (v) financing activities, including the issuance of securities, payment of dividends, making contributions to the capital of the Borrower, (vi) incurrence of debt and guaranteeing the obligations of the Borrower, (vii) participating in tax, accounting and other administrative matters as owner of the Equity Interests set forth next to such Person’s name on Schedule 10.5, (viii) holding any cash incidental to any activities permitted under this Section 10.7, (ix) providing indemnification to officers, managers and directors, (x) any transaction that is permitted under Section 10 and (xi) any activities incidental to the foregoing.

Section 11.     Events of Default.

Upon the occurrence of any of the following specified events set forth in Sections 11.1 through 11.11 (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 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, 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 the last paragraph of Section 9.1(e)(i), Section 9.5 (solely with respect to the Borrower), Section 9.14(d) or Section 10; or

(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 the Borrower from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders; or

 

-134-


11.4    Default Under Other Agreements. (a) the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall (i) fail to make any payment with respect to any Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) in excess of the greater of (x) $81,600,000 and (y) 17% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) in the aggregate, for the Borrower 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 period 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) shall apply to any failure to make any payment in excess of the greater of (x) $81,600,000 and (y) 17% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) 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 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), or (b) without limiting the provisions of clause (a) above, any such Indebtedness 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 (it being understood that clause (a)(i) above shall apply to any failure to make any payment in excess of the greater of (x) $81,600,000 and (y) 17% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) that is required as a result of any such termination or equivalent event and that is not otherwise being contested in good faith)), prior to the stated maturity thereof; provided that this clause (b) shall not apply to (x) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, if such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder and under the documents providing for such Indebtedness, (y) Indebtedness which is convertible into Qualified Stock and converts to Qualified Stock in accordance with its terms and such conversion is not prohibited hereunder, or (z) any breach or default that is (I) remedied by the Borrower 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; provided, further, that no ABL Financial Covenant Default shall constitute an Event of Default under this Section 11.4 until the acceleration of the Indebtedness (if any) or termination of commitments under the ABL Facility; or

11.5    Bankruptcy, Etc. Except as otherwise permitted by Section 10.3, Holdings, any Intermediate Holdco, the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary commences a voluntary case, proceeding or action concerning itself under Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy” 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, any Intermediate Holdco, the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary and the petition is not controverted within 60 days after commencement of the case, proceeding or action; or an involuntary case, proceeding or action is commenced against Holdings, any Intermediate Holdco, the Borrower or any Significant 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

 

-135-


takes charge of, all or substantially all of the property of Holdings, any Intermediate Holdco, the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary; or Holdings, any Intermediate Holdco, the Borrower or any Significant 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, any Intermediate Holdco, the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary; or there is commenced against Holdings, any Intermediate Holdco, Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary any such proceeding or action that remains undismissed for a period of 60 days; or Holdings, any Intermediate Holdco, the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary is adjudicated bankrupt; or any order of relief or other order approving any such case or proceeding or action is entered; or Holdings, any Intermediate Holdco, the Borrower or any Significant 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, any Intermediate Holdco, the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or

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    Guarantee. Other than as expressly permitted hereunder, 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. Other than as expressly permitted hereunder, the Pledge Agreement or any other Security Document pursuant to which the Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is pledged or any material provision thereof shall cease to be in full force or effect (other than pursuant to the terms hereof or thereof, solely as a result of acts or omissions of the Collateral Agent or any Lender or solely 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. Other than as expressly permitted hereunder, the Security Agreement or any other Security Document pursuant to which the assets of Holdings, any Intermediate Holdco, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary are pledged as Collateral or any material provision thereof shall cease to be in full force or effect (other than pursuant to the terms hereof or thereof, solely 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

 

-136-


11.10    Judgments. One or more judgments or decrees shall be entered against the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries involving a liability in excess of the greater of (x) $81,600,000 and (y) 17% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) in the aggregate for all such judgments and decrees for the Borrower and the 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.

then, and in any event, and at any time thereafter, 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 the Borrower, without prejudice to the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to enforce its claims against the Borrower, except as otherwise specifically provided for in this Agreement, 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; provided that, if an Event of Default specified in Section 11.5 shall occur with respect to the Borrower, the result that would occur upon the giving of written notice by the Administrative Agent shall occur automatically without the giving of any such notice; provided further, that, in the case of each of Section 11.2 and 11.3, no notice of a Default or Event of Default may be given by the Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to any action taken and reported to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders more than two years prior to such notice of Default or Event of Default; provided, further, that such two year limitation shall not apply if (i) the Administrative Agent has commenced or previously taken any action in respect of any such Event of Default or (ii) any Credit Party had actual knowledge of such Default or Event of Default and failed to notify to Administrative Agent as required hereby.

11.12    Application of Proceeds. Subject to the terms of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and, in each case if executed, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, 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 11.4 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 equal to all Obligations owing to them on the date of any distribution; 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;

 

-137-


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.

12.1    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. The provisions of this Section 12 (other than Section 12.1(c) with respect to the Joint Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners and Sections 12.1, 12.9, 12.11 and 12.12 with respect to the Borrower) are solely for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders, neither the Borrower nor 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, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries.

(b)    The Administrative Agent and each Lender hereby irrevocably designate and appoint the Collateral Agent as the agent with respect to the Collateral, and each of the Administrative Agent and each Lender 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 and the Lenders, 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)    Each of the Joint Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners each in its capacity 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).

 

-138-


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) or (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. 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. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) no Agent shall have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby that such Agent is instructed in writing to exercise by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 13.1), provided that no Agent shall be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose such Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Credit Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any debtor relief law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any debtor relief law, (b) except as expressly set forth in the Credit Documents, no Agent shall have any duty to disclose, nor shall it be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity and (c) the Administrative Agent does not warrant nor accept any responsibility nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to (i) any LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes, (ii) the administration, submission or any matter relating to any LIBOR Successor Rate or (iii) the effect of any of the foregoing.

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 the Borrower), 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

 

-139-


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 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. Each Lender 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.

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

 

-140-


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 the Borrower; provided that such reimbursement by the Lenders shall not affect 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.

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.

 

-141-


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 and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, subject to the consent of the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) so long as no Event of Default under Sections 11.1 or 11.5 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 (the “Resignation Effective Date”), 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); provided that if the Administrative Agent or the 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.

(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 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 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 amendments or supplements to the Mortgages, and such other instruments or notices, as may be necessary or desirable, or as the Required Lenders may request, in order to 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 Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch as the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 12.9 shall also constitute the resignation or removal of Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch as the Collateral Agent. The fees payable by 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 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.

 

-142-


12.10    Withholding Tax. To the extent required by any applicable law (as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender under any Credit Document an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax. 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), within 10 days after demand therefor, fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent or 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.

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 Final Maturity Date and the payment in full 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 to be 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 (other than Holdings) 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 clause (vi) (solely with respect to Section 10.1(d)), and (ix) of the definition of Permitted Lien; and (d) enter into subordination or 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 intercreditor or subordination agreement, including the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

 

-143-


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. Anything contained in any of the Credit Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, Holdings, the Borrower, 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 Agreement Governs. The Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, and each Lender (a) hereby agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of any intercreditor agreement entered into pursuant to the terms hereof, (b) hereby authorizes and instructs the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to enter into each intercreditor agreement entered into pursuant to the terms hereof and to subject the Liens securing the Obligations to the provisions thereof, and (c) hereby authorizes and instructs the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to enter into any intercreditor agreement that includes, or to amend any then existing intercreditor agreement to provide for, the terms described in the definition of Permitted Other Indebtedness.

 

-144-


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. Except as provided to the contrary in the Credit Documents (including under 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 proviso to clause (i) 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 extend the date for the payment, of interest or fees payable hereunder or any principal hereunder (other than as a result of waiving the applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates), 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 directly and adversely affected thereby, 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) release all or substantially all of the Guarantors under the Guarantees (except as expressly permitted by the Guarantees, the Intercreditor Agreement or this Agreement) or release all or substantially all of the Collateral under the Security Documents (except as expressly permitted by the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement or this Agreement) without the prior written consent of each Lender, or (v) decrease the Initial Term Loan Repayment Amount applicable to Initial Term Loans or extend any scheduled Initial Term Loan Repayment Date applicable to Initial Term Loans, in each case without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, or (vi) reduce the percentage specified in the definitions of the term Required 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, restatement, supplement, modification or waiver, without the written consent of each Lender, directly and adversely affected thereby, or (ix) alter the ratable payments required by

 

-145-


Section 5.3(a), Section 11.13(ii), Section 13.8(a) or Section 13.20 without the written consent of each Lender, (y) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in clause (x), (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 (a “Permitted Repricing Amendment”), 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.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, restatement, supplement, 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, restatement, supplement, 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 the Borrower, such Lenders, the Administrative Agent and all future holders of the affected Loans. In the case of any waiver, 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 anything to the contrary herein, in connection with any determination as to whether the requisite Lenders have (A) consented (or not consented) to any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Credit Document or any departure by any Credit Party therefrom, (B) otherwise acted on any matter related to any Credit Document, or (C) directed or required the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) with respect to or under any Credit Document, any Lender (other than a regulated commercial bank or a revolving lender (if any)) that, as a result of its interest in any total return swap, total rate of return swap, credit default swap or other derivative contract (other than any such total return swap, total rate of return swap, credit default swap or other derivative contract entered into pursuant to bona fide market making activities), has a net short position with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments (each, a “Net Short Lender”) shall have no right to vote any of its Loans and Commitments and shall be deemed to have voted its interest as a Lender without discretion in the same proportion as the allocation of voting with respect to such matter by Lenders who are not Net Short Lenders (in each case unless otherwise agreed to by the Borrower). For purposes of determining whether a Lender has a “net short position” on any date of determination: (i) derivative contracts with respect to the Loans and Commitments and such contracts that are the functional equivalent thereof shall be counted at the notional amount thereof in Dollars, (ii) notional amounts in other currencies shall be converted to the dollar equivalent thereof by such Lender in a commercially reasonable manner consistent with generally accepted financial practices and based on the prevailing conversion rate (determined on a mid-market basis) on the date of determination, (iii) derivative contracts in respect of an index that includes any of the Borrower or other Credit Parties or any instrument issued or guaranteed by any of the Borrower or other Credit Parties shall not be deemed to create a short position with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments, so long as (x) such index is not created, designed, administered or requested by such Lender and (y) the Borrower and other Credit

 

-146-


Parties and any instrument issued or guaranteed by any of the Borrower or other Credit Parties, collectively, shall represent less than 5% of the components of such index, (iv) derivative transactions that are documented using either the 2014 ISDA Credit Derivatives Definitions or the 2003 ISDA Credit Derivatives Definitions (collectively, the “ISDA CDS Definitions”) shall be deemed to create a short position with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments if such Lender is a protection buyer or the equivalent thereof for such derivative transaction and (x) the Loans or the Commitments are a “Reference Obligation” under the terms of such derivative transaction (whether specified by name in the related documentation, included as a “Standard Reference Obligation” on the most recent list published by Markit, if “Standard Reference Obligation” is specified as applicable in the relevant documentation or in any other manner), (y) the Loans or the Commitments would be a “Deliverable Obligation” under the terms of such derivative transaction or (z) any of the Borrower or other Credit Parties (or its successor) is designated as a “Reference Entity” under the terms of such derivative transactions and (v) credit derivative transactions or other derivatives transactions not documented using the ISDA CDS Definitions shall be deemed to create a short position with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments if such transactions are functionally equivalent to a transaction that offers the Lender protection in respect of the Loans or the Commitments, or as to the credit quality of any of the Borrower or other Credit Parties other than, in each case, as part of an index so long as (x) such index is not created, designed, administered or requested by such Lender and (y) the Borrower and other Credit Parties and any instrument issued or guaranteed by any of the Borrower or other Credit Parties, collectively, shall represent less than 5% of the components of such index.

In connection with any such determination, each Lender (other than a regulated commercial bank or a revolving lender (if any)) shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent in writing that it is a Net Short Lender, or shall otherwise be deemed to have represented and warranted to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that it is not a Net Short Lender (it being understood and agreed that the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to conclusively rely on each such representation and deemed representation and shall have no duty to (x) inquire as to or investigate the accuracy of any such representation or deemed representation, (y) verify any statements in any officer’s certificates delivered to it or (z) otherwise ascertain or monitor whether any Lender, Eligible Assignee or Participant or prospective Lender, Eligible Assignee or Participant is a Net Short Lender or make any calculations, investigations or determinations with respect to any derivative contracts and/or net short positions). Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (A) be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions hereof relating to the Net Short Lenders or (B) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans to any Net Short Lender.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in addition to any credit extensions and related Joinder Agreement(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, 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 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.

In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended with the written consent of the Administrative Agent, 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

 

-147-


(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 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 (c) the covenants, events of default and guarantees shall be not materially more restrictive to the Credit Parties (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.

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 Date, (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 or 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

 

-148-


incremental facility or extension facility); (ii) no Lender consent is required to effect any amendment or supplement to the Intercreditor Agreement or 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 Intercreditor Agreement or such other intercreditor agreement or arrangement permitted under this Agreement, as applicable (it being understood that any such amendment or supplement may make such other changes to the applicable intercreditor agreement as, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, are required to effectuate the foregoing; 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) and (y) effect administrative changes of a technical or immaterial nature and 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, collateral 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 requirements of 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.

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 the Borrower and the 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 or the Collateral Agent, 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

 

-149-


(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 and the Collateral Agent.

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.

(a)    Each of Holdings and the Borrower, jointly and severally, agrees (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 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, including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of Latham & Watkins LLP (or such other counsel as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), one counsel in each relevant local jurisdiction with the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), (ii) to pay or reimburse each Agent 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, including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of one firm or counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, and, to the extent required, one firm or local counsel in each relevant local jurisdiction with the Borrower’s consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions), and (iii) to pay, indemnify and hold harmless each Lender, each Agent 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 (and the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, expenses, disbursements and other charges of one firm of counsel for all Indemnified Persons, taken as a whole (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest where the Indemnified Person affected by such conflict notifies the Borrower of any existence of such conflict and

 

-150-


in connection with the investigating or defending any of the foregoing (including the reasonable fees) has retained its own counsel, of another firm of counsel for such affected Indemnified Person), and to the extent required, one firm or local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions)) of any such Indemnified Person arising out of or relating to any action, claim, litigation, investigation or other proceeding (regardless of whether such Indemnified Person is a party thereto or whether or not such action, claim, litigation or proceeding was brought by Holdings, any of its Subsidiaries or any other Person), arising out of, or with respect to the Transactions or to the execution, enforcement, delivery, performance and administration of this Agreement, the other Credit Documents and any such other 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 relating in any way to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries (all the foregoing in this clause (iii), 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, the Borrower or their respective 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. 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,

 

-151-


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 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 at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed; it being understood that, without limitation, the Borrower shall have the right to withhold its consent to any assignment if, in order for such assignment to comply with applicable law, the Borrower would be required to obtain the consent of, or make any filing or registration with, any Governmental Authority) of:

(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 or (2) an assignment of Loans or Commitments to any assignee if an Event of Default under Section 11.1 or Section 11.5 (with respect to the Borrower) has occurred and is continuing; and

(B)    the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); 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.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such assignment shall be made to a natural Person, Disqualified Lender or Defaulting Lender. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent shall bear no responsibility or liability for monitoring and enforcing the list of Persons who are Disqualified Lenders at any time.

(i)    Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(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 $1,000,000, 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;

 

-152-


(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;

(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));

(E)    any assignment to Holdings, the Borrower, any Subsidiary of Holdings or an Affiliated Lender (other than an Affiliated Institutional Lender) shall also be subject to the requirements of Section 13.6(h); and

(F)    the Administrative Agent shall have received a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 for each assignment (or waived by the Administrative Agent at its sole discretion), provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment; provided, further, that such processing and recordation fee shall not be payable in the case of assignments by any Agent or any of its Affiliates.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent bears no responsibility for tracking or monitoring assignments to or participations by any Affiliated Lender.

(ii)    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.

(iii)    The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and 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) 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 and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name

 

-153-


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 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.

(iv)    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 or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (other than (x) a natural person, (y) Holdings and its Subsidiaries 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 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 bear no responsibility or liability for monitoring and enforcing the list of Disqualified Lenders or the sales of participations thereto at any time. 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) and (vii) 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 and 5.4 to the same extent as if it were a Lender (subject to the limitations and requirements of those Sections and Sections 2.12 and 13.7 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 solely 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.

(v)    A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.10, 2.11 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) or such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower,

 

-154-


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 or its other obligations under any Credit Document) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) or Proposed Section 1.163-5(b) of the United States Treasury Regulations (or, in each case, any amended, successor or final version).

(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

 

-155-


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 and 5.4 to the same extent as if it were a Lender (subject to the limitations and requirements of those Sections and Sections 2.12 and 13.7 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 solely 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 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).

(h)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (x) any Lender may, at any time, assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement in respect of its Term Loans to Holdings, the Borrower, any Subsidiary of Holdings or an Affiliated Lender and (y) Holdings, the Borrower and any Subsidiary of Holdings may, from time to time, purchase or prepay Term Loans, in each case, on a non-pro rata basis through (1) Dutch auction procedures open to all applicable Lenders on a pro rata basis in accordance with customary procedures to be agreed between the Borrower and the Auction Agent or (2) open market purchases; provided that:

(i)    any Loans or Commitments acquired by Holdings, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of Holdings shall be retired and cancelled promptly upon the acquisition thereof;

(ii)    by its acquisition of Loans or Commitments, an Affiliated Lender shall be deemed to have acknowledged and agreed that:

 

  (A)

it shall not have any right to (i) attend or participate in (including, in each case, by telephone) any meeting (including “Lender only” meetings) or discussions (or portion thereof) among the Administrative Agent or any Lender to which representatives of the Borrower are not then present, (ii) receive any information or material prepared by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or any communication by or among the Administrative Agent and one or more Lenders or any other material which is “Lender only”, except to the extent such information or materials have been made available to the Borrower or their representatives (and in any case, other than the right to receive notices of prepayments and other administrative notices in respect of its Loans required to be delivered to Lenders pursuant to Section 2) or receive any advice of counsel to the Administrative Agent or (iii) make any challenge to the Administrative Agent’s or any other Lender’s attorney-client privilege on the basis of its status as a Lender; and

 

-156-


  (B)

except with respect to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action (I) in Section 13.1 requiring the consent of all Lenders, all Lenders directly and adversely affected or specifically such Lender, (II) that alters an Affiliated Lender’s pro rata share of any payments given to all Lenders, or (III) affects the Affiliated Lender (in its capacity as a Lender) in a manner that is disproportionate to the effect on any Lender in the same Class, the Loans held by an Affiliated Lender shall be disregarded in both the numerator and denominator in the calculation of any Lender vote (and, in the case of a plan of reorganization that does not affect the Affiliated Lender in a manner that is materially adverse to such Affiliated Lender relative to other Lenders, shall be deemed to have voted its interest in the Term Loans in the same proportion as the other Lenders) (and shall be deemed to have been voted in the same percentage as all other applicable Lenders voted if necessary to give legal effect to this paragraph); and

(iii)    the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans held at any one time by Affiliated Lenders may not exceed 30% of the aggregate principal amount of all Term Loans outstanding at the time of such purchase; and

(iv)    any such Loans acquired by an Affiliated Lender may, with the consent of the Borrower, be contributed to the Borrower and exchanged for debt or equity securities that are otherwise permitted to be issued at such time (and such Loans or Commitments shall be retired and cancelled promptly).

For avoidance of doubt, the foregoing limitations shall not be applicable to Affiliated Institutional Lenders. None of Holdings, the Borrower, any Subsidiary of Holdings or any Affiliated Lender shall be required to make any representation that it is not in possession of information which is not publicly available and/or material with respect to Holdings, the Borrower and their respective Subsidiaries or their respective securities for purposes of U.S. federal and state securities laws.

13.7    Replacements of Lenders Under Certain Circumstances.

(a)    The Borrower shall be permitted (x) to replace any Lender or (y) terminate the Commitment of such Lender and 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 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)(iii) 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 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, an Affiliated 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

 

-157-


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) and 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; 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.

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. For purposes of subclause (ii)(a) of the definition of Excluded Taxes, a Lender that acquires a participation pursuant to this Section 13.8 shall be treated as having acquired such participation on the date(s) on which such Lender acquired the applicable interest(s) in the Commitment(s) and/or Loan(s) to which such participation relates.

(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 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

 

-158-


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 Texas Intermediate Holdcos, 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 or 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 LAW 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;

 

-159-


(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 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.

13.14    Acknowledgments. Each of Holdings, each Texas Intermediate Holdco and the Borrower hereby acknowledges 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 Holdings, the Texas Intermediate Holdcos and the

 

-160-


Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate. Each of Holdings, the Texas Intermediate Holdcos and the Borrower hereby agrees 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 Holdings, the Texas Intermediate Holdcos and 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.

13.16    Confidentiality. The Administrative Agent, each other Agent and each Lender (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 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 (or

 

-161-


other derivative transaction counterparties) (any such person, a “Derivative Counterparty”), 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, Derivative Counterparties or prospective Lenders, Derivative Counterparties or participants or prospective participants referred to above shall be made subject to the acknowledgment and acceptance by such Lender, Derivative Counterparty 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, (h) for purposes of establishing a “due diligence” defense, or (i) to rating agencies in connection with obtaining ratings for the Borrower and the Facilities to the extent such rating agencies are subject to customary confidentiality obligations of professional practice or 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). 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 the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or its 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 disclose the existence of this Agreement and the information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar services providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration, settlement and management of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

13.17    Direct Website Communications. 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 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) 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 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.

 

-162-


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)    The Borrower further agrees 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.

(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)    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 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 the Borrower has indicated contains only publicly available information with respect to the Borrower may be posted on that portion of the Platform designated for such public-side Lenders. If 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 the Borrower, the Subsidiaries and their securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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 notifies the Administrative Agent promptly that any such document

 

-163-


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)) (as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time, the “Patriot Act”) and 31 C.F.R. § 1010.320 (the “Beneficial Ownership Regulation”), 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, the Beneficial Ownership Regulation and other applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations.

13.19    Cashless Settlement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any Lender may exchange, continue or rollover all or a portion of its Term Loans in connection with any refinancing, extension, loan modification or similar transaction permitted by the terms of this Agreement, pursuant to a cashless settlement mechanism approved by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and such Lender.

13.20    Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of 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 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. 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.

 

-164-


13.22    Nature of Borrower Obligations.

(a)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Agreement, it is understood and agreed by the various parties to this Agreement that all of the Borrower’s Obligations to repay principal of, interest on, and all other amounts with respect to, all Loans and all other Obligations of the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement (including, without limitation, all fees, indemnities, taxes and other Obligations in connection therewith or in connection with the related Commitments) shall be guaranteed pursuant to, and in accordance with the terms of, the Guarantee.

(b)    The obligations of the Borrower with respect to the Borrower’s Obligations are independent of the obligations of any Guarantor under its guaranty of the Borrower’s Obligations, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against the Borrower, whether or not any such Guarantor is joined in any such action or actions. The Borrower waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting its liability hereunder or the enforcement thereof.

(c)    The Borrower authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Lenders without notice or demand (except as shall be required by the Credit Documents and applicable statute that cannot be waived), and without affecting or impairing its liability hereunder, from time to time to:

(i)    exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against any Guarantor or others or otherwise act or refrain from acting;

(ii)    apply any sums paid by any other Person, howsoever realized or otherwise received to or for the account of the Borrower to any liability or liabilities of such other Person regardless of what liability or liabilities of such other Person remain unpaid; and/or

(iii)    consent to or waive any breach of, or act, omission or default under, this Agreement or any of the instruments or agreements referred to herein, or otherwise, by any other Person.

(d)    It is not necessary for the Administrative Agent or any other Lender to inquire into the capacity or powers of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or the officers, directors, members, partners or agents acting or purporting to act on its behalf.

(e)    The Borrower waives any right to require the Administrative Agent or the other Lenders to (i) proceed against any Guarantor or any other party, (ii) proceed against or exhaust any security held from any Guarantor or any other party or (iii) pursue any other remedy in the Administrative Agent’s or the Lenders’ power whatsoever. The Borrower waives any defense based on or arising out of suretyship or any impairment of security held from the Borrower, any Guarantor or any other party or on or arising out of any defense of any Guarantor or any other party other than payment in full in cash of the Obligations of the Credit Parties, including, without limitation, any defense based on or arising out of the disability of any Guarantor or any other party, or the unenforceability of the Obligations of the Borrower or any part thereof from any cause, in each case other than as a result of the payment in full in cash of the Obligations of the Borrower.

(f)    All provisions contained in any Credit Document shall be interpreted consistently with this Section 13.22 to the extent possible.

 

-165-


13.23    Amendment and Restatement.

(a)    The Credit Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, the terms and provisions of the Existing Term Loan Facility 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 Existing Term Loan Facility, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement (including, without limitation, clause (b) of this Section 13.23), shall be superseded by this Agreement. Upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, each Credit Document that was in effect immediately prior to the date of this Agreement shall continue to be effective on its terms unless otherwise expressly stated herein.

(b)    Notwithstanding the amendment and restatement of the Existing Term Loan Facility by this Agreement, the Credit Parties shall continue to be liable (i) to each Indemnified Person with respect to agreements on their part under the Existing Term Loan Facility to indemnify and hold harmless such Indemnified Person from and against all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, charges and expenses to which the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may be subject arising in connection with the Existing Term Loan Facility and (ii) for the Obligations (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Facility) of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties under the Existing Term Loan Facility and the other Credit Documents (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Facility) that remain unpaid and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and such Obligations shall continue to exist under and be evidenced by this Agreement and the other Credit Documents. This Agreement is given as a substitution of, and not as a payment of, the obligations of the Credit Parties under the Existing Term Loan Facility and is not intended to constitute a novation of the Existing Term Loan Facility.

13.24    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 the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

(a)    the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and

(b)    the effects of any Bail-in Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

(i)    a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

(ii)    a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent 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.

 

-166-


13.25    Certain ERISA Matters.

(a)    Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other 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 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 Commitments and this Agreement,

(iii)    (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, or

(iv)    such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

(b)    In addition, unless either (1) sub-clause (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 sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other 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 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).

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

-167-


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

ACADEMY, LTD.,

as the Borrower

By: Academy Managing Co., L.L.C., as its general partner
By:  

/s/ Michael P. Mullican

  Name:    Michael P. Mullican
 

Title:      Executive Vice President & Chief

               Financial Officer

NEW ACADEMY HOLDING COMPANY, LLC,

as Holdings

By:  

/s/ Michael P. Mullican

  Name:    Michael P. Mullican
  Title:      Executive Vice President & Chief                Financial Officer
ASSOCIATED INVESTORS L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ Michael P. Mullican

  Name:    Michael P. Mullican
  Title:      Executive Vice President & Chief                Financial Officer
ACADEMY MANAGING CO., L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ Michael P. Mullican

  Name:    Michael P. Mullican
  Title:      Executive Vice President & Chief                Financial Officer

[Credit Agreement]


CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH,

as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and an Additional Initial Term Lender

By:  

/s/ William O’Daly

  Name: William O’Daly
  Title: Authorized Signatory
By:  

/s/ Christopher Zybrick

  Name: Christopher Zybrick
  Title: Authorized Signatory

[Credit Agreement]

EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

EXECUTION VERSION

AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT

AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of November 6, 2020 (this “Amendment”), among ACADEMY, LTD., a Texas limited partnership (“Borrower”), NEW ACADEMY HOLDING COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), ASSOCIATED INVESTORS L.L.C., a Texas limited liability company, ACADEMY MANAGING CO., L.L.C., a Texas limited liability company (together with Academy Associated Investors L.L.C, the “Texas Intermediate Holdcos”), each of the Guarantors that is a signatory hereto, each of the lenders that is a signatory hereto; and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent (in such capacity, together with its successors, the “Administrative Agent”), Letter of Credit Issuer and Swingline Lender.

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, Holdings, the Texas Intermediate Holdcos, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer and Swingline Lender and each lender from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”) have entered into a First Amended and Restated ABL Credit Agreement, dated as of July 2, 2015 (as amended or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Credit Agreement”) (capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Amendment have the same meanings as specified in the Amended Credit Agreement (as defined below));

WHEREAS, on the date hereof, the Borrower, the Guarantors, the Administrative Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer, the Swingline Lender and the Lenders party hereto desire to amend the Credit Agreement as set forth in Section 1 hereof;

WHEREAS, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Bank of America, N.A., Capital One, National Association and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (collectively, the “Arrangers”) will act as joint lead arrangers and bookrunners in connection with this Amendment and the Amended Credit Agreement (as defined below).

WHEREAS, the Administrative Agent, the Credit Parties, the Letter of Credit Issuer, the Swingline Lender and the Lenders constituting all of the Lenders on the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date (as defined below) signatory hereto are willing to so agree pursuant to Section 13.1 of the Credit Agreement, subject to the conditions set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of all of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

SECTION 1.    Amendment. Effective as of the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein:

(a)    the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to delete the stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: stricken text) and to add the double-underlined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: double-underlined text) as set forth in Annex A hereto (the Credit Agreement, as so amended, being referred to as the “Amended Credit Agreement”);

(b)    as used in any other Credit Document, all references to the “Credit Agreement” in such Credit Document shall, unless the context otherwise requires, mean or refer to the Amended Credit Agreement;


(c)    Schedule 1.1(b) attached hereto as Annex B shall replace Schedule 1.1(b) to the Credit Agreement in effect immediately prior to the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date; and

(d)    each of Truist Bank (as successor by merger to SunTrust Bank), Fifth Third Bank, Barclays Bank PLC and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. (each a “Departing Lender” and collectively the “Departing Lenders”) shall (i) pursuant to Section 13.7(g) of the Credit Agreement, be replaced by the Lenders party to this Amendment in a manner that gives effect to the Commitments set forth in Schedule 1.01(b) as replaced in accordance with clause (c) above, (ii) shall no longer constitute a “Lender” for any purpose under the Credit Documents (provided, however, that each Departing Lender shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.10, 2.11, and 13.5 of the Credit Agreement) and (iii) shall not have any obligations under any of the Credit Documents.

SECTION 2.    Conditions of Effectiveness. This Amendment and the amendment of the Credit Agreement as set forth in Section 1 hereof shall become effective as of the first date (such date being referred to as the “Amendment No. 2 Effective Date”) when each of the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

(a)    The Administrative Agent shall have received this Amendment, duly executed and delivered by (A) the Borrower, (B) Holdings, (C) the other Guarantors, (D) the Letter of Credit Issuer, (E) the Swingline Lender and (F) the Lenders.

(b)    The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received the executed legal opinion, in customary form, of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, special New York counsel to the Credit Parties. The Borrower hereby instructs and agrees to instruct the other Credit Parties to have such counsel deliver such legal opinions.

(c)    The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received a certificate of (x) each of Holdings, the Borrower and the other Guarantors, dated the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit E to the Credit Agreement, with appropriate insertions, executed by any Authorized Officer and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of Holdings, the Borrower and each other Guarantor, as applicable, and attaching the documents referred to in clause (d) and (y) an Authorized Officer of the Borrower certifying compliance with Section 3 hereof and Section 7.1 of the Credit Agreement.

(d)    The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a copy of the resolutions of the board of directors or other managers of the Borrower, Holdings and the other Guarantors (or a duly authorized committee thereof) authorizing the execution, delivery, and performance of the Amendment and the other Credit Documents (and any agreements relating thereto) to which it is a party, (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws, Certificate of Formation and Operating Agreement or other comparable organizational documents, as applicable, of the Borrower, Holdings and the other Guarantors (or a confirmation that there have been no changes to such documents since those that were delivered to the Administrative Agent on the Restatement Effective Date), and (iii) signature and incumbency certificates (or other comparable documents evidencing the same) of the Authorized Officers of Holdings, the Borrower and the other Guarantors executing the Credit Documents to which it is a party (or a confirmation that there have been no changes to such documents since those that were delivered to the Administrative Agent on the Restatement Effective Date).

(e)    The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received (i) at least two Business Days prior to the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date such documentation and information as is

 

-2-


reasonably requested in writing at least ten calendar days prior to the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders about the Credit Parties to the extent required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Patriot Act and (ii) to the extent the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, any Lender that has requested in a written notice to the Borrower at least two Business days prior to the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date, a Beneficial Ownership Certification (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement) in relation to the Borrower shall have received such Beneficial Ownership Certification (provided that, upon the execution and delivery by such Lender of its signature page to this Amendment, the condition set forth in this clause (ii) shall be deemed to be satisfied.

(f)    Payment of all reasonable fees and expenses due to (a) the Administrative Agent (as agreed to in writing between the Administrative Agent and the Borrower) (including, without limitation, fees and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel to the Administrative Agent) and (b) the Arrangers (including, without limitation, fees and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of counsel to the Arrangers), in each case required to be paid on the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date.

(g)     The Administrative Agent shall have received reasonably satisfactory evidence that, substantially concurrently with the closing of this Amendment, the Borrower shall have received net cash proceeds of at least $750,000,000 from the incurrence of Indebtedness pursuant to the Term Loan Credit Agreement and the 2027 Senior Notes.

(h)     Each Departing Lender shall have received payment in full in immediately available funds of all of its Loans, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable to it under the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 3.    Representations and Warranties. Each Credit Party represents and warrants as follows as of the date hereof:

(a)    Neither the execution, delivery or performance by any Credit Party of the Amendment nor compliance with the terms and provisions hereof and the consummation of other transactions contemplated hereby will (i) contravene any applicable provision of any material law, statute, rule, regulation, order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or governmental instrumentality, (ii) 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) 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 could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (iii) 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.

(b)    Each Credit Party has the corporate or other organizational power and authority to execute, deliver and carry out the terms and provisions of this Amendment and has taken all necessary corporate or other organizational action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment. Each Credit Party has duly executed and delivered this Amendment and this

 

-3-


Amendment constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party enforceable in accordance with its terms, 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.

(c)    Upon the effectiveness of this Amendment and both before and immediately after giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event of Default exists.

SECTION 4.    Reference to and Effect on the Credit Agreement and the Credit Documents.

(a)    On and after the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date, each reference in the Credit Agreement to “this Agreement,” “hereunder,” “hereof” or words of like import referring to the Credit Agreement shall mean and be a reference to the Amended Credit Agreement.

(b)    The Credit Agreement and each of the other Credit Documents, as specifically amended by this Amendment are and shall continue to be in full force and effect and are hereby in all respects ratified and confirmed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) the Security Documents and all of the Collateral described therein do and shall continue to secure the payment of all Obligations of the Credit Parties under the Credit Documents, in each case, as amended by this Amendment and all grants of security interests are hereby reaffirmed and (ii) each Guarantor hereby confirms and ratifies its continuing unconditional obligations as Guarantor under the Guarantee to which it is a party with respect to the Obligations.

(c)    The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not, except as expressly provided herein, operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any Lender or the Administrative Agent under any of the Credit Documents, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of any of the Credit Documents nor a novation thereof. On and after the effectiveness of this Amendment, this Amendment shall for all purposes constitute a Credit Document.

(d)    By executing and delivering a copy of this Amendment, each applicable Credit Party hereby agrees and confirms that all Obligations (including those created hereby) shall continue to be guaranteed and secured pursuant to the Credit Documents.

SECTION 5.    Execution in Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery by facsimile or electronic transmission of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Amendment shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Amendment. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures (as defined below), deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be. As used herein, “Electronic Signatures” means any electronic symbol or process attached to, or associated with, any contract or other record and adopted by a person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.

SECTION 6.    Governing Law; Waivers.

(a)    THIS AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE THIS AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

-4-


(b)    EACH CREDIT PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY:

(i)    submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Amendment, or for the recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect hereof, to the exclusive general jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan (or if such court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan);

(ii)    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 to commence or support any such action or proceeding in any other courts;

(iii)    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 of the Amended Credit Agreement at such other address of which the Administrative Agent shall have been notified pursuant to Section 13.2 of the Amended Credit Agreement;

(iv)    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 any Credit Party in any other jurisdiction; and

(v)    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 6 any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

EACH CREDIT PARTY AND EACH LENDER AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AMENDMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

SECTION 7.    Reaffirmation. Without in any way establishing a course of dealing by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, each of the Borrower, Holdings and the other Guarantors hereby consents to the amendments and other modifications to the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents contemplated by this Amendment and reaffirms the terms and conditions of the Guarantees, the Security Documents and each other Credit Document executed by it and acknowledges and agrees that each and every Credit Document executed by the undersigned in connection with the Credit Agreement remains in full force and effect and is hereby reaffirmed, ratified and confirmed. All references to the Credit Agreement contained in the above-referenced documents shall be a reference to the Credit Agreement as so modified by this Amendment and as the same may from time to time hereafter be amended, modified or restated.

