EXECUTION VERSION
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of November 19, 2019
by and among
NEW MEDIA INVESTMENT GROUP INC.
(to be renamed GANNETT CO., INC. upon effectiveness of the Merger),
as Holdings
ARCTIC HOLDINGS LLC
(to be renamed GANNETT HOLDINGS LLC upon effectiveness of the Merger),
as Borrower,
EACH PERSON
LISTED AS A GUARANTOR ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO,
as Guarantors,
THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,
as Lenders,
CORTLAND PRODUCTS CORP.,
as Collateral Agent,
and
CORTLAND PRODUCTS CORP.,
as Administrative Agent
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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| ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS; CERTAIN TERMS | 1 |
| | | |
| Section 1.01 | Definitions. | 1 |
| Section 1.02 | Terms Generally. | 41 |
| Section 1.03 | Certain Matters of Construction. | 42 |
| Section 1.04 | Pro Forma Calculations. | 42 |
| Section 1.05 | Accounting and Other Terms. | 43 |
| Section 1.06 | Time References. | 43 |
| | |
| ARTICLE II THE LOANS | 45 |
| | | |
| Section 2.01 | Commitments. | 45 |
| Section 2.02 | Making the Term Loans. | 45 |
| Section 2.03 | Repayment of Term Loans; Evidence of Debt. | 45 |
| Section 2.04 | Interest. | 46 |
| Section 2.05 | Termination of Commitment; Prepayment of Term Loans. | 47 |
| Section 2.06 | Fees. | 50 |
| Section 2.07 | [Reserved]. | 50 |
| Section 2.08 | [Reserved]. | 50 |
| Section 2.09 | Taxes. | 50 |
| Section 2.10 | Increased Costs and Reduced Return. | 54 |
| Section 2.11 | [Reserved]. | 55 |
| Section 2.12 | Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. | 55 |
| | |
| ARTICLE III [RESERVED] | 56 |
| | |
| ARTICLE IV APPLICATION OF PAYMENTS | 57 |
| | | |
| Section 4.01 | Payments; Computations and Statements. | 57 |
| Section 4.02 | Sharing of Payments. | 57 |
| Section 4.03 | Apportionment of Payments. | 58 |
| | |
| ARTICLE V CONDITIONS TO LOANS | 59 |
| | | |
| Section 5.01 | Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness. | 59
|
| | |
| ARTICLE VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | 62 |
| | | |
| Section 6.01 | Representations and Warranties. | 62 |
| | |
| ARTICLE VII COVENANTS OF THE LOAN PARTIES | 71 |
| | | |
| Section 7.01 | Affirmative Covenants. | 71 |
| Section 7.02 | Negative Covenants. | 83 |
| Section 7.03 | Minimum Liquidity. | 90 |
| | |
| ARTICLE VIII [Reserved] | 90 |
| | |
| ARTICLE IX EVENTS OF DEFAULT | 90 |
| | | |
| Section 9.01 | Events of Default. | 90 |
| | |
| ARTICLE X AGENTS | 93 |
| | | |
| Section 10.01 | Appointment. | 93 |
| Section 10.02 | Nature of Duties; Delegation. | 94 |
| Section 10.03 | Rights, Exculpation, Etc. | 95 |
| Section 10.04 | Reliance. | 96 |
| Section 10.05 | Indemnification. | 96 |
| Section 10.06 | Agents Individually. | 97 |
| Section 10.07 | Successor Agent. | 97 |
| Section 10.08 | Collateral Matters. | 98 |
| Section 10.09 | Agency for Perfection. | 100 |
| Section 10.10 | No Reliance on any Agent’s Customer Identification Program. | 101 |
| Section 10.11 | No Third Party Beneficiaries. | 101 |
| Section 10.12 | No Fiduciary Relationship. | 101 |
| Section 10.13 | [Reserved]. | 101 |
| Section 10.14 | Collateral Custodian. | 101 |
| Section 10.15 | [Reserved]. | 101 |
| Section 10.16 | Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. | 101 |
| Section 10.17 | Defaults. | 102 |
| | |
| ARTICLE XI GUARANTY | 102 |
| | | |
| Section 11.01 | Guaranty. | 102 |
| Section 11.02 | Guaranty Absolute. | 103 |
| Section 11.03 | Waiver. | 104 |
| Section 11.04 | Continuing Guaranty; Assignments. | 104 |
| Section 11.05 | Subrogation. | 105 |
| Section 11.06 | Contribution. | 105 |
| | |
| ARTICLE XII MISCELLANEOUS | 106 |
| | | |
| Section 12.01 | Notices, Etc. | 106 |
| Section 12.02 | Amendments, Etc. | 109 |
| Section 12.03 | No Waiver; Remedies, Etc. | 110 |
| Section 12.04 | Expenses; Taxes; Attorneys’ Fees. | 111 |
| Section 12.05 | Right of Set-off. | 111 |
| Section 12.06 | Severability. | 112 |
| Section 12.07 | Assignments and Participations. | 112 |
| Section 12.08 | Counterparts. | 115 |
| Section 12.09 | GOVERNING LAW. | 116 |
| Section 12.10 | CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS AND VENUE. | 116 |
| Section 12.11 | WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL, ETC. | 117 |
| Section 12.12 | Consent by the Agents and Lenders. | 117 |
| Section 12.13 | No Party Deemed Drafter. | 117 |
| Section 12.14 | Reinstatement; Certain Payments. | 117 |
| Section 12.15 | Indemnification; Limitation of Liability for Certain Damages. | 117 |
| Section 12.16 | Records. | 119 |
| Section 12.17 | Binding Effect. | 119 |
| Section 12.18 | Highest Lawful Rate. | 119 |
| Section 12.19 | Confidentiality. | 120 |
| Section 12.20 | Public Disclosure. | 121 |
| Section 12.21 | Integration. | 121 |
| Section 12.22 | USA PATRIOT Act. | 121 |
| Section 12.23 | Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions. | 121 |
SCHEDULE AND EXHIBITS
Schedule 1.01(A) | Lenders and Lenders’ Commitments |
Schedule 1.01(B) | Closing Date Mortgaged Properties |
Schedule 6.01(e) | Capitalization; Subsidiaries |
Schedule 6.01(f) | Litigation |
Schedule 6.01(i) | ERISA |
Schedule 6.01(l) | Nature of Business |
Schedule 6.01(q) | Environmental Matters |
Schedule 6.01(r) | Insurance |
Schedule 6.01(u) | Intellectual Property |
Schedule 6.01(v) | Material Contracts |
Schedule 7.01(r) | Post-Closing Matters |
Schedule 7.02(a) | Existing Liens |
Schedule 7.02(b) | Existing Indebtedness |
Schedule 7.02(e) | Existing Investments |
Schedule 7.02(k) | Limitations on Dividends and Other Payment Restrictions |
Exhibit A | Form of Joinder Agreement |
| | |
Exhibit B | Form of Assignment and Acceptance |
Exhibit C | Form of Notice of Borrowing |
Exhibit D | Form of Promissory Note |
Exhibit E | [Reserved] |
Exhibit F | Form of Mortgage |
Exhibit 2.09(d)-1 | U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) |
Exhibit 2.09(d)-2 | U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) |
Exhibit 2.09(d)-3 | U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) |
Exhibit 2.09(d)-4 | U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) |
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Credit Agreement, dated as of November 19, 2019, by and among New Media Investment Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (to be renamed Gannett Co., Inc. upon the effectiveness of the Merger; “Holdings”), Arctic Holdings LLC (to be renamed Gannett Holdings LLC upon the effectiveness of the Merger), a Delaware limited liability company (the “Borrower”), each Person listed as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages hereto (together with each other Person that executes a joinder agreement and becomes a “Guarantor” hereunder or otherwise guaranties all or any part of the Obligations (as hereinafter defined), each a “Guarantor” and collectively, the “Guarantors”), the lenders from time to time party hereto (each a “Lender” and collectively, the “Lenders”), Cortland Products Corp. (“Cortland”), as collateral agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”), and Cortland, as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent” and together with the Collateral Agent, each an “Agent” and collectively, the “Agents”).