[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank]

 

-5-


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.

 

ACADEMY, LTD., as Borrower
By: Academy Managing Co., L.L.C., its General Partner
By:  

/s/ Rene Casares

  Name:   Rene Casares
  Title:   Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
NEW ACADEMY HOLDING COMPANY, LLC, as Holdings
By:  

/s/ Rene Casares

  Name:   Rene Casares
  Title:   Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
ACADEMY MANAGING CO., L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ Rene Casares

  Name:   Rene Casares
  Title:   Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
ASSOCIATED INVESTORS, L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ Rene Casares

  Name:   Rene Casares
  Title:   Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

[Academy ABL Credit Agreement - Amendment No. 2]


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, a Letter of Credit Issuer and Swingline Lender

 

By:  

/s/ Andrew Rossman

  Name:  Andrew Rossman
  Title:    Vice President

 

[Academy ABL Credit Agreement - Amendment No. 2]


The undersigned Lender and Letter of Credit Issuer, as applicable, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally approves the Amendment, the certain amendments set forth therein and in the Amended Credit Agreement and each Credit Document and each other document required to be delivered or approved pursuant to this Amendment and the Amended Credit Agreement.

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender and as a Letter of Credit Issuer
By:  

/s/ Peter M. Walther

  Name:  Peter M. Walther
  Title:    Senior Vice President

 

[Academy ABL Credit Agreement - Amendment No. 2]


The undersigned Lender and Letter of Credit Issuer, as applicable, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally approves the Amendment, the certain amendments set forth therein and in the Amended Credit Agreement and each Credit Document and each other document required to be delivered or approved pursuant to this Amendment and the Amended Credit Agreement.

 

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender and as a Letter of Credit Issue

By:  

/s/ Joe A. Sacchetti

  Name:  Joe A. Sacchetti
  Title:    Duly Authorized Signatory

 

[Academy ABL Credit Agreement - Amendment No. 2]


The undersigned Lender and Letter of Credit Issuer, as applicable, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally approves the Amendment, the certain amendments set forth therein and in the Amended Credit Agreement and each Credit Document and each other document required to be delivered or approved pursuant to this Amendment and the Amended Credit Agreement.

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., as a Lender

By:  

/s/ Brendan Hogan

  Name:  Brendan Hogan
  Title:    Assistant Vice President

 

 

[Academy ABL Credit Agreement - Amendment No. 2]


The undersigned Lender and Letter of Credit Issuer, as applicable, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally approves the Amendment, the certain amendments set forth therein and in the Amended Credit Agreement and each Credit Document and each other document required to be delivered or approved pursuant to this Amendment and the Amended Credit Agreement.

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender

By:  

/s/ David Lawrence

  Name:  David Lawrence
  Title:    Vice President

 

 

[Academy ABL Credit Agreement - Amendment No. 2]


The undersigned Lender and Letter of Credit Issuer, as applicable, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally approves the Amendment, the certain amendments set forth therein and in the Amended Credit Agreement and each Credit Document and each other document required to be delivered or approved pursuant to this Amendment and the Amended Credit Agreement.

 

CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as a Lender,

By:  

/s/ William O’Daly

  Name:  William O’Daly
  Title:    Authorized Signatory
 
By:  

/s/ Christopher Zybrick

  Name:  Christopher Zybrick
  Title:    Authorized Signatory

 

[Academy ABL Credit Agreement - Amendment No. 2]


The undersigned Lender and Letter of Credit Issuer, as applicable, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally approves the Amendment, the certain amendments set forth therein and in the Amended Credit Agreement and each Credit Document and each other document required to be delivered or approved pursuant to this Amendment and the Amended Credit Agreement.

 

REGIONS BANK, as a Lender

By:  

/s/ Jesse Xu

  Name:  Jesse Xu
  Title:    Director

 

 

[Academy ABL Credit Agreement - Amendment No. 2]


The undersigned Lender and Letter of Credit Issuer, as applicable, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally approves the Amendment, the certain amendments set forth therein and in the Amended Credit Agreement and each Credit Document and each other document required to be delivered or approved pursuant to this Amendment and the Amended Credit Agreement.

 

BBVA USA, as a Lender

By:  

/s/ Ramon Garcia

  Name:  Ramon Garcia
  Title:    Director

 

 

[Academy ABL Credit Agreement - Amendment No. 2]


Annex A

[attached]


ANNEX A

FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of July 2, 2015

as amended by Amendment No. 1 on May 22, 2018 and

as further amended by Amendment No. 2 on November 6, 2020

among

ACADEMY, LTD.,

as the Borrower,

NEW ACADEMY HOLDING COMPANY, LLC,

as Holdings,

ASSOCIATED INVESTORS LLC,

and

ACADEMY MANAGING CO., LLC,

as Texas Intermediate Holdcos

The Several Lenders

from Time to Time Parties Hereto,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Letter of Credit Issuer

and Swingline Lender

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC,

BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC,

GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA,

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED,

MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.,

REGIONS CAPITAL MARKETS,

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as the Syndication Agent

and

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as the Documentation Agent

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

and

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as the Amendment No. 1 Arrangers

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

and

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as the Amendment No. 1 Syndication Agents

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED as the Amendment No. 1 Documentation Agent


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as the Amendment No. 2 Arrangers and Bookrunners

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as the Amendment No. 2 Syndication Agents

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC

and

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as the Amendment No. 2 Documentation Agent

 

-ii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

 

Section 1.

 

Definitions

     21  

1.1

 

Defined Terms

     21  

1.2

 

Other Interpretive Provisions

     265  

1.3

 

Accounting Terms

     265  

1.4

 

Rounding

     266  

1.5

 

References to Agreements, Laws, Etc.

     266  

1.6

 

Exchange Rates

     266  

1.7

 

Rates

     266  

1.8

 

Times of Day

     266  

1.9

 

Timing of Payment or Performance

     266  

1.10

 

Certifications

     267  

1.11

 

Compliance with Certain Sections

     267  

1.12

 

Pro Forma and Other Calculations

     267  

1.13

 

Divisions

     69  

1.14

 

LIBOR Rate Successor

     69  

Section 2.

 

Amount and Terms of Credit.

     270  

2.1

 

Commitments

     270  

2.2

 

Minimum Amount of Each Borrowing; Maximum Number of Borrowings

     272  

2.3

 

Notice of Borrowing

     272  

2.4

 

Disbursement of Funds

     272  

2.5

 

Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt

     273  

2.6

 

Conversions and Continuations

     274  

2.7

 

Pro Rata Borrowings

     275  

2.8

 

Interest

     275  

2.9

 

Interest Periods

     276  

2.10

 

Increased Costs, Illegality, Etc.

     276  

2.11

 

Compensation

     279  

2.12

 

Change of Lending Office

     280  

2.13

 

Notice of Certain Costs

     280  

2.14

 

Incremental Facilities

     280  

2.15

 

Protective Advances and Overadvances

     281  

2.16

 

Defaulting Lenders

     282  

2.17

 

Reserves; Change in Reserves; Decisions by Agent

     284  

Section 3.

 

Letters of Credit

     284  

3.1

 

Letters of Credit

     284  

3.2

 

Letter of Credit Requests

     286  

3.3

 

Letter of Credit Participations

     287  

3.4

 

Agreement to Repay Letter of Credit Drawings

     288  

3.5

 

Increased Costs

     290  

3.6

 

New or Successor Letter of Credit Issuer

     291  

3.7

 

Role of Letter of Credit Issuer

     291  

3.8

 

Cash Collateral

     292  

3.9

 

Applicability of ISP and UCP

     293  

3.10

 

Conflict with Issuer Documents

     293  

3.11

 

Letters of Credit Issued for Restricted Subsidiaries

     293  

3.12

 

Provisions Related to Extended Revolving Credit Commitments

     293  

 

-ii-


     Page  

Section 4.

 

Fees

     294  

4.1

 

Fees

     294  

4.2

 

Voluntary Reduction of Revolving Credit Commitments

     294  

4.3

 

Mandatory Termination of Commitments

     295  

Section 5.

 

Payments

     295  

5.1

 

Voluntary Prepayments

     295  

5.2

 

Mandatory Prepayments

     295  

5.3

 

Method and Place of Payment

     296  

5.4

 

Net Payments

     296  

5.5

 

Computations of Interest and Fees

     2100  

5.6

 

Limit on Rate of Interest

     2100  

Section 6.

 

Conditions Precedent to Initial Borrowing

     2100  

6.1

 

Credit Documents

     2100  

6.2

 

Collateral

     2101  

6.3

 

Legal Opinions

     2101  

6.4

 

Excess Availability; Borrowing Base Certificate

     2101  

6.5

 

Closing Certificates

     2101  

6.6

 

Authorization of Proceedings of Holdings, the Borrower and the Guarantors; Corporate Documents

     2101  

6.7

 

Fees

     2102  

6.8

 

Representations and Warranties

     2102  

6.9

 

Solvency Certificate

     2102  

6.10

 

[Reserved]

     2102  

6.11

 

Patriot Act

     2102  

6.12

 

Financial Statements

     2102  

6.13

 

No Material Adverse Effect

     2102  

6.14

 

Refinancing

     2102  

Section 7.

 

Conditions Precedent to All Credit Events

     2102  

7.1

 

No Default; Representations and Warranties; No Cure Period

     2102  

7.2

 

Notice of Borrowing; Letter of Credit Request

     2103  

7.3

 

Excess Availability

     2103  

Section 8.

 

Representations and Warranties

     2103  

8.1

 

Corporate Status

     2103  

8.2

 

Corporate Power and Authority

     2103  

8.3

 

No Violation

     2104  

8.4

 

Litigation

     2104  

8.5

 

Margin Regulations

     2104  

8.6

 

Governmental Approvals

     2104  

8.7

 

Investment Company Act

     2104  

8.8

 

True and Complete Disclosure

     2104  

8.9

 

Financial Condition; Financial Statements

     2105  

8.10

 

Compliance with Laws; No Default

     2105  

8.11

 

Tax Matters

     2105  

8.12

 

Compliance with ERISA

     2105  

8.13

 

Subsidiaries

     2105  

8.14

 

Intellectual Property

     2105  

 

-iii-


     Page  

8.15

 

Environmental Laws

     2105  

8.16

 

Properties

     2106  

8.17

 

Solvency

     2106  

8.18

 

Patriot Act

     2106  

8.19

 

Security Interest in Collateral

     2106  

8.20

 

Disclosure

     107  

Section 9.

 

Affirmative Covenants.

     2107  

9.1

 

Information Covenants

     2107  

9.2

 

Books, Records, and Inspections; Field Examinations

     2110  

9.3

 

Maintenance of Insurance

     2111  

9.4

 

Payment of Taxes

     2111  

9.5

 

Preservation of Existence; Consolidated Corporate Franchises

     2111  

9.6

 

Compliance with Statutes, Regulations, Etc.

     2111  

9.7

 

ERISA

     2112  

9.8

 

Maintenance of Properties

     2112  

9.9

 

Transactions with Affiliates

     2112  

9.10

 

End of Fiscal Years

     2113  

9.11

 

Additional Guarantors and Grantors

     2113  

9.12

 

Pledge of Additional Stock and Evidence of Indebtedness

     2114  

9.13

 

Use of Proceeds

     2114  

9.14

 

Further Assurances

     2114  

9.15

 

Lines of Business

     2115  

9.16

 

Cash Management

     2116  

Section 10.

 

Negative Covenants.

     2117  

10.1

 

Limitation on Indebtedness

     2117  

10.2

 

Limitation on Liens

     2122  

10.3

 

Limitation on Fundamental Changes

     2122  

10.4

 

Limitation on Sale of Assets

     2124  

10.5

 

Limitation on Restricted Payments

     2125  

10.6

 

Limitation on Subsidiary Distributions

     2131  

10.7

 

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio

     2132  

Section 11.

 

Events of Default.

     2132  

11.1

 

Payments

     2132  

11.2

 

Representations, Etc.

     2133  

11.3

 

Covenants

     2133  

11.4

 

Default Under Other Agreements

     2133  

11.5

 

Bankruptcy, Etc.

     2134  

11.6

 

ERISA

     2134  

11.7

 

Guarantee

     2134  

11.8

 

Pledge Agreement

     2134  

11.9

 

Security Agreement

     2134  

11.10

 

Judgments

     2135  

11.11

 

Change of Control

     2135  

11.12

 

Application of Proceeds

     2135  

11.13

 

Equity Cure

     2136  

Section 12.

 

The Agents

     2137  

12.1

 

Appointment

     2137  

 

-iv-


     Page  

12.2

 

Delegation of Duties

     2137  

12.3

 

Exculpatory Provisions

     2138  

12.4

 

Reliance by Agents

     2138  

12.5

 

Notice of Default

     2139  

12.6

 

Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, and Other Lenders

     2139  

12.7

 

Indemnification

     2139  

12.8

 

Agents in Their Individual Capacities

     2140  

12.9

 

Successor Agents

     2140  

12.10

 

Withholding Tax

     2141  

12.11

 

Agents Under Security Documents and Guarantee

     2142  

12.12

 

Right to Realize on Collateral and Enforce Guarantee

     2142  

12.13

 

Intercreditor Agreement Governs

     2143  

12.14

 

Bank Product Providers

     2143  

Section 13.

 

Miscellaneous.

     2143  

13.1

 

Amendments, Waivers, and Releases

     2143  

13.2

 

Notices

     2146  

13.3

 

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies

     2146  

13.4

 

Survival of Representations and Warranties

     2147  

13.5

 

Payment of Expenses; Indemnification

     2147  

13.6

 

Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments

     2148  

13.7

 

Replacements of Lenders Under Certain Circumstances

     2152  

13.8

 

Adjustments; Set-off

     2153  

13.9

 

Counterparts

     2153  

13.10

 

Severability

     2154  

13.11

 

Integration

     2154  

13.12

 

GOVERNING LAW

     2155  

13.13

 

Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers

     2155  

13.14

 

Acknowledgments

     2155  

13.15

 

WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL

     2156  

13.16

 

Confidentiality

     2156  

13.17

 

Direct Website Communications

     2157  

13.18

 

USA PATRIOT Act

     2159  

13.19

 

[Reserved]

     2159  

13.20

 

Payments Set Aside

     2159  

13.21

 

No Fiduciary Duty

     2159  

13.22

 

Nature of Borrower Obligations

     2160  

13.23

 

Amendment and Restatement.

     2161  

13.24

 

Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEAAffected Financial Institutions

     2161  

13.25

 

Certain ERISA Matters.

     2162  

13.26

 

MIRE Events.

     2163  

13.27

 

Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs

     163  

 

-v-


SCHEDULES  
Schedule 1.1(a)  

Mortgaged Properties

Schedule 1.1(b)  

Commitments of Lenders

Schedule 1.1(c)  

Existing Letters of Credit

Schedule 8.13  

Subsidiaries

Schedule 8.15  

Environmental

Schedule 9.14  

Post-Closing Actions

Schedule 10.1  

Restatement Effective Date Indebtedness

Schedule 10.2  

Restatement Effective Date Liens

Schedule 10.5  

Restatement Effective Date Investments

Schedule 13.2  

Notice Addresses

EXHIBITS  
Exhibit A  

[Reserved]

Exhibit B-1  

Form of Holdings Guarantee

Exhibit B-2  

Form of Subsidiary Guarantee

Exhibit C  

Form of Pledge Agreement

Exhibit D  

Form of Security Agreement

Exhibit E  

Form of Credit Party Closing Certificate

Exhibit F  

Form of Assignment and Acceptance

Exhibit G  

Form of Promissory Note

Exhibit H  

Form of ABL Intercreditor Agreement

Exhibit I-1  

Form of First Lien Intercreditor Agreement

Exhibit I-2  

Form of Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement

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 ForeignNon-U.S. Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Exhibit K  

Form of Notice of Borrowing or Continuation or Conversion

Exhibit M  

Form of Letter of Credit Request

Exhibit M-1  

Form of Hedge Bank Designation

Exhibit M-2  

Form of Cash Management Bank Designation

Exhibit N  

Form of Borrowing Base Certificate

 

-vi-


FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT

FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of July 2, 2015 and as amended by AMENDMENT NO. 1, dated as of May 22, 2018 and as further amended by AMENDMENT NO. 2, dated as of November 6, 2020, among ACADEMY, LTD., a Texas limited partnership (the “Borrower”), NEW ACADEMY HOLDING COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, ASSOCIATED INVESTORS LLC and ACADEMY MANAGING CO., LLC, as Texas Intermediate Holdcos, the lending institutions from time to time parties hereto (each a “Lender” and, collectively, the “Lenders”) and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer and the Swingline Lender (such terms and each other capitalized term used but not defined in this preamble having the meaning provided in Section 1.1).

WHEREAS, the Borrower, certain of the Lenders and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for such lenders, are parties to the Existing ABL Facility (defined below) pursuant to which asset based revolving credit loans have been made available to the Borrower and the Borrower has requested to amend and restate the Existing ABL Facility in its entirety;

WHEREAS, in connection with the foregoing, the Borrower has requested that (i) 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 Maturity Date, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not in excess of $1,000,000,000 less the sum of (1) aggregate Letters of Credit Outstanding at such time and (2) the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time (ii) the Letter of Credit Issuers issue Letters of Credit 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 $100,000,00040,000,000 and (iii) the Swingline Lender extend credit in the form of Swingline Loans at any time and from time to time prior to the Swingline Maturity Date, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not in excess of $65,000,000 the Lenders extend Commitments to the Borrower on the Restatement Effective Date of up to $1,000,000,000;

WHEREAS, it is intended that the Borrower will incur term loans under a term loan facility established pursuant to the Term Loan Credit Documents (the “Term Loan Facility”) generating gross proceeds of $1,825,000,000400,000,000;

WHEREAS, the proceeds of the Term Loans will be used, together with any net proceeds of borrowings by the Borrower hereunder on the RestatementAmendment No. 2 Effective Date, to finance the Transactions and borrowings hereunder after the RestatementAmendment No. 2 Effective Date will be used for working capital and for other general corporate purposes; and

WHEREAS, the Lenders and the Letter of Credit Issuers are willing to make available to the Borrower such revolving credit and letter of credit facilities 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):

“2027 Senior Notes” means the 6.000% senior secured notes due November 15, 2027 issued pursuant to the Notes Agreement.

ABL Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean an Intercreditor Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit H (with such changes to such form as may be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower) between the Collateral Agent and, the collateral agent under the Term Loan Facility and the Notes Agent.


ABL Priority Collateral” shall have the meaning provided in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

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 12 of 1% and (c) the Adjusted LIBOR Rate for a one month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1%, provided that, for the purpose of this definition, the Adjusted LIBOR Rate for any day shall be based on the LIBOR Screen Rate (or if the LIBOR Screen Rate is not available for such one month Interest Period, the Interpolated Rate) at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day. Any change in the ABR due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBOR Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBOR Rate, respectively. If the ABR is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof, then the ABR shall be the greater of clause (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above. For the avoidance of doubt, if the ABR shallas determined pursuant to the foregoing would be less than zero1.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be zero1.00% for purposes of this Agreement.

ABR Loan” shall mean each Loan bearing interest based on the ABR.

Account(s)” shall mean “accounts” as defined in the UCC, and includes without limitation a right to payment of a monetary obligation, whether or not earned by performance, (a) for property that has been or is to be sold, leased, licensed, assigned, or otherwise disposed of, (b) for services rendered or to be rendered, or (c) arising out of the use of a credit or charge card or information contained on or for use with the card. The term “Account” does not include (a) rights to payment evidenced by chattel paper or an instrument, (b) commercial tort claims, (c) deposit accounts, (d) investment property, (e) letter-of-credit rights or letters of credit, or (f) rights to payment for money or funds advanced other than rights arising out of the use of a credit or charge card or information contained on or for use with the card.

ACH” shall mean automated clearing house transfers.

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 (determined using such definitions as if references to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries therein were to such Pro Forma Entity and its Restricted Subsidiaries), all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Pro Forma Entity in accordance with GAAP.

Acquired Entity or Business shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA”.

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 LIBOR Rate” shall mean, with respect to any LIBOR BorrowingLoan for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to the product of (i) the LIBOR Rate in effect for such Interest Period and (ii) Statutory Reserves.

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.

Adjustment Date” shall mean the last day of each calendar month of March, June, September and December.

 

-2-


Administrative Agent” shall mean JPMorgan Chase Bank, 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” means (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.

Affiliated Institutional Lender” shall mean (i) any Affiliate of the Sponsor that is either a bona fide debt fund or any such Affiliate that extends credit or buys loans in the ordinary course of business, (ii) KKR Corporate Lending LLC and, KKR Capital Markets LLC and (iii), MCS Corporate Lending LLC and MCS Capital Markets LLC and (iii) any successor each of the Persons set forth in clause (ii).

Affiliated Lender” shall mean a Lender that is the Sponsor or any Affiliate thereof (other than Holdings, the Borrower, any Subsidiary of Holdings, or any Affiliated Institutional Lender).

Agent Parties shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.17(c).

Agents” shall mean the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each Joint Lead Arranger and Bookrunner.

Agreement” shall mean this First Amended and Restated ABL Credit Agreement.

Amendment No. 1” shall mean Amendment No. 1 to this Agreement dated as of May 22, 2018, among Holdings, the Borrower, the Guarantors, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer, the Swingline Lender and the Lenders party thereto.

Amendment No. 1 Arrangers” shall mean JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and Capital One, National Association, as joint lead arrangers and bookrunners for Amendment No. 1.

Amendment No. 1 Effective Date” shall mean May 22, 2018.

“Amendment No. 2” shall mean Amendment No. 2 to this Agreement dated as the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date, among Holdings, the Borrower, the Guarantors, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer, the Swingline Lender and the Lenders party thereto.

“Amendment No. 2 Arrangers” shall mean JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Bank of America, N.A., Capital One, National Association and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as joint lead arrangers and bookrunners for Amendment No. 2.

“Amendment No. 2 Effective Date” shall mean November 6, 2020.

“Ancillary Document” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 13.9.

 

-3-


Anti-Corruption Laws” shall mean all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.

Applicable Margin” shall mean, for any day, with respect to all Revolving Credit Loans, the applicable rate per annum set forth below, based upon the Average Excess Availability as of the most recent Adjustment Date occurring after the first fiscal quarter ending after the Restatement Effective Date; provided that until the first Adjustment Date, the “Applicable Margin” shall be the applicable rate per annum set forth below in Category 2:

 

Category

  

Average Excess Availability

   Adjusted LIBOR
Rate Revolving
Credit Loans
  ABR Rate Revolving
Credit Loans

1

   Average Excess Availability less than or equal to 33.3% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount    1.75%   0.75%

2

   Average Excess Availability greater than 33.3% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount, but less than or equal to 66.6% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount    1.50%   0.50%

3

   Average Excess Availability greater than 66.6% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount    1.25%   0.25%

The Applicable Margin shall be adjusted quarterly on a prospective basis on each Adjustment Date based upon the Average Excess Availability in accordance with the table above; provided that (i) if a Specified Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time any reduction in the Applicable Margin would otherwise be implemented, then no such reduction shall be implemented until the date on which such Specified Default shall no longer be continuing, and (ii) if any Borrowing Base Certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement is at any time restated or otherwise revised, or if the information set forth in any such Borrowing Base Certificate otherwise proves to be false or incorrect such that the Applicable Margin would have been higher than was otherwise in effect during any period, without constituting a waiver of any Default or Event of Default arising as a result thereof, interest due under this Agreement shall be recalculated by the Administrative Agent at such higher rate for any applicable periods and shall be due and payable within 5 Business Days of receipt of such calculation by the Borrower from the Administrative Agent and shall be payable only to the Lenders whose Commitments were outstanding during such period when the Applicable Margin should have been higher (regardless of whether such Lenders remain parties to this Agreement at the time such payment is made).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Margin in respect of any Class of Incremental Commitments or any Incremental Revolving Credit Loans made pursuant to any Incremental Commitments shall be the applicable percentages per annum set forth in the relevant Incremental Facility Amendment.

Approved Foreign Bank” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Cash Equivalents”.

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.

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 (other than a Permitted Sale Leaseback)) (each a “disposition”) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or

 

-4-


(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 the Borrower in a manner permitted pursuant to Section 10.3;

(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 (other than pursuant to clause (i) of the definition thereof) that is permitted to be made, and is made, pursuant to Section 10.5;

(d)    any disposition of assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary in any transaction or series of transactions with an aggregate Fair Market Value of less than the greater of (a) $45,000,000 and (b) 10% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) at the time of such disposition;

(e)    any disposition of property or assets or issuance of securities by (1) a Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or (2) by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary to another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that with respect to any disposition by a Credit Party to a Restricted Subsidiary which is not a Credit Party, no Overadvance shall result after giving effect to any such disposition;

(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;

(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 built or acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Restatement Effective 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 the Borrower 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 consultants, directors, officers, or employees of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower) 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 the conversion of accounts receivable to notes receivable;

 

-5-


(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;

(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 lapse or abandonment of Intellectual Property rights, which in the reasonable business judgment of the Borrower are not material to the conduct of the business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

(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 Asset Sale are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property (which replacement property is actually promptly purchased);

(s)    leases, assignments, subleases, licenses, or sublicenses, in each case in the ordinary course of business and which do not materially interfere with the business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(t)    dispositions of non-core assets acquired in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or Investment permitted hereunder;

(u)    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;

(v)    other Asset Sales with a Fair Market Value less than or equal to $75,000,000 in the aggregate; and

(w)    dispositions of assets that do not constitute ABL Priority Collateral.; and

(x)     other dispositions with a Fair Market Value (or for assets with a Fair Market Value) in the aggregate less than or equal to the greater of (x) $168,000,000 and (y) 35% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) (this clause (x), the “General Asset Sale Exception”).

Assignment and Acceptance shall mean an assignment and acceptance substantially in the form of Exhibit F, or such other form (including electronic records generated by the use of an electronic platform) as may be approved by the Administrative Agent.

Assignment Taxes” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Other Taxes”.

“Assumed Tax Rate” shall mean, for each taxable year, the highest combined marginal federal, state and local income (including under Sections 1401 through 1403 and Section 1411 of the Code) tax rate applicable for such tax year to an individual or corporation that is resident in New York City (whichever is higher), applicable to the character of net taxable income (e.g. ordinary income, qualified dividend income or capital gains, as appropriate), taking into account the holding period of the assets disposed of, and taking into account the deductibility of state and local income taxes as applicable at the time for federal income tax purposes and any limitations thereon including pursuant to Section 68 of the Code.

 

-6-


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, president, a Financial Officer, a senior vice president, an executive 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)(iii).

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.

Average Excess Availability” shall mean, at any Adjustment Date, the average daily Excess Availability for the fiscal quarter immediately preceding such Adjustment Date.

Bail-In Action” shall mean the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEAAffected Financial Institution.

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).

Bank Product” shall mean any of the following products, services or facilities provided to any Credit Party (a) products under each Hedge Agreement that (i) is in effect on the Restatement Effective Date with a counterparty that is an Agent, Lender or Affiliate thereof as of the Restatement Effective Date or (ii) is entered into after the Restatement Effective Date with any counterparty that is an Agent, Lender or Affiliate at the time such Hedge Agreement is entered into, (b) Cash Management Services, or (c) other banking products or services as may be requested by any Credit Party or Subsidiary, other than Letters of Credit, and provided by a Person that is an Agent, Lender or Affiliate on the date the agreement giving rise to such banking products or services are entered into.

Bank Product Debt” shall mean Indebtedness and other obligations or liabilities of a Credit Party owed to the provider of a Bank Product.

Bank Product Reserve” shall mean the aggregate amount of reserves established by the Administrative Agent from time to time in respect of Secured Bank Product Obligations, including reserves which the Administrative Agent shall establish in the amounts set forth in written notices from the Secured Bank Product Providers described in the definition of the term “Secured Bank Product Obligations”. The amount of any Bank Product Reserve established by the Administrative Agent (x) shall have a reasonable relationship to the Secured Bank Product Obligation that is the basis for such Reserve as determined by the Administrative Agent in good faith and (y) shall not be duplicative of other Reserves then in effect.

Bankruptcy Code shall have the meaning provided in Section 11.5.

Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

-7-


Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

Benefit Plan” shall mean any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

Benefited Lender” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.8(a).

“BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

Blocked Account Agreement” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.16(a).

Blocked Accounts” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.16(a).

Board” shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (or any successor).

Borrower” shall have the meaning provided in the preamble to this Agreement.

Borrower Materials” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.17(c).

Borrowing” shall mean (i) Loans of the same Class and Type, made, converted, or continued on the same date and, in the case of LIBOR Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect or (ii) a Swingline Loan.

Borrowing Base” shall mean, at any time of calculation, an amount equal to:

(a)    90% of the face amount of the Eligible Credit Card Receivables of the Credit Parties on a consolidated basis; plus

(b)    90% of the NOLV Percentage of the Eligible Inventory of the Credit Parties on a consolidated basis; minus

(c)    the then applicable amount of all Reserves.

Borrowing Base Certificate” shall mean a certificate, signed and certified as accurate and complete by the Chief Executive Officer, President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Vice President-Finance, a Director, a Manager, or any other senior financial officer of the Borrower, in substantially the form of Exhibit N or another form which is acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

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, and, if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a LIBOR Loan, any fundings, disbursements, settlements, and payments in respect of any such LIBOR Loan, or any other dealings in Dollars to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such LIBOR Loan, such day shall be a day on which dealings in deposits in Dollars are conducted by and between banks in the applicable London interbank market.

Capital Expenditures shall mean, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities and including in all events all amounts expended or capitalized under Capital Leases) by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be included as additions during such period to property, plant, or equipment reflected in the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (including capitalized software expenditures, website development costs, website content development costs, customer acquisition costs and incentive payments, conversion costs, and contract acquisition costs).

 

-8-


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 a financial lease on the balance sheet of that Person, subject to Section 1.12.

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, subject to Section 1.12.

Capitalized Software Expenditures” shall mean, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by the Borrower and the 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 the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the immediately succeeding paragraph and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.

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 Issuers or the Lenders, as collateral for L/C Obligations or obligations of the 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 Issuers shall agree in their sole discretion, other credit support. “Cash Collateralization” has a correlative meaning.

Cash Dominion Period” shall mean (a) the period from the date that Excess Availability is less than the greater of (i) 10% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount and (ii) $60,000,000 for five (5) consecutive Business Days until the date that Excess Availability has been at least the greater of (i) 10% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount and (ii) $60,000,000 for twenty (20) consecutive calendar days or (b) upon the occurrence of a Specified Default, the period that such Specified Default shall be continuing.

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 2436 months or less from the date of acquisition,

(iv)    certificates of deposit, time deposits, and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year36 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,

 

-9-


(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 maturing within 24 months afterwith 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 maturing within 24 months afterwith 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 2436 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 2436 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 maturing within one year afterwith average maturities of 36 months or less from the date of investment thereinacquisition, (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, 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 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, and

(xii)    investment funds investing 90% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (i) through (ix) above.,

(xiii)     investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets, in money market investment programs that are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or that are administered by financial institutions meeting the qualifications specified in clause (iv) above, in each case the portfolios of which are limited such that substantially all of such investments are of the character, quality and maturity described in clauses (i) through (xii) above, and

(xiv)     Credit Card Receivables

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.

 

-10-


For the avoidance of doubt, any items identified as Cash Equivalents under this definition (other than Credit Card Receivables) 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 any Person that, at the time it enters into a Cash Management Agreement with the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, is an Agent or a Lender or an Affiliate of an Agent or a Lender or (ii) any Person that is designated by the Borrower as a “Cash Management Bank” by written notice to the Administrative Agent substantially in the form of Exhibit M-2 or such other form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

Cash Management Services” shall mean any one or more of the following types of services or facilities provided to any Credit Party by any Person who on the date of the agreement giving rise thereto is entered into is an Agent or a Lender or an Affiliate of an Agent or a Lender (a) ACH transactions; (b) cash management services, including, without limitation, controlled disbursement services, treasury, depository, overdraft and electronic funds transfer services; (c) foreign exchange facilities; (d) credit card processing services; (e) purchase cards; and (f) credit or debit cards.

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 and/or indebtedness 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 Restatement Effective 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 Restatement Effective Date or (iii) compliance by any Lender with any guideline, request, directive, or order issued or made after the Restatement Effective Date by any central bank or other governmental 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, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

Change of Control” shall mean and be deemed to have occurred if (i) at any time prior to an IPO of Holdings or any Parent Entity, the Permitted Holders shall at any time not own, in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record, at least 35% of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock of Holdings[reserved]; (ii) 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, 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 35% thereof, unless, in case of clause (i) or clause (ii) above, the Permitted Holders have, at such time, the right or the ability by voting power, contract, or otherwise to elect or designate for election at least a majority of the board of directors of Holdings; (iii) at any time, a Change of Control (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) shall have occurred; or (iv) Holdings shall cease to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the issued and outstanding equity interests of the Borrower. For the purpose of clauses (i) and (ii) and (iv) at any time when a majority of the outstanding Voting Stock of Holdings is directly or indirectly owned by a Parent Entity or, if applicable, a Parent Entity acts as the manager, managing member or general partner of Holdings, references in this definition to “Holdings” shall be deemed to refer to the ultimate Parent Entity that directly or indirectly owns such Voting Stock

 

-11-


or acts as (or, if applicable, is a Parent Entity that directly or indirectly owns a majority of the outstanding Voting Stock of) such manager, managing member or general partner. For purposes of this definition, (i) ”beneficial ownership” shall be as defined in Rules 13(d)-3 and 13(d)-5 under the Exchange Act, (ii) the phrase Person or “group” is within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the 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) if any Person or “group” includes one or more Permitted Holders, the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings or the Borrower, as applicable, directly or indirectly owned by the Permitted Holders that are part of such Person or “group” shall not be treated as being owned by such Person or “group” for purposes of determining whether clause (ii) of this definition is triggered. and (iv) 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.

Chattel Paper” has the meaning provided in the Security Agreement.

Claims” has 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 or Swingline Loans, and (ii) when used in reference to any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Revolving Credit Commitment or an Incremental Commitment.

Closing Date” shall mean August 3, 2011.

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 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as collateral agent under the Security Documents, or any successor collateral agent pursuant to Section 12.9, and any Affiliate or designee of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. may act as the Collateral Agent under any Credit Document.

Commercial Letter of Credit” shall mean any Letter of Credit or, with respect to Secured Commercial LC Facilities, any letter of credit, in each case issued for the purpose of providing the primary payment mechanism or credit support in connection with the purchase of any materials, goods or services by the Borrower in the ordinary course of business.

Commitment Fee” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.1(a).

Commitment Fee Rate” shall mean a rate per annum equal to 0.25%.

Commitments” shall mean, with respect to each Lender (to the extent applicable), such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment or Incremental 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(a).

Compliance Certificate” shall mean a certificate of a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 9.1(d) for the applicable Test Period (which shall include a reasonably detailed calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for such Test Period).

 

-12-


Compliance Period” shall mean any period beginning on the date that Excess Availability is less than the greater of (a) 10% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount and (b) $60,000,000, until the date that Excess Availability has been at least the greater of (i) 10% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount and (ii) $60,000,000 for twenty (20) consecutive calendar days.

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 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.