RECITALS
Holdings, the Borrower and Arctic Acquisition Corp. (to be renamed Gannett Media Corp. upon the effectiveness of the Merger), a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Borrower (“Merger Sub”), have entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 5, 2019, as amended on October 29, 2019 (the “Merger Agreement”) with Gannett Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Target”), pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Target (the “Merger”), with the Target surviving as a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Borrower.
In connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the Borrower has asked the Lenders to extend credit to the Borrower consisting of a term loan in the aggregate principal amount of $1,792,000,000. The proceeds of the term loan shall be used by the Borrower to (i) partially fund the Merger, (ii) consummate the Payoff (as defined below), (iii) pay fees and expenses incurred to obtain the Term Loans and to consummate of the Payoff and (iv) fund $40,000,000 or more of unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents to the balance sheet of the Borrower and the Guarantors. The Lenders are severally, and not jointly, willing to extend such credit to the Borrower subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
In consideration of the premises and the covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS; CERTAIN TERMS
Section 1.01 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings indicated below:
“Account Debtor” means, with respect to any Person, each debtor, customer or obligor in any way obligated on or in connection with any Account of such Person.
“Account” has the meaning specified for such term in § 9.102 of the UCC.
“Acquisition” means the acquisition (whether by means of a merger, consolidation or otherwise) of all of the Equity Interests of any Person or all or substantially all of the assets of (or any division or business line of) any Person.
“Action” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.12.
“Additional Amount” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.09(a).
“Administrative Agent” has the meaning specified therefor in the preamble hereto.
“Administrative Agent’s Account” means an account at a bank designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time as the account into which the Loan Parties shall make all payments to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” of a Person means the power, directly or indirectly, either to (a) vote 10% or more of the Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of members of the Board of Directors of such Person or (b) direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall any Agent or any Lender be considered an “Affiliate” of any Loan Party.
“Affiliated Lender” means, collectively, Fortress Investment Group LLC, SoftBank Group Corp., Holdings and their respective Affiliates.
“Agent” has the meaning specified therefor in the preamble hereto.
“Agent Fee Letter” means that certain Agent Fee Letter, dated November 19, 2019, between the Borrower and Cortland.
“Agreement” means this Credit Agreement, including all amendments, modifications and supplements and any exhibits or schedules to any of the foregoing.
“Anti-Corruption Laws” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 6.01(z).
“Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Laws” means any Requirement of Law relating to terrorism, economic sanctions or money laundering, including, without limitation, (a) the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986 (i.e., 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956 and 1957), (b) the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970 (31 U.S.C. §§ 5311-5330 and 12 U.S.C. §§ 1818(s), 1820(b) and 1951-1959), and the implementing regulations promulgated thereunder, (c) the USA PATRIOT Act and the implementing regulations promulgated thereunder, (d) the laws, regulations and Executive Orders administered under any Sanctions Programs, (e) any law prohibiting or directed against terrorist activities or the financing or support of terrorist activities (e.g., 18 U.S.C. §§ 2339A and 2339B), and (f) any similar laws enacted in the United States or any other jurisdictions in which the parties to this Agreement operate, as any of the foregoing laws have been, or shall hereafter be, amended, renewed, extended, or replaced and all other present and future legal requirements of any Governmental Authority governing, addressing, relating to, or attempting to eliminate, terrorist acts and acts of war and any regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, in each case applicable to Holdings or any Subsidiary.
“Applicable Margin” means, as of any date of determination, with respect to the interest rate of the Term Loan (or any portion thereof):
(a) 11.50% per annum; provided that, from and after the delivery to the Agents and the Lenders in accordance with Section 7.01(a)(ii) or Section 7.01(a)(iii), as applicable, of the financial statements for the second full Fiscal Quarter ended after the Closing Date, the Applicable Margin shall be 11.00% per annum if the Total Gross Leverage Ratio, calculated as of the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements and a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower are received by the Agents and the Lenders in accordance with Section 7.01(a)(ii) or Section 7.01(a)(iii), as applicable, and Section 7.01(a)(iv), respectively, is less than 1.00 to 1.00. Each adjustment of the Applicable Margin (if any) will occur one (1) Business Day after the date on which the Administrative Agent receives the quarterly financial statements and a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower in accordance with Section 7.01(a)(ii) or Section 7.01(a)(iii), as applicable, and Section 7.01(a)(iv) and shall be effective until the next such date.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any financial statement or certificate described in clause (a) above is inaccurate, and such inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to the application of the higher Applicable Margin for any fiscal period, then the Applicable Margin for such fiscal period shall be adjusted retroactively (to the effective date of the determination of the Applicable Margin that was based upon the delivery of such inaccurate financial statement or certificate) to reflect the correct Applicable Margin, and the Borrower shall make payments to the Agents and the Lenders as promptly as practicable to reflect such adjustment.
“Assignment and Acceptance” means an assignment and acceptance entered into by an assigning Lender and an assignee, and accepted by the Borrower (as applicable), in accordance with Section 12.07 hereof and substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, or such other form as approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Australian Loan Party” means a Loan Party incorporated, organized or established under the laws of Australia.
“Australian Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary incorporated, organized or established under the laws of Australia.
“Authorized Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, director, company secretary, treasurer or other financial officer performing similar functions, president or executive vice president of such Person.
“Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.
“Bail-In Legislation” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.
“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended from time to time and any successor statute or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership of the Borrower as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. §1010.230.
“Blocked Person” means any Person:
(a) that (i) is identified on the list of “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” published by OFAC; (ii) resides, is organized or chartered in a country, region or territory that is the target of comprehensive sanctions under any Sanctions Program (a “Sanctioned Country”); or (iii) a Person listed in any economic or financial sanctions-related or trade embargoes-related list of designated Persons maintained under any of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Laws; and
(b) that is owned or controlled by or that is acting for or on behalf of, any Person described in clause (a) above.
“Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (or any successor).
“Board of Directors” means with respect to (a) any corporation, the board of directors of the corporation, (b) a partnership, the board of directors of the general partner of the partnership, (c) a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any controlling committee or board of directors of such company or the sole member or the managing member thereof, and (d) any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.
“Borrower” has the meaning specified therefor in the preamble hereto.
“Business Day” means, for all purposes, any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required to close.
“Canadian Loan Party” means a Loan Party incorporated, organized or established under the laws of Canada.
“Canadian PPSA” means the Personal Property Security Act, as amended, of the applicable province of Canada.
“Canadian Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary incorporated, organized or established under the laws of Canada.
“Capital Expenditures” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of the aggregate of all expenditures by such Person and its Subsidiaries during such period that in accordance with GAAP are or should be included in “property, plant and equipment”, “intangible assets” or in a similar fixed asset account on its balance sheet, whether such expenditures are paid in cash or financed, including all Capitalized Lease Obligations, obligations under synthetic leases and capitalized software costs that are paid or due and payable during such period.
“Capitalized Lease” means, with respect to any Person, any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property by such Person as lessee that is required under GAAP to be classified and accounted for as a finance lease on the balance sheet of such Person under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842).
“Capitalized Lease Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, obligations of such Person and its Subsidiaries under Capitalized Leases, and, for purposes hereof, the amount of any such obligation shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Cash Equivalents” means (a) marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States Government or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case, maturing within six months from the date of acquisition thereof; (b) commercial paper, maturing not more than 270 days after the date of issue rated P‑1 by Moody’s or A‑1 by Standard & Poor’s; (c) certificates of deposit maturing not more than 270 days after the date of issue, issued by commercial banking institutions and money market or demand deposit accounts maintained at commercial banking institutions, each of which is a member of the Federal Reserve System and has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000; (d) repurchase agreements having maturities of not more than 90 days from the date of acquisition which are entered into with major money center banks included in the commercial banking institutions described in clause (c) above and which are secured by readily marketable direct obligations of the United States Government or any agency thereof; (e) money market accounts maintained with mutual funds having assets in excess of $2,500,000,000, which assets are primarily comprised of Cash Equivalents described in another clause of this definition; (f) marketable tax exempt securities rated A or higher by Moody’s or A+ or higher by Standard & Poor’s, in each case, maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof; and (g) in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, other short-term investments that are analogous to the foregoing, are of comparable credit quality and are customarily used by companies in the jurisdiction of such Foreign Subsidiary for cash management purposes.
“Cash Interest Savings” means, with respect to any Fiscal Quarter, an amount equal to the difference between (i) the interest that would have been payable hereunder in such Fiscal Quarter if the principal amount of Term Loans had not been reduced in such Fiscal Quarter using Equity Sale Proceeds and (ii) the interest that was in fact payable hereunder in such Fiscal Quarter based on the principal amount of Term Loans after giving effect to Equity Sale Proceeds that are applied in such Fiscal Quarter within five (5) business days of receipt by the Borrower to prepay the Term Loans; provided that any Cash Interest Savings generated in any Fiscal Quarter shall be limited in such Fiscal Quarter to the Cash Interest Savings generated for such Fiscal Quarter (i.e., prorated for the remaining days of such Fiscal Quarter from and including the applicable prepayment date).
“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation, judicial ruling, judgment or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives concerning capital adequacy 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 shall, in each case, be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.
“Change of Control” means each occurrence of any of the following:
(a) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) of beneficial ownership of more than 35% of the aggregate outstanding voting or economic power of the Equity Interests of Holdings;
(b) Holdings shall cease to have beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of 100% of the aggregate voting or economic power of the Equity Interests of the Borrower, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Specified Liens); or
(c) a “Change of Control” (or any comparable term or provision) under or with respect to any Indebtedness of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $5,000,000.
“Closing Date” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 5.01.
“Closing Date Mortgaged Property” means the owned real property identified on Schedule 1.01(B), including, without limitation, the land on which each such property is located, all buildings and other improvements thereon, and all fixtures located thereat or used in connection therewith with respect to which a Mortgage is granted pursuant to Section 7.01(m).
“Collateral” means all of the property and assets and all interests therein and proceeds thereof now owned or hereafter acquired by any Person upon which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted by such Person as security for all or any part of the Obligations.
“Collateral Agent” has the meaning specified therefor in the preamble hereto.
“Collateral Agent Advances” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 10.08(a).
“Collections” means all cash, checks, notes, instruments, and other items of payment (including insurance proceeds, proceeds of cash sales, rental proceeds, and tax refunds).
“Commitments” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Term Loan Commitment.
“Compliance Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.01(a)(iv).