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 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 paid or accrued during such period deducted, including any penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from any tax examinations (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income and any payments to any direct or indirect parent in respect of such taxes, plus

(b)    Fixed Charges of such Person 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 calculating such Consolidated Net Income, plus

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

(d)    any expenses, fees, charges, or losses (other than depreciation or amortization expense) related to any Equity Offering, Permitted Investment, Restricted Payment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization, or the incurrence of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by this Agreement (including a refinancing thereof) (whether or not successful and including any such transaction consummated prior to the Restatement Effective Date), including (1) such fees, expenses, or charges related to the incurrence of the Term Loans and the Loans hereunder and all Transaction Expenses, (2) such fees, expenses, or charges related to the offering of the Credit Documents and any other credit facilities, and (3) any amendment or other modification of the Term Loans, the Loans hereunder or other Indebtedness, 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, write downs, expenses, losses, or 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 represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be deducted from Consolidated EBITDA to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period), plus

 

-13-


(f)    the amount of any net income (loss) 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)    the amount of management, monitoring, consulting, and advisory fees (including termination fees) and related indemnities and expenses paid or accrued in such period to the Initial Investors or any of their respective Affiliates, plus

(h)    costs of surety bonds incurred in such period in connection with financing activities, plus

(i)     increases in Consolidated EBITDA projected by the Borrower in good faith to result from Permitted Acquisitions or transactions involving new or expanded services facilities, lines of business or operations, in each case which have been consummated or are reasonably expected to be consummated pursuant to agreements or letters of intent that have been entered into with respect thereto, reflecting any projected increase in the businesses and services of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and such Acquired Entity or Business or new or expanded services, facilities, lines of business or operations, in each case attributable to the applicable transaction and that are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable, plus

(ij)     the amount of reasonably identifiable and factually supportable “run-rate” cost savings and revenue synergies, operating expense reductions, operating enhancements and other synergies that are projected by the Borrower in good faith to result from actions either taken or expected to be taken within 24 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, and revenue synergies operating expense reductions, and synergies shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such cost savings, and revenue synergies operating expense reductions, oroperating enhancements or other synergies had been realized on the first day of such period), plus

(jk)    the amount of loss or discount on sale of receivables and related assets to the Receivables Subsidiary in connection with a Receivables Facility, plus

(kl)    any costs or expense incurred by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any 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 the Borrower or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower (other than Disqualified Stock), plus

(lm)    the amount of expenses relating to payments made to option, phantom equity or profits interest holders of the Borrower or any of its any direct or indirect subsidiaries or parent companies in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to equity holders 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 equity holders 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

(mn)    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 the Borrower’s and the Restricted Subsidiaries’ proportionate share of such joint venture’s Consolidated Net Income (determined as if such joint venture were a Restricted Subsidiary), plus

 

-14-


(no)    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

(op)    to the extent not already included in the 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 the Borrower has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer and only to the extent that such amount is (A) not denied by the applicable carrier in writing within 180 days and (B) in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of the determination by the Borrower 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

(p)    [reserved],

(q)     charges, expenses, and other items described in (1) the Lender Presentation or (2) any quality of earnings report reasonably prepared in good faith by a nationally recognized accounting firm in connection with any Specified Transaction actually consummated by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries and delivered to the Administrative Agent, plus

(qr)    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 Topic 715—Compensation—Retirement Benefits, and any other items of a similar nature, plus

(r)    [reserved],

(s)     the aggregate amount of “run-rate” Consolidated EBITDA reasonably expect to be derived from contracted revenue under any contract in place as of the end of such period projected by Holdings in good faith for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of Holdings following the end of such period, as if such contracted revenue was applicable (calculated, if applicable, using the historical average derived from such contract over the immediately preceding three year period and without duplication of any Consolidated EBITDA actually reflected in such four consecutive fiscal quarter period) during the entire period, plus

(t)     any costs or expenses realized in connection with or resulting from stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options or other rights of officers, directors and employees, in each case of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, plus

(u)      pre-opening costs and expenses in connection with new retail locations and losses from any such new location during the first year after opening, plus

(v)     costs and expenses in connection with project ramp-ups that are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable (in the good faith determination of the Borrower), plus

 

-15-


(sw)    the amount of any loss attributable to a new store, distribution center, facility or business until the date that is 24 months after the date of commencement of construction or the date of acquisition or launch thereof, as the case may be; provided that (A) such losses are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable and certified by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, (B) losses attributable to such store, distribution center, facility or business after 24 months from the date of commencement of construction or the date of acquisition of such store, distribution center or facility, as the case may be, shall not be included in this clause (s), and (C) no amounts shall be added pursuant to this clause (s) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges relating to such cost savings or revenue enhancements that are included in clause (i) above with respect to such period, and;

(ii)    decreased by (without duplication), (a) non-cash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person 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 membership revenue recognized for such period in excess of the amount of any cash received in such period in respect of membership program fees, plus;

(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.

For the avoidance of doubt:

(i)    to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income, 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 for any period, without duplication, (1) the Acquired EBITDA of any Person or business, or attributable to any property or asset acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary 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 the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary 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

 

-16-


(iii)    to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income, there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA 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 the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business, or asset so sold or disposed of, a “Sold Entity or Business”), and the Disposed EBITDA of any Restricted Subsidiary that is converted into an Unrestricted Subsidiary during such period (each, a “Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary”) based on the actual Disposed EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such sale, transfer, or disposition 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.

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 (x) the net amortization of original issue discount and original issuance premium from the issuance of Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding any Indebtedness borrowed under the Term Loan Facility or this Agreement in connection with the Transactions), plus (y) pay-in-kind interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries 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.

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 for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income, of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, and on an after-tax basis to the extent appropriate, and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that, without duplication,

(i)    extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) or expenses (including any unusual or non-recurring operating expenses directly attributable to the implementation of cost savings initiatives and any accruals or reserves in respect of any extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual items), severance, relocation costs, integration and facilities’ or bases’ opening costs and other business optimization expenses (including related to new product introductions and other strategic or cost savings initiatives), restructuring charges, accruals or reserves (including restructuring and integration costs related to acquisitions and adjustments to existing reserves), whether or not classified as restructuring

 

-17-


expense on the consolidated financial statements, signing costs, retention or completion bonuses, other executive recruiting and retention costs, transition costs, costs related to closure/consolidation of facilities or bases and curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans (including any settlement of pension liabilities and charges resulting from changes in estimates, valuations and judgments), shall be excluded,

(ii)    at the election of the Borrower subject to the provisions set forth in Section 1.3, 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, shall be excluded,

(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,

(iv)    any 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 the Borrower, shall be excluded,

(v)    the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not the Borrower or a Subsidiary, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be excluded; provided that Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower shall be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments that are actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash or Cash Equivalents) to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, shall be excluded,

(vi)    [reserved],

(vii)    effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Borrower and the 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 Restatement Effective Date or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, shall be excluded,

(viii)    (a) any 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 No. 144) 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 including stock appreciation or similar rights, phantom equity, stock options, restricted stock, capital or profits interests or other rights to officers, directors, managers, or employees and (b) non-cash income (loss) attributable to deferred compensation plans or trusts, shall be excluded,

 

-18-


(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 Restatement Effective 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 Restatement Effective 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,

(xiii)    to the extent covered by insurance or indemnification and actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Borrower has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer 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 the Borrower 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,

(xiv)    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,

(xv)    any costs or expenses incurred during such period relating to environmental remediation, litigation, or other disputes in respect of events and exposures that occurred prior to the Restatement Effective Date shall be excluded,

(xvi)    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 shall be excluded, and

(xvii)    any amounts paid pursuant to clause (15) of Section 10.5(b) other than subclause (E)(ii) thereof that are used to fund payments that, if paid by the Borrower would have reduced Net Income, shall be included to reduce Net Income.

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 the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries at such date.

Consolidated Total Debt” shall mean, as at any date of determination, an amount equal to the sum of the aggregate amount of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Capitalized Lease Obligations and debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes and similar instruments (and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Hedging Obligations); provided that (i) Consolidated Total Debt shall not include Letters of Credit, except to the extent of Unpaid Drawings thereunder and (ii) the amount of any Indebtedness outstanding hereunder on any date shall be deemed to be the average daily amount of such Indebtedness thereunder for the most recent twelve month period ending on such date (and for any period ending prior to the one year anniversary of the Restatement Effective Date, the average daily amount outstanding thereunder during such period).

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 cash and Cash Equivalents (in each case, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries to

 

-19-


(ii) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower for the Test Period most recently ended on or prior to such date of determination, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Total Debt and Consolidated EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”.

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 the term Consolidated EBITDA.

Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term Consolidated EBITDA.

“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

 

  (i)

a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

 

  (ii)

a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

 

  (iii)

a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

“Covered Party” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 13.27.

“Credit Card Receivables” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the amount due from third-party financial institutions for credit and debit card transactions that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “cash equivalents” (or any like caption) on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date.

Credit Documents shall mean this Agreement, Amendment No. 1, Amendment No. 2,, each Incremental Facility Amendment, the Guarantees, the Security Documents, and any promissory notes issued by the Borrower pursuant hereto.

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.

 

-20-


Cure Amount” shall have the meaning provided in Section 11.13.

Cure Period” shall have the meaning provided in Section 11.3.

Cure Right” shall have the meaning provided in Section 11.13.

Customs Broker Agreement” shall mean an agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, among a Credit Party, a customs broker or other carrier and the Administrative Agent, in which the customs broker or other carrier acknowledges that it has control over and holds the documents evidencing ownership of the subject Inventory or other property for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, and agrees, upon notice from the Administrative Agent, to hold and dispose of the subject Inventory and other property solely as directed by the Administrative Agent.

DDAs” shall mean any checking or other demand deposit account maintained by any of the Credit Parties that is a primary concentration account.

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” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

Defaulting Lender” 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.

“Delaware Intermediate Holdcos” shall mean New Academy Finance Company LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and New Academy Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

Deposit Account” shall have the meaning provided in the Uniform Commercial Code in the state of New York.

Designated Disbursement Account” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.16(d).

Designated Non-Cash Consideration shall mean the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by the Borrower 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 the Borrower, setting forth the basis of such valuation, executed by either a senior vice president or the principal financial officer of 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 the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower (in each case other than Disqualified Stock) that is issued for cash (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an officer’s certificate executed by the principal financial officer of the Borrower or parent company thereof, as the case may be, on the issuance date thereof, the cash proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (iii) of Section 10.5(a).

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 (determined as if references to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the definition of Consolidated EBITDA were references to such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary and its respective Subsidiaries), all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary, as the case may be.

 

-21-


disposition” shall have the meaning assigned such term in clause (i) of the definition of “Asset Sale”.

Distressed Person” ” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Lender Related Distress Event”.

Disqualified Lenders” shall mean such Persons (i) that have been specified in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners prior to the commencement of “primary syndication” as being Disqualified Lenders, (ii) who are competitors of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that are separately identified in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent from time to time, and (iii) in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), any of their Affiliates (other than any such Affiliate that is affiliated with a financial investor in such Person and that is not itself an operating company or otherwise an Affiliate of an operating company so long as such Affiliate is a bona fide Fund) 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 the similarity of such Affiliate’s name. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Credit Party and the Lenders acknowledge and agree that the Administrative Agent shall not have any responsibility or obligation to determine whether any Lender or potential Lender is a Disqualified Lender and the Administrative Agent shall have no liability with respect to any assignment made to a Disqualified Lender.

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 putable 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 the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death, or disability.

Dollars and “$” shall mean dollars in lawful currency of the United States.

Domestic Subsidiary” shall mean each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia.

“EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in 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.

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.

“Electronic Signature” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.

 

-22-


Eligible Credit Card Receivables” shall mean, as of any date of determination, Accounts due to a Credit Party from major credit card processors (including, but not limited to, VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club and DiscoverCard) as arise in the ordinary course of business and which have been earned by performance, that are not excluded as ineligible by virtue of one or more of the criteria set forth below. None of the following shall be deemed to be Eligible Credit Card Receivables:

(a)    Accounts due from major credit card processors that have been outstanding for more than five Business Days from the date of sale or for such longer period as may be approved by the Administrative Agent;

(b)    Accounts due from major credit card processors with respect to which a Credit Party does not have good, valid and marketable title thereto;

(c)    Accounts due from major credit card processors that are not subject to a first priority security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent for its own benefit and the benefit of the other Secured Parties;

(d)    Accounts due from major credit card processors which are disputed, or with respect to which a claim, counterclaim, offset or chargeback has been asserted, by the related credit card processor (but only to the extent of such dispute, counterclaim, offset or chargeback) (it being the intent that chargebacks in the ordinary course by the credit card processors shall not be deemed violative of this clause); or

(f)    Accounts due from major credit card processors (other than Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club and Discover) which the Administrative Agent determines in its commercially reasonable discretion acting in good faith to be unlikely to be collected.

Eligible In-Transit Inventory” shall mean, as of any date of determination, without duplication of other Eligible Inventory, Inventory (a) (i) that has been delivered to a carrier in a foreign port or foreign airport for receipt by a Credit Party in the United States within sixty (60) days of the date of determination, but which has not yet been received by a Credit Party or (ii) that has been delivered to a carrier in the United States for receipt by a Credit Party in the United States within five (5) Business Days of the date of determination, but which has not yet been received by a Credit Party, (b) for which the purchase order is in the name of a Credit Party and title has passed to a Credit Party, (c) except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, for which the document of title or waybill reflects a Credit Party as consignee (along with delivery to a Credit Party or its customs broker of the documents of title, to the extent applicable, with respect thereto), (d) as to which the Administrative Agent has control over the documents of title, to the extent applicable, which evidence ownership of the subject Inventory (such as by the delivery of a Customs Broker Agreement), (e) that is insured in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, including, without limitation marine cargo insurance and (f) that otherwise is not excluded from the definition of “Eligible Inventory”; provided that the Administrative Agent may, upon notice to the Borrower, exclude any particular Inventory from the definition of “Eligible In-Transit Inventory” in the event that the Administrative Agent determines that such Inventory is subject to any Person’s right or claim which is (or is capable of being) senior to, or pari passu with, the Lien of the Administrative Agent, or may otherwise adversely impact the ability of the Administrative Agent to realize upon such Inventory; provided further that, as of any date of determination, the aggregate NOLV Percentage of Eligible In-Transit Inventory and Eligible Letter of Credit Inventory shall not exceed 20% of the Borrowing Base.

Eligible Inventory” shall mean, as of any date of determination, without duplication, (1) Eligible Letter of Credit Inventory and Eligible In-Transit Inventory and (2) Inventory comprised of finished goods, merchantable and readily saleable to the public in the ordinary course, in each case that are not excluded as ineligible by virtue of the one or more of the criteria set forth below. None of the following shall be deemed to be Eligible Inventory:

(a)    Inventory that is not solely owned by a Credit Party, or is leased by or is on consignment to a Credit Party, or as to which the Credit Parties do not have title thereto;

 

-23-


(b)    Inventory (other than any Eligible Letter of Credit Inventory and Eligible In-Transit Inventory) that is not located in the United States of America (or any territories or possessions thereof);

(c)    Inventory (other than any Eligible Letter of Credit Inventory and Eligible In-Transit Inventory) that is not located at a location that is owned or leased by a Credit Party, except to the extent that (i) the Borrower has furnished the Administrative Agent with a landlord’s lien waiver and collateral access agreement reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent executed by the applicable bailee or (ii) in the event that the Borrower has not furnished the landlord’s lien waiver (if applicable) and collateral access agreement contemplated in the foregoing clause (i) after using commercially reasonable efforts to do so, an appropriate Reserve has been established by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion in an amount of up to three months of the rent or other charges due with respect to such bailee;

(d)    Inventory that is located at a distribution center, retail store or other location that is leased by a Credit Party, except to the extent that (i) an appropriate Reserve has been established by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion in an amount of up to three months of the rent due with respect to such distribution center, retail store or other location or (ii) the Borrower has furnished the Administrative Agent with a landlord’s lien waiver and collateral access agreement on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent executed by the Person owning any such distribution center, retail store or other location (it being understood that in any jurisdiction providing for a common law or statutory landlord’s lien on the personal property of tenants, which lien would be superior to that of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower will use commercially reasonable efforts to provide such documentation);

(e)    Inventory that represents goods that (i) are obsolete, damaged, defective, “seconds,” classified by the Credit Parties as salvage or aged Inventory, or otherwise unmerchantable, (ii) are classified by the Credit Parties as awaiting, or are otherwise being held for, quality control inspection, (iii) are to be returned to the vendor, (iv) are work in process or that constitute spare parts or supplies used or consumed in a Credit Parties’ business, (v) are bill and hold goods or (vi) are not in compliance in all material respects with all standards imposed by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority with respect thereto;

(f)    except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, Inventory that represents goods that do not conform in all material respects to the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or any of the Security Documents;

(g)    Inventory that is not subject to a perfected first priority security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent, for its own benefit and the benefit of the other Secured Parties;

(h)    Inventory that constitutes packaging and shipping material, manufacturing supplies, display items, bill-and-hold goods, returned or repossessed goods (other than goods that are undamaged and able to be resold in the ordinary course of business), defective goods, unfinished goods, goods held on consignment, goods to be returned to a Credit Party’s suppliers or goods which are not of a type held for sale in the ordinary course of business;

(i)    Inventory as to which casualty insurance in compliance with the provisions of Section 9.3 is not in effect;

(j)    Inventory which has been sold but not yet delivered or Inventory to the extent that any Credit Party has accepted a deposit therefor; or

(k)    Inventory acquired in a Permitted Acquisition, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received or conducted (i) appraisals, from appraisers reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, of such Inventory to be acquired in such Permitted Acquisition and (ii) such other due diligence as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require, all of the results of the foregoing to be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

-24-


Eligible Letter of Credit Inventory” shall mean, as of any date of determination (without duplication of other Eligible Inventory), Inventory:

(a)    (i) that has been delivered to a carrier in a foreign port or foreign airport for receipt by a Credit Party in the United States within sixty (60) days of the date of determination, but that has not yet been received by a Credit Party, or (ii) that has been delivered to a carrier in the United States for receipt by a Credit Party in the United States within five (5) Business Days of the date of determination, but which has not yet been received by a Credit Party;

(b)    the purchase order for which is in the name of a Credit Party, title has passed to a Credit Party and the purchase of which is supported by a Commercial Letter of Credit issued under either this Agreement or a Secured Commercial LC Facility having an initial expiry, subject to the proviso hereto, within 120 days after the date of initial issuance of such Commercial Letter of Credit; provided that ninety percent (90%) of the maximum Stated Amount all such Commercial Letters of Credit shall not, at any time, have an initial expiry greater than ninety (90) days after the original date of issuance of such Commercial Letters of Credit;

(c)    for which the document of title or waybill reflects a Credit Party as consignee (along with delivery to a Credit Party or its customs broker of the documents of title, to the extent applicable, with respect thereto);

(d)    as to which the Administrative Agent has control over the documents of title, to the extent applicable, which evidence ownership of the subject Inventory (such as by the delivery of a Customs Broker Agreement);

(e)    that is insured in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, including, without limitation marine cargo insurance; and

(f)    that otherwise is not excluded from the definition of “Eligible Inventory”;

provided that the Administrative Agent may, upon notice to the Borrower, exclude any particular Inventory from the definition of “Eligible Letter of Credit Inventory” in the event that the Administrative Agent determines that such Inventory is subject to any Person’s right or claim which is (or is capable of being) senior to, or pari passu with, the Lien of the Administrative Agent, or may otherwise adversely impact the ability of the Administrative Agent to realize upon such Inventory; provided further that, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount attributable to Eligible In-Transit Inventory and Eligible Letter of Credit Inventory shall not exceed 20% of the Borrowing Base.

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, investigation, 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 including, without limitation, ambient air, indoor air, surface water, groundwater, soil, land surface and subsurface strata, and natural resources such as wetlands, flora and fauna.

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, including, without limitation, ambient air, indoor air, surface water, groundwater, soil, land surface and subsurface strata and natural resources such as flora, fauna, or wetlands, 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.

 

-25-


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.

Equity Offering” shall mean any public or private sale of common stock or preferred stock of the Borrower, 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 its direct or indirect parent company’s common stock registered on Form S-8, (ii) issuances to any Subsidiary of Holdings or the Borrower, (iii) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution and (iv) any Cure Amount.

ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, 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).

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 under Section 4042 of ERISA 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 (other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA), 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 under Section 4041 of ERISA 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 from any Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a “substantial employer (within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA), or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA, or the complete or partial withdrawal (within the meaning of Section 4203 or 4205 of ERISA) from any 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 or in Reorganization, 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.

Event of Default shall have the meaning provided in Section 11.

Excess Availability” shall mean, at any time, the remainder of (a) the sum, without duplication, of (i) the Maximum Borrowing Amount plus (ii) Qualified Cash at such time, minus (b) the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures (including the Letter of Credit Exposure) of all Lenders at such time.

Excluded Account” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 9.16(d).

Excluded Contribution” shall mean net cash proceeds, the Fair Market Value of marketable securities, or the Fair Market Value of Qualified Proceeds received by the Borrower from (i) contributions to its common equity capital, and (ii) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Borrower or to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Borrower) of Capital Stock (other than

 

-26-


Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Borrower, in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an officer’s certificate executed by either a senior vice president or the principal financial officer of the Borrower on the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Equity Interests are sold, as the case may be, which are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (iii) of Section 10.5(a); provided that (i) any non-cash assets shall qualify only if acquired by a parent of the Borrower in an arm’s-length transaction within the six months prior to such contribution and (ii) no Cure Amount shall constitute an Excluded Contribution.

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 CapitalVoting Stock and Stock Equivalents entitled to vote of any Foreign Subsidiary of a Domestic Subsidiary, anythat is a CFC or any CFC Holding Company, any such Voting Stock or Stock Equivalents of any class of such Foreign Subsidiary or CFC Holding Company in excess of 66% of the outstandingtotal voting power of all such Voting Stock of such class,or Stock Equivalents of such Foreign Subsidiary or CFC Holding Company (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, such 66% limitation shall not apply to (x) Capital Stock other than Voting Stock or (y) Stock Equivalents that are not entitled to vote), (iii) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents to the extent the pledge thereof would violate any applicable Requirements of Law (including any legally effective requirement to obtain the consent of any Governmental Authority unless such consent has been obtained), (iv) in the case of (A) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary to the extent such Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents are subject to a Lien permitted by clause (ix) of the definition of “Permitted Lien” or (B) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary that is not Wholly-Owned by the Borrower 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 (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 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 the Borrower or any Subsidiary to obtain any such consent) and for so long as such Contractual Requirement or replacement or renewal thereof is in effect, 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 the right to terminate its obligations thereunder (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), (v) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary to the extent that the pledge of such Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents would result in materially adverse tax consequences to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any direct or indirect parent entity as reasonably determined by the Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, (vi) any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents that are margin stock, and (vii) any Capital Stock and Stock Equivalents of any Subsidiary that is not a Material Subsidiary or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, a captive insurance Subsidiary, an SPV or any special purpose entity.

Excluded Subsidiary shall mean (i) each Subsidiary, in each case, for so long as any such Subsidiary does not (on (x) a consolidated basis with its Restricted Subsidiaries, if determined on the Restatement Effective Date by reference to the Historical Financial Statements or (y) a consolidated basis with its Restricted Subsidiaries, if determined after the Restatement Effective Date by reference to the financial statements delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.1(a) and (b)) constitute a Material Subsidiary, (ii) each Subsidiary that is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary on any date such Subsidiary would otherwise be required to become a Guarantor pursuant to the requirements of Section 9.11 (for so long as such Subsidiary remains a non-Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary), (iii) any CFC Holding Company, (iv) any Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC, (v) any Foreign Subsidiary, (vi) each Subsidiary that is prohibited by any applicable Contractual Requirement or

 

-27-


Requirements of Law from guaranteeing or granting Liens to secure 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), (vii) each Subsidiary with respect to which, as reasonably determined by the Borrower, the consequence of providing a Guarantee of the Obligations would adversely affect the ability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to satisfy applicable Requirements of Law, (viii) each Subsidiary with respect to which, as reasonably determined by the Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, providing such a Guarantee would result in material adverse tax consequences to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (ix) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, 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 (x) each Unrestricted Subsidiary, (xi) any Receivables Subsidiary, (xii) 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 and (xiii) each SPV or not-for-profit Subsidiary.

Excluded Swap Obligation” shall mean, with respect to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Credit Party, (a) any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Obligations of such Person of, or the grant by such Person 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 Persons 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) any Taxes imposed on or measured by such recipient’s overall 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 such recipient (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 between such recipient and such jurisdiction (other than any such connection arising solely from such recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Credit Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Credit Document), (ii) any United StatesU.S. federal withholding Tax imposed on any payment by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party hereunder or under any Credit Document that is required to be imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of a Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to laws in force at the time such Lender (a) acquires such interest in the applicable Loan or Commitment or, if such Lender did not fund the applicable Loan pursuant to a prior Commitment, on the date on which such Lender acquires its interest in such Loan or (b) 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 in each case to the extent that amounts with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant were payable pursuant to Section 5.4 either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender acquired the applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment or to such Lender immediately before such Lender designated a new lending office,(iii) any Taxes attributable to asuch recipient’s failure to comply with Section 5.4(e), or (iv) any withholding Tax imposed under FATCA.

Existing ABL Facility” shall mean that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of August 3July  2, 20112015 , by and among the Borrower, certain of the Borrower’s subsidiaries, the lenders from time to time party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

-28-


Existing Debt Facilities” shall mean the Existing Term Loan Facility, and the Existing ABL Facility, the Existing Finco Notes and the Existing Senior Notes.

Existing Letters of Credit” shall mean each letter of credit existing on the Closing Date and identified on Schedule 1.1(c).

“Existing Finco Notes” shall mean New Academy Finance Company LLC’s and New Academy Finance Corporation’s 9.0%/8.75% Notes due 2018 issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of December 13, 2012, among New Academy Finance Company LLC, New Academy Finance Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

“Existing Senior Notes” shall mean the Borrower’s 9.25% Notes due 2019 issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of August 3, 2011, among certain affiliates of the Borrower and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Existing Term Loan Facility” shall mean the Credit Agreement, dated as of August 3, 2011, by and among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as administrative agent and collateral agent.

Expiring Credit Commitment” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.1(d).

“Extenuating Circumstance” means any period during which the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion (a) that due to unforeseen and/or nonrecurring circumstances, it is impractical and/or not feasible to submit or receive a Notice of Borrowing or a Notice of Conversion or Continuation by email or fax or through electronic system as provided in Section 13.2, and (b) to accept a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion or Continuation telephonically.

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., and any laws, fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules, guidance notes and practices adopted by a U.S. or non-U.S. jurisdiction to effect the foregoing.

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 the NYFRB shall be set forth on its public websitethe NYFRB’s Website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the effective federal funds rate, provided that if the Federal Funds Effective Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement..

Fees” shall mean all amounts payable pursuant to, or referred to in, Section 4.1.

Financed Capital Expenditures” shall mean, with respect to any Person and for any period, Capital Expenditures made by such Person during such period that are financed with the proceeds of Indebtedness (other than Revolving Loans) or net cash proceeds of any incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness or any issuance of Equity Interests, provided, in each case such net cash proceeds are received substantially contemporaneously with any such Capital Expenditures.

Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer, controller or other similar officer of the Borrower.

 

-29-


First Lien Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean an Intercreditor Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit I-1 (with such changes to such form as may be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower) among the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, and the representatives for purposes thereof for holders of one or more classes of First Lien Obligations (other than the Obligations).

First Lien Obligations” shall mean the Obligations that are secured by Liens on the Collateral that rank on an equal priority basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” shall mean the ratio of (a) (1) Consolidated EBITDA minus (2) cash taxes based on income, profits or capital, including federal, foreign, state, franchise, excise and similar taxes (including in respect of repatriated funds), net of cash refunds received, of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries paid in cash during such Test Period minus (3) Capital Expenditures paid in cash during the applicable Test Period (other than Financed Capital Expenditures) to (b) (1) Consolidated Interest Expense plus (2) the aggregate amount of scheduled principal payments in respect of long term Consolidated Total Debt of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries made during such period (other than payments made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary), all calculated for such period for the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

Fixed Charges” shall mean, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of:

(i)    Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis 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.

Flood Insurance Laws” collectively, (i) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (which comprehensively revised the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 and the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973) as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto and (iii) 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 and regulations or with the terms of such Foreign Plan or Foreign Benefit Arrangement.

Foreign Subsidiary” shall mean each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

-30-


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 engaged or advises funds or other investment vehicles that are 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 Restatement Effective 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 Restatement Effective Date, the Borrower 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 the Borrower’s election to apply IFRS shall remain as previously calculated or determined in accordance with GAAP. 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.

General Intangible” has the meaning provided in the Security Agreement.

Gochman Investors” shall mean (i) each of David E Gochman and Molly Gochman, (ii) any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of any of the individuals referred to in clause (i) and (iii) any Person more than 50% of the Equity Interests of which is owned or controlled by any of the individuals referred to in clause (i), including MSI 2011 LLC and MG Family Limited Partnership.

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 body exercising such powers or functions, 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 ABL Holdings Guarantee made by Holdings, the Texas Intermediate Holdcos and each other Intermediate Holdco (subject to Section 9.14), substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1, and the Amended and Restated ABL Guarantee made by each other Guarantor, substantially in the form of Exhibit B-2, in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and (ii) any other guarantee of the Obligations made by any Subsidiary of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

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

 

-31-


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 Restatement Effective 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) each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is party to the Guarantee on the Restatement Effective Date, (ii) each Subsidiary of Holdings that becomes a party to the Guarantee after the Restatement Effective Date pursuant to Section 9.11, Section 9.14 or otherwise and (iii) Holdings and the Texas Intermediate Holdcos; provided that in no event shall any Excluded Subsidiary be required to be a Guarantor (unless such Subsidiary is no longer an Excluded Subsidiary).

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.

Hedge Bank” shall mean (i) (a) any Person that, at the time it enters into a Hedge Agreement with the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, is a Lender, an Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Agent and (b) with respect to any Hedge Agreement entered into prior to the Restatement Effective Date, any Person that is a Lender or an Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Agent on the Restatement Effective Date and (ii) any other Person that is designated by the Borrower as a “Hedge Bank” by written notice to the Administrative Agent substantially in the form of Exhibit M-1 or such other form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

Hedge Termination Value” shall mean, in respect of any one or more Secured Hedge Obligations, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Secured Hedge Obligations, (a) for any date on or after the date such Secured Hedge Obligations have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) or maximum peak exposure value for such Secured Hedge Obligations, as determined based upon customary industry practices.

Hedging Obligations” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under any Hedge Agreements.

 

-32-


Historical Financial Statements” shall mean the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended February 2, 2013, February 1, 2014 and January 31, 2015, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal years of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

Holdings” shall mean (i) New Academy Holding Company, LLC or (ii) after the Restatement Effective Date, any other Person or Persons (“New Holdings”) that is a Subsidiary of Holdings or of any Parent Entity of Holdings (or the previous New Holdings, as the case may be) but not the Borrower (“Previous Holdings”); provided that (a) such New Holdings directly or indirectly through Intermediate Holdcos owns 100% of the Equity Interests of the Borrower, (b) New Holdings shall expressly assume all the obligations of Previous Holdings under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (c) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, an opinion of counsel shall be delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent to the effect that, without limitation, such substitution does not violate this Agreement or any other Credit Document, (d) all Capital Stock of the Borrower shall be pledged to secure the Obligations, (e) (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such substitution and such substitution does not result in any Event of Default and (f) no Change of Control shall have occurred and (ii) such substitution does not result in any adverse tax consequences to any Lender (unless reimbursed hereunder) or to the Administrative Agent (unless reimbursed hereunder); provided, further, that if each of the foregoing is satisfied, Previous Holdings shall be automatically released of all its obligations under the Credit Documents and any reference to “Holdings” in the Credit Documents shall be meant to refer to New Holdings.

ICC” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “UCP”.

IFRS” shall have the meaning given to such term in the definition of “GAAP”.

“Impacted Interest Period” shall have the meaning given to such term in the definition of “LIBOR Rate”.

“Impacted Loans” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.10(a).

Incremental Commitment” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Facility Amendment” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(b)(ii).

Incremental Lender” shall mean, at any time, any bank or other financial institution (including any such bank or financial institution that is a Lender at such time) that agrees to provide any portion of any Incremental Commitment pursuant to an Incremental Facility Amendment in accordance with Section 2.14.

Incremental Revolving Credit Loan” shall mean any loan made pursuant to an Incremental Facility Amendment in accordance with Section 2.14.

Incremental Revolving Credit Maturity Date” shall mean the date on which any tranche of Revolving Credit Loans made pursuant to the Lenders’ Incremental Commitments matures.

incur” and “incurrence” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.1.

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 the Borrower solely by reason of push down accounting under GAAP shall be excluded, (ii) to the extent not otherwise included,

 

-33-


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, (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 of 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 or (9) asset retirement obligations and obligations in respect of workers’ compensation (including pensions and retiree medical care) that are not overdue by more than 60 days. 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 all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, shall exclude all intercompany Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 365 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

Indemnified Liabilities shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.5.

“Indemnified Person” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.5.

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 Investors” shall mean Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. and its Affiliates, but not including, however, any portfolio companies of any of the foregoing.

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.

Intellectual Property” shall mean U.S. 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, Internet 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, divisionals, re-issues, re-examinations, 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.

Intermediate Holdcos” shall mean the Delaware Intermediate Holdcos, the Texas Intermediate Holdcos and any other Subsidiary of Holdings that becomes a party to the Guarantee in the form of Exhibit B-1 after the Restatement Effective Date pursuant to Section 9.11(y).

“Interpolated Rate” means, at any time, for any Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the LIBOR Screen Rate) determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination

 

-34-


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 LIBOR Screen Rate for the longest period (for which the LIBOR Screen Rate is available) that is shorter than the Impacted Interest Period; and (b) the LIBOR Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that LIBOR Screen Rate is available) that exceeds the Impacted Interest Period, in each case, at such time; provided, that if any Interpolated Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be determined to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

Inventory” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

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 consolidated balance sheet (excluding the footnotes) of the Borrower 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 the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, intercompany loans (including guarantees), advances, or Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business.

For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 10.5,

(i)    Investments shall include the portion (proportionate to the Borrower’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Borrower at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount (if positive) equal to (a) the Borrower’s Investment in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less (b) the portion (proportionate to the Borrower’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

(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 the Borrower 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 rating agency.

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 a the Borrower 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

 

-35-


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

IPO” shall mean the initial underwritten public offering (other than a public offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8) of common Equity Interests in Holdings or a parent entity of Holdings that was consummated on October 1, 2020.

“IPO Entity” shall mean, at any time at and after an IPO, Holdings or a parent entity of Holdings, as the case may be, the Equity Interests of which were issued or otherwise sold pursuant to the IPO.

“IPO Listco” shall mean a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings formed in contemplation of an IPO to become the IPO Entity. Holdings shall, promptly following its formation, notify the Administrative Agent of the formation of any IPO Listco.

IPO Reorganization Transactions” shall mean, collectively, the transactions taken in connection with and reasonably related to consummating an IPO, including (a) formation and ownership of IPO Shell Companies, (b) entry into, and performance of, (i) a reorganization agreement among any of Holdings, its Subsidiaries and/or IPO Shell Companies implementing IPO Reorganization Transactions and other reorganization transactions in connection with an IPO and (ii) customary underwriting agreements in connection with an IPO and any future follow-on underwritten public offerings of common Equity Interests in the IPO Entity, including the provision by IPO Entity and Holdings of customary representations, warranties, covenants and indemnification to the underwriters thereunder, (c) the merger of one or more IPO Subsidiaries with one or more direct or indirect holders of Equity Interests in Holdings with the surviving entity in any such merger holding Equity Interests in Holdings, and the merger of such entities with any IPO Shell Company or IPO Subsidiary, (d) the issuance of Equity Interests of IPO Shell Companies to holders of Equity Interests of Holdings in connection with any IPO Reorganization Transactions, (e) an exchange agreement, pursuant to which holders of Equity Interests of Holdings will be permitted to exchange such interests for certain economic/voting Equity Interests in IPO Listco, and (f) any tax receivables agreements by any IPO Shell Company or IPO Subsidiary, in each case of clauses (a) through (f), so long as after giving Pro Forma Effect to such agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, the security interests of the Lenders in the Collateral and the Guarantees of the Obligations, taken as a whole, would not be materially impaired.

“IPO Shell Company” shall mean each of IPO Listco and IPO Subsidiary.

“IPO Subsidiary” shall mean a wholly-owned subsidiary of IPO Listco formed in contemplation of, and to facilitate, IPO Reorganization Transactions and an IPO. Holdings shall, promptly following its formation, notify the Administrative Agent of the formation of an IPO Subsidiary.

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 any other Restricted Subsidiary or Holdings) or in favor of the Letter of Credit Issuer and relating to such Letter of Credit.

Joint Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners” shall mean J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Barclays Bank PLC, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Regions Capital Markets, U.S. Bank National Association, Wells Fargo Bank N.A. and, the Amendment No. 1 Arrangers and the Amendment No. 2 Arrangers.

Junior Debt” shall mean any Indebtedness (other than any permitted intercompany Indebtedness owing to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) in respect of Subordinated Indebtedness.

 

-36-


KKR” shall mean each of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. and KKR 2006 Fund L.P.

Last Out Tranche” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(d).

Latest Maturity Date” shall mean, at any date of determination, the latest maturity or expiration date applicable to any Loan hereunder at such time 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.

L/C Facility Maturity Date” shall mean the date that is five Business Days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date; provided that the L/C Facility Maturity Date may be extended beyond such date with the consent of the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer.

L/C Obligations” shall mean, as at 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).

L/C Sublimit shall mean up to $100,000,00040,000,000 aggregate amount of Letters of Credit that may be issued under the Revolving Credit Facility.

LCALCT Election” shall have the meaning provided in Section 1.12(b).

LCALCT Test Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 1.12(b).

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 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 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 the Term Loan Facility, 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 in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that it will comply with its funding obligations under this Agreement 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 Party” means the Administrative Agent, each Letter of Credit Issuer, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender.

 

-37-


Lender Presentation” shall mean the lender presentation dated June 2, 2015 and presented to the Lenders in connection with the syndication of the Loans under this Agreement.