“Consolidated EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person for any period:
(a) the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period,
plus
(b) without duplication, the sum of the following amounts for such period to the extent deducted in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income for such period:
(i) any provision for United States federal income taxes or other taxes measured by net income,
(ii) Consolidated Net Interest Expense (but excluding interest expense related to operating leases that are not Capitalized Leases),
(iii) any depreciation and amortization expense (but excluding depreciation and amortization related to operating leases that are not Capitalized Leases),
(iv) any aggregate net loss on the Disposition of property (other than accounts and Inventory) outside the ordinary course of business,
(v) any other non-cash expenditure, charge or loss for such period (other than any non-cash expenditure, charge or loss relating to write-offs, write-downs or reserves with respect to accounts and Inventory),
(vi) (A) any restructuring and integration costs associated with the Transactions and (B) any other extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual charges and expenses or deductions (clauses (A) and (B), collectively, “Extraordinary Expenses”); provided that, for any period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters, the aggregate amount of cash Extraordinary Expenses that are incurred following the Closing Date that are added back pursuant to this clause (vi) in calculating Consolidated EBITDA shall not exceed (x) for any period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on or prior to the third Fiscal Quarter of 2020, $75,000,000, (y) for any period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending after the third Fiscal Quarter of 2020, but on or prior to the last day of Fiscal Year 2021, 12.5% of Consolidated EBITDA of such Person and (z) for any period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending after the last day of Fiscal Year 2021, 7.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of such Person (which percentages, in the case of clauses (y) and (z), shall be calculated prior to giving effect to the addition of Extraordinary Expenses),
(vii) deferred financing costs,
(viii) management fee incentive expense incurred and paid using common Equity Interests,
(ix) fees, costs and expenses in connection with the Transactions, and
(x) fees, costs and expenses relating to any contemplated or completed acquisitions or dispositions or to any contemplated or completed offering of securities or other Indebtedness,
minus
(c) without duplication, the sum of the following amounts for such period to the extent included in the calculation of such Consolidated Net Income for such period:
(i) any credit for United States federal income taxes or other taxes measured by net income,
(ii) any gain from extraordinary items,
(iii) any aggregate net gain from the Disposition of property (other than accounts and Inventory) outside the ordinary course of business; and
(iv) any other non-cash gain, including any reversal of a charge referred to in clause (b)(v) above by reason of a decrease in the value of any Equity Interest, but excluding any such non-cash gains (A) in respect of which cash was received in a prior period or will be received in a future period and (B) that represent the reversal of any accrual in a prior period for, or the reversal of any cash reserves established in a prior period for, anticipated cash charges.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Consolidated EBITDA shall be $111,708,000, $128,819,000, $101,467,000 and $173,063,000 for the Fiscal Quarters ended September 30, 2019, June 30, 2019, March 31, 2019 and December 30, 2018.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period; provided, however, that the following shall be excluded: (a) the net income of any other Person in which such Person or one of its Subsidiaries has a joint interest with a third-party (which interest does not cause the net income of such other Person to be consolidated into the net income of such Person), except to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid to such Person or Subsidiary, (b) the net income of any Subsidiary (other than a Loan Party) of such Person that is, on the last day of such period, subject to any restriction or limitation on the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions, to the extent of such restriction or limitation, and (c) the net income of any other Person arising prior to such other Person becoming a Subsidiary of such Person or merging or consolidating into such Person or its Subsidiaries.
“Consolidated Net Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, (a) gross interest expense of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP, less (b) the sum of (i) interest income for such period and (ii) gains for such period on Hedging Agreements (to the extent not included in interest income above and to the extent not deducted in the calculation of gross interest expense), plus (c) the sum of (i) losses for such period on Hedging Agreements (to the extent not included in gross interest expense), (ii) the upfront costs or fees for such period associated with Hedging Agreements (to the extent not included in gross interest expense) and (iii) amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par, in each case, determined on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.
“Contingent Indemnity Obligations” means any Obligation constituting a contingent, unliquidated indemnification obligation of any Loan Party, in each case, to the extent (a) such obligation has not accrued and is not yet due and payable and (b) no claim has been made or is reasonably anticipated to be made with respect thereto.
“Contingent Obligation” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any Indebtedness (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, (a) the direct or indirect guaranty, endorsement (other than for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business), co-making, discounting with recourse or sale with recourse by such Person of the obligation of a primary obligor, (b) the obligation to make take-or-pay or similar payments, if required, regardless of nonperformance by any other party or parties to an agreement, (c) 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, (iii) to purchase property, assets, 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 or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the holder of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that the term “Contingent Obligation” shall not include any product warranties extended in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation with respect to which such Contingent Obligation is made (or, if less, the maximum amount of such primary obligation for which such Person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument evidencing such Contingent Obligation) or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability with respect thereto (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder), as determined by such Person in good faith.
“Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.
“Control Agreement” means, with respect to any deposit account, any securities account, any commodity account, any securities entitlement or any commodity contract, an agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, among the Collateral Agent, the financial institution or other Person at which such account is maintained or with which such entitlement or contract is carried and the Loan Party maintaining such account or entitlement or contract, effective to grant “control” (as defined under the applicable UCC) over such account, entitlement or contract to the Collateral Agent.
“Corporations Act” means the Corporations Act 2011 (Commonwealth of Australia).
“Cortland” has the meaning specified therefor in the preamble hereto.
“Current Value” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 7.01(n).
“Debenture” means the English law debenture to be entered into between (1) the UK Guarantors and (2) the Collateral Agent.
“Debtor Relief Law” means the Bankruptcy Code and any other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief law of the United States or other applicable jurisdiction from time to time in effect.
“Default” means an event which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
“Disposition” means any transaction, or series of related transactions, pursuant to which any Person or any of its Subsidiaries sells, assigns, transfers, leases, licenses (as licensor) or otherwise disposes of any property or assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to any other Person, in each case, whether or not the consideration therefor consists of cash, securities or other assets owned by the acquiring Person. For purposes of clarification, “Disposition” shall include (a) the sale or other disposition for value of any contracts, (b) the early termination or modification of any contract resulting in the receipt by any Loan Party of a cash payment or other consideration in exchange for such event (other than payments in the ordinary course for accrued and unpaid amounts due through the date of termination or modification), (c) any sale of merchant accounts (or any rights thereto (including, without limitation, any rights to any residual payment stream with respect thereto)) by any Loan Party or (d) any disposition of property through a “plan of division” under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act or any comparable transaction under any similar law.
“Disqualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interest into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition, (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of (i) the payment in full of the Obligations (other than Contingent Indemnification Obligations) and (ii) a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Term Loans and all other Obligations (other than Contingent Indemnification Obligations) and the termination of the Commitments), (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, (c) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends or distributions in cash, or (d) is convertible into or exchangeable for (i) Indebtedness or (ii) any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests, in each case of clauses (a) through (d), prior to the date that is six months after the Final Maturity Date.
“Dollar,” “Dollars” and the symbol “$” each means lawful money of the United States of America.
“Domestic Loan Party” means (a) Holdings, (b) the Borrower and (c) each Guarantor that is a Domestic Subsidiary.
“Domestic Subsidiaries” means all Subsidiaries incorporated or organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.
“EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent;
“EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
“EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.
“Employee Plan” means an employee benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) covered by Title IV of ERISA that is maintained by any Loan Party or with respect to which any Loan Party has any liability (including on account of any of its ERISA Affiliates).