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”), other than via an Undisclosed Administration, 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.

“Lender-Related Person” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.5(b).

Letter of Credit” shall mean each letter of credit issued pursuant to Section 3.1 and each Existing Letter of Credit.

Letter of Credit Commitment” shall mean, with respect to (i) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in its capacity as a Letter of Credit Issuer, 10025 % of the L/C Sublimit, as may be(ii) with respect to Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as a Letter of Credit Issuer, 25% of the L/C Sublimit, (iii) with respect to Capital One, National Association, in its capacity as a Letter of Credit Issuer, 25% of the L/C Sublimit and (iv) with respect to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association in its capacity as a Letter of Credit Issuer, 25% of the L/C Sublimit, in each case as may be increased or reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 3.1.

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.

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 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)).

Letter of Credit Fee” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.1(b).

Letter of Credit Issuer” shall mean (i) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Bank of America, N.A., Capital One, National Association and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, (ii) any of itstheir respective Affiliates or branches and (iii) any replacement, additional issuer, or successor pursuant to Section 3.6. 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 L or another form which is acceptable to the 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.

LIBOR” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “LIBOR Rate.”

 

-38-


LIBOR Loan shall mean any Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBOR Rate.

LIBOR Rate” shall mean,

(i)    for any Interest Period with respect to a LIBOR Loan, the rate per annum equal to the offered rate administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate for Dollars) (LIBOR”) or successor rate, which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, on the applicable Reuters screen page (or, in the event such rate does not appear on a Reuters page or screen, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion; in each case the “LIBOR Screen Rate”) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; provided that if the LIBOR Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for such Interest Period (an “Impacted Interest Period”), then the LIBOR Rate for such LIBOR Loan shall be the Interpolated Rate, subject to Section 2.10 in the event that the Administrative Agent shall conclude that it shall not be possible to determine such Interpolated Rate (which conclusion shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error);

(ii)    for any interest calculation with respect to an ABR Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to LIBOR, at or about 11:00 a.m., London time, determined two Business Days prior to such date for Dollar deposits with a term of one month commencing that day; provided that to the extent a comparable or successor rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection herewith, the approved rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided, further, that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such approved rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent in consultation with the Borrower; andprovided, further, that in the case of an Impacted Interest Period, the LIBOR Rate for such ABR Loan shall be the Interpolated Rate, subject to Section 2.10 in the event that the Administrative Agent shall conclude that it shall not be possible to determine such Interpolated Rate (which conclusion shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error); and

(iii)    if the LIBOR Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

Notwithstanding the above, to the extent that “LIBOR Rate” or “Adjusted LIBOR Rate” is used in connection with an ABR Loan, such rate shall be determined as modified by the definition of ABR.

“LIBOR Screen Rate” means the LIBOR quote on the applicable screen page the Administrative Agent designates to determine LIBOR (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time).

“LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate, any conforming changes to the definition of ABR, Interest Period, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other administrative matters as may be appropriate, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, to reflect the adoption of such LIBOR Successor Rate and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such LIBOR Successor Rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent determines in consultation with the Borrower).

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

 

-39-


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 to Intellectual Property be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Limited Condition AcquisitionTransaction ” shall mean any acquisitiontransaction by one or more of Holdings, the Borrower and itsthe Restricted Subsidiaries of any assets, business or Person permitted to be acquired by this Agreement, in each case, whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing.

Loan” shall mean any Revolving Loan, Swingline Loan or Protective Advance or any other loan or advance made by any Lender pursuant to this Agreement.

Mandatory Borrowing” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.1(c).

Master Agreement” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Hedge Agreement.”

Material Adverse Effect” shall mean a circumstance or condition affecting the business, assets, operations, properties, or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that would, individually or in the aggregate, materially adversely affect (i) the ability of the Borrower 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 (ii) the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under the Credit Documents.

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 the Borrower and the 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 the Borrower and the 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 Restatement Effective Date, Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Material Subsidiaries (other than Subsidiaries that are Excluded Subsidiaries by virtue of any of clauses (ii) through (xiii) 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 the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries at such date or (b) revenues during such Test Period equal to or greater than 10.0% of the consolidated revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP, then the Borrower 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 Maturity Date or any Incremental Revolving Credit Maturity Date, as applicable.

“Maximum ABL Incremental Facilities Amount” shall have the meaning given to that term in Section 2.14.

Maximum Borrowing Amount” shall mean the lesser of (a) the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments at such time and (b) the Borrowing Base.

Minimum Borrowing Amount shall mean (a) with respect to a Borrowing of LIBOR Loans, $5,000,000 and (b) with respect to a Borrowing of ABR Loans, $1,000,000 (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 102% of the Fronting Exposure of the Letter of Credit Issuer

 

-40-


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 102% of the outstanding amount of all L/C Obligations.

Moody’s” shall mean Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor by merger or consolidation to its business.

Mortgage” shall mean a mortgage, deed of trust, deed to secure debt, trust deed, or other security document entered into by the owner of a Mortgaged Property and the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in respect of that Mortgaged Property to secure the Obligations, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent and the Borrower, together with such terms and provisions as may be required by local laws, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Mortgaged Property” shall mean, initially, each parcel of real estate and the improvements thereto owned in fee by the Borrower or a Subsidiary Credit Party and identified on Schedule 1.1(a), and each other parcel of real property and improvements thereto with respect to which a Mortgage is granted pursuant to Section 9.14.

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.

New Holdings” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Holdings”.

Net Income” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends.

NOLV Percentage” shall mean the net orderly liquidation value of Eligible Inventory, expressed as a percentage, expected to be realized at an orderly, negotiated sale held within a reasonable period of time, net of all liquidation expenses, as determined from the most recent appraisal of Inventory of the Credit Parties performed by an appraiser and on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

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-Expiring Credit Commitment” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.1(d).

Non-Extension Notice Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.2(d).

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.

“Notes Agent” means, initially, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. in its capacity as trustee under the Notes Agreement (or any successor agent or trustee thereunder or under any replacement thereof) and any other indenture trustee, collateral agent or other representative appointed as such under any Notes Documents.

“Notes Agreement” means that certain senior secured notes indenture dated as of the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date, by and among Borrower, as issuer and the Notes Agent.

“Notes Documents” means, collectively, the Notes Agreement and all other agreements, instruments, documents and certificates executed and/or delivered in connection therewith.

 

-41-


“Notes Obligations” means the Indebtedness and other obligations of Borrower and its Subsidiaries under the Notes Documents.

Notice of Borrowing” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.3(a).

Notice of Conversion or Continuation shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.6(a).

Noticed Cash Management Obligations” shall mean any Secured Cash Management Obligations with respect to which the Borrower and the Secured Party with respect thereto have notified the Administrative Agent of the intent to include such Secured Cash Management Obligations as Noticed Cash Management Obligations hereunder (so long as such designation, and the resulting Secured Cash Management Reserves at the time of designation, would not result in an Overadvance) and with respect to which a Secured Cash Management Reserve has subsequently been established in the amount set forth in such notice; provided that such designation shall be made within ten (10) Business Days of (i) the Restatement Effective Date if such Cash Management Services are in place on the Restatement Effective Date or (ii) the date such Cash Management Services are commenced if not in place on the Restatement Effective Date.

Noticed Hedge” shall mean any Secured Hedge Obligations arising under a Hedge Agreement with respect to which the Borrower and the Secured Party thereof have notified the Administrative Agent of the intent to include such Secured Hedge Obligations as a Noticed Hedge hereunder (so long as such designation, and the resulting Secured Hedge Reserves at the time of designation, would not result in an Overadvance) and with respect to which a Secured Hedge Reserve has subsequently been established in the amount set forth in such notice; provided that such designation shall be made within ten (10) Business Days of (i) the Restatement Effective Date if such Hedge Agreement is in place on the Restatement Effective Date or (ii) the date such Hedge Agreement is entered into if such Hedge Agreement is not in place on the Restatement Effective Date.

NYFRB” shall mean the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

“NYFRB Website” shall mean the website of the NYFRB at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.

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 Rate in effect on such day (or for any day that is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that if none of such rates are published for any day that is a Business Day, the term “NYFRB Rate” means the rate for a federal funds transaction quoted at 11:00 a.m. on such day received by the Administrative Agent from a federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; provided, further, that if any of the aforesaid rates as so determined be less than 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 arising under any Credit Document or otherwise with respect to any Revolving Credit Commitment, Loan, Letter of Credit, Secured Bank Product Obligations or under any Secured Cash Management Agreement or 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 the Borrower or any of the 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 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 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.

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

 

-42-


under any other Credit Document or from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Credit Document; provided that such term shall not include (i) any Taxes that result from an assignment, (“Assignment Taxes”) to the extent such Assignment Taxes are imposed as a result of a present or former connection between the Lender and the taxing jurisdiction (other than a connection arising solely from having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any transaction pursuant to or enforced any Credit Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Credit Document), except to the extent that any such action described in this proviso is requested or required by the Borrower pursuant to Section 13.7 or (ii) Excluded Taxes.

Overadvance” shall mean at any time the amount by which the aggregate outstanding Revolving Credit Exposure exceeds the Borrowing Base.

Overadvance Condition” shall mean and is deemed to exist any time the aggregate outstanding Revolving Credit Exposure exceeds the Borrowing Base.

Overadvance Loan” shall mean an ABR Loan made at a time an Overadvance Condition exists or which results in an Overadvance Condition.

Overnight Rate shall mean, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight Eurodollar borrowings by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions, as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on its public websitethe NYFRB’s Website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate.

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.

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.

Payment Account” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.16(c).

Payment Conditions” shall mean the following: (a) no Specified Default exists or would arise after giving effect to such transaction, (b) Pro Forma Compliance for the most recently ended Test Period with a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio equal to or greater than 1.0:1.0 and (c) the Borrower shall have pro forma Excess Availability giving effect to such transaction as of the date of such transaction (and would have had pro forma Excess Availability giving effect to such transaction for each day in the period of 20 calendar days immediately preceding such action) in excess of the greater of 15% (or 12.5% in the case of Restricted Investments and unsecured Indebtedness) of the Maximum Borrowing Amount and $90,000,000 (or $75,000,000 in the case of Restricted Investments and unsecured Indebtedness); provided that the condition set forth in clause (b) shall not be applicable if the Borrower has pro forma Excess Availability giving effect to such transaction as of the date of such transaction (and would have had pro forma Excess Availability giving effect to such transaction for each day in the period of 20 calendar days immediately preceding such action) in excess of the greater of 20% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount (or 17.5% in the case of Restricted Investments and unsecured Indebtedness) and $120,000,000 (or $105,000,000 in the case of Restricted Investments and unsecured Indebtedness).

Payment Intangible” shall have the meaning provided in the Uniform Commercial Code.

 

-43-


PBGC” shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

Pension Plan” shall mean any “employee pension benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, but excluding any Multiemployer Plan) that is subject to Title IV of ERISA, Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, 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.

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 the Borrower 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 Discretion” shall mean the Administrative Agent’s reasonable credit judgment (from the perspective of an asset-based lender) in establishing Reserves, exercised in good faith in accordance with customary business practices for similar asset based lending facilities, based upon its consideration of any factor that it reasonably believes (i) could materially adversely affect the quantity, quality, mix or value of Collateral (including any applicable laws that may inhibit collection of an Eligible Credit Card Receivables), the enforceability or priority of the Administrative Agent’s Liens thereon, or the amount that the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Credit Lenders or the Letter of Credit Issuer could receive in liquidation of any Collateral; (ii) that any collateral report or financial information delivered by the Borrower or any Guarantor is incomplete, inaccurate or misleading in any material respect; or (iii) creates an Event of Default. In exercising such judgment, the Administrative Agent may consider any factors that could materially increase the credit risk of lending to the Borrower on the security of the Collateral. Any Reserve established or modified by the Administrative Agent shall have a reasonable relationship to circumstances, conditions, events or contingencies which are the basis for such reserve, as reasonably determined, without duplication, by the Administrative Agent in good faith.

Permitted Holders” shall mean each of (i) the Initial Investors and the Gochman Investors and their respective Affiliates (other than any portfolio company of an Initial Investor) and members of management of the Borrower (or their respective direct or indirect parent or management investment vehicle) who are holders of Equity Interests of Holdings (or its direct or indirect parent company or management investment vehicle) and any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision) of which any of the foregoing are members; provided that, in the case of such group and without giving effect to the existence of such group or any other group, such Initial Investors and the Gochman Investors, their respective Affiliates (other than any portfolio company of an Initial Investor) and members of management, collectively, have beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of Holdings or any other direct or indirect Parent Entity, (ii) any direct or indirect Parent Entity formed not in connection with, or in contemplation of, a transaction (other than the Transactions or IPO Reorganization Transactions) that, assuming such parent was not formed after giving effect thereto, would constitute a Change of Control and (iii) any entity (other than a Parent Entity) through which a Parent Entity described in clause (ii) directly or indirectly holds Equity Interests of Holdings and has no other material operations other than those incidental thereto.

Permitted Investments” shall mean:

(i)    any Investment in the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that with respect to any Investment by a Credit Party in a Restricted Subsidiary which is not a Credit Party, no Overadvance shall result after giving effect to any such Investment;

(ii)    any Investment in cash, Cash Equivalents, or Investment Grade Securities at the time such Investment is made;

 

-44-


(iii)    subject to no Overadvance resulting after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition, any Investment by the Borrower 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, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, and, in each case, any Investment held by such Person; provided that such Investment was not acquired by such Person in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, consolidation, 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;

(v)    (a) any Investment existing or contemplated on the Restatement Effective 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 Restatement Effective 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 Restatement Effective Date;

(vi)    any Investment acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (a) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Borrower or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization, or recapitalization of the Borrower of such other Investment or accounts receivable or (b) as a result of a foreclosure by the Borrower 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 Investment in a Similar Business having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (viii) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (a) $135,000,000 and (b) 33% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) 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 (viii) 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 (viii) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(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 for Restricted Payments under clause (iii) of Section 10.5(a);

(x)    guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under Section 10.1;

(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 clause (b) 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;

 

-45-


(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 (without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash or marketable securities), not to exceed the greater of (a) $155,000,000 and (b) 37.5% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) 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 the Borrower, are necessary or advisable to effect a Receivables Facility or any repurchases in connection therewith;

(xv)    advances to, or guarantees of Indebtedness of, employees not in excess of the greater of (a) $25,000,000 and (b) 5% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) 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 the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent company thereof and (b) promissory notes received from stockholders of the Borrower, any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with the exercise of stock options in respect of the Equity Interests of the Borrower, any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries;

(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 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 pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons, in the ordinary course of business;

(xxii)    advances of payroll payments to employees in the ordinary course of business;

(xxiii)    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 Borrower; and

(xxiv)    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”.

 

-46-


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 contested taxes or import duties or 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, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, and mechanics’ 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 which 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 are not required to be paid pursuant to Section 8.11, or for property Taxes on property of the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries has determined to abandon if the sole recourse for such Tax 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;

(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, taken as a whole;

(vi)    Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be outstanding pursuant to clause (a), (b)(i) (so long as such Liens are subject to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement), (d), (l)(ii), (r), (w) (so long as such Liens are subject to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement), (x) (so long as such Liens are subject to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) or (y) 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 and (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 the Restricted Subsidiaries incurring such Indebtedness;

(vii)    subject to Section 9.14, other than with respect to Mortgaged Property, Liens existing on the Restatement Effective Date; provided that any Lien securing Indebtedness or other obligations in excess of (a) $5,000,000 individually or (b) $25,000,000 in the aggregate (when taken together with all other Liens securing obligations outstanding in reliance on this clause (b) that are not listed on Schedule 10.2) shall only be permitted if set forth on Schedule 10.2, and, in each case, any modifications, replacements, renewals, or extensions thereof;

 

-47-


(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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Borrower 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 the Borrower 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 anysecuring Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party, which Liens secure Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party, in each case, permitted underto be incurred in accordance with Section 10.1;

(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;

(xiv)    Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases or consignments entered into by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(xv)    Liens in favor of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary Guarantor;

(xvi)    Liens on equipment of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary granted in the ordinary course of business to the Borrower’s 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;

 

-48-


(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 (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, the 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)  $205,000,000240,000,000 and (b) 50% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) at the time of the incurrence of such Lien; provided that any such Liens shall be either (x) an asset or property that do not constitute ABL Priority Collateral or (y) a Lien ranking junior to the First Lien Obligations (including having the same lien priority as the Term Loan Facility Obligations); provided, further, that at the Borrower’s election, (i) [reserved] and (ii) in the case of Liens securing Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations that have a Lien on the Collateral ranking junior to the Lien securing the Obligations, the applicable Permitted Other Indebtedness Secured Parties (or a representative thereof on behalf of such holders) shall enter into security documents with terms and conditions not materially more restrictive to the Borrower and the Subsidiary Credit Parties, taken as a whole, than the terms and conditions of the Security Documents and shall (x) in the case of the first such issuance of Permitted Other Indebtedness that do not constitute First Lien Obligations, the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent and the representative of the holders of such Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations shall have entered into the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (y) in the case of subsequent issuances of Permitted Other Indebtedness that do not constitute First Lien Obligations, the representative for the holders of such Permitted Other Indebtedness shall have become a party to the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof; and without any further consent of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be authorized to execute and deliver on behalf of the Secured Parties the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement contemplated by this clause (xx);

(xxi)    Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 11.5 or Section 11.10;

(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;

 

-49-


(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 of Indebtedness, (b) relating to pooled deposits or sweep accounts of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, or (c) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

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

(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 the Borrower 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, and

(xxxviii)    to the extent pursuant to a Requirements of Law, Liens on cash or Permitted Investments securing Hedge Agreements in the ordinary course of business.

 

-50-


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 subordinated or senior Indebtedness (which Indebtedness may (i) be unsecured, (ii) [reserved], or (iii) be secured by a Lien ranking junior to the Lien securing the First Lien Obligations (including having the same lien priority as the Term Loan Facility Obligations)), in each case issued or incurred by the Borrower or a Guarantor, (a) theexcept with respect to (x) an amount equal to the greater of (A) $240,000,000 or (B) 50% of Consolidated EBITDA for the four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower most recently ended on or prior to such date of determination in respect of Permitted Other Indebtedness and (y) customary bridge loans, the terms of which do not provide for any scheduled repayment, mandatory repayment, or redemption or sinking fund obligations prior to, at the time of incurrence, the Latest Term Loan Maturity Date (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) (other than, in each case, customary offers or obligations to repurchase upon a change of control, asset sale, or casualty or condemnation event, AHYDO payments and customary acceleration rights after an event of default), (b) the covenants, taken as a whole, are not materially more restrictive to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries than those herein (taken as a whole) (except for covenants applicable only to the periods after the Latest Term Loan Maturity Date (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement)) (it being understood that, (1) to the extent that any 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 financial maintenance covenant is also added for the benefit of any corresponding Loans remaining outstanding after the issuance or incurrence of such Indebtedness or (2) no consent shall be required by the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders if any covenants are only applicable after the Latest Term Loan Maturity Date (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) at the time of such refinancing); provided 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), (c) of which no Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than a Guarantor) is an obligor and (d) that, if secured, is not secured by a lien any assets of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries other than the Collateral.

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 the Borrower or any Subsidiary 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, the Borrower or 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 the Borrower or 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 Borrower and/or 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 Person under any Permitted Other Indebtedness Document.

Permitted Other Indebtedness Secured Parties” shall mean the holders from time to time of secured Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations (and any representative on their behalf).

Permitted Sale Leaseback” shall mean any Sale Leaseback consummated by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries after the Restatement Effective Date; provided that any such Sale Leaseback not between the

 

-51-


Borrower and a Restricted Subsidiary is consummated for fair value as determined at the time of consummation in good faith by (i) the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) in the case of any Sale Leaseback (or series of related Sale Leasebacks) the aggregate proceeds of which exceed the greater of (a) $165,000,000 and (b) 40% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) at the time of the incurrence of such Sale Leaseback, the board of directors (or analogous governing body) of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary (which such determination may take into account any retained interest or other Investment of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, and any other material economic terms of, such Sale Leaseback).

“Permitted Tax Distributions” shall mean, collectively distributions by the Borrower, Holdings, Intermediate Holdcos or any parent thereof at the following times and in the following amounts:

(i)    on a quarterly basis, an amount equal to the excess of (x) the sum of the following amounts for each equityholder of Holdings: (A) the excess of (1) the estimated cumulative taxable income allocated (or allocable) to such equityholder for the taxable year through the end of such period (determined, for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account any allocations of items of income, gain, loss and deduction pursuant to Section 704(c) of the Code but without regard to any adjustments pursuant to Section 743 of the Code and assuming the only items of income, gain, loss and deduction arise from the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) over (2) cumulative taxable losses from prior taxable years (arising from the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) allocated (or allocable) to such equityholder to the extent such prior losses are of a character that would permit such losses to be deducted against income or gain of the taxable year and have not previously been taken into account pursuant to this clause (i)(x)(A) with respect to a prior taxable year multiplied by (B) the Assumed Tax Rate, over (y) distributions previously made pursuant to this clause (i) with respect to the taxable year; and

(ii)    at any time after the end of each taxable year (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in any subsequent taxable year), an amount equal to the excess of (x) the sum of the following amounts for each equityholder of Holdings: (A) the excess of (1) the cumulative taxable income allocated (or allocable) to such equityholder for the taxable year (determined, for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account any allocations of items of income, gain, loss and deduction pursuant to Section 704(c) of the Code but without regard to any adjustments pursuant to Section 743 of the Code and assuming the only items of income, gain, loss and deduction arise from the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) over (2) cumulative taxable losses from prior taxable years (arising from the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) allocated (or allocable) to such equityholder to the extent such prior losses are of a character that would permit such losses to be deducted against income or gain of the taxable year and have not previously been taken into account pursuant to this clause (ii)(x)(A), multiplied by (B) the Assumed Tax Rate, over (y) distributions made pursuant to clause (i) of this definition with respect to the taxable year.

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, with respect to any such plan that is that is subject to Title IV of ERISA, Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, 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).

 

-52-


Pledge Agreement” shall mean the Amended and Restated 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 C.

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 last day of the eighth full consecutive fiscal quarter immediately following the date on which such Permitted Acquisition is consummated.

Previous Holdings” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Holdings”.

primary obligor” shall have the meaning provided such term 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 Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent). Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced or quoted as being effective.

Pro Forma Adjustment shall mean, for any Test Period that includes all or any part of a fiscal quarter included in any Post-Acquisition Period, with respect to the Acquired EBITDA of the applicable Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary or the Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower, the pro forma increase or decrease in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, projected by the Borrower in good faith as a result of (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 the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that (a) at the election of the Borrower, such Pro Forma Adjustment shall not be required to be determined for any Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the aggregate consideration paid in connection with such acquisition was less than $10,000,000; 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.

Pro Forma Basis,” Pro Forma Compliance,” and “Pro Forma Effect shall mean, with respect to compliance with any test, financial ratio, or covenant hereunder, that (i) to the extent applicable, a Pro Forma Adjustment shall have been made and (ii) all Specified Transactions and the following transactions in connection therewith shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement in such test or covenant: (a) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person subject to such Specified Transaction, (1) in the case of a sale, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all Capital Stock in any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any division, product line, or facility used for operations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, shall be excluded, and (2) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition or Investment described in the definition of Specified Transaction, shall be included, (b) any retirement of Indebtedness, and (c) any incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith (it being agreed that if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, such Indebtedness shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate that is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination); provided that, without limiting the application of the Pro Forma Adjustment pursuant to clause (a) above, the foregoing pro forma adjustments may be applied to any such test or covenant solely to the extent that such adjustments are consistent with the definition of

 

-53-


Consolidated EBITDA and give effect to operating expense reductions that are (x)(1) directly attributable to such transaction, (2) expected to have a continuing impact on the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, and (3) factually supportable or (y) otherwise consistent with the definition of Pro Forma Adjustment.

Pro Forma Entity” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Acquired EBITDA.”

Prohibited Transaction” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975(c) of the Code.

Projections” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.1(c).

Protective Advance” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.15.

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, and listing fees.

“QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C.
5390(c)(8)(D).

“QFC Credit Support” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 13.27.

Qualified Accounts” shall mean (a) prior to the 120th day after the Restatement Effective Date, all Deposit Accounts of Credit Parties that are concentration accounts, custody accounts or investment accounts and (b) on and after the 120th day after the Restatement Effective Date all Deposit Accounts of Credit Parties that are concentration accounts, custody accounts or investment accounts (i) with the Administrative Agent or (ii) with another depositary, subject to a Blocked Account Agreement in favor of the Administrative Agent; provided that the applicable depositary (if not the Administrative Agent) shall provide daily reports to the Administrative Agent setting forth the balances in such accounts (which may relate to the previous Business Day); provided, further, that, in each case, such Qualified Account is not subject to any other Lien other than Liens permitted by Section 10.2, and such Liens do not have priority over the Lien of the Administrative Agent and are junior to the Lien of the Administrative Agent (other than (i) inchoate or other Liens (including tax Liens) arising by operation of law or (ii) Permitted Liens under clause (xxiii) of the definition thereof).

Qualified Cash” shall mean, at any time, the amount of unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of the relevant Credit Parties held in Qualified Accounts as such time.

Qualified Proceeds” shall mean assets that are used or useful in, or Capital Stock of any Person engaged in, a Similar Business.

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” shall mean (i) Accounts and (ii) Payment Intangibles evidencing rights to payment for goods sold or leased, or for services rendered.

 

-54-


“Receivables Assets” means (a) the accounts receivable, royalties or other revenue streams, (b) rights to payment (including pursuant to the terms of Joint Ventures) subject to a Receivables Facility and (c) other assets customarily transferred together with any of the foregoing in a Receivables Facility and the proceeds thereof, including for the avoidance of doubt the underlying assets and related contracts generating any such receivables, royalties, revenue or rights to payment.

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 the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Receivables Subsidiary) pursuant to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary sells, directly or indirectly, grants a security interest in or otherwise transfers its accounts receivableReceivables Assets 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 the Borrower or any Subsidiary makes an Investment and to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary transfers accounts receivables and related assets.

“Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (1) if such Benchmark is LIBOR Rate, 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the day that is two London banking days preceding the date of such setting, and (2) if such Benchmark is not LIBOR Rate, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

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).

 

-55-


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 the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries in exchange for assets transferred by the Borrower 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 or migration through the environment.

“Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board or the NYFRB, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board or the NYFRB, or any successor thereto.

Removal Effective Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.9(b).

Reorganization” shall mean, with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the condition that such plan is in “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA.

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 DOL Reg. § 4043.

Required Lenders” shall mean, at any date, (i) Non-Defaulting Lenders having or holding a majority of the Adjusted Total Revolving Credit Commitment at such date or (ii) if the Total Revolving Credit Commitment has 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; provided, in each case, such Non-Defaulting Lenders representing the Required Lenders under clauses (i) and (ii) of this definition shall be constituted by at least two Non-Defaulting Lenders that are not Affiliated Institutional Lenders.

Required Reserve Notice” shall mean (a) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, at least five Business Days’ advance notice to the Borrower (or such shorter period as the Borrower may agree), (b) if a Material Adverse Effect under clause (ii) of the definition thereof has occurred or it would be reasonably likely that a Material Adverse Effect under clause (ii) of the definition thereof would occur were such Reserves not changed or established prior to the expiration of any notice period, two Business Days’ advance notice to the Borrower and (c) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, one days’ advance notice to the Borrower

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.

Reserves” shall mean such reserves as the Administrative Agent from time to time determines in its Permitted Discretion, including (a) Bank Product Reserves and (b) reserves of the type described in Section 2.17 hereof.

 

-56-


Resignation Effective Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.9(a).

“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.

Restatement Effective Date” shall mean July 2, 2015.

Restatement Effective Date Refinancing” shall mean the repayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other discharge of the Existing Debt Facilities and termination and/or release of any security interests and guarantees in connection therewith (other than as set forth in Section 13.23).

Restricted Investment” shall mean an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

Restricted Payment” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.5(a).

Restricted Subsidiary” 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).

“Reuters” means, as applicable, Thomson Reuters Corp, Refinitiv, or any successor thereto.

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(a), in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth, and opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1(b) under the caption 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 shall be $1,000,000,000 on the Amendment No.  12 Effective Date, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

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, (ii) such Lender’s Letter of Credit Exposure at such time, and (iii) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Swingline Loans and Protective Advances 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 Lender” shall mean, at any time, any Lender that has a Revolving Credit Commitment or an Incremental Commitment at such time.

Revolving Credit Loan” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.1(a).

Revolving Credit Maturity Date” shall mean May 22, 2023November 6, 2025 or, if such date is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day; provided, that if any portion of the Term Loan Facility remains outstanding on the date that is 91 days prior to the maturity date of the Term Loan Facility (such date, the Springing Maturity Date”), then the Revolving Credit Maturity Date shall be the Springing Maturity Date, unless all remaining obligations under the Term Loan Facility have been refinanced as of such date with

 

-57-


Refinancing Indebtedness maturing no earlier than 91 days after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date (or 91 days after such later date to which the Revolving Credit Maturity Date of all Loans and Commitments have then been extended)..

Revolving Credit Termination Date” shall mean the date on which the Revolving Credit Commitments shall have terminated, no Revolving Credit Loans or Swingline 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 Revolving Credit Loan or Incremental Revolving Credit Loan, in each case made pursuant to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

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 the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any real or tangible personal property, which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person in contemplation of such leasing.

Sanctions” shall mean all economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.

“Scheduled Unavailability Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 1.14(b).

SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean a First Lien/Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit I-2 (with such changes to such form as may be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower) among the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the representatives for purposes thereof of any other Permitted Other Indebtedness Secured Parties that are holders of Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations having a Lien on the Collateral ranking junior to the Lien securing the Obligations.

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 Bank Product Obligations” shall mean Bank Product Debt owing to a Secured Bank Product Provider, in the amount (in the case of any Secured Bank Product Provider other than JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and its Affiliates) specified by such provider in writing to the Administrative Agent, which amount may be established or increased (by further written notice to the Administrative Agent from time to time) as long as no Default or Event of Default exists and establishment of a Bank Product Reserve for such amount and all other Secured Bank Product Obligations would not result in the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures exceeding the Maximum Borrowing Amount.

Secured Bank Product Provider” shall mean (a) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. or any of its Affiliates; and (b) any Secured Party that is providing a Bank Product, provided that the provider described in this clause (b) delivers written notice that has been consented to in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, by the later of 10 Business Days following the Restatement Effective Date or 10 Business Days following creation of the Bank Product if such Bank Product is not in place on the Restatement Effective Date, (i) describing the Bank Product and setting forth the amount to be secured by the Collateral and the methodology to be used in calculating such amount, and (ii) agreeing to be bound by Section 11.12 or Section 12 hereof, as provided in Section 12.14.

 

-58-


Secured Cash Management Agreement” shall mean any Cash Management Agreement that is entered into by and between the Borrower 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.

Secured Cash Management Reserves” shall mean Obligations in respect of any Secured Cash Management Obligation in the amount specified by the applicable Secured Party and the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent under the definition of “Noticed Cash Management Obligations”, which amount may, subject to the restrictions set forth in the definition of “Noticed Cash Management Obligations” be increased with respect to any existing Secured Cash Management Obligation at any time by further written notice from such Secured Party and the Borrower to the Administrative Agent.

Secured Commercial LC Facility” shall mean any Commercial Letter of Credit facility that is entered into by and between the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and a financial institution engaged in the business of issuing Commercial Letters of Credit to the extent that such Commercial Letter of Credit facility is designated in writing by the Borrower and such financial institution to the Administrative Agent as a Secured Commercial LC Facility; provided that the Borrower shall not enter into or suffer to exist, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to enter into or suffer to exist, any Lien upon any of its property or assets (other than the Lien on the Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties) for the benefit of any Secured Commercial LC Facility; provided, further, that any Commercial Letter of Credit issued pursuant to a Secured Commercial LC Facility shall be deemed issued pursuant to such facility and may not be considered a Letter of Credit for the purposes of this Agreement, including, without limitation, Sections 3.1 and 11.12.

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, the 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 with a Restricted Subsidiary shall remain a Secured Hedge Agreement notwithstanding that such Restricted Subsidiary is subsequently designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary, unless otherwise agreed between such Restricted Subsidiary and Hedge Bank.

Secured Hedge Obligations” shall mean Obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements.

Secured Hedge Reserves” shall mean Obligations in respect of any Secured Hedge Obligation in the amount specified by the applicable Secured Party and the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent under the definition of “Noticed Hedges” (but not to exceed the Hedge Termination Value), which amount may, subject to the restrictions set forth in the definition of “Noticed Hedges” and herein, be increased (provided no such increase shall become effective if following such increase and the resulting increased Bank Product Reserve, no Overadvance would exist) with respect to any existing Secured Hedge Obligation at any time by further written notice from such Secured Party and the Borrower to the Administrative Agent.

Secured Parties” shall mean the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuers and each Lender in each case with respect to the Credit Facilities, each Secured Bank Product Provider that is providing a Bank Product to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, each Hedge Bank that is party to any Secured Hedge Agreement with Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, each Cash Management Bank that is party to a Secured Cash Management Agreement with the Borrower 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 Amended and Restated 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 D, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

-59-


Security Documents shall mean, collectively, the Pledge Agreement, the Security Agreement, the Mortgages, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, if executed, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if executed, the First Lien/Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement 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 Security Documents (including intellectual property security agreements) to secure the Obligations or to govern the lien priorities of the holders of Liens on the Collateral.

Significant Subsidiary” shall mean, at any date of determination, (a) any Restricted Subsidiary whose gross revenues (when combined with the gross revenues of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries after eliminating intercompany obligations) for the Test Period most recently ended on or prior to such date were equal to or greater than 10% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined in accordance with GAAP or (b) each other Restricted Subsidiary that, when such Restricted Subsidiary’s total gross revenues (when combined with the total gross revenues of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries after eliminating intercompany obligations) are aggregated with each other Restricted Subsidiary (when combined with the total gross revenues of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries after eliminating intercompany obligations) that is the subject of an Event of Default described in Section 11.5 would constitute a “Significant Subsidiary” under clause (a) above.

Similar Business” shall mean any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Restatement Effective Date or any business that is similar, reasonably related, synergistic, incidental, or ancillary thereto.

Sold Entity or Business shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA”.

Solvent” shall mean, after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions, (i) the sum of the liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, does not exceed the present fair saleable value of the present assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis; (ii) the fair value of the property of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, is greater than the total amount of liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis; (iii) the capital of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, is not unreasonably small in relation to their business as contemplated on the date hereof; and (iv) the Borrower and its Restricted 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).

Special Dividend” shall mean a special one-time dividend within five Business Days of the Restatement Effective Date in an amount not to exceed $200,000,000 to be paid by Borrower, directly or indirectly, to Holdings and by Holdings to its equity holders.

Specified Default” shall mean any Event of Default pursuant to Section 11.1, 11.2 (with respect to representations in any Borrowing Base Certificate only), 11.3(a) (with respect to Section 9.16 or 10.7 only), 11.3(b) (with respect to Section 9.1(h) only) or 11.5.

Specified Transaction shall mean, with respect to any period, any Investment (including a Permitted Acquisition), any asset sale, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, Restricted Payment, Subsidiary designation, Incremental Commitment or other event or action (including a restructuring or business optimization event) that in each case by the terms of this Agreement requires Pro Forma Compliance with a test or covenant hereunder or requires such test or covenant to be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

-60-


Sponsor” shall mean any of KKR and its Affiliates but excluding(including the funds, partnerships and other co-investment vehicles managed, advised or controlled thereby but other than, in each case, any portfolio companiescompany of any of the foregoing).

Sponsor Management Agreement” shall mean the management agreement between certain of the management companies associated with the Initial Investors and the Borrower, as in effect on August 3, 2011 and as may be amended, modified, supplemented, restated, replaced or substituted so long as such amendment, modification, supplement, restatement, replacement or substitution is not, when taken as a whole, materially disadvantageous to the Lenders compared to the management agreement in effect on August 3, 2011.

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.

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.

Statutory Reserves” 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 percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) established by the Board and any other banking authority, domestic or foreign, to which the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including any branch, Affiliate or other fronting office making or holding a Loan) is subject to Eurocurrency Liabilities (as defined in Regulation D of the Board). LIBOR Loans shall be deemed to constitute Eurocurrency Liabilities and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D. Statutory Reserves shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

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.

Subject Lien” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.2(a).

Subordinated Indebtedness” shall mean Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Guarantor that is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the obligations of 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% 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% equity interest at the time. Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references herein to a Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

-61-


“Supported QFC” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 13.27.

Successor Borrower” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.3(a).

Super Majority Lenders” shall mean, at any time, Lenders having Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments (other than Swingline Commitments) representing more than 66.7% of the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments (other than Swingline Commitments) at such time; provided that whenever there are one or more Defaulting Lenders, the total outstanding Revolving Credit Exposures of, and the unused Revolving Credit Commitments of, each Defaulting Lender shall in each case be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Super Majority Lenders; provided further that, such Super Majority Lenders shall be constituted by at least two Lenders that are not Affiliated Institutional Lenders.

Swap Obligation” shall mean, with respect to the Borrower or any Subsidiary 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.

Swingline Commitment” shall mean $65,000,000. The Swingline Commitment is part of and not in addition to the Revolving Credit Commitment.

Swingline Exposure” shall mean at any time the aggregate principal amount at such time of all outstanding Swingline Loans. The Swingline Exposure of any Revolving Credit Lender at any time shall equal its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the aggregate Swingline Exposure at such time.

Swingline Lender” shall mean JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as lender of Swingline Loans hereunder or any replacement or successor thereto.

Swingline Loans” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.1(b).

Swingline Maturity Date” shall mean, with respect to any Swingline Loan, the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

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 Administrative Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “Administrative Agent” in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

Term Loan Credit Agreement” shall mean the Credit Agreement, dated as of the Restatement Effective Date and as amended on the Second Amendment Effective Date, among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto and the Term Loan Administrative Agent.

Term Loan Credit Documents” shall mean the Term Loan Credit Agreement and each other document executed in connection therewith or pursuant thereto.

Term Loan Facility” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

Term Loans” shall have the meaning provided to the term “Loans” in the Term Loan Credit Agreement and any modification, replacement, refinancing, refunding, renewal, or extension thereof.

Test Period” shall mean, for any determination under this Agreement, the four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower’s most recently ended on or prior to such date of determination 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 fiscal quarters at the end of which financial statements are available).

 

-62-


Texas Intermediate Holdcos” shall mean Associated Investors LLC, a Texas limited liability company, and Academy Managing Co., LLC, a Texas limited liability company.

Total Credit Exposure” shall mean, at any date, 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).

Total Revolving Credit Commitment” shall mean the sum of the Revolving Credit Commitments of all the Lenders.

Transaction Expenses shall mean any fees, costs, or expenses incurred or paid by the Borrower, or any of their 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, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the Restatement Effective Date Refinancing, the payment of the Special DividendNotes Agreement and the consummation of any other transactions in connection with the foregoing (including 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 as to any Revolving Loan, its nature as an ABR Loan or a LIBOR 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 Institutions” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.

“UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.

Uncontrolled Cash” shall mean all amounts from time to time on deposit in any Designated Disbursement Account.

Undisclosed Administration” shall mean in relation to a Lender or its parent company the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official by a supervisory authority or regulator under or based on the law in the country where such Lender or such parent company is subject to home jurisdiction supervision if applicable law requires that such appointment is not to be publicly disclosed.

Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time and time in the State of New York or, when the laws of any other jurisdiction govern the perfection or enforcement of any Lien, the Uniform Commercial Code of such jurisdiction.

Unpaid Drawing” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.4(a).

Unrestricted Subsidiary” shall mean (i) any Subsidiary of the Borrower which at the time of determination is an Unrestricted Subsidiary (as designated by the board of directors of the Borrower, as provided below) and (ii) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

-63-


The board of directors of the Borrower may designate any Subsidiary of the Borrower (including any existing Subsidiary and any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary, unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on, any property of, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower (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 the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, and

(c)    immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Event of Default under Section 11.1 or 11.5 shall have occurred and be continuing.

The board of directors of the Borrower may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Event of Default under Section 11.1 or 11.5 shall have occurred and be continuing.

Any such designation by the board of directors of the Borrower shall be notified by the Borrower 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 the Borrower certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

U.S.” and “United States” shall mean the United States of America.

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 13.27.

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 or managers (or similar governing authority) of such Person.

Weekly Borrowing Base Certificate” shall mean a certificate, signed and certified as accurate and complete by the Chief Executive Officer, President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Vice President-Finance, a Director, a Manager, or any other senior financial officer of the Borrower, in substantially the form of Exhibit N or another form which is acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion (it being agreed that each Weekly Borrowing Base Certificate will be based on the most recently delivered Borrowing Base Certificate delivered on a monthly basis updated to reflect changes in the aggregate value of Receivables of the relevant Credit Parties but with ineligibility and reserve related items reflecting those set forth in such most recent Borrowing Base Certificate).

Weekly Reporting Period” shall mean any period (a) beginning on the date that Excess Availability is less than the greater of (i) 10% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount and (ii) $60,000,000 for five consecutive Business Days, until such time as Excess Availability has been at least the greater of (i) 10% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount and (ii) $60,000,000 for at least 20 consecutive calendar days, or (b) during which a Specified Default has occurred and is continuing.

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.

 

-64-


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, and the Administrative Agent and any other applicable withholding agent.

Write-Down and Conversion Powersshall mean,means, (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule., and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.

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.

(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.

 

-65-


(b)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of determining compliance with any test or covenant contained in this Agreement with respect to any period during which any Specified Transaction occurs, the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio shall be calculated with respect to such period and such Specified Transaction on a Pro Forma Basis.

(c)    Where reference is made to “the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis” or similar language, such combination shall not include any Subsidiaries of the Borrower other than Restricted Subsidiaries.

1.4    Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower 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 Requirements of Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing, or interpreting such Requirements of Law.

1.6    Exchange Rates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of any determination under 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 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 is 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 pursuant to Section 9.1 Financials.

1.7    Rates. The Administrative Agent does not warrant, nor accept responsibility, nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to the administration, submission, or any other matter related to the rates in the definition of LIBOR Rate or with respect to any comparable or successor rate thereto.

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.

 

-66-


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    Compliance with Certain Sections. In the event that any Lien, Investment, Indebtedness (whether at the time of incurrence or upon application of all or a portion of the proceeds thereof), disposition, Restricted Payment, Affiliate transaction, Contractual Requirement, or prepayment of Indebtedness meets the criteria of one or more than one of the categories of transactions then permitted pursuant to any clause or subsection of Section 9.9 or any clause or subsection of Sections 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5 or 10.6, then such transaction (or portion thereof) at any time shall be allocated to one or more of such clauses or subsections within the relevant sections as determined by the Borrower in its sole discretion at such time.

1.12    Pro Forma and Other Calculations.

(a)    For purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio and Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations, and disposed operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP) that have been made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during the Test Period or subsequent to such Test Period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the date of determination shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations, and disposed operations (and the change in any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in Consolidated EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the Test Period. If, since the beginning of such period, any Person (that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period) shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, or disposed operation that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio and Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio shall be calculated giving Pro Forma Effect thereto for such Test Period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, or disposed operation had occurred at the beginning of the Test Period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Agreement that does not require compliance with a financial ratio or test (including, without limitation, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio and Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio) (any such amounts, including amount incurred under Consolidated EBITDA grower basket, the Fixed Amounts) substantially concurrently with any amounts Incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Agreement that requires compliance with any such financial ratio or test (any such amounts, the Incurrence Based Amounts), it is understood and agreed that the Fixed Amounts (and any cash proceeds thereof) shall be disregarded in the calculation of the financial ratio or test applicable to the Incurrence Based Amounts in connection with such substantially concurrent Incurrence. In connection with the Incurrence of any Indebtedness pursuant to Section 2.14, the definitions of Required Lenders shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis in accordance with this Section 1.12, Section 2.14 and the definition of Maximum ABL Incremental Facilities Amount; provided that any waiver, amendment or modification of the terms of this Agreement obtained as a result of such incurrence (i) will become operative only upon the incurrence of such Indebtedness; (ii) is not required in order to amend, modify or avoid a covenant Default; and (iii) does not affect the rights or duties under this Agreement of Lenders holding Loans or Commitments outstanding prior to the incurrence of such indebtedness of any then outstanding Class exclusive of the Lenders in respect of such Indebtedness to be incurred in that Class.

(b)    Whenever Pro Forma Effect is to be given to a transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Borrower (and may include, for the avoidance of doubt and without duplication, cost savings, and operating expense reductions resulting from such Investment, acquisition, merger, or consolidation which is being given Pro Forma Effect that have been or are expected to be realized; provided that such costs savings and operating expense reductions are made in compliance with the definition of Pro Forma Adjustment). 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 determination 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

 

-67-


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 the Borrower 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.

In connection with any action being taken solely in connection with a Limited Condition AcquisitionTransaction , for purposes of:

(i)    determining compliance with any provision of this Agreementthe Credit Documents which requires the calculation of the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio or the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio;

(ii)    determining the accuracy of representations and warranties in Section 8 and/or whether a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing under Section 11; or

(iii)    testing availability under baskets set forth in this Agreementthe Credit Documents (including baskets measured as a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets and the Payment Conditions baskets (including the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio as set forth therein));

in each case, at the option of the Borrower (the Borrower’s election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition AcquisitionTransaction , an “LCALCT Election”) (it being understood and agreed that the Borrower may elect to revoke any LCT Election in its sole discretion), 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 AcquisitionTransaction are entered into or such later date as the Borrower may elect (the “LCALCT Test Date”) (provided that the Borrower shall be required to make an LCA Election on or prior to the date on which the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Acquisition have been entered into), and if, after giving Pro Forma Effect to the Limited Condition AcquisitionTransaction and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrenceIncurrence 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 LCALCT Test Date (after giving effect to any increases or decrease in Indebtedness of the Borrower and Restricted Subsidiaries since such date), the Borrower could have taken such action on the relevant LCALCT Test Date in compliance with such ratio, representation, warranty, default, Event of Default or basket, such ratio, representation, warranty, default, Event of Default or or basket shall be deemed to have been complied with for purposes of such Limited Condition Acquisition. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Borrower has made an LCALCT Election and any of the ratios or baskets for which compliance was determined or tested as of the LCALCT Test Date are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in any such ratio or basket, including due to fluctuations in Consolidated EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets of the Borrower or the Person subject to such Limited Condition AcquisitionTransaction , 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 LCALCT Election for any Limited Condition AcquisitionTransaction, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratios, representations, warranties, defaults, Events of Defaultratio or basket availability with respect to the incurrence ofIncurrence 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 LCALCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of (i) the date on which such Limited Condition AcquisitionTransaction is consummated or (ii) the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition AcquisitionTransaction is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Acquisition, any such ratios, representations, warranties, defaults, Events of Default or basket availabilityTransaction, any such ratio or

 

-68-


basket shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis assuming such Limited Condition AcquisitionTransaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrenceIncurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated until such time as the Limited Condition Transaction has been consummated or the definitive agreement with respect thereto has been terminated or expires.

(c)    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 as discontinued operations, no Pro Forma Effect shall be given to any discontinued operations (and the Consolidated 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.

(d)    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.

(e)    All leases of any Person that are or would be characterized as operating leases in accordance with GAAP immediately prior to the Closing Date (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 to be recharacterized as Capital Leases.

(f)     (e) Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, all computations of Consolidated Total Assets, Available Amount, Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio, the Fixed Charge Coverage 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 the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

(f) All leases of any Person that are or would be characterized as operating leases in accordance with GAAP immediately prior to the Closing Date (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 to be recharacterized as Capital Leases.

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    LIBOR Rate Successor. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Credit Documents, if the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Borrower, determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Borrower or the Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with, in the case of the Required Lenders, a copy to Borrower) that the Borrower or the Required Lenders (as applicable) have determined, that:

(a)    adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining LIBOR for any requested Interest Period, including, without limitation, because the LIBOR Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or

(b)    the administrator of the LIBOR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which LIBOR or the LIBOR Screen Rate shall no longer be made available, or used for determining the interest rate of loans (such specific date, the “Scheduled Unavailability Date”), or

 

-69-


(c)    syndicated loans then currently being executed, or that include language similar to that contained in this Section 1.14, are being executed or amended (as applicable) to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark interest rate to replace LIBOR,

then, reasonably promptly after such determination by the Administrative Agent or receipt by the Administrative Agent of such notice, as applicable, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend this Agreement to replace LIBOR with an alternate benchmark rate (including any mathematical or other adjustments to the benchmark (if any) incorporated therein), giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar Dollar denominated syndicated credit facilities for such alternative benchmarks (any such proposed rate, a “LIBOR Successor Rate”), together with any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes and any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrower unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders do not accept such amendment.

If no LIBOR Successor Rate has been determined and the circumstances under clause (a) above exist or the Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred (as applicable), the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain LIBOR Loans shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected LIBOR Loans or Interest Periods), and (y) the Adjusted LIBOR Rate component shall no longer be utilized in determining ABR. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans (to the extent of the affected LIBOR Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of ABR Loans (subject to the foregoing clause (y)) in the amount specified therein.

Notwithstanding anything else herein, in no event shall the LIBOR Successor Rate be less than 0.75% for purposes of this Agreement.

Section 2. Amount and Terms of Credit.

2.1    Commitments.

(a)    Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Credit Loans denominated in Dollars to the Borrower from its applicable lending office (each, a “Revolving Credit Loan”) in an aggregate principal amount that shall not, after giving effect thereto and to the application of the proceeds thereof, result in (i) such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and (ii) the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures exceeding the Maximum Borrowing Amount (subject to the Administrative Agent’s authority, in its sole discretion, to make Protective Advances and Overadvances pursuant to the terms of Section 2.15), provided that any of the foregoing such Revolving Credit Loans (A) shall be made at any time and from time to time on and after the Restatement Effective Date and prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, (B) may, at the option of the Borrower be incurred and maintained as, and/or converted into, ABR Loans or LIBOR 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.

 

-70-


(b)    Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Swingline Lender is authorized by the Lenders to, and may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time on and after the Restatement Effective Date and prior to the Swingline Maturity Date, make a loan or loans (each, a “Swingline Loan” and, collectively the “Swingline Loans”) to the Borrower (provided that the Swingline Lender shall not be obligated to make any Swingline Loan), which Swingline Loans (i) shall be ABR Loans, (ii) shall have the benefit of the provisions of Section 2.1(c), (iii) shall not exceed at any time outstanding the Swingline Commitment, (iv) 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 Maximum Borrowing Amount at such time and (v) may be repaid and reborrowed in accordance with the provisions hereof. On the Swingline Maturity Date, all Swingline Loans shall be repaid in full. The Swingline Lender shall not make any Swingline Loan after receiving a written notice from Holdings, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders stating that a Default or Event of Default exists and is continuing until such time as the Swingline Lender shall have received written notice of (i) rescission of all such notices from the party or parties originally delivering such notice or (ii) the waiver of such Default or Event of Default in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.1.

(c)    On any Business Day, the Swingline Lender may, in its sole discretion, give notice to each Revolving Credit Lender that all then outstanding Swingline Loans shall be funded with a Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans (provided that, if no such notice is given by the Swingline Lender within seven days of making any Swingline Loan, notice to each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to be provided by the Swingline Lender in accordance with this Section 2.1(c)), in which case Revolving Credit Loans constituting ABR Loans shall be made on the immediately succeeding Business Day (each such Borrowing, a “Mandatory Borrowing”) by each Revolving Credit Lender pro rata based on each Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage, and the proceeds thereof shall be applied directly to the Swingline Lender to repay the Swingline Lender for such outstanding Swingline Loans. Each Revolving Credit Lender hereby irrevocably agrees to make such Revolving Credit Loans upon one Business Days’ notice pursuant to each Mandatory Borrowing in the amount and in the manner specified in the preceding sentence and on the date specified to it in writing by the Swingline Lender notwithstanding (i) that the amount of the Mandatory Borrowing may not comply with the minimum amount for each Borrowing specified in Section 2.2, (ii) whether any conditions specified in Section 7 are then satisfied, (iii) whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (iv) the date of such Mandatory Borrowing, or (v) any reduction in the Total Revolving Credit Commitment after any such Swingline Loans were made. In the event that, in the sole judgment of the Swingline Lender, any Mandatory Borrowing cannot for any reason be made on the date otherwise required above (including as a result of the commencement of a proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code in respect of the Borrower), each Revolving Credit Lender hereby agrees that it shall forthwith purchase from the Swingline Lender (without recourse or warranty) such participation of the outstanding Swingline Loans as shall be necessary to cause the Lenders to share in such Swingline Loans ratably based upon their respective Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages; provided that all principal and interest payable on such Swingline Loans shall be for the account of the Swingline Lender until the date the respective participation is purchased and, to the extent attributable to the purchased participation, shall be payable to such Lender purchasing same from and after such date of purchase.

(d)    If the maturity date shall have occurred in respect of any tranche of Revolving Credit Commitments (the “Expiring Credit Commitment”) at a time when another tranche or tranches of Revolving Credit Commitments is or are in effect with a longer maturity date (each a “Non-Expiring Credit Commitment” and collectively, the “Non-Expiring Credit Commitments”), then with respect to each outstanding Swingline Loan, if consented to by the Swingline Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), on the earliest occurring maturity date such Swingline Loan shall be deemed reallocated to the tranche or tranches of the Non-Expiring Credit Commitments on a pro rata basis; provided that (x) to the extent that the amount of such reallocation would cause the aggregate credit exposure to exceed the aggregate amount of such Non-Expiring Credit Commitments, immediately prior to such reallocation the amount of Swingline Loans to be reallocated equal to such excess shall be repaid or Cash Collateralized and (y) notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower shall still be obligated to pay Swingline Loans allocated to the Revolving Credit Lenders holding the Expiring Credit Commitments at the maturity date of the Expiring Credit Commitment or if the Loans have been accelerated prior to the maturity date of the Expiring Credit Commitment. Upon the maturity date of any tranche of Revolving Credit Commitments, the sublimit for Swingline Loans may be reduced as agreed between the Swingline Lender and the Borrower, without the consent of any other Person.

 

-71-


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 in excess thereof and Swingline Loans shall be in a minimum amount of $50,000 and in a multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof (except that Mandatory Borrowings shall be made in the amounts required by Section 2.1(c) and Revolving Credit Loans to reimburse the Letter of Credit Issuer with respect to any Unpaid Drawing shall be made in the amounts required by Section 3.3 or Section 3.4, as applicable). More than one Borrowing may be incurred on any date; provided that at no time shall there be outstanding more than ten Borrowings of LIBOR Loans under this Agreement.

2.3    Notice of Borrowing.

(a)    Whenever the Borrower desires to incur Revolving Credit Loans (other than Mandatory Borrowings or Borrowings to repay Unpaid Drawings), the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office, (i) prior to 12:00 noon (New York City time) at least two Business Days’ prior written notice (or if an Extenuating Circumstance shall exist, by telephone) of each Borrowing of LIBOR Loans that are Revolving Credit Loans and (ii) prior to 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the day of such Borrowing prior written notice (a Notice of Borrowing) of each Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans that are ABR Loans. Each such notice (a “telephonic Notice of Borrowing”),, if permitted, shall be confirmed immediately upon the cessation of the Extenuating Circumstance by hand delivery, facsimile or a communication through electronic system as provided in Section 13.2 to the Administrative Agent of a written Notice of Borrowing in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and shall be signed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower and subject to Section 2.10, and, except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 2.10, shall specify (A) the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans to be made pursuant to such Borrowing, (B) the date of Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day) and (C) whether the respective Borrowing shall consist of ABR Loans or LIBOR Loans that are Revolving Credit Loans and, if LIBOR Loans that are Revolving Credit Loans, the Interest Period to be initially applicable thereto. 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.

(b)    Whenever the Borrower desires to incur Swingline Loans hereunder, the Borrower shall give the Swingline Lender written notice (or if an Extenuating Circumstance shall exist, by telephone) with a copy to the Administrative Agent of each Borrowing of Swingline Loans prior to 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date of such Borrowing. Each such telephonic Notice of Borrowing, if permitted, shall be confirmed immediately upon the cessation of the Extenuating Circumstance by hand delivery, facsimile or a communication through electronic system as provided in Section 13.2 to the Administrative Agent of a written notice that shall be in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and shall specify (x) the aggregate principal amount of the Swingline Loans to be made pursuant to such Borrowing and (y) the date of Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day).

(c)    Mandatory Borrowings shall be made upon the notice specified in Section 2.1(c), with the Borrower irrevocably agreeing, by its incurrence of any Swingline Loan, to the making of Mandatory Borrowings as set forth in such Section.

(d)    Borrowings to reimburse Unpaid Drawings shall be made upon the notice specified in Section 3.4(a).

(e)    Without in any way limiting the obligation of the Borrower to confirm in writing any notice it 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 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 (including Mandatory Borrowings), 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 RestatementAmendment No.

 

-72-


2 Effective Date, such funds may be made available at such earlier time as may be agreed among the Lenders, the Borrower, and the Administrative Agent for the purpose of consummating the Transactions; provided, further, that all Swingline Loans shall be made available to the Borrower in the full amount thereof by the Swingline Lender no later than 4:00 p.m. (New York City time).

(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 Mandatory Borrowings and Borrowings to repay Unpaid Drawings) make available to the Borrower, by depositing to an account designated by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent the aggregate of the amounts so made available in Dollars. 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 NYFRB 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 Maturity Date, the then outstanding Revolving Credit Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Incremental Lenders, on each Incremental Revolving Credit Maturity Date, the then outstanding amount of Incremental Revolving Credit Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Swingline Lender, on the Swingline Maturity Date, the then outstanding Swingline Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent, on the earlier of the Maturity Date and demand by the Administrative Agent, the then outstanding Protective Advances.

(b)    At all times after the commencement and during the continuance of a Cash Dominion Period, and notification thereof by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (subject to the provisions of Section 9.16(b)), on each Business Day, at or before 1:00 p.m. (New York time), the Administrative Agent shall apply all immediately available funds credited on behalf of the Borrower to a Payment Account or such other account directed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to 9.16 in accordance with Section 11.13 (except (A) clause (i) thereof and (B) to Secured Cash Management Obligations and Secured Hedge Obligations).

(c)    In the event that any Incremental Revolving Credit Loans are made, such Incremental Revolving Credit Loans shall, subject to Section 2.14, be repaid by the Borrower in the amounts and on the dates set forth in the applicable Incremental Facility 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.

 

-73-


(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 a Revolving Credit Loan, Incremental Revolving Credit Loan or Swingline Loan, the Type of each Loan made 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, the Administrative Agent or the Swingline Lender 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.

(g)    The Borrower hereby agrees that, upon request of any Lender at any time and from time to time after the Borrower has 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 G, evidencing the Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans 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 order of 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 at least $5,000,000 of the outstanding principal amount of Revolving 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 LIBOR Loans as LIBOR Loans for an additional Interest Period; provided that (i) no partial conversion of LIBOR Loans shall reduce the outstanding principal amount of LIBOR Loans made pursuant to a single Borrowing to less than the Minimum Borrowing Amount, (ii) ABR Loans may not be converted into LIBOR 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) LIBOR Loans may not be continued as LIBOR Loans 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 prior written notice (or if an Extenuating Circumstance shall exist, by telephone) 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 LIBOR Loans (other than in the case of a notice delivered on the Restatement Effective Date, which shall be deemed to be effective on the Restatement Effective Date), or (ii) 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the proposed day 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 LIBOR Loans, the Interest Period to be initially applicable thereto. Each such telephonic Notice of Conversion or Continuation shall be, if permitted, shall be confirmed immediately upon the cessation of the Extenuating Circumstance by hand delivery, electronic system as provided in Section 13.2 or facsimile to the Administrative Agent of a written Notice of Conversion or Continuation in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower and subject to Section 2.10. If no Interest Period is specified in any such notice

 

-74-


with respect to any conversion to or continuation as a LIBOR 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 LIBOR Loans denominated in Dollars and the Administrative Agent has or the Required Lenders have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such continuation, such LIBOR 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 LIBOR Loans, the Borrower has failed to elect a new Interest Period to be applicable thereto as provided in clause (a), the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to convert such Borrowing of LIBOR Loans into a Borrowing of ABR Loans, effective as of the expiration date of such current Interest Period.

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 Revolving Credit Loans under this Agreement shall be made by the Revolving Credit Lenders pro rata on the basis of their then-applicable Incremental 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.

(b)    The unpaid principal amount of each LIBOR 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 LIBOR Loans plus the relevant Adjusted LIBOR Rate.

(c)    If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, 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% 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 Dollars; 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 first Business Day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, (ii) in respect of each LIBOR 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 and (iii) 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.

(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 LIBOR 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.

 

-75-


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 LIBOR 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, two, three or six month period (or if approved by all the Lenders making such LIBOR 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 LIBOR 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 LIBOR Loans begins on the last Business Day 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 LIBOR 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 preceding Business Day; and

(d)    the Borrower shall not be entitled to elect any Interest Period in respect of any LIBOR Loan if such Interest Period would extend beyond the Maturity Date of such Loan.

2.10    Increased Costs, Illegality, Etc.

(a)    In the event that (x) in the case of clause (i) below, the Administrative Agent and (y) in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) below, the Required Lenders or the Letter of Credit Issuers shall have reasonably determined (which determination shall, absent clearly demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto):

(i)    on any date for determining the Adjusted LIBOR Rate for any Interest Period that (x) deposits in the principal amounts and currencies of the Loans comprising such LIBOR Borrowing are not generally available in the relevant market or (y) by reason of any changes arising on or after the Restatement Effective Date affecting the interbank LIBOR market, adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining the applicable interest rate on the basis provided for in the definition of Adjusted LIBOR Rate; or

(a) If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a LIBOR Loan:

(i) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBOR Rate or the LIBOR Rate, as applicable (including, without limitation, by means of an Interpolated Rate or because the LIBOR Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis) for such Interest Period; or

(ii)    the Required Lenders or Issuing Bank reasonably determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error)at any time, that such Lenders or Issuing Banksuch Letter of Credit Issuers shall incur increased costs or reductions in the amounts received or receivable hereunder with respect to any LIBOR Loans or Letters of Credit (including the issuance orand maintenance of thereof or participating therein or an agreement to issue or maintain a Letter of Credit or

 

-76-


participate therein) (including any increased costs or reductions attributableother than with respect to Taxes, other than any increase or reduction attributable to Indemnified Taxes, Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes) because of any Change in Law; or

(iii)    the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBOR Rate or the LIBOR Rate, as applicable, for 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 such Interest Period;that a Change in Law shall subject any such Lenders or Letter of Credit Issuers to any Tax (other than (1) Indemnified Taxes, (2) Excluded Taxes or (3) Other Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or

(iv)    at any time, that the making or continuance of any LIBOR Loan has become unlawful by compliance by such Lenders in good faith with any law, governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order (or would conflict with any such governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order not having the force of law even though the failure to comply therewith would not be unlawful), or has become impracticable as a result of a contingency occurring after the Restatement Effective Date that materially and adversely affects the interbank LIBOR market;

then the Administrative Agent (or the(such Loans, Impacted Loans), then, and in any such event, such Required Lenders or Issuing BankLetter of Credit Issuers (or the Administrative Agent, in the case of clause  (iii ) above, as applicable) shall within a reasonable time thereafter give notice thereof(if by telephone, confirmed in writing) to the Borrower and the Lenders through electronic system as provided in Section 13.2 as promptly as practicable thereafter and, untilto the Administrative Agent of such determination (which notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to each of the other Lenders). Thereafter (x) in the case of clause (i) above, LIBOR Loans shall no longer be available until such time as the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders (or Issuing BankLetter of Credit Issuers in the case of clause (ii) above) that the circumstances giving rise to such notice by the Administrative Agent no longer exist, (A) any Noticewhich notice the Administrative Agent agrees to give at such time when such circumstances no longer exist), and any Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion or Continuation that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a LIBOR Loan shall be ineffective and any such LIBOR Loan shall be repaid or converted into an ABR Loan on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto, (B) if any Notice of Borrowing requests a LIBOR Loan, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Loan and (Cgiven by the Borrower with respect to LIBOR Loans that have not yet been incurred shall be deemed rescinded by the Borrower, (y) in the case of clause (ii) above, the Borrower shall pay to such Lenders or Issuing BankLetter of Credit Issuers, promptly after receipt of written demand therefor such additional amounts (in the form of an increased rate of, or a different method of calculating, interest or otherwise as such Required Lenders or Issuing Bank in itssuch or Letter of Credit Issuers in their reasonable discretion shall determine) as shall be required to compensate such Lenders or Issuing BankLetter of Credit Issuers for such actual increased costs or reductions in amounts receivable hereunder (it being agreed that a written notice as to the additional amounts owed to any such Lenders or Issuing Banksuch Letter of Credit Issuers, showing in reasonable detail the basis for the calculation thereof, submitted to the Borrower by such Lenders or Issuing Banksuch Letter of Credit Issuers shall, absent clearly demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto), and (z) in the case of clause (iv) above, the Borrower shall take one of the actions specified in subclause (x) or (y), as applicable, of Section 2.10(b) promptly and, in any event, within the time period required by law.

(b) If any Lender determines that any Change in Law has made it unlawful, or if any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable lending office to make, maintain, fund or continue any LIBOR Loan, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligations of such Lender to make, maintain, fund or continue LIBOR Loans or to convert ABR Loans to LIBOR Loans will be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower will upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), either convert or prepay all

 

-77-


LIBOR Loans of such Lender to ABR Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Loans. Upon any such conversion or prepayment, the Borrower will also pay accrued interest on the amount so converted or prepaid.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Administrative Agent has made the determination described in Section 2.10(a)(i)(x), the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Borrower and the affected Lenders, may establish an alternative interest rate for the Impacted Loans, in which case, such alternative rate of interest shall apply with respect to the Impacted Loans until (1) the Administrative Agent revokes the notice delivered with respect to the Impacted Loans under clause (x) of the first sentence of the immediately preceding paragraph, (2) the Administrative Agent or the affected Lenders notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that such alternative interest rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding the Impacted Loans, or (3) any Lender determines that any law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for such Lender or its applicable lending office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to such alternative rate of interest or to determine or charge interest rates based upon such rate or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to do any of the foregoing and provides the Administrative Agent and the Borrower written notice thereof.

(b)    At any time that any LIBOR Loan is affected by the circumstances described in Section 2.10(a)(ii) or (iv), the Borrower may (and in the case of a LIBOR Loan affected pursuant to Section 2.10(a)(iv) shall) either (x) if a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion or Continuation with respect to the affected LIBOR Loan has been submitted pursuant to Section 2.3 but the affected LIBOR Loan has not been funded or continued, cancel such requested Borrowing by giving the Administrative Agent written notice thereof on the same date that the Borrower was notified by Lenders pursuant to Section 2.10(a)(ii) or (iv) or (y) if the affected LIBOR Loan is then outstanding, upon at least three Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent, require the affected Lender to convert each such LIBOR Loan into an ABR Loan; provided that if more than one Lender is affected at any time, then all affected Lenders must be treated in the same manner pursuant to this Section 2.10(b).

(c)    If, after the Restatement Effective Date, any Change in Law relating to capital adequacy or liquidity of any Lender or Issuing BankLetter of Credit Issuer or compliance by any Lender or Issuing BankLetter of Credit Issuer or its parent with any Change in Law relating to capital adequacy or liquidity occurring after the Restatement Effective Date, has or would have the effect of reducing the actual rate of return on such Lender’s (or Issuing Bank’s) or itsLetter of Credit Issuers or their respective parent’s or its Affiliate’s capital or assets as a consequence of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’sLetter of Credit Issuers commitments or obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Lender or Issuing Bank or itsLetter of Credit Issuer or their respective parent or its Affiliate could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s (or Issuing Bank’s) or itsLetter of Credit Issuers or their respective parent’s policies with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity), then from time to time, promptly after written demand by such Lender or Issuing BankLetter of Credit Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender or Issuing BankLetter of Credit Issuer such actual additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or Issuing BankLetter of Credit Issuer or its parent for such actual reduction, it being understood and agreed, however, that a Lender or Issuing BankLetter of Credit Issuer shall not be entitled to such compensation as a result of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’sLetter of Credit Issuers compliance with, or pursuant to any request or directive to comply with, any law, rule or regulation as in effect on the Restatement Effective Date or to the extent such Lender or Letter of Credit Issuer 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 and Issuing BankLetter of Credit Issuer, upon determining in good faith that any additional amounts will be payable pursuant to this Section 2.10(c), 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(c) promptly following receipt of such notice.

 

-78-


(d) If at any time the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Borrower, determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that (i) the circumstances set forth in clause (a)(i) have arisen and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary or (ii) the circumstances set forth in clause (a)(i) have not arisen but either (w) the supervisor for the administrator of the LIBOR Screen Rate has made a public statement that the administrator of the LIBOR Screen Rate is insolvent (and there is no successor administrator that will continue publication of the LIBOR Screen Rate), (x) the administrator of the LIBOR Screen Rate has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which the LIBOR Screen Rate will permanently or indefinitely cease to be published by it (and there is no successor administrator that will continue publication of the LIBOR Screen Rate), (y) the supervisor for the administrator of the LIBOR Screen Rate has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which the LIBOR Screen Rate will permanently or indefinitely cease to be published or (z) the supervisor for the administrator of the LIBOR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which the LIBOR Screen Rate may no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans, then the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall endeavor to establish an alternate rate of interest to the LIBOR Rate that gives due consideration to the then prevailing market convention for determining a rate of interest for syndicated loans in the United States at such time, and shall enter into an amendment to this Agreement to reflect such alternate rate of interest and such other related changes to this Agreement as may be applicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 13.2, such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement so long as the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five Business Days of the date notice of such alternate rate of interest is provided to the Lenders, a written notice from the Required Lenders of each Class stating that such Required Lenders object to such amendment. Until an alternate rate of interest shall be determined in accordance with this clause (d) (but, in the case of the circumstances described in clause (ii) of the first sentence of this Section 2.10(d), only to the extent the LIBOR Screen Rate for such Interest Period is not available or published at such time on a current basis), (x) any Notice of Conversion or Continuation that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a LIBOR Loan shall be ineffective, and (y) if any Notice of Borrowing requests a LIBOR Loan, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Loan; provided that, if such alternate rate of interest shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.

(d)     If the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBOR Rate determined or to be determined for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (as certified by such Lenders) of making or maintaining their affected LIBOR Loans during such Interest Period, the Administrative Agent shall give telecopy or telephonic notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders as soon as practicable thereafter (which notice shall include supporting calculations in reasonable detail). If such notice is given, (i) any LIBOR Loan requested to be made on the first day of such Interest Period shall be made an ABR Loan, (ii) any Loans that were to have been converted on the first day of such Interest Period to LIBOR Loans shall be continued as an ABR Loan and (iii) any outstanding LIBOR Loans shall be converted, on the first day of such Interest Period, to ABR Loans. Until such notice has been withdrawn by the Administrative Agent, no further LIBOR Loans shall be made or continued as such, nor shall the Borrower have the right to convert ABR Loans to LIBOR Loans.

2.11    Compensation. If (a) any payment of principal of any LIBOR 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 LIBOR 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 LIBOR Loans is not made as a result of a withdrawn Notice of Borrowing or a failure to satisfy borrowing conditions, (c) any ABR Loan is not converted into a LIBOR Loan as a result of a withdrawn Notice of Conversion or Continuation, (d) any LIBOR Loan is not continued as a LIBOR 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 LIBOR 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

 

-79-


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 LIBOR 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. The obligations of the Borrower under this Section 2.11 shall survive the payment in full of the Loans and the termination of this Agreement.

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, 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 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 or 3.5 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 or 3.5, 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)    At any time and from time to time after the Restatement Effective Date, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may, by notice to the Administrative Agent (whereupon the Administrative Agent shall promptly make available to each of the Lenders), request to effect one or more increases in the Revolving Credit Commitments (or, solely to the extent set forth in Section 2.14(d) below, provide commitments under a new facility constituting a Last Out Tranche) (an “Incremental Commitment”) from one or more Incremental Lenders; provided that (A) at the time of each such request and upon the effectiveness of each Incremental Facility Amendment, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (except in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or any other Investment not prohibited by the terms of this Agreement, which shall be subject to no continuing Event of Default under Section 11.1 or 11.5) or shall result therefrom, (B) the arrangement, upfront or similar fees in respect of such Incremental Commitment and the extensions of credit thereunder shall be determined by the Borrower and the applicable Incremental Lenders; provided that, except with respect to any Last Out Tranche under Section 2.14(d) below, the Applicable Margins and Commitment Fees hereunder shall be increased if necessary to be consistent with that for such Incremental Commitment, and (C) except as set forth in clause (B) above or, with respect to any Last Out Tranche under Section 2.14(d) below, any Incremental Commitment shall be on the same terms and pursuant to the same documentation applicable to the existing Revolving Credit Commitments hereunder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the aggregate principal amount of all Incremental Commitments plus the Total Revolving Credit Commitment shall not exceed $1,250,000,000 (the “Maximum ABL Incremental Facilities Amount”). Each Incremental Commitment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $10,000,000 and integral multiples of $5,000,000 in excess thereof (unless the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise agree); provided that such amount may be less than $10,000,000 if such amount represents all the remaining availability under the aggregate principal amount of Incremental Commitments set forth above.