“Environmental Actions” means any complaint, summons, citation, written notice or directive, order, claim, litigation, investigation, judicial or administrative proceeding or judgment by or before any Governmental Authority or an Action by any Person involving violations of Environmental Laws or Releases of or exposure of any Person to Hazardous Materials (a) from any assets, properties or businesses owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any legal predecessor in interest; (b) from adjoining properties or businesses onto or otherwise impacting any assets or properties owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries; or (c) onto any facilities which received Hazardous Materials generated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any predecessor in interest.
“Environmental Laws” means, as applicable, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. § 9601, et seq.), the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. § 1801, et seq.), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. § 6901, et seq.), the Federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.), the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq.), the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.) and, as it relates to exposure to hazardous or toxic materials, the Occupational Safety and Health Act (29 U.S.C. § 651 et seq.), as such laws may be amended or otherwise modified from time to time, and any other Requirement of Law, permit, license or other binding determination of any Governmental Authority imposing liability or establishing standards of conduct for protection of the environment or other binding government restrictions relating to the protection of the environment or the generation, storage, use, labelling, transport, distribution, Release, deposit or migration of, or exposure of any Person to, any hazardous or toxic materials or materials listed, defined, or regulated as “hazardous”, “toxic”, a “pollutant”, or a “contaminant” or words of similar meaning under applicable Laws into the environment.
“Environmental Liabilities and Costs” means all liabilities, monetary obligations, Remedial Actions, losses, damages, punitive damages, consequential damages, treble damages, costs and expenses (including all reasonable fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel, experts and consultants and costs of investigations and feasibility studies), fines, penalties, sanctions and interest incurred as a result of any claim or demand by any Governmental Authority or any third party, and which, in each case, relate to any Loan Party’s noncompliance with Environmental Laws, any environmental condition or a Release of Hazardous Materials from or onto (a) any property presently or formerly owned by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or (b) any facility which received Hazardous Materials generated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries.
“Environmental Lien” means any Lien in favor of any Governmental Authority for Environmental Liabilities and Costs.
“Equity Interests” means (a) all shares of capital stock (whether denominated as common stock or preferred stock), equity interests, beneficial, partnership or membership interests, joint venture interests, participations or other ownership or profit interests in or equivalents (regardless of how designated) of or in a Person (other than an individual), whether voting or non-voting and (b) all securities convertible into or exchangeable for any of the foregoing and all warrants, options or other rights to purchase, subscribe for or otherwise acquire any of the foregoing, whether or not presently convertible, exchangeable or exercisable.
“Equity Issuance” means either (a) the sale or issuance by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of any shares of its Equity Interests or (b) the receipt by Holdings of any cash capital contributions.
“Equity Sale Proceeds” means the Net Cash Proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests of Holdings.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and any successor statute of similar import, and regulations thereunder, in each case, as in effect from time to time. References to sections of ERISA shall be construed also to refer to any successor sections.
“ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which is a member of a group of which such Person is a member and which would be deemed to be a “controlled group” within the meaning of Sections 414(b), (c), (m) and (o) of the Internal Revenue Code.
“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.
“Event of Default” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 9.01.
“Excess Amount” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 7.02(g).
“Excess Cash Flow” means, with respect to any Person for any period,
(a) Consolidated EBITDA of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, less
(b) the sum of, without duplication,
(i) the cash portion of Consolidated Net Interest Expense paid during such period,
(ii) income taxes paid in cash by such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period,
(iii) all cash principal payments (excluding any principal payments made pursuant to Section 2.05(b) or, except as provided in clause (iv) below, Section 2.05(c)) made on the Term Loans during such period,
(iv) all mandatory prepayments made pursuant to Section 2.05(c)(vi) during such period,
(v) the cash portion of Capital Expenditures made during such period (i) to the extent not funded with (x) an incurrence of Indebtedness or (y) proceeds from the issuance of Equity Interests and (ii) subject to a cap equal to $40,000,000 for each such period,
(vi) the excess, if any, of Working Capital at the end of such period over Working Capital at the beginning of such period (or, if the difference results in an amount less than zero, minus the excess, if any, of Working Capital at the beginning of such period over Working Capital at the end of such period),
(vii) all cash expenses, fees, charges and amounts to the extent added back to Consolidated EBITDA (or its component definitions) for such period,
(viii) cash payments to fund pension obligations made during such period,
(ix) the cash portion of the purchase price paid in connection with Permitted Acquisitions made by such Person and its Subsidiaries during such period (excluding any Permitted Acquisitions to the extent financed with the proceeds of an Equity Issuance)
(x) any cash actually paid during such period in respect of any non-cash losses or charges recorded in a prior period; and
(xi) the amount of Restricted Payments made during such period pursuant to clause (c) of “Permitted Restricted Payments”.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Excluded Subsidiary” means Newsquest Media Group Limited and each of its Subsidiaries.
“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 2.12(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.09, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.09(d) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.
“Existing Convertible Notes” means the notes issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of April 9, 2018, between the Target, as issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.
“Existing Financing Facilities” means, collectively, the Existing Gannett Credit Agreement, the Existing New Media Credit Agreement and the Existing Convertible Notes.
“Existing Gannett Credit Agreement” means the Credit Agreement, dated as of June 29, 2015, among the Target, as borrower, the lenders and other financial institutions party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent on behalf of the lenders.
“Existing New Media Credit Agreement” means the Credit Agreement, dated as of June 4, 2014, among New Media Holdings I LLC, New Media Holdings II LLC, as borrower, the lenders and other financial institutions party thereto, and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, as administrative agent on behalf of the lenders.
“Extraordinary Receipts” means any cash received by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries from casualty or condemnation awards (and payments in lieu thereof).
“FASB ASC” means the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.
“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue 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) and any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreements, treaty or convention among Government Authorities implementing the foregoing.
“FCPA” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 6.01(z).
“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal to, for each day during such period, the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from 3 federal funds brokers of recognized standing.
“Fee Letters” means collectively, the Agent Fee Letter, the Lender Fee Letter and the Structuring Fee Letter.
“Final Maturity Date” means November 19, 2024.