(b)    (i) Each notice from the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall set forth the requested amount of the relevant Incremental Commitments.

(ii)    Any Incremental Commitments shall become Commitments under this Agreement pursuant to an amendment (an “Incremental Facility Amendment”) to this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Credit

 

-80-


Documents executed by the Borrower, such applicable Incremental Lenders and the Administrative Agent. Incremental Commitments shall be provided by Incremental Lenders (including any existing Lender (it being understood that no existing Lender shall have any right to participate in any Incremental Commitments or, unless it agrees, be obligated to provide any Incremental Commitments)); provided that each Incremental Lender (except in respect of a Last Out Tranche) (other than any Person that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender) shall be subject to the written consent of the Administrative Agent, each Letter of Credit Issuer, the Swingline Lender and the Borrower (such approval in each case not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). An Incremental Facility Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to any Credit Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, to (x) effect the provisions of this Section and/or (y) so long as such amendments are not, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, materially adverse to the Lenders, maintain the “fungibility” of any such Incremental Commitments with any tranche of then outstanding Loans and or Commitments hereunder.

(c)    Any Revolving Loan made pursuant to an Incremental Commitment shall be a “Revolving Loan” for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents

(d)    Any Incremental Commitment may be in the form of a separate “last-out” tranche (the “Last Out Tranche”) with interest rate margins, rate floors, upfront fees, funding discounts and original issue discounts and advance rates, in each case to be agreed upon (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not require any adjustment to the Applicable Margin or other Loans) among the Borrower and the Incremental Lenders providing the Last Out Tranche so long as (1) any loans and related obligations in respect of the Last Out Tranche are not be guaranteed by any Person other than the Guarantors and are not secured by any assets other than Collateral; (2) as between (x) the Revolving Loans (other than the Last Out Tranche), LC Obligations, the Noticed Cash Management Obligations and the Noticed Hedges and (y) the Last Out Tranche, all proceeds from the liquidation or other realization of the Collateral (including ABL Priority Collateral) or application of funds under Section 11.13 shall be applied, first to obligations owing under, or with respect to, the Revolving Loans (other than the Last Out Tranche), the LC Obligations, the Noticed Cash Management Obligations and the Noticed Hedges, and second to the Last Out Tranche; (3) the Borrower may not prepay Revolving Loans under the Last Out Tranche or terminate or reduce the commitments in respect thereof at any time that other Revolving Loans (including Swingline Loans) and/or amounts owed in respect of Letters of Credit (unless cash collateralized or otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) are outstanding; (4) the Required Lenders(not including holders of the Last Out Tranche until all Revolving Loans, LC obligations, Noticed Cash Management Obligations and Noticed Hedges are paid in full) shall, subject to the terms of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, exercise control of remedies in respect of the Collateral; (5) no changes affecting the priority status of the Revolving Loans (other than the Last Out Tranche), the LC Obligations, the Noticed Cash Management Obligations and the Noticed Hedges vis-à-vis the Last Out Tranche may be made without the consent of each of the Revolving Credit Lenders (other than the Revolving Credit Lenders under Last Out Tranche), (6) the final maturity of any Last Out Tranche shall not occur, and no Last Out Tranche shall require mandatory commitment reductions prior to, the Latest Maturity Date at such time and (7) except as otherwise set forth in this Section 2.14(d), the terms of any Last Out Tranche are not materially less favorable to the Borrower than those hereunder (including, without limitation, the inclusion of any additional financial or other material covenant without the consent of the Administrative Agent).

(e)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, this Section 2.14 shall supersede any provisions in Section 13.1 or Section 13.20 to the contrary.

2.15    Protective Advances and Overadvances.

(a)    Subject to the limitations set forth below, the Administrative Agent is authorized by the Borrower and the Lenders, from time to time in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent (but, in any such case, none of them shall have absolutely any obligation to) to make Loans in Dollars to the Borrower on behalf of the Revolving Credit Lenders (each such Loan, a “Protective Advance”), which the Administrative Agent, in its Permitted Discretion, deems necessary or desirable (A) to preserve or protect the Collateral, or any portion thereof, (B) to enhance the likelihood of, or maximize the amount of, repayment of the Loans and other Obligations, or (C) to pay any other amount chargeable to or required to be paid by the applicable Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including payments of reimbursable expenses (including costs, fees, and expenses as described in

 

-81-


Section 13.5) and other sums payable under the Credit Documents; provided that (1) the aggregate amount of outstanding Protective Advances (taken together with Overadvances under Section 2.15(c)) shall not, at any time, exceed (x) 10% of the Borrowing Base as determined on the date of such proposed Protective Advance or (y) when added to the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of all the Revolving Credit Lenders, the aggregate Commitments. Protective Advances may be made even if the conditions precedent set forth in Section 7 have not been satisfied. All Protective Advances shall be ABR Loans. The Administrative Agent’s authorization to make Protective Advances may be revoked at any time by the Required Lenders. Any such revocation must be in writing and shall become effective prospectively upon the Administrative Agent’s receipt thereof. At any time that the conditions precedent set forth in Section 7 have been satisfied, the Administrative Agent may request the Revolving Credit Lenders to make a Revolving Credit Loan to repay a Protective Advance. At any other time the Administrative Agent may require the Lenders to fund, in Dollars, their risk participation described in Section 2.15(c).

(b)    Upon the making of a Protective Advance (whether before or after the occurrence of a Default) by the Administrative Agent, each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed, without further action by any party hereto, to have unconditionally and irrevocably purchased from the Administrative Agent, without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation in such Protective Advance, on a pro rata basis with each other Revolving Credit Lender. From and after the date, if any, on which any Lender is required to fund its participation in any Protective Advance purchased hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to such Lender, on a pro rata basis with each other Revolving Credit Lender, all payments of principal and interest and all proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent in respect of such Protective Advance.

(c)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Section 2.15 or this Agreement or the other Credit Documents and whether or not a Default or Event of Default exists at the time, the Administrative Agent may require the Revolving Credit Lenders to honor requests or deemed requests by the Borrower for Revolving Loans at a time that an Overadvance Condition exists or which would result in an Overadvance Condition and each relevant Lender shall be obligated to continue to make its pro rata share of any such Overadvance Loan up to a maximum amount outstanding equal to its Revolving Credit Commitment at such time, so long as the aggregate amount of such Overadvances (taken together with Protective Advances under Section 2.15(a)) shall not, at any time, exceed 10% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount, but in no event shall such Overadvance exist for more than thirty (30) consecutive Business Days or more than forty-five (45) Business Days in any twelve calendar month period; provided, that (i) the aggregate amount of outstanding Overadvances plus any Protective Advances described in Section 2.15(a) plus the aggregate of all other Revolving Credit Exposures shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Commitments and (ii) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender. The Administrative Agent’s authorization to require Revolving Credit Lenders to honor requests or deemed requests for Overadvance Loans may be revoked at any time by the Required Lenders.

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 Requirements of 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.

(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 or Swingline Lender 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

 

-82-


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 or Swingline Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower, any Lender, the Letter of Credit Issuer or Swingline Lender 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 and Swingline Loans 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 and Swingline Loans 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. 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.

 

-83-


(v)    Cash Collateral, Repayment of Swingline Loans. 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, (x) first, prepay Swingline Loans in an amount equal to the Swingline Lender’s Fronting Exposure and (y) second, 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, the Swingline Lender, 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 and Swingline Loans 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.

2.17    Reserves; Change in Reserves; Decisions by Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any time and from time to time in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion establish and increase or decrease Reserves; provided that, as a condition to the establishment of any new category of Reserves, or any increase in Reserves resulting from a change in the manner of determination thereof, any Required Reserve Notice shall have been given to the Borrower; provided, however, that no such Required Reserve Notice shall be required for changes to any Reserves resulting solely by virtue of mathematical calculations of the amount of the Reserve in accordance with the methodology of calculations previously utilized; provided, further, that circumstances, conditions, events or contingencies existing or arising prior to the Restatement Effective Date and, in each case, disclosed in writing in any field examination delivered to the Administrative Agent in connection therewith or otherwise known to the Administrative Agent, in either case, prior to the Restatement Effective Date, shall not be the basis for any establishment of any Reserves after the Restatement Effective Date, unless such circumstances, conditions, events or contingencies shall have changed in a material respect since the Restatement Effective Date. Upon delivery of such notice, the Administrative Agent shall be available to discuss the proposed Reserve or increase, and the Borrower may take such action as may be required so that the event, condition or matter that is the basis for such Reserve or increase no longer exists, in a manner and to the extent reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion. In no event shall such notice and opportunity limit the right of the Administrative Agent to establish or change such Reserve, unless the Administrative Agent shall have determined in its Permitted Discretion that the event, condition or other matter that is the basis for such new Reserve or such change no longer exists or has otherwise been adequately addressed by the Borrower. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Reserves shall not duplicate eligibility criteria contained in the definition of “Eligible Credit Card Receivables” or “Eligible Inventory” and vice versa.

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 Restatement Effective Date and prior to the L/C Facility Maturity Date, each 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 Restatement Effective Date through the L/C Facility Maturity Date for the account of the Borrower (or, so long as a Borrower is the primary obligor and a signatory to the Letter of Credit Request, 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”), which Letters of Credit shall not exceed any such Letter of Credit Issuer’s Letter of Credit Commitment and in the aggregate shall not exceed the L/C Sublimit, in such form as may be approved by the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer in its reasonable discretion.

 

-84-


(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 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; (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; (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 a Letter of Credit Issuer after it has received a written notice from any Credit Party or the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders stating that a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing until such time as such 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.

(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, (i) on any day, to 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) or (ii) on any day, to increase the applicable Letter of Credit Commitment of any Letter of Credit Issuer, so long as the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer agrees to increase its Letter of Credit Commitment in writing.

(d)    [Reserved].

(e)    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 any such Letter of Credit Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any law applicable to such Letter of Credit Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such Letter of Credit Issuer shall prohibit, or request that such Letter of Credit Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such Letter of Credit Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (in each case, for which such Letter of Credit Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Restatement Effective Date, or shall impose upon such Letter of Credit Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Restatement Effective Date and which such 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 such Letter of Credit Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;

(iii)    except as otherwise agreed by the applicable 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;

(v)    such Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of the Stated Amount after any drawing thereunder; or

 

-85-


(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 have entered into arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer to eliminate such 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.

(f)    The Letter of Credit Issuer shall not increase the Stated Amount of any Letter of Credit if any such 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.

(g)    The Letter of Credit Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) any such 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.

(h)    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.

(i)    The parties hereto agree that the Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to be Letters of Credit for all purposes under this Agreement, without any further action by the Borrowers, the Letter of Credit Issuer or any other Person.

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; (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 Section 6 (solely with respect to any Letter of Credit issued on the Restatement Effective Date) and Section 7 shall not then be satisfied to the extent

 

-86-


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 another 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.

(e)    Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit (including any Existing 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 applicable Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment. On the last Business Day of each month, each Letter of Credit Issuer shall provide the Administrative Agent a list of all Letters of Credit (including any Existing Letter 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, 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.

 

-87-


(c)    In the event that the Letter of Credit Issuer makes any payment under any Letter of Credit issued by it and the applicable 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 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 NYFRB 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.

(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 NYFRB 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 3.20 (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 NYFRB 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 the Applicable Margin for

 

-88-


ABR Loans that are Revolving Credit Loans plus the ABR 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 12:00 noon (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 2:00 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. In the event that the Borrower fail 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 applicable 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 other Restricted Subsidiary) or any waiver by the Letter of Credit Issuer which does not in fact materially prejudice the Borrower (or Holdings or other 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;

 

-89-


(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 other Restricted Subsidiary) (other than the defense of payment or performance).

(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 Restatement Effective 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 Restatement Effective 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 a Borrower (or Holdings or other Restricted Subsidiary))), such 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 Restatement Effective 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. The obligations of the Borrower under this Section 3.5 shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

-90-


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 who agree to so act 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. 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 agree 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 Lenders; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined in the final non-appealable

 

-91-


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 a Letter of Credit Issuer, and a 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 such Letter of Credit Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or such 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.

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 grant 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), together with related fees, costs and customary processing charges 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.

 

-92-


(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 applicable Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued (including any such agreement applicable to an Existing Letter of Credit), (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.

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 other Restricted Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of Holdings and the other 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.

 

-93-


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 “Commitment Fee”) for each day from the Restatement Effective Date to the Revolving Credit Termination Date. Each Commitment Fee shall be payable (x) quarterly in arrears on the first day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower (for the quarterly period (or portion thereof) ended on the day prior to 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 a rate per annum equal to the Commitment Fee Rate in effect on such day 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 other 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 (i) in the case of any Letter of Credit (other than a Commercial Letter of Credit), the Applicable Margin for Revolving Credit Loans that are LIBOR Loans less the Fronting Fee set forth in clause (d) below and (ii) in the case of any Commercial Letter of Credit, 1.00%. Except as provided below, such Letter of Credit Fees shall be due and payable (x) quarterly in arrears on the first 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 agree to pay to the Letter of Credit Issuer a fee in Dollars in respect of each Letter of Credit issued by it to the Borrower (the “Fronting Fee”) (i) with respect to each commercial Letter of Credit, at the rate of 0.125%, computed on the amount of such Letter of Credit, and (ii) with respect to each standby Letter of Credit, 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 first 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.

(e)    Without duplication, the Borrower agree 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 standard fees, costs, and other processing chargecharges 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 Incremental Commitments pursuant to Section 2.14(a), the Revolving Credit Commitments of any one or more Lenders providing any such Incremental 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

 

-94-


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(a) of Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Credit Loans into Incremental Commitments and Incremental Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section 2.14(a) 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 Section 4.2(a) shall be in the amount of at least $5,000,000, 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)    The Revolving Credit Commitment shall terminate at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

(b)    The Swingline Commitment shall terminate at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Swingline Maturity Date.

Section 5.    Payments

5.1    Voluntary Prepayments.

(a)    The Borrower shall have the right to prepay Loans, including Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans, 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 LIBOR 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 LIBOR Loans, three Business Days prior to, (ii) in the case of ABR Loans (other than Swingline Loans), one Business Day prior to, or (iii) in the case of Swingline Loans, on, the date of such prepayment and shall promptly be transmitted by the Administrative Agent to each of the Lenders or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be; (2) each partial prepayment of (i) any Borrowing of LIBOR Loans shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 and in multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (ii) any ABR Loans (other than Swingline Loans) shall be in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 and in multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof, and (iii) Swingline Loans shall be in a minimum amount of $500,000 and in multiplies of $100,000 in excess thereof; provided that no partial prepayment of LIBOR Loans made pursuant to a single Borrowing shall reduce the outstanding LIBOR Loans made pursuant to such Borrowing to an amount less than the applicable Minimum Borrowing Amount for such LIBOR Loans, and (3) in the case of any prepayment of LIBOR 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. At the Borrower’s election in connection with any prepayment pursuant to this Section 5.1, such prepayment shall not be applied to any Revolving Credit Loan of a Defaulting Lender.

5.2    Mandatory Prepayments.

(a)    [Reserved].

(b)    Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans. Except for Protective Advances and Overadvance Loans permitted under Section 2.15, if at any time on any date the aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Credit Exposures in respect of any Class of Revolving Loans for any reason exceeds the Maximum Borrowing Amount, at such time, 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.

 

-95-


(c)    [Reserved].

(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.

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 in the case of the Swingline Loans, to the Swingline Lender) or the Letter of Credit Issuer entitled thereto, as the case may be, not later than 12:00 noon (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 (or, in the case of the Swingline Loans, at such office as the Swingline Lender 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 and all other payments under each Credit Document shall, unless otherwise specified in such Credit Document, be made in Dollars. The Administrative Agent will thereafter cause to be distributed on the same day (if payment was actually received by the Administrative Agent prior to 12:00 noon (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 12:00 noon (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 (or, in the case of Swingline Loans, at the Swingline Lender’s sole discretion). 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 applicable Withholding Agent shall be required by applicable law to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment under any Credit Document, 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,

 

-96-


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 indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 15 days after receipt of written 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 or paid 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. Any resulting refund shall be governed by Section 5.4(f).

(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 to 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, or to enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to comply with any withholding or information reporting requirements. 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 Restatement Effective 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) promptly 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. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to deliver to the Borrower and to any successor Administrative Agent any documentation provided to the Administrative Agent

 

-97-


pursuant to this Section 5.4(e). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding three sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in paragraphs (e)(ii)(A), (ii)(B)(1) through (ii)(B)(4), (ii)(C) and (ii)(D) of this Section 5.4(e)) shall not be required if in the Lenders reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

(ii)    Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

(A)    any Lender that is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) two executed originalscopies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding and 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 shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) two copies of whichever of the following is applicable:

(1)    executed originalscopies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E (or any applicable successor form) claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party;

(2)    executed originalscopies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or any successor form thereto);

(3)    in the case of a Non-U.S. 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, J-2, J-3 or J-4, as applicable, (a Non-Bank Tax Certificate), 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 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” 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 and (y) executed originalscopies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E (or any applicable successor form);

(4)    where such Non-U.S. 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), executed originalscopies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY (or any successor thereto) and all required 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)) (provided that, if the Non-U.S. Lender is a partnership and not a participating Lender, the Non-Bank Tax Certificate(s) may be provided by the Non-U.S. Lender on behalf of aeach direct or indirect partner); or

(5)    executed originalscopies of any other form prescribed by applicable laws as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United StatesU.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;

 

-98-


(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 Lendereach 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 and, 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 an applicable Form W-8 (together with any required accompanying documentation) 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.

(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. 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 authorityGovernmental Authority (provided that the Administrative Agent or such Lender may delete any information therein that it reasonably 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 partythe Borrower 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 subsectionparagraph (f) 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 reasonably 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 any Swingline Lender 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.

 

-99-


5.5    Computations of Interest and Fees.

(a)    Except as provided in the next succeeding sentence, interest on LIBOR 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.

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 Initial Borrowing

The obligation of the Lenders to make Revolving Credit Loans, and the obligation of the Letter of Credit Issuer to issue any Letter of Credit, are in each case subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent, except as otherwise agreed between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

6.1    Credit Documents. The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received:

(a)    this Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly Authorized Officer of the Borrower, the Guarantors and each Lender;

(b)    the Guarantees, executed and delivered by a duly Authorized Officer of each of the respective Guarantors;

(c)    the Pledge Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly Authorized Officer of Holdings, the Borrower and each Guarantor;

 

-100-


(d)    the Security Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly Authorized Officer of the Borrower and each Guarantor; and

(e)    the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly Authorized Officer of each of the Administrative Agent, the Term Loan Administrative Agent and the collateral agent under the Term Loan Facility.

6.2    Collateral. Except for any items referred to on Schedule 9.14:

(a)    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)    The Collateral Agent shall have received, except to the extent delivered to the Collateral Agent under the Term Loan Facility pursuant to the Term Loan Credit Documents and ABL Intercreditor Agreement, certificates representing securities of each Credit Party’s Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiaries and all promissory notes evidencing Indebtedness that is owing to the Borrower or any other Credit Party, in each case, 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 allonges endorsed in blank;

(c)    All Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and intellectual property security agreements required to be filed, registered or recorded to create the Liens intended to be created by any Security Document and perfect such Liens to the extent required by such Security Document shall have been delivered to the Collateral Agent, and shall be in proper form, for filing, registration or recording; and

(d)    Evidence that all other actions, recordings and filings required by the Security Documents shall have been taken, completed or otherwise provided for thereunder and as provided for therein.

6.3    Legal Opinions. The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received the executed legal opinion, in customary form, of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, special New York counsel to the Credit Parties. The Borrower hereby instructs and agrees to instruct the other Credit Parties to have such counsel deliver such legal opinions.

6.4    Excess Availability; Borrowing Base Certificate. After giving effect to the Borrowings and issuance of Letters of Credit on the Restatement Effective Date, the Excess Availability on the Restatement Effective Date shall be no less than $200,000,000 and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Base Certificate prepared as of the last day of the most recent month ended at least fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the Restatement Effective Date.

6.5    Closing Certificates. The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received a certificate of (x) each of Holdings, the Borrower and the other Guarantors, dated the Restatement Effective Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit E, with appropriate insertions, executed by any Authorized Officer and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of Holdings, the Borrower and each other Guarantor, as applicable, and attaching the documents referred to in Section 6.6 and (y) an Authorized Officer of the Borrower certifying compliance with Section 7.1 and certifying that, since January 31, 2015, there has not been any event, change, development, occurrence, or effect that has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

6.6    Authorization of Proceedings of Holdings, the Borrower and the Guarantors; Corporate Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a copy of the resolutions of the board of directors or other managers of Holdings, the Borrower and the other Guarantors (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 Holdings, the Borrower and the other Guarantors, and (iii) signature and incumbency certificates (or other comparable documents evidencing the same) of the Authorized Officers of Holdings, the Borrower and the other Guarantors executing the Credit Documents to which it is a party.

 

-101-


6.7    Fees. The Agents and Lenders shall have received, substantially simultaneously with the initial Borrowing, fees and, to the extent invoiced at least three business days prior to the Restatement Effective Date (except as otherwise reasonably agreed by the Borrower) expenses in the amounts previously agreed in writing to be received on the Restatement Effective Date (which amounts may, at the Borrower’s option, be offset against the proceeds of the initial Borrowing).

6.8    Representations and Warranties. On the Restatement Effective Date, all representations made by any Credit Party contained herein or in the other Credit Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects.

6.9    Solvency Certificate. On the Restatement Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Vice President-Finance, a Director, a Manager, or any other senior financial officer of the Borrower to the effect that after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions, the Borrower on a consolidated basis with the Restricted Subsidiaries is Solvent.

6.10    [Reserved].

6.11    Patriot Act. The Administrative Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers shall have received at least two Business Days prior to the Restatement Effective Date such documentation and information as is reasonably requested in writing at least ten calendar days prior to the Restatement Effective Date by the Administrative Agent or the Joint Lead Arrangers about the Credit Parties to the extent required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Patriot Act.

6.12    Financial Statements. The Joint Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners shall have received the Historical Financial Statements.

6.13    No Material Adverse Effect. Since January 31, 2015, there has not occurred any event, occurrence or development that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

6.14    Refinancing. Substantially simultaneously with the funding of the Initial Term Loans (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement), the Restatement Effective Date Refinancing shall be consummated.

For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 6 on the Restatement Effective 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 Restatement Effective Date specifying its objection thereto.

Section 7.    Conditions Precedent to All Credit Events.

The agreement of each Lender to make any Loan requested to be made by it on any date (excluding Mandatory Borrowings and 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 Issuers to issue Letters of Credit on any date is subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the following conditions precedent:

7.1    No Default; Representations and Warranties; No Cure Period. At the time of each Credit Event and also after giving effect thereto (other than any Credit Event on the Restatement Effective Date or pursuant to any Loan made pursuant to Section 2.14 (which shall be subject to the applicable terms of Section 2.14) (a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (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

 

-102-


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) and (c) no Cure Period shall have occurred and be continuing.

7.2    Notice of Borrowing; Letter of Credit Request.

(a)    Prior to the making of each Revolving Credit Loan (other than any Revolving Credit Loan made pursuant to Section 3.4(a)) and each Swingline Loan, the Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing meeting the requirements of Section 2.3.

(b)    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).

7.3    Excess Availability. On the proposed date of such Credit Event, the amount of the proposed Borrowing or Letter of Credit issuance (together with all outstanding Borrowings and Letters of Credit Outstanding) shall not exceed the Maximum Borrowing Amount.

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 and to make the Loans and issue or participate in Letters of Credit as provided for herein, the Borrower (and, with respect to Sections 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.10 and 8.19 only, Holdings and each Texas Intermediate Holdco) makes 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 and each Delaware Intermediate Holdco (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 and each Delaware Intermediate Holdco 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 and each Delaware Intermediate Holdco 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 or Delaware Intermediate Holdco, as applicable, 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.

 

-103-


8.3    No Violation. Neither the execution, delivery or performance by any Credit Party or any Delaware Intermediate Holdco of the Credit Documents to which it is a party nor compliance with the terms and provisions thereof nor the consummation of the Transactions and 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, such Delaware Intermediate Holdco 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, such Delaware Intermediate Holdco 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, such Delaware Intermediate Holdco or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (after giving effect to the Transactions).

8.4    Litigation. There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing against the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

8.5    Margin Regulations. Neither the making of any Loan hereunder nor the use of the proceeds thereof will violate the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of the Board.

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 the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary 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 the Borrower, any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their respective authorized representatives to the Administrative Agent, any Joint Lead Arranger, and/or any Lender on or before the Restatement Effective Date (including all such written information and data contained in (i) the Lender Presentation (as updated prior to the Restatement Effective Date and including all information incorporated by reference therein) and (ii) the Credit Documents) 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 statements or information) or other forward looking information and information of a general economic or general industry nature.

(b)    The projections (including financial estimates, 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 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.

 

-104-


8.9    Financial Condition; Financial Statements.

(a)    (i) The unaudited historical consolidated financial information of the Borrower as set forth in the Lender Presentation, and (ii) the Historical Financial Statements, in each case present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Borrower at the respective dates of said information, statements and results of operations for the respective periods covered thereby. The Historical Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied except to the extent provided in the notes to said financial statements.

(b)    There has been no Material Adverse Effect since the Restatement Effective Date.

Each Lender and the Administrative Agent hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may be required to restate historical financial statements as the result of the implementation of changes in GAAP or IFRS, or the respective interpretation thereof, and that such restatements will not result in a Default or an Event of Default under the Credit Documents.

8.10    Compliance with Laws; No Default. Each Credit Party and each Delaware Intermediate Holdco 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. No Borrowing or Letter of Credit, use of proceeds, or the Transactions will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions. No Default has occurred and is continuing.

8.11    Tax Matters. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) each of 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 withholding agent) that have become due, other than those being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings if it has maintained adequate reserves (in the good faith judgment of management of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable) with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (b) each of the Borrower and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries has paid, or has provided adequate reserves (in the good faith judgment of management of 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 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, 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 the Borrower (and the direct and indirect ownership interest of the Borrower therein), in each case existing on the Restatement Effective Date.

8.14    Intellectual Property. Each of the Borrower and the 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 to own or have a right to use such Intellectual Property would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The operation of their respective businesses by each of the Borrower and the 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.

8.15    Environmental Laws.

(a)    Except as set forth on Schedule 8.15, or as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) each of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective operations and properties

 

-105-


are in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws; (ii) none of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has received written notice of any Environmental Claim; (iii) none of the Borrower or 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 the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries.

(b)    Except as set forth on Schedule 8.15, none of the Borrower 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.

(a)    (i) Each of the Borrower and the 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 and (ii) no Mortgage encumbers improved Real Estate that is located in an area that has been identified by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development as an area having special flood hazards within the meaning of the Flood Insurance Laws, unless flood insurance available under such Flood Insurance Laws has been obtained in accordance with Section 9.3(b).

(b)    Set forth on Schedule 1.1(a) is a list of each real property owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Credit Party as of the Restatement Effective Date having a Fair Market Value in excess of the greater of (a) $25,000,000 and (b) 5% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period.

8.17    Solvency. On the RestatementAmendment No. 2 Effective Date (after giving effect to the Transactions) immediately following the making of the Loans (if any) and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of such Loans, the Borrower on a consolidated basis with the Restricted Subsidiaries will be Solvent.

8.18    Patriot Act. On the Amendment No. 12 Effective Date, each of Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with the Patriot Act, and Holdings and the Borrower have provided to the Administrative Agent all information related to Holdings, the Borrower and the 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.

8.19    Security Interest in Collateral. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, the Credit Documents create legal, valid, and enforceable Liens on all of the Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit itself and the other Secured Parties, subject, as to enforceability, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity and principles of good faith and dealing, and upon the making of such filings and taking of such other actions required to be taken hereby or by the applicable Credit Documents (including the filing of appropriate UCC financing statements with the office of the Secretary of State of the state of organization of each Credit Party or equivalent filings under applicable foreign law, the filing of appropriate notices with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the U.S. Copyright Office, and the proper recordation of Mortgages and fixture filings with respect to any Mortgaged Property, in each case in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and the delivery to the Collateral Agent of any stock certificates or promissory notes required to be delivered pursuant to the applicable Credit Documents), such Liens constitute perfected and continuing Liens on the Collateral of the type required by the Security Documents securing the Obligations to the extent such Liens may be perfected by such filings and the taking of such other actions subject to no other Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 10.2).

 

-106-


8.20    Disclosure. As of the Amendment No. 12 Effective Date, to the knowledge of the Borrower, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification provided on or prior to the Amendment No. 12 Effective Date to any Lender in connection with this Agreement is true and correct in all material respects.

Section 9.    Affirmative Covenants.

The Borrower (and, with respect to Sections 9.11, 9.12 and 9.14 only, Holdings) hereby covenants and agrees that on the Restatement Effective Date and thereafter, until the Commitments, the Swingline Commitment 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) (or, if such financial statements are not required to be filed with the SEC, on or before the date that is 90 days after the end of each such fiscal year), the consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and the 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 figures for the preceding fiscal years, 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 the Borrower or any of the Material Subsidiaries (or group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Material Subsidiary) as a going concern (other than any 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 (including Section 10.7) 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 the Borrower (or, if such financial statements are not required to be filed with the SEC, on or before the date that is 45 days after the end of each such fiscal quarterly accounting period), the consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and the 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, commencing with the quarter ending August 1, 2015, setting forth comparative consolidated 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 the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP (except as noted therein), subject to changes resulting from normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

(c)     Budgets. Prior to an IPO, within 90 days after the commencement of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated budget of the Borrower in reasonable detail on a quarterly basis for such fiscal year as customarily prepared by management of the Borrower for its internal use consistent in scope with the financial statements provided pursuant to Section 9.1(a), setting forth the principal assumptions upon which such budget is based (collectively, the “Projections”), which Projections shall in each case be accompanied by a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower stating that such Projections have been prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were believed to be reasonable at the time of

 

-107-


preparation of such Projections, it being understood and agreed that such Projections and assumptions as to future events are not to be viewed as facts 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.

(c)     [reserved].

(d)    Officer’s Certificates. At the time of the delivery of the financial statements provided for in Sections 9.1(a) and (b), (A) a certificate of an Authorized Officer of 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 Unrestricted Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year or period, as the case may be, from the Restricted Subsidiaries and Unrestricted Subsidiaries, respectively, provided to the Lenders on the Restatement Effective Date or the most recent fiscal year or period, as the case may be, and (B) a Compliance Certificate setting forth the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the last Test Period regardless of whether a Compliance Period exists. At the time of the delivery of the financial statements provided for in Section 9.1(a), a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower setting forth changes to the legal name, jurisdiction of formation, type of entity and organizational number (or equivalent) to the Person organized in a jurisdiction where an organizational identification number is required to be included in a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement, in each case for each Credit Party or confirming that there has been no change in such information since the Restatement Effective Date or the date of the most recent certificate delivered pursuant to this clause (d), as the case may be.

(e)    Notice of Material Events. Promptly after an Authorized Officer of the Borrower 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 the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto, (ii) any litigation or governmental proceeding pending against the Borrower 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 and (iii) any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification delivered to such Lender that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in part 1 of such certification.

(f)    Environmental Matters. Promptly after an Authorized Officer of the Borrower 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)    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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower

 

-108-


or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall send to the holders of any publicly issued debt of the Borrower 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, (x) 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 and (y) information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation and (z) upon the Administrative Agents or applicable Lenders request, any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification delivered to such Lender that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in such certification; provided that none of the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary will be required to disclose or permit the inspection or discussion of any document, information or other matter (i) that constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or their respective contractors) is prohibited by law, or any binding agreement, (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 or the limitations set forth in Section 9.2.

(h)    Borrowing Base Certificate. As soon as available but in any event on or prior to 15th Business Day following the end of the previous fiscal month beginning with the first fiscal month ending after the Restatement Effective Date, a Borrowing Base Certificate as of the close of business on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal month, substantially in the form of Exhibit N hereto; provided that the Borrower may elect to deliver the Borrowing Base Certificate on a more frequent basis but if such election is exercised, it must be continued until the date that is 30 days after the date of such election (with a frequency equal to that of the initial additional Borrowing Base Certificate delivered by the Borrower for such period); provided, further, that upon the commencement and during the continuance of a Weekly Reporting Period, the Borrower shall deliver a Weekly Borrowing Base Certificate and such supporting information on Wednesday of each week (or if Wednesday is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day), as of the close of business on the immediately preceding Saturday; provided, further, that upon the sale or other disposition of Collateral of any Credit Party included in the Borrowing Base outside of the ordinary course of business yielding net cash proceeds of $50,000,000 or more, the Borrower shall also furnish an updated Borrowing Base Certificate giving pro forma effect thereto promptly upon the receipt of the net cash proceeds from such sale or other disposition.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to clauses (a), (b), and (g) 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) the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet; (ii) such documents are posted on the Borrower’s 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 (A) 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 and (B) the Borrower shall notify (which notification may be by facsimile or electronic transmission) the Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents on any website described in this paragraph. 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.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 9.1 may be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries by furnishing (A) the Form 10-K or 10-Q (or the equivalent), as applicable, of the Borrower (or a parent company thereof) filed with the SEC or with a similar regulatory authority in a foreign jurisdiction or (B) the applicable financial statements of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings); provided that to the extent such information relates to a parent of the Borrower, such information is accompanied by consolidating information, which may be unaudited, that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such parent, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a stand-alone basis, on the other hand.

 

-109-


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; Field Examinations.

(a)    The Borrower 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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower and any such Subsidiary and discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Borrower and of any such Subsidiary with, and be advised as to the same by, its and their officers and independent accountants, and appraisers, 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 the Borrower’s expense, and (c) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.2, none of the Borrower 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 that (i) constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors) is prohibited by law or any agreement binding on a third-party or (iii) 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 the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice. The Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders shall give the Borrower the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Borrower independent public accountants.

(b)    At reasonable times during normal business hours and upon reasonable prior notice that the Administrative Agent requests, independently of or in connection with the visits and inspections provided for in clause (a) above, the Administrative Agent may conduct (or engage third parties to conduct) such field examinations, verifications and evaluations as the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or appropriate; provided that in any calendar year, the Borrower shall only be required to cover the costs of one such periodic field examinations and one such inventory appraisal, except as follows:

(i)    if Excess Availability has for any five consecutive Business Days been less than the greater of (x) 17.5% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount and (y) $105,000,000, no more than two such appraisals and two such field examinations shall be at the Borrower’s expense during the following 12-calendar month period; and

(ii)    at any time after the occurrence and during the continuation of a Specified Default, as many field examinations as shall be determined by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion at the Borrower’s expense.

The Administrative Agent shall provide the Borrower with a reasonably detailed accounting of all such expenses payable by the Borrower.

 

-110-


(c)    The Credit Parties acknowledge that the Administrative Agent, after exercising its rights of inspection, may prepare and distribute to the Lenders certain reports pertaining to the Credit Parties’ assets for internal use by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, subject to the provisions of Section 13.6.

9.3    Maintenance of Insurance. (a) The Borrower 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 the Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Borrower) 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 the Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of management of the Borrower) 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 the Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of management of the Borrower) 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 and (b) with respect to each Mortgaged Property that is located in an area identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency) as a “special flood hazard area” with respect to which flood insurance has been made available under Flood Insurance Laws, the applicable Credit Party (i) has obtained and will maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies (except to the extent that any insurance company insuring the Mortgaged Property of the Credit Party ceases to be financially sound and reputable after the Closing Date, in which case, the Borrower shall promptly replace such insurance company with a financially sound and reputable insurance company), such flood insurance in such reasonable total amount as the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may from time to time reasonably require, and otherwise sufficient to comply with all applicable rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the Flood Insurance Laws and (ii) promptly upon request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, will deliver to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, evidence of such compliance in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and such Lender, including, without limitation, evidence of annual renewals of such insurance. Each such policy of insurance shall (i) 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 casualty insurance policy, contain a mortgagee/loss payable clause or endorsement that names the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties as the mortgagee/loss payee thereunder.

9.4    Payment of Taxes. The Borrower will pay and discharge, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, all 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 the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that neither the Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be required to pay any such Tax that is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings if it has maintained adequate reserves (in the good faith judgment of management of the Borrower) with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP or the failure to pay would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

9.5    Preservation of Existence; Consolidated Corporate Franchises. The Borrower 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 the Borrower 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. The Borrower 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 the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and 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

 

-111-


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 (a), (b), and (c) of this Section 9.6, where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

9.7    ERISA. (a) The Borrower 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 shall be exercised not more than once during a 12-month period, and (b) the Borrower 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.

9.8    Maintenance of Properties. The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, (i) keep and maintain all tangible property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear, casualty, and condemnation excepted and (ii) prosecute, maintain, enforce and protect its Intellectual Property material to the conduct of its business, except, in each case, 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. The Borrower will conduct, and cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to conduct, all transactions with any of its Affiliates (other than the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $25,000,000 at the time of such Affiliate transaction, for any individual transaction or series of related transactions on terms that are at least substantially as favorable to the Borrower 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 the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in good faith; provided that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to (a) the payment of fees to the Sponsor for management, consulting and financial services rendered to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the Sponsor Management Agreement and customary investment banking fees paid to the Sponsor for services rendered to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in connection with divestitures, acquisitions, financings and other transactions which payments are approved by a majority of the board of directors of the Borrower in good faith, (b) transactions permitted by Section 10.5, (c) consummation of the Transactions and the payment of the Transaction Expenses, (d) the issuance of Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any of its Subsidiaries not otherwise prohibited by the Credit Documents, (e) loans, advances and other transactions between or among the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any joint venture (regardless of the form of legal entity) in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has invested (and which Subsidiary or joint venture would not be an Affiliate of the Borrower but for the Borrower’s or a Subsidiary’s ownership of Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents in such joint venture or Subsidiary) to the extent permitted under Section 10, (f) employment and severance arrangements between the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees or consultants (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), (g) payments by the Borrower (and any direct or indirect parent thereof) and the Subsidiaries pursuant to the tax sharing agreements among the Borrower (and any such parent) and the Subsidiaries that are permitted under Section 10.5(b)(15); provided that in each case the amount of such payments in any fiscal year does not exceed the amount that the Borrower, the Restricted Subsidiaries and the Unrestricted Subsidiaries (to the extent of the amount received from Unrestricted Subsidiaries) would have been required to pay in respect of such foreign, federal, state and/or local taxes for such fiscal year had the Borrower, the Restricted Subsidiaries and the Unrestricted Subsidiaries

 

-112-


(to the extent described above) paid such taxes separately from any such direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower, (h) the payment of customary fees and reasonable out of pocket costs to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, directors, managers, consultants, officers or employees of the Borrower (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 the Borrower 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 Restatement Effective 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 Restatement Effective Date as determined by the Borrower in good faith), (k) customary payments by the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent) and any Restricted Subsidiaries to the Sponsor made for any financial advisory, consulting, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities (including in connection with acquisitions or divestitures), (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, and (n) any customary transactions with a Receivables Subsidiary effected as part of a Receivables Facility and (o) undertaking or consummating any IPO Reorganization Transactions.

9.10    End of Fiscal Years. The Borrower 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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower and the Administrative Agent will, and are hereby authorized by the Lenders to, make any adjustments to this Agreement that are necessary in order to reflect such change in financial reporting.

9.11    Additional Guarantors and Grantors. Subject to any applicable limitations set forth in the Security Documents, (x) the Borrower will cause each direct or indirect Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) formed or otherwise purchased or acquired after the Closing Date (including pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition) and the Borrower will cause each other Subsidiary that ceases to constitute an Excluded Subsidiary and (y) subject to Section 9.14 in the case of the Delaware Intermediate Holdcos, Holdings will cause each direct or indirect Subsidiary (other than the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) formed or otherwise purchased or acquired after the Closing Date that directly or indirectly through a Subsidiary own or holds any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of the Borrower or that is a Delaware Intermediate Holdco that is required to Guarantee the Obligations pursuant to Section 9.14, in each case, within 60 days from the date of such formation, acquisition or cessation (or, in the case of the Delaware Intermediate Holdcos, the period set forth in Section 9.14), as applicable (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion), and the Borrower may at its option cause any other 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 Borrower and the Subsidiary Credit Parties (or in the case of clause (y) above, to substantially the same extent as created and perfected by Holdings and the Texas Intermediate Holdcos) on the Closing Date and pursuant to Section 9.14(d) in the case of such Credit Parties. In connection therewith, the Administrative Agent shall have received all documentation and other information regarding such newly formed or acquired Subsidiaries as may be required to comply with the applicable “know your customer” rules and regulations, including the USA Patriot Act. For the avoidance of doubt, 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).

 

-113-


9.12    Pledge of Additional Stock and Evidence of Indebtedness. Subject to 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 to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any direct or indirect parent entity as reasonably determined by the Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, Holdings 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 (a) $45,000,000 and (b) 10% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) at the time of any disposition of assets pursuant to Section 10.4(b) received by Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Guarantors in connection with any disposition of assets pursuant to Section 10.4(b), and (iii) any promissory notes executed after the Closing Date evidencing Indebtedness in excess of the greater of (a) $45,000,000 and (b) 10% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) at the time such promissory note is executed of Holdings or any Subsidiary 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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower or any Subsidiary 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)    The Borrower will use Letters of Credit and Revolving Loans for working capital and general corporate purposes (including to finance the Transactions and any transaction not prohibited by the Credit Documents).

(b)    The Borrower will not request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, and each Credit Party shall not use, and shall procure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use, the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit in any manner that would result in the violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws or Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.

9.14    Further Assurances.

(a)    Subject to 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 the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

(b)    Subject to 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 to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any direct or indirect parent entity 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 any real estate which the 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 the greater of (a) $25,000,000 and (b) 5%

 

-114-


of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) (at the time of acquisition) are acquired by the Borrower or any other Subsidiary 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 or that constitute a fee interest in real property in the United States, the Borrower will notify the Collateral Agent, and, if requested by the Collateral Agent, the Borrower will cause such assets to be subjected to a Lien securing the Obligations (provided, however, that in the event any Mortgage delivered pursuant to this clause (b) shall incur any mortgage recording tax or similar charges in connection with the recording thereof, such Mortgage shall not secure an amount in excess of the Fair Market Value of the applicable Mortgaged Property) 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)    Any Mortgage delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the preceding clause (b) shall, if requested by the Collateral Agent, be received as soon as commercially reasonable but in no event later than 90 days (except as set forth in the preceding clause (b)), unless extended by the Administrative Agent acting reasonably and accompanied by (x) a policy or policies (or an unconditional binding commitment therefor to be replaced by a final title policy) of title insurance issued by a nationally recognized title insurance company, in such amounts as reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent not to exceed the Fair Market Value of the applicable Mortgaged Property, insuring the Lien of each Mortgage as a valid first Lien on the Mortgaged Property described therein, free of any other Liens except as expressly permitted by Section 10.2 or as otherwise permitted by the Administrative Agent and otherwise in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, together with such endorsements, coinsurance and reinsurance as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request but only to the extent such endorsements are (i) available in the relevant jurisdiction (provided in no event shall the Administrative Agent request a creditors’ rights endorsement) and (ii) available at commercially reasonable rates, (y) an opinion of local counsel to the applicable Credit Party in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, (z) a completed “Life-of-Loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency Standard Flood Hazard Determination, and if any improvements on such Mortgaged Property are located in a special flood hazard area, (i) a notice about special flood hazard area status and flood disaster assistance duly executed by the applicable Credit Parties and (ii) evidence of insurance required by Section 9.3 in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (aa) an ALTA survey in a form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent or such existing survey together with a no-change affidavit sufficient for the title company to remove all standard survey exceptions from the Title Policy related to such Mortgaged Property and issue the endorsements required in (x) above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not enter into any Mortgage in respect of any real property acquired by the Borrower or any other Credit Party after the Closing Date until (1) the date that occurs 45 days after the Administrative Agent has delivered to the Lenders (which may be delivered electronically) the following documents in respect of such real property: (i) a completed flood hazard determination from a third party vendor; (ii) if such real property is located in a “special flood hazard area”, (A) a notification to the Borrower (or applicable Credit Party) of that fact and (if applicable) notification to the Borrower(or applicable Credit Party) that flood insurance coverage is not available and (B) evidence of the receipt by the Borrower (or applicable Credit Party) of such notice; and (iii) if such notice is required to be provided to the Borrower (or applicable Credit Party) and flood insurance is available in the community in which such real property is located, evidence of required flood insurance and (2) the Administrative Agent shall have received written confirmation from the Lenders that the flood insurance due diligence and flood insurance compliance has been completed by the Lenders (such written confirmation not to be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed).

(d)    Post-Closing Covenant. The Borrower 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. The Borrower and the 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 the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, on the Restatement Effective Date and other business activities

 

-115-


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).

9.16    Cash Management.

(a)    (i) Each Credit Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to enter into control agreements (each, a “Blocked Account Agreement”) as soon as possible after the Restatement Effective Date and, in any event, shall have actually entered into such Blocked Account Agreements within 120 days after the Restatement Effective Date (or such later date approved by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion), in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, with the Administrative Agent and each other bank with which such Credit Party maintains a DDA located in the United States (other than an Excluded Account) (collectively, the “Blocked Accounts”); and (ii) upon delivery of such Blocked Account Agreements referred to in clause (i), the Borrower shall provide a schedule of DDAs, indicating for each DDA if such DDA is required to be subject to a Blocked Account Agreement pursuant to the Credit Documents; provided that, if Blocked Account Agreements with respect to each Blocked Account are not delivered to the Administrative Agent within 120 days after the Restatement Effective Date, each Credit Party shall move any such Account to the Administrative Agent or another depositary, subject to a Blocked Account Agreement in favor of the Administrative Agent.

(b)    The Borrower agrees that it will cause all proceeds of the ABL Priority Collateral (other than the Uncontrolled Cash and subject to clause (c) below) to be deposited into a Blocked Account.

(c)    Each Blocked Account Agreement of a Credit Party shall require (only during the continuance of a Cash Dominion Period and following delivery of notice of the commencement thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower and the account bank party to such instrument or agreement; provided that such notice shall not be delivered earlier than two Business Days following the start of a Cash Dominion Period), the ACH or wire transfer no less frequently than once per Business Day (but without limit on frequency if the Maturity Date shall have actually occurred), of all available cash balances and cash receipts, including the then contents or then entire ledger balance of each Blocked Account (net of such minimum balance as may be required to be maintained in the subject Blocked Account by the bank at which such Blocked Account is maintained and other than any Uncontrolled Cash), to one or more accounts maintained by the Administrative Agent (the “Payment Accounts”). Subject to the terms of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, all amounts received in a Payment Account or such other account shall be applied (and allocated) by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 11.13 (except (A) pursuant to clause (i) thereof and (B) to Secured Cash Management Obligations and Secured Hedge Obligations).

(d)    If, at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Cash Dominion Period, any cash or Cash Equivalents owned by any Credit Party (other than (i) with respect to a Cash Dominion Period, an amount equal to the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents collected in Blocked Accounts during the first two Business Days of such Cash Dominion Period and that is on deposit in a segregated DDA which the Borrower designates in writing to the Administrative Agent as being the “uncontrolled cash account” (each such account, a “Designated Disbursement Account” and collectively, the “Designated Disbursement Accounts”), which funds shall not thereafter be funded from, or when withdrawn from the Designated Disbursement Accounts, shall not be replenished by, funds constituting proceeds of the ABL Priority Collateral so long as such Cash Dominion Period continues, (ii) de minimis Permitted Investments from time to time inadvertently misapplied by any Credit Party, (iii) segregated accounts that are subject to Liens permitted pursuant to clauses (i) through (iv) of the definition of Permitted Liens and to the extent that, and for so long as, a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate the agreement giving rise to such permitted lien and (iv) payroll, trust and tax withholding accounts funded in the ordinary course of business and required by applicable Law and (each such account described in clauses (i) through (iv), an “Excluded Account”) are deposited to any account, or held or invested in any manner, otherwise than in a Blocked Account subject to a Blocked Account Agreement (or a DDA which swept daily to a Blocked Account) or a lockbox, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to require the applicable Credit Party to close such account and have all funds therein transferred to a Blocked Account, and to cause all future deposits to be made to a Blocked Account.

 

-116-


(e)    The Credit Parties may close DDAs or Blocked Accounts and/or open new DDAs or Blocked Accounts without the Administrative Agent’s consent, subject to the prompt execution and delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Blocked Account Agreement to the extent required by the provisions of this Section 9.16. The Credit Parties may open or close Excluded Accounts at any time, without requirement of delivery of a Blocked Account Agreement without consent of the Administrative Agent.

(f)    So long as no Cash Dominion Period is in effect, the Credit Parties may direct, and shall have sole control over, the manner of disposition of funds in their respective Blocked Accounts.

(g)    (i) Any amounts received in the Payment Accounts (including all interest and other earnings with respect thereto, if any) at any time after the payment in full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations as to which no claim has been asserted and Secured Cash Management Obligations and Secured Hedge Obligations) and termination of the aggregate Commitments hereunder and (ii) any amounts that continue to be swept to the Payment Accounts after no Cash Dominion Period exists, shall, in each case, be remitted to the operating account of the Borrower as specified by the Borrower.

Section 10.     Negative Covenants.

The Borrower (and, with respect to Section 10.7 only, Holdings and each Intermediate Holdco) hereby covenants and agrees that on the Restatement Effective Date and thereafter, until the Commitments, the Swingline Commitment and each Letter of Credit have terminated or be 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. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries 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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may incur unsecured 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; provided further that, only if the Payment Conditions are not satisfied, the final maturity of any such unsecured Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) shall not occur, and no such unsecured Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) shall require mandatory commitment reductions (other than customary amortization payments) prior to, the Latest Maturity Date.

The foregoing limitations will not apply to:

(a)    Indebtedness arising under the Credit Documents;

(b)    (i) Indebtedness represented by the Term Loan Facility and any guarantee thereof in an aggregate principal amount (together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof and all accrued interest, fees and expenses) not to exceed the sum of (A)  $1,825,000,000400,000,000 and (B) the Maximum Incremental Facilities Amount (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) as of the date of such incurrence and (ii) Indebtedness represented by the Existing Finco Notes and Existing2027 Senior Notes and any guarantee thereof; provided that such Existing Finco Notes and Existing Senior Notes have been defeased; in an aggregate principal amount (together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof and all accrued interest, fees and expenses) not to exceed the sum of (A) $400,000,000 and (B) the Maximum Incremental Notes Amount (as defined in the Notes Agreement) as of the date of such incurrence;

(c)     (i) Indebtedness (including any unused commitment) outstanding on the Restatement Effective Date listed on Schedule 10.1 and (ii) intercompany Indebtedness (including any unused commitment) outstanding on the Restatement Effective Date listed on Schedule 10.1 (other than intercompany Indebtedness owed by a Credit Party to another Credit Party);

 

 

-117-


(d)    Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations), Disqualified Stock and preferred stock incurred by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, to finance the purchase, lease, construction, installation, maintenance, 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 the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary under or pursuant to any “synthetic lease” transactions to on-balance sheet Indebtedness of the Borrower 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) $150,000,000 and (y) 35% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) at the time of incurrence; provided that Capitalized Lease Obligations incurred by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to this clause (d) in connection with a Permitted Sale Leaseback shall not be subject to the foregoing limitation so long as the proceeds of such Permitted Sale Leaseback are used by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary to permanently repay outstanding Term Loans or other Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the assets subject to such Permitted Sale Leaseback (excluding any Lien ranking junior to the Lien securing the Obligations);

(e)    Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower 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, 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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations; 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 the 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 another Restricted Subsidiary or the Borrower; provided that if a Subsidiary Guarantor incurs such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor as the case may be; provided, further, that any subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Borrower or another Subsidiary Guarantor) 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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower or another Restricted

 

-118-


Subsidiary) shall be deemed in each case to be an issuance of such shares of preferred stock not permitted by this clause;

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

(k)    (i) obligations in respect of self-insurance, performance, bid, appeal, and surety bonds and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments related thereto, in each case, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(l)     (i) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and preferred stock of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference (together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) up to 100% of the net cash proceeds received by the Borrower since immediately after the Restatement Effective Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Borrower or cash contributed to the capital of the Borrower (in each case, other than Excluded Contributions, any Cure Amount or proceeds of Disqualified Stock or sales of Equity Interests to any of the Borrower’s 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 (a) and (c) of the definition thereof) and (ii) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of the Borrower 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 pursuant to this clause (l)(ii), does not at any one time outstanding exceed the greater of (x) $205,000,000 and (y) 50% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) at the time of incurrence (it being understood that any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock incurred pursuant to this clause (l)(ii) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (l)(ii) but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of the first paragraph of this Section 10.1 from and after the first date on which the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock under the first paragraph of this Section 10.1 without reliance on this clause (l)(ii));

(m)    the incurrence or issuance by the Borrower 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 clauses (b) and (c) above, clause (l)(i) and this clause (m) below or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock issued to so refinance, replace, refund, extend, renew, defease, restructure, amend, restate or otherwise modify (collectively, “refinance”) such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock (the “Refinancing Indebtedness”) prior to its respective maturity; provided that such Refinancing Indebtedness (1) 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 refinanced, (2) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (i) Indebtedness that is unsecured or secured by a Lien ranking junior to the Liens securing the Obligations, such Refinancing Indebtedness is unsecured or secured by a Lien ranking junior to the Liens securing the Obligations, (ii) Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness must be Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, respectively, and (iii) 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 not include Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor;

(n)    Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of (x) the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary incurred or issued to finance an acquisition, merger, or consolidation; provided that the amount of Indebtedness (other than Acquired Indebtedness), Disqualified Stock and preferred stock that may be

 

-119-


incurred pursuant to the foregoing, together with any amounts incurred under the first paragraph of this Section 10.1 by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors shall not exceed the greater of (i) $165,000,000 and (ii) 40% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) at any one time outstanding, or (y) Persons that are acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms hereof (including designating an Unrestricted Subsidiary a Restricted Subsidiary); provided that after giving effect to any such acquisition, merger, consolidation or designation described in this clause (n), (i) either (1) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (calculated on a pro forma basis) would be at least 2.00 to 1.00 or (2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries is equal to or greater than that immediately prior to such acquisition, merger, consolidation or designation or (ii) either (1) the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) shall be either (A) less than or equal to the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio immediate prior to such acquisition, merger, consolidation or designation or (2) less than or equal to 6.25:1.00; provided further that any such Indebtedness incurred under this clause (n) (x) shall not take the form of a separate asset based lending facility and (y) shall not be secured by a first priority lien on the ABL Priority Collateral;

(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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower 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, (2) any guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Borrower or (3) any co-issuance by Academy Finance Corporation of Indebtedness of the Borrower;

(r)    Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors; provided that the principal amount of such Indebtedness of which the primary obligor or a guarantor is a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor shall not exceed, in the aggregate at any one time outstanding, the greater of (x) $105,000,00 and (y) 25.5% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) (it being understood that any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (r) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (r) but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of the first paragraph of this covenant from and after the first date on which such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred such Indebtedness under the first paragraph of this covenant without reliance on this clause (r));

(s)    Indebtedness of the Borrower 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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries with such banks or financial institutions that arises in connection with ordinary banking arrangements to manage cash balances of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

-120-


(u)    Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by the Borrower 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 the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower to the extent described in clause (4) of Section 10.5(b);

(v)    Indebtedness of a Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary as an account party in respect of Commercial Letters of Credit issued pursuant to a Secured Commercial LC Facility, in each case in a principal amount not in excess of the Stated Amount of each such Commercial Letter of Credit, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000,000;

(w)    Indebtedness incurred in compliance with Section 10.1(w) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement;

(x)    Indebtedness incurred in compliance with Section 10.1(x) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement; and

(y)    (i) Indebtedness in respect of Permitted Debt Exchange Notes incurred pursuant to a Permitted Debt Exchange (each as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) in accordance with Section 2.15 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement (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 (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement).,

all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (a) through (y) above.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 10.1: (i) in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock described in clauses (a) through (y) above or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 10.1, the Borrower, in its sole discretion, will classify and may reclassify such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock (or any portion thereof) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock in one of the above clauses or paragraphs; and (ii) at the time of incurrence, the Borrower will be entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in this Section 10.1; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Term Loan Facility and under the Notes Agreement on the Restatement Effective Date will be treated as incurred under clause (b)(i) and (b)(ii) above, as applicable.

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 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.

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,

 

-121-


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)    The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its 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 the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (each, a “Subject Lien”) that secures obligations under any Indebtedness on any asset or property of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, except:

(i)    if such Subject Lien is a Permitted Lien;

(ii)    any other Subject Lien on assets or property constituting Collateral if the obligations secured by such Subject Lien are junior to the Obligations; provided that at the Borrower’s election, in the case of Liens securing Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations, the applicable Permitted Other Indebtedness Secured Parties (or a representative thereof on behalf of such holders) shall enter into security documents with terms and conditions not materially more restrictive to the Borrower and the Subsidiary Credit Parties, taken as a whole, than the terms and conditions of the Security Documents and shall (x) in the case of the first such issuance of Permitted Other Indebtedness, the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent and the representative of the holders of such Permitted Other Indebtedness Obligations shall have entered into the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (y) in the case of subsequent issuances of Permitted Other Indebtedness, the representative for the holders of such Permitted Other Indebtedness shall have become a party to the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof; and without any further consent of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be authorized to execute and deliver on behalf of the Secured Parties the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement contemplated by this clause (ii); and

(iii)    in the case of any Subject Lien on assets or property not constituting Collateral, any Subject Lien if (i) the Obligations are equally and ratably secured with (or on a senior basis to, in the case such Subject Lien secures any Junior Debt) the obligations secured by such Subject Lien or (ii) such Subject Lien is a Permitted Lien.

(b)    Any Lien created for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to 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. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its 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 the Borrower or any other Person may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the Borrower; provided that (A) the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or (B) if

 

-122-


the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation is not the Borrower (such other Person, the “Successor Borrower”), (1) the Successor Borrower shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof, (2) the Successor Borrower shall expressly assume all the obligations of 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 Borrower’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) each mortgagor of a Mortgaged Property, unless it is the other party to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, shall have affirmed that its obligations under the applicable Mortgage shall apply to its Guarantee as reaffirmed pursuant to clause (3), and (6) the Successor Borrower 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 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 Borrower will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Borrower under this Agreement);

(b)    so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any other Person (in each case, other than the Borrower) may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into any one or more Subsidiaries of the Borrower; provided that (i) in the case of any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving one or more Restricted Subsidiaries, (A) a Restricted Subsidiary shall be the continuing or surviving Person or (B) the Borrower shall cause the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation (if other than a Restricted Subsidiary) to become a Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) in the case of any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving one or more Subsidiary Guarantors, a Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary 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)    [reserved];

(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 Subsidiary Guarantor 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 Subsidiary Guarantor or the Borrower;

(e)    any Subsidiary 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 a Subsidiary Guarantor; provided that the consideration for any such disposition by any Person other than a Subsidiary Guarantor shall not exceed the fair value of such assets;

 

-123-


(f)    any Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders; and

(g)    the Borrower and the 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 (which for purposes of this Section 10.3(g), will include any disposition below the dollar threshold set forth in clause (d) of the definition of “Asset Sale”) permitted by Section 10.4 or an investment permitted pursuant to Section 10.5 or an investment that constitutes a Permitted Investment; and.

(h)    undertaking or consummating any IPO Reorganization Transactions.

10.4    Limitation on Sale of Assets. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale, unless:

(a)    the Borrower 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; and

(b)    except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, if the property or assets sold or otherwise disposed of have a Fair Market Value in excess of the greater of (a) $50,000,000 and (b) 1.5% of Consolidated Total Assets for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) at the time of such disposition, at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Borrower 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 the Borrower’s 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 the Borrower’s consolidated balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto if such incurrence or accrual had taken place on or prior to the date of such consolidated balance sheet, as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of the Borrower, 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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Borrower 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;

(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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower 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 sum of (i) the greater of $210,000,000 and 6% of Consolidated Total Assets at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration, (ii) at the election of the Borrower, the General Asset Sale Exception (less any amount used under such exception)

 

-124-


and (iii) at the election of the Borrower, the Available Amount (less any amount used thereunder), 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 clause (b) of this provision and for no other purpose; provided further that any Asset Sale by a Credit Party to a Subsidiary which is not a Credit Party is subject to no Overadvance after giving effect to such Asset Sale.

10.5    Limitation on Restricted Payments.

(a)    the Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(1)    declare or pay any dividend or make any payment or distribution on account of the Borrower’s 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 the Borrower payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower 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 Subsidiary other than a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities;

(2)    purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Borrower, Holdings or any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower, 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 Junior Debt of the Borrower 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 Junior Debt 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:

(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 shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof);

(ii)    except in the case of a Restricted Investment and other than with respect to amounts attributable to subclauses (B), (C), and (G) below, immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Payment Conditions are satisfied; and

 

-125-


(iii)    such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries after the Restatement Effective Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (1), (2) (with respect to the payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock pursuant to clause (b) thereof only) and (6)(C) 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 (G) below is referred to herein as the “Available Amount”):

(A)    [reserved]

(B)    100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the Fair Market Value of marketable securities or other property received by the Borrower since immediately after the Restatement Effective Date (other than net cash proceeds from Cure Amounts or 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 the Borrower, 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, manager or consultant of the Borrower, any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower and the Borrower’s Subsidiaries after the Restatement Effective 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 the Borrower, Equity Interests of Holdings or any other direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower (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 the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary that has been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests of the Borrower or Holdings or any other direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower; 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 the Borrower sold to a Restricted Subsidiary or the Borrower, 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 the Borrower following the Restatement Effective Date (other than net cash proceeds from Cure Amounts 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 the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) of Restricted Investments made by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constitute Restricted Investments made by the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, after the Restatement Effective Date; or (B) the sale (other than to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than in each case to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Borrower 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 Restatement Effective Date, plus

(E)    in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary after the Restatement Effective 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 the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (7) of Section 10.5(b) below or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment, plus

 

-126-


(F)    [reserved]

(G)    $75,000,000.

(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 Junior Debt of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any Equity Interests of Holdings or any other direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower, in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Equity Interests of the Borrower or any direct or indirect Parent Entity or management investment vehicle to the extent contributed to the Borrower (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 Holdings or any other direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower) 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 Junior Debt of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, new Indebtedness of the Borrower 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 Junior Debt 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 Junior Debt 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 Junior Debt 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 Junior Debt being so redeemed, defeased, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired, (D) if such Junior Debt so purchased, exchanged, redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired for value is (i) unsecured then such new Indebtedness shall be unsecured or (ii) Permitted Other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(x) and is 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 Junior Debt being so redeemed, defeased, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired;

(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 the Borrower or Holdings, Intermediate Holdco or any direct or indirect Parent Entity or management investment vehicle held by any future, present or former employee, director, manager or consultant of the Borrower, 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

 

-127-


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 the Borrower 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 the Borrower or any direct or indirect Parent Entity or management investment vehicle in connection with the Transactions; provided that, except with respect to non-discretionary Restricted Payments, the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (4) subsequent to the Restatement Effective Date do not exceed in any calendar year the greater of (a) $35,000,000 and (b) 8.5% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) (which subsequent to the consummation of an IPO shall increase to the greater of (a) $70,000,000 and (b) 17% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis)) (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: (A) the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower and, to the extent contributed to the Borrower, the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests of Holdings or any other direct or indirect Parent Entity or management investment vehicle, in each case to any future, present or former employees, directors, managers or consultants of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, Holdings or any other direct or indirect Parent Entity or management investment vehicle that occurs after the Restatement Effective Date, to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of clause (iii) of Section 10.5(a), plus (B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries after the Restatement Effective Date, less (C) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made pursuant to clauses (A) and (B) of this clause (4); and provided, further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from any future, present or former employees, directors, managers or consultants of the Borrower, Holdings or any other direct or indirect Parent Entity or management investment vehicle or any Restricted Subsidiary, or their estates, descendants, family, spouse or former spouse in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Borrower, Holdings or any other 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 the Borrower 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 such dividends are included in the calculation of Fixed Charges for the relevant period;

(6)     (A) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued by the Borrower after the Restatement Effective Date; (B) the declaration and payment of dividends to Holdings or any other direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower, 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 Restatement Effective Date; provided that the amount of dividends paid pursuant to this clause (B) shall not exceed the aggregate amount of cash actually contributed to the Borrower 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, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis would have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) of at least 2.00 to 1.00;

 

-128-


(7)    Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (7) that are at the time outstanding, without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash, Cash Equivalents or marketable securities, not to exceed the greater of (x) $95,000,000 and (y) 22.5% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

(8)    (i) payments made or expected to be made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of withholding or similar taxes payable upon exercise of Equity Interests by any future, present or former employee, director, manager, or consultant and repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants and (ii) payments or other adjustments to outstanding Equity Interests in accordance with any management equity plan, stock option plan or any other similar employee benefit plan, agreement or arrangement in connection with any Restricted Payment;

(9)    the declaration and payment of dividends on the Borrower’s common stock (or the payment of dividends to Holdings, any Intermediate Holdco or any other direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower to fund a payment of dividends on such company’s common stock), following consummation of an IPO,) in Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount per annum not to exceed an amount equal to the sum of (a) 6.006.0% per annum of the net cash proceeds received by or contributed to the Borrower in or from suchthe IPO, other than public offerings with respect to the Borrower’s common stock registered on Form S-8 and other than any public sale constituting an Excluded Contribution and (b) 5.07.0% per fiscal year of the market capitalization of the Borrower as of the end of the prior fiscal year (or in the case of the first fiscal year following anafter the IPO, as of such IPO);

(10)    Restricted Payments in an amount that does not exceed the amount of Excluded Contributions made since the Restatement Effective Date;

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

(12)    distributions or payments of Receivables Fees;

(13)    [reserved];

(14)    other Restricted Payments; provided that after giving Pro Forma Effect to such Restricted Payments the Payment Conditions are satisfied;

(15)    the declaration and payment of dividends by the Borrower to, or the making of loans to, Holdings or any other direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent company to pay: (A) franchise and excise taxes, and other fees and expenses, in each case, required to maintain its organizational existence, (B) (i) consolidated, combined or similar foreign, federal, state and local income and similar taxes (including if the Borrower is treated as a partnership or an entity disregarded from its owner for United States federal income tax purposes and its taxable income is entirely included on an income tax return of one or more direct or indirect parent companies each of which is treated as a subchapter C corporation), to the extent that such income or similar taxes are attributable to the income, revenue, receipts or capital of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and, to the extent of the amount actually received from its Unrestricted Subsidiaries, in amounts required to pay such taxes to the extent attributable to the income, revenue, receipts or capital of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries, and including any interest or penalties related thereto;

 

-129-


provided that in each case the amount of such payments with respect to any fiscal year does not exceed the amount that the Borrower, the Restricted Subsidiaries and the Unrestricted Subsidiaries (to the extent described above) would have been required to pay in respect of such foreign, federal, state and local income taxes, including any interest or penalties related thereto, for such fiscal year had the Borrower, the Restricted Subsidiaries and the Unrestricted Subsidiaries (to the extent described above) been a stand-alone taxpayer or stand-alone group (separate from any such direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower) for all fiscal years ending after the Restatement Effective Date and/or (ii) Permitted Tax Distributions, (C) customary salary, bonus, and other benefits payable to officers, employees, directors, and managers of Holdings, any Intermediate Holdco or any other direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower to the extent such salaries, bonuses, and other benefits are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including the Borrower’s proportionate share of such amount relating to such parent company being a public company, (D) general corporate or other operating (including, without limitation, expenses related to auditing or other accounting matters) and overhead costs and expenses of Holdings, any Intermediate Holdco or any other direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower to the extent such costs and expenses are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including the Borrower’s proportionate share of such amount relating to such parent company being a public company, (E) amounts required for any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower to pay fees and expenses incurred by any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower related to (i) the maintenance by such parent entity of its corporate or other entity existence and (ii) transactions of such parent company of the Borrower of the type described in clause (xi) of the definition of “Consolidated Net Income,” (F) cash payments in lieu of issuing fractional shares in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Interests of the Borrower or any such direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower, and (G) repurchases deemed to occur upon the cashless exercise of stock options and (H) taxes with respect to income of any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower derived from funding made available to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries by such direct or indirect parent company;

(16)    the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests of the Borrower deemed to occur in connection with paying cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Equity Interests in connection with a share dividend, distribution, share split, reverse share split, merger, consolidation, amalgamation or other business combination of the Borrower, in each case, permitted under this Agreement;

(17)    the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Borrower 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 Junior Debt in an aggregate amount pursuant to this clause (18) not to exceed the greater of (x) $105,000,000 and (y) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis);

(19)    undertaking or consummating any IPO Reorganization Transaction[reserved];

(20)    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;

(21)    payment of the Special Dividend; and

(22)    payments in respect of, or in connection with, the Restatement Effective Date Refinancing.

 

-130-


provided that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (11), (14) and (18), 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 shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof).

The Borrower 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 the Borrower and the 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 (7), (10), or (11) of Section 10.5(b), or pursuant to the definition of Permitted Investments, and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Agreement.

For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, in the event that a proposed Restricted Payment or Investment (or a portion thereof) meets the criteria of clauses (1) through (18) above or is entitled to be made pursuant to Section 10.5(a) and/or one or more of the exceptions contained in the definition of Permitted Investments, the Borrower will be entitled to classify or later reclassify (based on circumstances existing on the date of such reclassification) such Restricted Payment (or portion thereof) among such clauses (1) through (18), Section 10.5(a) and/or one or more of the exceptions contained in the definition of “Permitted Investments”, in a manner that otherwise complies with this covenant.

10.6    Limitation on Subsidiary Distributions. The Borrower will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any such Restricted Subsidiary to:

(a)    (i) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Borrower 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 the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(b)    make loans or advances to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; or

(c)    sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Borrower 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 Restatement Effective Date, including pursuant to this Agreement and the related documentation and related Hedging Obligations;

(ii)    the Term Loan Credit Documents and the Term Loans;

(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 the Borrower 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

 

-131-


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 the Borrower 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 Restatement Effective 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;

(xii)    restrictions created in connection with any Receivables Facility that, in the good faith determination of the board of directors of the Borrower, 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 the Borrower’s 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 their respective obligations under the Credit Documents as and when due (as determined in good faith by the Borrower).

10.7    Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Holdings will not permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for any Test Period to be lower than 1.00 to 1.00; provided that such Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will only be tested (a) on the date on which a Compliance Period begins, as of the last day of the Test Period ending immediately prior to the date on which such Compliance Period shall have commenced and (b) as of the last day of each Test Period thereafter until such Compliance Period is no longer continuing.

Section 11.     Events of Default.

Upon the occurrence of any of the following specified events set forth in Sections 11.1 through 11.11 (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

 

-132-


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, 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 the last paragraph of Section 9.1(e)(i), Section 9.5 (solely with respect to the Borrower), Section 9.14(d), Section 9.16 (during a Cash Dominion Period only) or Section 10; provided that any Event of Default under Section 10.7 is subject to cure as provided in Section 11.13 and an Event of Default with respect to such Section shall not occur until the expiration of the 10th Business Day subsequent to the date the relevant financial statements are required to be delivered for the applicable fiscal quarter pursuant to Section 9.1(a) or (b) (such period, the “Cure Period”); or

(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 (or 5 Business Days in the case of Section 9.1(h)) after receipt of written notice by the Borrower from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders; or

11.4    Default Under Other Agreements. (a) the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall (i) fail to make any payment with respect to any Indebtedness (other than the Obligations under the Credit Documents) in excess of the greater of (x) $70,000,000 and (y) 17% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) in the aggregate, for the Borrower 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 period 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 (a)(i) shall apply to any failure to make any payment in excess of the greater of (x) $70,000,000 and (y) 17% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) 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 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), or (b) without limiting the provisions of clause (a) above, any such Indebtedness 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 (it being understood that clause (a)(i) above shall apply to any failure to make any payment in excess of the greater of (x) $70,000,000 and (y) 17% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) that is required as a result of any such termination or equivalent event and that is not otherwise being contested in good faith)), prior to the stated maturity thereof; provided that this clause (b) shall not apply to (x) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, if such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder and under the documents providing for such Indebtedness, (y) Indebtedness which is convertible into Qualified Stock and converts to Qualified Stock in accordance with its

 

-133-


terms and such conversion is not prohibited hereunder, or (z) any breach or default that is (I) remedied by the Borrower 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; or

11.5    Bankruptcy, Etc. Except as otherwise permitted by Section 10.3, Holdings, any Intermediate Holdco, the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary commences a voluntary case, proceeding or action concerning itself under Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy” 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, any Intermediate Holdco, the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary and the petition is not controverted within 60 days after commencement of the case, proceeding or action; or an involuntary case, proceeding or action is commenced against Holdings, any Intermediate Holdco, the Borrower or any Significant 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, any Intermediate Holdco, the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary; or Holdings, any Intermediate Holdco, the Borrower or any Significant 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, any Intermediate Holdco, the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary; or there is commenced against the Holdings, any Intermediate Holdco, the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary any such proceeding or action that remains undismissed for a period of 60 days; or Holdings, any Intermediate Holdco, the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary is adjudicated bankrupt; or any order of relief or other order approving any such case or proceeding or action is entered; or Holdings, any Intermediate Holdco, the Borrower or any Significant 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, any Intermediate Holdco, the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or

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    Guarantee. Other than as expressly permitted hereunder, 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. Other than as expressly permitted hereunder, the Pledge Agreement or any other Security Document pursuant to which the Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is pledged or any material provision thereof shall cease to be in full force or effect (other than pursuant to the terms hereof or thereof, solely as a result of acts or omissions of the Collateral Agent or any Lender or solely 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. Other than as expressly permitted hereunder, the Security Agreement or any other Security Document pursuant to which the assets of Holdings, any Intermediate Holdco, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary are pledged as Collateral or any material provision thereof shall cease to be in full force or effect (other than pursuant to the terms hereof or thereof, solely 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

 

-134-


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 judgments or decrees shall be entered against the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries involving a liability in excess of the greater of (x) $70,000,000 and (y) 17% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) in the aggregate for all such judgments and decrees for the Borrower and the 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;

then, and in any event, and at any time thereafter, 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 the Borrower, without prejudice to the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to enforce its claims against the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, except as otherwise specifically provided for in this Agreement, (i) declare the Total Revolving Credit Commitment and Swingline Commitment terminated, whereupon the Revolving Credit Commitment and Swingline Commitment, if any, of each Lender or the Swingline 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 agrees that upon receipt of such notice, or upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 11.5 with respect to 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. In the case of an Event of Default under Section 11.3(a) in respect of a failure to observe or perform the covenant under Section 10.7, the actions previously described will be permitted to occur only following the expiration of the ability to effectuate the Cure Right; provided that, if an Event of Default specified in Section 11.5 shall occur with respect to the Borrower, the result that would occur upon the giving of written notice by the Administrative Agent shall occur automatically without the giving of any such notice.