“Financial Statements” means (I)(a) the audited consolidated balance sheets of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the three most recently completed Fiscal Years ended at least 90 days before the Closing Date and related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for the two most recently completed Fiscal Years ended at least 90 days before the Closing Date and (b) the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets and related condensed consolidated statements of operations and cash flows of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for each subsequent Fiscal Quarter ended at least 45 days before the Closing Date (other than any fiscal fourth quarter) after the most recent fiscal period for which audited financial statements have been provided pursuant to clause (I)(a) hereof, in each case prepared in accordance with GAAP and (II)(a) the audited consolidated balance sheets of the Target and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the three most recently completed Fiscal Years ended at least 90 days before the Closing Date and related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Target and its Subsidiaries for the two most recently completed Fiscal Years ended at least 90 days before the Closing Date and (b) the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets and related condensed consolidated statements of operations and cash flows of the Target and its Subsidiaries for each subsequent Fiscal Quarter ended at least 45 days before the Closing Date (other than any fiscal fourth quarter) after the most recent fiscal period for which audited financial statements have been provided pursuant to clause (II)(a) hereof, in each case prepared in accordance with GAAP.
“Fiscal Quarter” means a fiscal quarter of Holdings and its Subsidiaries; provided that, for purposes of determining the availability under any exception to the covenants in Section 7.02 (including any related defined terms), “Fiscal Quarter” shall at all times refer to the fiscal quarter of the Borrower.
“Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of Holdings and its Subsidiaries ending on the last Sunday in December of each calendar year or such other fiscal year end date as elected by Holdings in accordance with Section 7.01(k); provided that, for purposes of determining the availability under any exception to the covenants in Section 7.02 (including any related defined terms), “Fiscal Year” shall at all times refer to the fiscal year of the Borrower.
“Foreign Lender” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.09(d)(ii).
“Foreign Official” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 6.01(z).
“Foreign Pledge Agreement” means a pledge or charge agreement granting a Lien on Equity Interests issued by a Foreign Subsidiary in order to secure the Obligations and, in each case, governed by the law of the jurisdiction of organization of such Foreign Subsidiary and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Borrower.
“Foreign Security Agreement” means an agreement granting a Lien on assets owned by any Foreign Subsidiary consisting of assets comprising the Collateral (but, with respect to any category of assets, only to the extent that a Lien on such category of assets is customarily granted in the applicable jurisdiction) to secure the Obligations and governed by the law of the jurisdiction of organization of such Foreign Subsidiary and, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Borrower.
“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in the United States, applied on a consistent basis, provided that if there occurs after the date of this Agreement any change in GAAP that affects in any respect the calculation of any covenant contained in Section 7.02 or Section 7.03 hereof or any other provision hereof, the Required Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith amendments to the provisions of this Agreement that relate to the calculation of such covenant with the intent of having the respective positions of the Lenders and the Borrower after such change in GAAP conform as nearly as possible to their respective positions as of the date of this Agreement, and prior to the effectiveness of such amendment to this Agreement, such covenant or other provision shall be calculated without giving effect to such change in GAAP.
“Governing Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization, and the operating agreement; (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture, declaration or other applicable agreement or documentation evidencing or otherwise relating to its formation or organization, governance and capitalization; and (d) with respect to any of the entities described above, any other agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization.
“Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any Federal, state, province, city, town, municipality, county, local or other political subdivision thereof or thereto and any department, commission, board, bureau, instrumentality, agency or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
“Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 11.01.
“Guarantor” means (a) Holdings and each Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Borrower) listed as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages hereto, and (b) each other Person which guarantees, pursuant to Section 7.01(b) or otherwise, all or any part of the Obligations; provided, however, that in no event shall any Excluded Subsidiary be a Guarantor, unless (i) the Borrower elects to satisfy the requirements of Section 7.01(b) with respect to such Person, (ii) such Person is no longer a Foreign Subsidiary or (iii) as a result of such Person’s providing a Guaranty, such Person would not have any liability to contribute to an occupational pension scheme (as defined in section 1 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 (United Kingdom)) in the United Kingdom other than an occupational pension scheme all the benefits under which are money purchase benefits (as defined in section 181 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 (United Kingdom)).
“Guaranty” means (a) the guaranty of each Guarantor party hereto contained in Article XI hereof and (b) each other guaranty, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, made by any other Guarantor in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders guaranteeing all or part of the Obligations.
“Hazardous Material” means (a) any element, compound or chemical that is defined, listed or otherwise classified as a contaminant, pollutant, toxic pollutant, toxic or hazardous substance, extremely hazardous substance or chemical, hazardous waste, special waste, or solid waste under Environmental Laws or that is likely to cause immediately, or at some future time, harm to or have an adverse effect on, the environment or human health or safety, including, without limitation, any pollutant, contaminant, waste, hazardous waste, toxic substance or dangerous good which is defined or identified in any Environmental Law and which is present in the environment in such quantity or state that it contravenes any Environmental Law; (b) petroleum and its refined products; (c) polychlorinated biphenyls; (d) any substance exhibiting a hazardous waste characteristic, including, without limitation, corrosivity, ignitability, toxicity or reactivity, that subjects it to regulation under Environmental Law, as well as any radioactive or explosive materials; and (e) any raw materials, building components (including, without limitation, asbestos-containing materials) and manufactured products containing hazardous substances listed or classified as such under Environmental Laws.
“Hedging Agreement” means any interest rate, foreign currency, commodity or equity swap, collar, cap, floor or forward rate agreement, or other agreement or arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in interest rates or currency, commodity or equity values (including, without limitation, any option with respect to any of the foregoing and any combination of the foregoing agreements or arrangements), and any confirmation executed in connection with any such agreement or arrangement.
“Highest Lawful Rate” means, with respect to any Agent or any Lender, the maximum non-usurious interest rate, if any, that at any time or from time to time may be contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received on the Obligations under laws in any jurisdiction applicable to such Agent or such Lender which are currently in effect or, to the extent allowed by law, under such applicable laws which may hereafter be in effect and which allow a higher maximum non-usurious interest rate than applicable laws now allow.
“Holdings” has the meaning specified therefor in the preamble hereto.
“Holdout Lender” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.02(b).
“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money; (b) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables or other accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of such Person’s business and any earn-out, purchase price adjustment or similar obligation until such obligation appears in the liabilities section of the balance sheet of such Person and is no longer contingent); (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments; (d) all reimbursement, payment or other obligations and liabilities of such Person created or arising under any conditional sales or other title retention agreement with respect to property used and/or acquired by such Person, even though the rights and remedies of the lessor, seller and/or lender thereunder may be limited to repossession or sale of such property; (e) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person; (f) all obligations and liabilities, contingent or otherwise, of such Person, in respect of letters of credit, acceptances and similar facilities other than obligations that are cash collateralized on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; (g) all net obligations and liabilities, calculated on a basis satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and in accordance with accepted practice, of such Person under Hedging Agreements; (h) all monetary obligations under any receivables factoring, receivable sales or similar transactions and all monetary obligations under any synthetic lease, tax ownership/operating lease, off-balance sheet financing or similar financing; (i) all Contingent Obligations in respect of obligations referred to in clauses (a) through (h) and (j) of this definition of another Person; (j) all Disqualified Equity Interests; and (k) all obligations referred to in clauses (a) through (j) of this definition of another Person secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) a Lien upon property owned by such Person, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such Indebtedness. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership of or joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer so long as, in the case of a joint venture, such Indebtedness is recourse to any Loan Party.