11.12    Application of Proceeds. Subject to the terms of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and, in each case if executed, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, 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 11.4 shall be applied:

(i)    first, ratably to pay the Obligations in respect of any Indemnified Liabilities, indemnities and other amounts then due to the Agents until paid in full;

(ii)    second, ratably to pay any Indemnified Liabilities and indemnities, and to pay any fees then due to the Lenders, until paid in full; and

(iii)    third, ratably to pay interest accrued in respect of the Obligations until paid in full;

(iv)    fourth, to pay principal due in respect of the Swingline Loans until paid in full;

(v)    fifth, ratably (A) to pay the unpaid principal in respect of the Loans, (B) Unpaid Drawings and (C) to pay outstanding Secured Bank Product Obligations, including Cash Collateralization of outstanding Noticed Hedges (other than such amount of the outstanding Secured Bank Product Obligations that exceeds the amount of the Bank Product Reserve as determined by the Administrative Agent and

 

-135-


established in respect of such Secured Bank Product Obligations);

(vi)    sixth, ratably to be held by the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Letter of Credit Issuers and the Lenders to Cash Collateralize the then extant undrawn Stated Amount of Letters of Credit, in each case until paid in full;

(vii)    seventh, to pay outstanding Secured Bank Product Obligations, including Cash Collateralization of outstanding Noticed Hedges, that exceed the amount of the Bank Product Reserve as determined by the Administrative Agent and established in respect of such Secured Bank Product Obligation;

(viii)    eighth, ratably to pay any other outstanding Obligations of the Credit Parties (other than Obligations in respect of Secured Commercial LC Facilities);

(ix)    ninth, ratably to pay other Obligations in respect of Secured Commercial LC Facilities, until paid in full; and

(x)    tenth, to the Borrower or such other Person entitled thereto under Applicable Law.

Amounts distributed with respect to any Secured Bank Product Obligations shall be the lesser of the maximum Secured Bank Product Obligations last reported to the Administrative Agent or the actual Secured Bank Product Obligations as calculated by the methodology reported to the Administrative Agent for determining the amount due. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to calculate the amount to be distributed with respect to any Secured Bank Product Obligations, and may request a reasonably detailed calculation of such amount from the applicable Secured Party. If a Secured Party fails to deliver such calculation within five (5) days following request by the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may assume the amount to be distributed is zero. The allocations set forth in this Section 11.12 are solely to determine the rights and priorities of the Agents and Secured Parties as among themselves, and may be changed by agreement among them without the consent of any Credit Party. 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.

11.13    Equity Cure. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 11, in the event that Holdings fails to comply with the requirement of the financial covenant set forth in Section 10.7, from the beginning of any fiscal period until the expiration of the 10th Business Day following the date financial statements referred to in Sections 9.1(a) or (b) are required to be delivered in respect of such fiscal period for which such financial covenant is being measured, any holder of Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings shall have the right to cure such failure (the “Cure Right”) by causing cash net equity proceeds derived from an issuance of Capital Stock or Stock Equivalents (other than Disqualified Stock, unless reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) by Holdings (or from a contribution to the common equity capital of Holdings) to be contributed, directly or indirectly, as cash common equity to either Borrower, and upon receipt by such Borrower of such cash contribution (such cash amount being referred to as the “Cure Amount”) pursuant to the exercise of such Cure Right, such financial covenant shall be recalculated giving effect to the following pro forma adjustments:

(a)    Consolidated EBITDA shall be increased, solely for the purpose of determining the existence of an Event of Default resulting from a breach of the financial covenant set forth in Section 10.7 with respect to any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters that includes the fiscal quarter for which the Cure Right was exercised and not for any other purpose under this Agreement, by an amount equal to the Cure Amount;

(b)    Consolidated Total Debt shall be decreased for purposes of determining compliance with Section 10.7 solely to the extent proceeds of the Cure Amount are actually applied to prepay Indebtedness, and in no event shall any reduction be given effect during the fiscal quarter with regard to which the Cure Right is exercised; and

 

-136-


(c)    if, after giving effect to the foregoing recalculations, Holdings shall then be in compliance with the requirements of the financial covenant set forth in Section 10.7 (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis), Holdings shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of the financial covenant set forth in Section 10.7 as of the relevant date of determination with the same effect as though there had been no failure to comply therewith at such date, and the applicable breach or default of such financial covenants that had occurred shall be deemed cured for the purposes of this Agreement;

provided that (i) in each period of four consecutive fiscal quarters there shall be at least two fiscal quarters in which no Cure Right is made, (ii) there shall be a maximum of five Cure Rights made during the term of this Agreement, (iii) each Cure Amount shall be no greater than the amount expected to be required to cause the Borrower to be in compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 10.7; and (iv) all Cure Amounts shall be disregarded for the purposes of any financial ratio determination under the Credit Documents other than for determining compliance with Section 10.7.

Section 12. The Agents.

12.1    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. The provisions of this Section 12 (other than Section 12.1(c) with respect to the Joint Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners and Sections 12.1, 12.9, 12.11 and 12.12 with respect to the Borrower) are solely for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders, neither the Borrower nor 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, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries.

(b)    The Administrative Agent, each Lender, the Swingline 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, the Swingline 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, the Swingline Lender and the Letter of Credit Issuer 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)    Each of the Joint Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners each in its capacity 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).

 

-137-


12.3    Exculpatory Provisions. No Agent nor any of its Affiliates nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, partners, members, trustees, administrators, managers, representatives, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliatesand advisors 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) or (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, (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Administrative Agent’s reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page), 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. 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. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) no Agent shall have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby that such Agent is instructed in writing to exercise by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 13.1), provided that no Agent shall be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose such Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Credit Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any debtor relief law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any debtor relief law and, (b) except as expressly set forth in the Credit Documents, no Agent shall have any duty to disclose, nor shall it be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. and (c) the Administrative Agent does not warrant nor accept any responsibility nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to (i) any LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes, (ii) the administration, submission or any matter relating to any LIBOR Successor Rate or (iii) the effect of any of the foregoing.

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 the Borrower), 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 (and exculpated in a manner that is) 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.

 

-138-


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 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 and each Letter of Credit Issuer 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, the Swingline Lender and the Letter of Credit Issuer. Each of the Lenders, the Swingline 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 an 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 and that it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender or such Letter of Credit Issuer, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities. Each Lender and each Letter of Credit Issuer 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.

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

 

-139-


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 the Borrower; provided that such reimbursement by the Lenders shall not affect 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.

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 the Borrower. 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 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 (the “Resignation Effective Date”), 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); provided that if the Administrative Agent or the 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.

(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.

 

-140-


(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 amendments or supplements to the Mortgages, and such other instruments or notices, as may be necessary or desirable, or as the Required Lenders may request, in order to 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 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 12.9 shall also constitute the resignation or removal of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as the Collateral Agent. The fees payable by 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 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 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 12.9 shall also constitute its resignation or removal as Swingline Lender and 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 Swingline Lender and Letter of Credit Issuer, (b) the retiring Swingline Lender and 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 Swingline Lender and 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 to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring Letter of Credit Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

12.10    Withholding Tax. To the extent required by any applicable law (as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender under any Credit Document an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax. 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), within 10 days after demand therefor, fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent or 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

 

-141-


Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 12.10, the term Lender includes the Swingline Lender and 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 final maturity date 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 to be 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 (other than Holdings) 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; provided that, in the case of any prospective release of any Guarantee with respect to any Guarantor having assets included in the Borrowing Base, (1) no Overadvance shall result after giving effect to any such release and (2) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent an updated Borrowing Base Certificate giving Pro Forma Effect to such release as if such release occurred on such date of such Borrowing Base Certificate; (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 clause (vi) (solely with respect to Section 10.1(d)), and (ix) of the definition of “Permitted Lien”; and (d) enter into subordination or 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 intercreditor or subordination agreement, including the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Second Lien Intercreditor 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. Anything contained in any of the Credit Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, Holdings, the Borrower, 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 (in accordance with the directions of the Required Lenders), 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

 

-142-


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 Agreement Governs. The Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, and each Lender (a) hereby agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of any intercreditor agreement entered into pursuant to the terms hereof, (b) hereby authorizes and instructs the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to enter into each intercreditor agreement entered into pursuant to the terms hereof and to subject the Liens securing the Obligations to the provisions thereof, and (c) hereby authorizes and instructs the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to enter into any intercreditor agreement that includes, or to amend any then existing intercreditor agreement to provide for, the terms described in the definition of Permitted Other Indebtedness.

12.14    Bank Product Providers. Each Secured Bank Product Provider, by delivery of a notice to Agent of a Bank Product, agrees to be bound by Section 11.13 and this Section 12. Each Secured Bank Product Provider shall indemnify and hold harmless each Agent and each of its directors, officers, employees, or agents, to the extent not reimbursed by the Credit Parties, against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against such Agent or its directors, officers, employees, or agents in connection with such provider’s Secured Bank Product Obligations.

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. Except as provided to the contrary under Section 2.14, and other than with respect to any amendment, modification or waiver contemplated in the proviso to clause (i) below, which shall only require the consent of the Lenders expressly set forth therein and not the Required Lenders, subject to Section 2.10, 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 the definitions of “Average Excess Availability”, or forgive any portion thereof, or extend the date for the payment, of interest or fees payable hereunder or any principal 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 (except as permitted by this provision in Section 3.1(b)), or amend or modify any provisions of Sections 5.3(a) (with respect to the ratable allocation of any payments only), 11.12, 13.8(a) or 13.20, or make any Loan, interest, Fee or

 

-143-


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 directly and adversely affected thereby, 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) amend, modify or waive any provisions hereof relating to Swingline Loans without the written consent of the Swingline Lender in a manner that directly and adversely affects such Person, or (vi) release all or substantially all of the Guarantors under the Guarantees (except as expressly permitted by the Guarantees, the Intercreditor Agreement or this Agreement) or release all or substantially all of the Collateral under the Security Documents (except as expressly permitted by the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement or this Agreement) without the prior written consent of each Lender, or (vii) reduce the percentage specified in the definition of the term Required Lenders or Super Majority Lenders or amend, modify or waive any provision of this Agreement 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, (viii) increase any advance rates under the definition of Borrowing Base (provided that the foregoing shall not impair the ability of the Administrative Agent to add, remove, reduce or increase Reserves against the ABL Priority Collateral included in the Borrowing Base in its Permitted Discretion) without the written consent of each Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender), or (ix) change the definition of Borrowing Base or any component definitions thereof which result in increased borrowing availability without the consent of the Super Majority Lenders or (y) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in clause (x), (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.

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 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 the Borrower, such Lenders, the Administrative Agent and all future holders of the affected Loans. In the case of any waiver, 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, in addition to any credit extensions and related Incremental Facility 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, 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 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 Revolving Credit Loans.

 

-144-


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 and the payment in full of all Obligations hereunder (except for (w) contingent indemnification obligations in respect of which a claim has not yet been made, (x) Secured Hedge Obligations, (y) Secured Cash Management Obligations and (z) cash collateralized Letters of Credit pursuant to arrangements reasonably acceptable to the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer), (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; provided that, in the case of any release of any Guarantee with respect to any Guarantor having assets included in the Borrowing Base, (1) no Overadvance shall result after giving effect to any such release and (2) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent an updated Borrowing Base Certificate giving Pro Forma Effect to such release as if such release occurred on such date of such Borrowing Base Certificate. 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 Intercreditor Agreement or 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 Intercreditor Agreement or such other intercreditor agreement or arrangement permitted under this Agreement, as applicable (it being understood that any such amendment or supplement may make such other changes to the applicable intercreditor agreement as, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, are required to effectuate the foregoing; 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) and (y) 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 such amendment shall be deemed approved by the Lenders if the Lenders shall have received at least

 

-145-


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, collateral 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 requirements of 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.

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 the Borrower and the 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, the Letter of Credit Issuer or the Swingline Lender 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 and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer or the Swingline Lender.

All such notices and other communications shall be deemed to be given or made upon the earlier to occur of (i) actual receipt by the relevant party hereto and (ii) (A) if delivered by hand or by courier, when signed for by or on behalf of the relevant party hereto; (B) if delivered by mail, 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.

 

-146-


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.

(a)    Each of Holdings and the Borrower, jointly and severally, agrees (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 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, including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of Cahill Gordon & ReindelLatham & Watkins LLP (or such other counsel as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), one counsel in each relevant local jurisdiction with the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), (ii) to pay or reimburse each Agent 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, including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of one firm or counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, and, to the extent required, one firm or local counsel in each relevant local jurisdiction with the Borrower’s consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions), and (iii) 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 (and the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, expenses, disbursements and other charges of one firm of counsel for all Indemnified Persons, taken as a whole (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest where the Indemnified Person affected by such conflict notifies the Borrower of any existence of such conflict and in connection with the investigating or defending any of the foregoing (including the reasonable fees) has retained its own counsel, of another firm of counsel for such affected Indemnified Person), and to the extent required, one firm or local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions)) of any such Indemnified Person arising out of or relating to any action, claim, litigation, investigation or other proceeding (regardless of whether such Indemnified Person is a party thereto or whether or not such action, claim, litigation or proceeding was brought by Holdings, any of its Subsidiaries or any other Person), arising out of, or with respect to the Transactions or to the execution, enforcement, delivery, performance and administration of this Agreement, the other Credit Documents and any such other 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 relating in any way to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries (all the foregoing in this clause (iii), 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, the Borrower or their respective 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 PersonAgent, any Lender or Related Party of any Agent or any Lender (each such Person being called a “Lender-Related 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

 

-147-


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. No IndemnifiedLender-Related 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 IndemnifiedLender-Related 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 or Swingline Loans) at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned; it being understood that, without limitation, the Borrower shall have the right to withhold its consent to any assignment if, in order for such assignment to comply with applicable law, the Borrower would be required to obtain the consent of, or make any filing or registration with, any Governmental Authority) of:

(A)    the Borrower; provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment of Loans or Commitments to any assignee if an Event of Default under Section 11.1 or Section 11.5 (with respect to the Borrower) has occurred and is continuing; and

(B)    the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), the Swingline Lender and the Letter of Credit Issuer.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such assignment shall be made to (i) a natural Person, Disqualified Lender or Defaulting Lender and (ii) Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent shall bear no responsibility or liability for ascertaining, inquiring, monitoring or enforcing the list of Persons who are Disqualified Lenders at any time.

(ii)    Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(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 $1,000,000, 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;

 

-148-


(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;

(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)); and

(E)    any assignment to an Affiliated Lender (other than an Affiliated Institutional Lender) shall also be subject to the requirements of Section 13.6(h).

For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent bears no responsibility for tracking or monitoring assignments to or participations by any Affiliated Lender.

(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 solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and 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) owing to each Lender 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.

(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

 

-149-


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 or the Administrative Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer or the Swingline Lender sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (other than (x) a natural person, (y) Holdings and its Subsidiaries 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 bear no responsibility or liability for ascertaining, inquiring, monitoring or enforcing the list of Disqualified Lenders or the sales of participations thereto at any time. 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) and (vii) 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 and Sections 2.12 and 13.7 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 Section 5.4(e)) (it being agreed that any documentation required under Section 5.4(e) shall be provided solely 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) or such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. 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) or Proposed Section 1.163-5(b) of the United States Treasury Regulations (or, in each case, any amended, successor or final version).

(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

 

-150-


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.

(f)     [reserved].

(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 and Sections 2.12 and 13.7 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 Section 5.4(e) (it being agreed that any documentation required under Section 5.4(e) shall be provided solely 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).

(h)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender may, at any time, assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement in respect of its Loans or Commitments to an Affiliated Lender; provided that by its acquisition of Loans or Commitments, an Affiliated Lender shall be deemed to have acknowledged and agreed that:

(A)    it shall not have any right to (i) attend or participate in (including, in each case, by telephone) any meeting (including “Lender only” meetings) or discussions (or portion thereof) among the Administrative Agent or any Lender to which representatives of the Borrower are not

 

-151-


then present, (ii) receive any information or material prepared by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or any communication by or among the Administrative Agent and one or more Lenders or any other material which is “Lender only”, except to the extent such information or materials have been made available to the Borrower or their representatives (and in any case, other than the right to receive notices of prepayments and other administrative notices in respect of its Loans required to be delivered to Lenders pursuant to Section 2) or receive any advice of counsel to the Administrative Agent or (iii) make any challenge to the Administrative Agent’s or any other Lender’s attorney-client privilege on the basis of its status as a Lender; and

(B)    except with respect to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action (I) in Section 13.1 requiring the consent of all Lenders, all Lenders directly and adversely affected or specifically such Lender, (II) that alters an Affiliated Lender’s pro rata share of any payments given to all Lenders, or (III) affects the Affiliated Lender (in its capacity as a Lender) in a manner that is disproportionate to the effect on any Lender in the same Class, the Loans and Commitments held by an Affiliated Lender shall be disregarded in both the numerator and denominator in the calculation of any Lender vote (and, in the case of a plan of reorganization that does not affect the Affiliated Lender in a manner that is materially adverse to such Affiliated Lender relative to other Lenders, shall be deemed to have voted its interest in the Loans and Commitments in the same proportion as the other Lenders) (and shall be deemed to have been voted in the same percentage as all other applicable Lenders voted if necessary to give legal effect to this paragraph); and

(ii)    the aggregate principal amount of Loans and Commitments held at any one time by Affiliated Lenders may not exceed 30% of the aggregate principal amount of all Loans and Commitments outstanding at the time of such purchase.

For avoidance of doubt, the foregoing limitations shall not be applicable to Affiliated Institutional Lenders.

13.7    Replacements of Lenders Under Certain Circumstances.

(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 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 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, an Affiliated 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

 

-152-


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. 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.

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. For purposes of subclause (ii)(a) of the definition of “Excluded Taxes”, a Lender that acquires a participation pursuant to this Section 13.8 shall be treated as having acquired such participation on the date(s) on which such Lender acquired the applicable interest(s) in the Commitment(s) and/or Loan(s) to which such participation relates.

(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 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.; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution. (a) 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 counterpartsin counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. A set of the copies ofa single contract. Except as provided in Section 6.01, this Agreement signed by all the parties shall be lodged with the Borrower andshall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent. and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

-153-


(b) Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of (x) this Agreement, (y) any other Credit Document and/or (z) any document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any notice delivered pursuant to Section 13.1), certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to this Agreement, any other Credit Document and/or the transactions contemplated hereby and/or thereby (each an “Ancillary Document”) that is an Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement, such other Credit Document or such Ancillary Document, as applicable. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement, any other Credit Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in any electronic form (including deliveries by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page), each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be; provided that nothing herein shall require the Administrative Agent to accept Electronic Signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent and pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (i) to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept any Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Credit Party without further verification thereof and without any obligation to review the appearance or form of any such Electronic signature and (ii) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by a manually executed counterpart. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower and each Credit Party hereby (i) agrees that, for all purposes, including without limitation, in connection with any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation among the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Borrower and the Credit Parties, Electronic Signatures transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page and/or any electronic images of this Agreement, any other Credit Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original, (ii) the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders may, at its option, create one or more copies of this Agreement, any other Credit Document and/or any Ancillary Document in the form of an imaged electronic record in any format, which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document (and all such electronic records shall be considered an original for all purposes and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record), (iii) waives any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Credit Document and/or any Ancillary Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement, such other Credit Document and/or such Ancillary Document, respectively, including with respect to any signature pages thereto and (iv) waives any claim against the Administrative Agent, any Joint Lead Arranger, any Letter of Credit Issuer, any Lender, and any Affiliate of any of the foregoing Persons and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates for any liabilities arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s and/or any Lender’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures and/or transmissions by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page, including any liabilities arising as a result of the failure of the Borrower and/or any Credit Party to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.

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 Texas Intermediate Holdcos, 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 or any Lender relative to subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Credit Documents.

 

-154-


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 LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH LETTER OF CREDIT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED 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 District Court for the Southern District of New York, in each case sitting in the Borough of Manhattan (or if such court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the Supreme Court of the State of New York Citysitting in the Borough of Manhattan), and any appellate courtscourt from any thereof;

(b)    consents that any such action or proceeding shall be brought in such courts andFederal (to the extent permitted by law) or New York State court 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 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.

13.14    Acknowledgments. Each of Holdings, each Texas Intermediate Holdco and the Borrower hereby acknowledges 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;

 

-155-


(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 Holdings, the Texas Intermediate Holdcos and the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate. Each of Holdings, the Texas Intermediate Holdcos and the Borrower hereby agrees 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 Holdings, the Texas Intermediate Holdcos and 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.

13.16    Confidentiality. The Administrative Agent, each other Agent and each Lender (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 confidentiality obligations owing to any Credit Party or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates, (e) to the

 

-156-


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 (or other derivative transaction counterparties) (any such person, a “Derivative Counterparty”), 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, Derivative Counterparties or prospective Lenders, Derivative Counterparties or participants or prospective participants referred to above shall be made subject to the acknowledgment and acceptance by such Lender, Derivative Counterparty 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, (h) for purposes of establishing a “due diligence” defense, or (i) to rating agencies in connection with obtaining ratings for the Borrower and the Credit Facilities to the extent such rating agencies are subject to customary confidentiality obligations of professional practice or 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). 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 the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or its 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 disclose the existence of this Agreement and the information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar services providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration, settlement and management of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

13.17    Direct Website Communications. 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 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) 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 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.

 

-157-


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. Each of the Lenders and the Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but (except as may be required by applicable law) shall not be obligated to, store the Communications on the Platform in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s generally applicable document retention procedures and policies.

(a)    The Borrower further agrees that any Agent may make the Communications available to the Lenders by posting the Communications on IntraLinks, DebtDomain, SyndTrak, ClearPar 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.

(b)    Although the Platform and its primary web portal are secured with generally-applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the Administrative Agent from time to time (including, as of the Restatement Effective Date, a user ID/password authorization system) and the Platform is secured through a per-deal authorization method whereby each user may access the Platform only on a deal-by-deal basis, each of the Lenders, the Letter of Credit Issuers and the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure, that the Administrative Agent is not responsible for approving or vetting the representatives or contacts of any Lender that are added to the Platform, and that there aremay be confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution. Each of the Lenders, the Letter of Credit Issuers and the Borrower hereby approves distribution of the Communications through the Platform and understands and assumes the risks of such distribution.

(c)    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.

(d)    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 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 the Borrower has indicated contains only publicly available information with respect to the Borrower may be posted on that portion of the Platform designated for such public-side Lenders. If 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 the Borrower, the Subsidiaries and their securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to indicate whether any document or notice contains only publicly available

 

-158-


information; provided, however, that the following documents shall be deemed to be marked “PUBLIC,” unless the Borrower notifies 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 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 NYFRB 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. 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 theretoCredit Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that no Credit Party will have any obligations except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents and each Lender Party is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to such Credit Party with respect to the Credit Documents and the transactions contemplated herein and therein and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, any Credit Party or any other person. Each Credit Party agrees that it will not assert any claim thatagainst any Lender has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes aParty based on an alleged breach of fiduciary or similar duty toby such Credit Party,Lender Party in connection with such transaction or the process leadingthis Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Additionally, each Credit Party acknowledges and agrees that no Lender Party is advising any Credit Party as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting, regulatory or any other matters in any jurisdiction. Each Credit Party shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated herein or in the other Credit Documents, and the Lender Parties shall have no responsibility or liability to any Credit Party with respect thereto.

 

-159-


(b)     The Borrower further acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that each Lender Party, together with its Affiliates, is a full service securities or banking firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities as well as providing investment banking and other financial services. In the ordinary course of business, any Lender Party may provide investment banking and other financial services to, and/or acquire, hold or sell, for its own accounts and the accounts of customers, equity, debt and other securities and financial instruments (including bank loans and other obligations) of, the Borrower and other companies with which the Borrower may have commercial or other relationships. With respect to any securities and/or financial instruments so held by any Lender Party or any of its customers, all rights in respect of such securities and financial instruments, including any voting rights, will be exercised by the holder of the rights, in its sole discretion.

(c)     In addition, the Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that each Lender Party and its affiliates may be providing debt financing, equity capital or other services (including financial advisory services) to other companies in respect of which the Borrower may have conflicting interests regarding the transactions described herein and otherwise. No Lender Party will use confidential information obtained from the Borrower by virtue of the transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents or its other relationships with the Borrower in connection with the performance by such Lender Party of services for other companies, and no Lender Party will furnish any such information to other companies. The Borrower also acknowledges that no Lender Party has any obligation to use in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents, or to furnish to the Borrower, confidential information obtained from other companies

13.22    Nature of Borrower Obligations.

(a)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Agreement, it is understood and agreed by the various parties to this Agreement that all of the Borrower’s Obligations to repay principal of, interest on, and all other amounts with respect to, all Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations of the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement (including, without limitation, all fees, indemnities, taxes and other Obligations in connection therewith or in connection with the related Commitments) shall be guaranteed pursuant to, and in accordance with the terms of, the Guarantee.

(b)    The obligations of the Borrower with respect to the Borrower’s Obligations are independent of the obligations of any Guarantor under its guaranty of the Borrower’s Obligations, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against the Borrower, whether or not any such Guarantor is joined in any such action or actions. The Borrower waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting its liability hereunder or the enforcement thereof.

(c)    The Borrower authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Lenders without notice or demand (except as shall be required by the Credit Documents and applicable statute that cannot be waived), and without affecting or impairing its liability hereunder, from time to time to:

(i)    exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against any Guarantor or others or otherwise act or refrain from acting;

(ii)    apply any sums paid by any other Person, howsoever realized or otherwise received to or for the account of the Borrower to any liability or liabilities of such other Person regardless of what liability or liabilities of such other Person remain unpaid; and/or

(iii)    consent to or waive any breach of, or act, omission or default under, this Agreement or any of the instruments or agreements referred to herein, or otherwise, by any other Person.

(d)    It is not necessary for the Administrative Agent or any other Lender to inquire into the capacity or powers of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or the officers, directors, members, partners or agents acting or purporting to act on its behalf.

 

-160-


(e)    The Borrower waives any right to require the Administrative Agent or the other Lenders to (i) proceed against any Guarantor or any other party, (ii) proceed against or exhaust any security held from any Guarantor or any other party or (iii) pursue any other remedy in the Administrative Agent’s or the Lenders’ power whatsoever. The Borrower waives any defense based on or arising out of suretyship or any impairment of security held from the Borrower, any Guarantor or any other party or on or arising out of any defense of any Guarantor or any other party other than payment in full in cash of the Obligations of the Credit Parties, including, without limitation, any defense based on or arising out of the disability of any Guarantor or any other party, or the unenforceability of the Obligations of the Borrower or any part thereof from any cause, in each case other than as a result of the payment in full in cash of the Obligations of the Borrower.

(f)    All provisions contained in any Credit Document shall be interpreted consistently with this Section 13.22 to the extent possible.

13.23    Amendment and Restatement.

(a)    The Credit Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, the terms and provisions of the Existing ABL Facility 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 Existing ABL Facility, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement (including, without limitation, clause (b) of this Section 13.23), shall be superseded by this Agreement. Upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, each Credit Document that was in effect immediately prior to the date of this Agreement shall continue to be effective on its terms unless otherwise expressly stated herein or therein.

(b)    Notwithstanding the amendment and restatement of the Existing ABL Facility by this Agreement, the Credit Parties shall continue to be liable (i) to each Indemnified Person with respect to agreements on their part under the Existing ABL Facility to indemnify and hold harmless such Indemnified Person from and against all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, charges and expenses to which the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may be subject arising in connection with the Existing ABL Facility and (ii) for the Obligations (as defined in the Existing ABL Facility) of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties under the Existing ABL Facility and the other Credit Documents (as defined in the Existing ABL Facility) that remain unpaid and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and such Obligations shall continue to exist under and be evidenced by this Agreement and the other Credit Documents. This Agreement is given as a substitution of, and not as a payment of, the obligations of the Credit Parties under the Existing ABL Facility and is not intended to constitute a novation of the Existing ABL Facility.

13.24    Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEAAffected 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 EEAAffected 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 EEAa Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

(a)    the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEAthe applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEAAffected 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 EEAAffected 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

 

-161-


(iii)    the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEAthe applicable Resolution Authority.

13.25    Certain ERISA Matters.

(a)    Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

(i)    such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments,

(ii)    the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement,

(iii)    (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, or

(iv)    such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

(b)    In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that:

(i)  none of the Administrative Agent or the Joint Lead Arrangers or any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the Collateral or the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Credit Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto),.

(ii) the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement is independent (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-21) and is a bank, an insurance carrier, an investment adviser, a broker-dealer or other

 

-162-


person that holds, or has under management or control, total assets of at least $50 million, in each case as described in 29 CFR § 2510.3-21(c)(1)(i)(A)-(E),

(iii) the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to particular transactions and investment strategies (including in respect of the Obligations),

(iv) the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement is a fiduciary under ERISA or the Code, or both, with respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement and is responsible for exercising independent judgment in evaluating the transactions hereunder, and

(v) no fee or other compensation is being paid directly to the Administrative Agent or the Joint Lead Arrangers or any of their respective Affiliates for investment advice (as opposed to other services) in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments or this Agreement.

(c)    The Administrative Agent and Joint Lead Arrangers hereby inform the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice, or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and, this Agreement and any other Credit Documents, (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Credit Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

13.26    MIRE Events. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that, if there are any Mortgaged Properties, any increase, extension or renewal of any of the Commitments or Loans (including the provision of Incremental Commitments or any other incremental credit facilities hereunder, but excluding (i) any continuation or conversion of borrowings, (ii) the making of any Revolving Loans or (iii) the issuance, renewal or extension of Letters of Credit) shall be subject to (and conditioned upon): the prior delivery of all flood hazard determination certifications, acknowledgements and evidence of flood insurance and other flood-related documentation with respect to such Mortgaged Properties as required by Flood Insurance Laws and as otherwise reasonably required by the Administrative Agent; provided that the effectiveness of each such event pursuant to this Section 13.26 shall be subject to such documents having been made available to the Lenders not less than five (5) Business Days prior to the date of effectiveness thereof.

13.27     Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Credit Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Swap Obligations 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):

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

 

-163-


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.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

-164-


Annex B

Commitments of Lenders

Revolving Credit Commitments

 

Lender

   Revolving Credit Commitment ($)      Percentage of Total  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

     185,000,000        18.5

Bank of America, N.A.

     185,000,000        18.5

Capital One, National Association

     185,000,000        18.5

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

     185,000,000        18.5

U.S. Bank National Association

     85,000,000        8.5

Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Island Branch

     75,000,000        7.5

Regions Bank

     60,000,000        6.0

BBVA USA

     40,000,000        4.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,000,000,000        100.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Elise Hasbrook

Vice President Communications

281.253.8200

elise.hasbrook@academy.com

   LOGO

Academy Sports + Outdoors Announces Offering of Senior Secured Notes

KATY, TEXAS (October 26, 2020) Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (“Academy”) (NASDAQ: ASO) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Academy, Ltd. (the “Issuer”), intends to offer $400 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes due 2027 (the “Notes”) in a private offering that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), subject to market and other conditions.

The Notes will be guaranteed on a senior secured basis by certain of Academy’s subsidiaries that guarantee the Issuer’s credit facilities. The Notes and the related guarantees will be secured by a first-priority lien on all of the Issuer’s and the guarantors’ personal property securing the Issuer’s term loan facility on a first-priority basis and a second-priority lien on the Issuer’s and the guarantors’ personal property securing the Issuer’s asset-based revolving credit facility on a first-priority basis.

The Issuer intends to use the net proceeds from the Notes to repay a portion of the $1,434 million outstanding under its term loan facility and pay related fees and expenses.

The Notes and the related guarantees have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act, or any state securities laws 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 and applicable state laws. The Notes and the related guarantees are being offered only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and to non-U.S. persons outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. This press release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135(c) under the Securities Act.

About Academy

Academy is one of the leading full-line sporting goods and outdoor recreation retailers in the United States. Originally founded in 1938 as a family business in Texas, Academy has grown to 259 stores across 16 contiguous states, primarily in the southern United States. Academy’s mission is to provide “Fun for All” and Academy fulfills this mission with a localized merchandising strategy and value proposition that strongly connects with a broad range of consumers. Academy’s product assortment focuses on key categories of outdoor, apparel, footwear and sports & recreation through both leading national brands and a portfolio of 17 private label brands, which go well beyond traditional sporting goods and apparel offerings.


Forward Looking Statements

The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Academy’s current expectations and are not guarantees of future performance. The forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties, assumptions or changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict or quantify. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to changes in global, regional or local economic, business, competitive, market, regulatory and other factors, many of which are beyond Academy’s control. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are set forth in Academy’s filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement in this press release speaks only as of the date of this release. Academy undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws.

###

EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

 

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Elise Hasbrook

Vice President Communications

281.253.8200

elise.hasbrook@academy.com

   LOGO

Academy Sports + Outdoors Announces Pricing of Senior Secured Notes

KATY, TEXAS (October 28, 2020) Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (“Academy”) (NASDAQ: ASO) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Academy, Ltd. (the “Issuer”), priced a private offering that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of $400 million aggregate principal amount of 6.000% senior secured notes due 2027 (the “Notes”). The offering is expected to close on November 6, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions.

The Notes will be guaranteed on a senior secured basis by certain of Academy’s subsidiaries that guarantee the Issuer’s credit facilities. The Notes and the related guarantees will be secured by (i) a first-priority lien on all of the Issuer’s and the guarantors’ personal property securing the Issuer’s term loan facility on a first-priority basis and (ii) a second-priority lien on the Issuer’s and the guarantors’ personal property securing the Issuer’s asset-based revolving credit facility on a first-priority basis.

The Issuer intends to use the net proceeds from the Notes to repay a portion of the $1,434 million outstanding under its term loan facility and pay related fees and expenses.

The Notes and the related guarantees have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act, or any state securities laws 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 and applicable state laws. The Notes and the related guarantees are being offered and sold only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and to non-U.S. persons outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. This press release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135(c) under the Securities Act.

About Academy

Academy is one of the leading full-line sporting goods and outdoor recreation retailers in the United States. Originally founded in 1938 as a family business in Texas, Academy has grown to 259 stores across 16 contiguous states, primarily in the southern United States. Academy’s mission is to provide “Fun for All” and Academy fulfills this mission with a localized merchandising strategy and value proposition that strongly connects with a broad range of consumers. Academy’s product assortment focuses on key categories of outdoor, apparel, footwear and sports & recreation through both leading national brands and a portfolio of 17 private label brands, which go well beyond traditional sporting goods and apparel offerings.


Forward Looking Statements

The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Academy’s current expectations and are not guarantees of future performance. The forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties, assumptions or changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict or quantify. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to changes in global, regional or local economic, business, competitive, market, regulatory and other factors, many of which are beyond Academy’s control. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are set forth in Academy’s filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement in this press release speaks only as of the date of this release. Academy undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws.

###