“Indemnified Matters” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.15.
“Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.
“Indemnitees” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.15.
“Insolvency Proceeding” means any proceeding commenced by or against any Person under any provision of any Debtor Relief Law.
“Intellectual Property” has the meaning specified therefor in the Security Agreement.
“Intercompany Subordination Agreement” means an Intercompany Subordination Agreement made by Holdings and its Subsidiaries in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.
“Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor statute thereto) and the regulations thereunder.
“Inventory” means, with respect to any Person, all goods and merchandise of such Person leased or held for sale or lease by such Person, including, without limitation, all raw materials, work-in-process and finished goods, and all packaging, supplies and materials of every nature used or usable in connection with the shipping, storing, advertising or sale of such goods and merchandise, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and all such other property the sale or other disposition of which would give rise to an Account or cash.
“Investment” means, with respect to any Person, (a) any investment by such Person in any other Person (including Affiliates) in the form of loans, guarantees, advances or other extensions of credit (excluding Accounts arising in the ordinary course of business), capital contributions or acquisitions of Indebtedness (including, any bonds, notes, debentures or other debt securities), Equity Interests, or all or substantially all of the assets of such other Person (or of any division or business line of such other Person), (b) the purchase or ownership of any futures contract or liability for the purchase or sale of currency or other commodities at a future date in the nature of a futures contract, or (c) any investment in any other items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.
“Joinder Agreement” means a Joinder Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit A, duly executed by a Subsidiary of a Loan Party made a party hereto pursuant to Section 7.01(b).
“Joinder Document Deliverable” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 7.01(b)(i).
“Lease” means any lease of real property to which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is a party as lessor or lessee.
“Lender” has the meaning specified therefor in the preamble hereto.
“Lender Fee Letter” means that certain Lender Fee Letter, dated August 4, 2019, between Apollo Capital Management, L.P. and New Media Investment Group, Inc.
“Lender Director” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 7.01(x)(i).
“Lien” means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien (statutory or otherwise), security interest, charge or other encumbrance or security or preferential arrangement of any nature, including, without limitation, any conditional sale or title retention arrangement, any Capitalized Lease and any assignment, deposit arrangement or financing lease intended as, or having the effect of, security, but not including the interest of a lessor under a lease that is an operating lease.
“Loan Document” means this Agreement, any Control Agreement, the Fee Letters, any Guaranty, the Intercompany Subordination Agreement, any Joinder Agreement, any Mortgage, any Security Document, any landlord waiver, any collateral access agreement, any Perfection Certificate and any other agreement, instrument, certificate, report and other document executed and delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or otherwise evidencing or securing any Loan or any other Obligation.
“Loan Party” means the Borrower and any Guarantor.
“Management Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Management and Advisory Agreement, dated as of August 5, 2019 and effective as of the Closing Date, between Holdings and FIG LLC.
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on any of (a) the operations, assets, liabilities, or financial condition of the Loan Parties taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Loan Parties taken as a whole to perform any of their obligations under any Loan Document or (c) the rights and remedies of any Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document.
“Material Contract” means, with respect to any Person, (a) each contract or agreement to which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a party involving aggregate consideration payable to or by such Person or such Subsidiary of $5,000,000 or more in any Fiscal Year (other than purchase orders in the ordinary course of the business of such Person or such Subsidiary and other than contracts that by their terms may be terminated by such Person or Subsidiary upon less than 60 days’ notice without penalty or premium) and (b) all other contracts or agreements as to which the breach, nonperformance, cancellation or failure to renew by any party thereto would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
“Merger” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals hereto.
“Merger Agreement” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals hereto.
“Merger Sub” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals hereto.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.
“Mortgage” means a mortgage, deed of trust or deed to secure debt, each substantially in the form of Exhibit F (with such changes to account for local law matters) or otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Borrower, made by a Loan Party in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders, securing the Obligations and delivered to the Collateral Agent.
“Mortgaged Property” means the Closing Date Mortgaged Property and the New Mortgaged Property.
“Multiemployer Plan” means a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates contributes or is obligated to contribute.
“Net Cash Proceeds” means, with respect to any issuance or incurrence of any Indebtedness, any Equity Issuance, any Disposition (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Sale and Leaseback Transaction) or the receipt of any Extraordinary Receipts by any Person or any of its Subsidiaries, the aggregate amount of cash received (directly or indirectly) from time to time (whether as initial consideration or through the payment or disposition of deferred consideration) by or on behalf of such Person or such Subsidiary, in connection therewith after deducting therefrom only (a) in the case of any Disposition or the receipt of any Extraordinary Receipts consisting of insurance proceeds or condemnation awards, the amount of any Indebtedness secured by any Permitted Lien on any asset (other than Indebtedness assumed by the purchaser of such asset) which is required to be, and is, repaid in connection therewith (other than Indebtedness under this Agreement), (b) all expenses related thereto incurred by such Person or such Subsidiary in good faith in connection therewith (including, with respect to any Permitted Disposition or Sale and Leaseback Transaction permitted under Section 7.02(f), expenditures in respect of moving and build-out costs), (c) transfer taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable to any taxing authorities by such Person or such Subsidiary in connection therewith, and (d) net income taxes to be paid in connection therewith (after taking into account any tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), in each case, to the extent, but only to the extent, that the amounts so deducted are (i) actually paid (or reasonably estimated to be payable) to a Person that, except in the case of out-of-pocket expenses and tax payments, is not an Affiliate of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) properly attributable to such transaction or to the asset that is the subject thereof.
“New Mortgaged Property” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 7.01(n).
“Notice of Borrowing” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02(a).
“Obligations” means all present and future indebtedness, obligations, and liabilities of each Loan Party to the Agents and the Lenders arising under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, whether or not the right of payment in respect of such claim is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured, and whether or not such claim is discharged, stayed or otherwise affected by any proceeding referred to in Section 9.01. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of each Loan Party under the Loan Documents include (a) the obligation (irrespective of whether a claim therefor is allowed in an Insolvency Proceeding) to pay principal, interest, charges, expenses, fees, premiums, attorneys’ fees and disbursements, indemnities and other amounts payable by such Person under the Loan Documents, and (b) the obligation of such Person to reimburse any amount in respect of any of the foregoing that any Agent or any Lender (in its sole discretion) may elect to pay or advance on behalf of such Person.
“Observer” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 7.01(x)(i).
“Option Awards Agreement” means the Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement, dated as of August 5, 2019, and effective as of the Closing Date, between Fortress Operating Entity I LP and Holdings.
“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Term Loan or Loan Document).
“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document.
“Participant Register” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.07(i).
“Payment Office” means the Administrative Agent’s office located at 225 W. Washington St., 9th Floor Chicago, Illinois 60606, or at such other office or offices of the Administrative Agent as may be designated in writing from time to time by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders, the Collateral Agent and the Borrower.
“Payoff” means the repayment, prepayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or discharge in full of each of the Existing Financing Facilities (but, in the case of the Existing Convertible Notes, only to the extent that the Indebtedness thereunder is put or converted by the holders thereof), and with respect to each of the foregoing, as applicable to such Indebtedness, the termination of all commitments thereunder and the release of all security interests and guaranties in connection therewith.
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor thereto.
“Perfection Certificate” means a certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Borrower providing information with respect to the property of each Loan Party.
“Permitted Acquisition” means any Acquisition by a Loan Party or any wholly-owned Subsidiary of a Loan Party to the extent that each of the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from the consummation of the proposed Acquisition;
(b) the Borrower shall have furnished to the Administrative Agent at least 10 Business Days prior to the consummation of such Acquisition (i) a term sheet (setting forth in reasonable detail the terms and conditions of such Acquisition) or executed purchase agreement and, at the request of any Agent, such other information and documents that any Agent may reasonably request with respect to such Acquisition, including, without limitation, executed counterparts of the respective agreements, instruments or other documents pursuant to which such Acquisition is to be consummated (including, without limitation, any related management, non-compete, employment, option or other material agreements), any schedules to such agreements, instruments or other documents and all other material ancillary agreements, instruments or other documents to be executed or delivered in connection therewith, (ii) solely to the extent prepared internally by the Borrower in connection with such Acquisition, pro forma financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries after the consummation of such Acquisition, and (iii) a certificate of the chief financial officer of the Borrower, demonstrating on a pro forma basis compliance, as at the end of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which internally prepared financial statements are available, with the covenant set forth in Section 7.03 hereof after the consummation of such Acquisition;
(c) the agreements, instruments and other documents referred to in paragraph (b) above shall provide that (i) neither the Loan Parties nor any of their Subsidiaries shall, in connection with such Acquisition, assume or remain liable in respect of any Indebtedness of the applicable Seller or Sellers, or other obligation of the applicable Seller or Sellers (except for obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business in operating the property so acquired and necessary or desirable to the continued operation of such property and except for Permitted Indebtedness), and (ii) all property to be so acquired in connection with such Acquisition shall be free and clear of any and all Liens, except for Permitted Liens (and if any such property is subject to any Lien not permitted by this clause (ii) then concurrently with such Acquisition such Lien shall be released);
(d) such Acquisition shall be effected in such a manner so that the acquired assets or Equity Interests are owned by a Loan Party and, if effected by merger or consolidation involving a Loan Party, such Loan Party shall be the continuing or surviving Person (or the continuing or surviving Person shall become a Loan Party);
(e) except as permitted under clause (c) above, no Indebtedness or earn-out shall be incurred or assumed in connection with any such Acquisition;
(f) the assets being acquired or the Person whose Equity Interests are being acquired did not have negative Consolidated EBITDA (calculated excluding corporate overhead costs) during the 12 consecutive month period most recently concluded prior to the date of the proposed Acquisition;
(g) the assets being acquired (other than a de minimis amount of assets in relation to the Loan Parties’ and their Subsidiaries’ total assets), or the Person whose Equity Interests are being acquired, are useful in or engaged in, as applicable, the business of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries or a business reasonably related thereto;
(h) [reserved];
(i) any such Subsidiary (and its equityholders) shall execute and deliver the agreements, instruments and other documents required by Section 7.01(b) on or prior to the date of the consummation of such Acquisition (or arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent for the taking of such actions within the grace periods provided in Section 7.01(b) for a newly-formed or acquired Subsidiary shall have been made);
(j) the consideration for any such Acquisition shall consist solely of (x) Equity Interests of Holdings or cash generated by the issuance of Equity Interests of Holdings or (y) unrestricted cash on the balance sheet; and
(k) before and after giving effect to any such Acquisition, the Borrower shall be permitted to make at least $1.00 of Restricted Payments pursuant to clause (c) of “Permitted Restricted Payments”.
“Permitted Disposition” means:
(a) sale of Inventory in the ordinary course of business;
(b) licensing or sub-licensing, on a non-exclusive basis, Intellectual Property rights in the ordinary course of business;
(c) leasing or subleasing assets (including ground leases) in the ordinary course of business;
(d) (i) the lapse of Registered Intellectual Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to the extent not economically desirable in the conduct of their business or (ii) the abandonment of Intellectual Property rights in the ordinary course of business so long as (in each case under clauses (i) and (ii)), (A) with respect to copyrights, such copyrights are not material revenue generating copyrights, and (B) such lapse is not materially adverse to the interests of the Secured Parties;
(e) any involuntary loss, damage or destruction of property;
(f) any condemnation, seizure or taking, by exercise of the power of eminent domain or otherwise, or confiscation or requisition of use of property;
(g) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, transfers of assets (i) from Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries to a Loan Party, and (ii) from any Subsidiary of Holdings that is not a Loan Party to any other Subsidiary of Holdings;
(h) the granting of Permitted Liens;
(i) (x) Disposition of obsolete or worn-out equipment or equipment that is no longer used or useful in the business of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, in each case in the ordinary course of business and (y) Dispositions of equipment to the extent such equipment is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property;
(j) Dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with a compromise, write-down or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of the applicable counterparty and Dispositions of any securities received in any such bankruptcy or reorganization; and
(k) Dispositions of property or assets not otherwise permitted in clauses (a) through (j) above as long as (i) the aggregate amount of consideration received is not less than the fair market value of such property or assets and (ii) 100% of the purchase price is payable in cash or Cash Equivalents.
“Permitted Indebtedness” means:
(a) any Indebtedness owing to any Agent or any Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
(b) any other Indebtedness listed on Schedule 7.02(b), and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of such Indebtedness;
(c) any Refinancing Facilities;
(d) Permitted Intercompany Investments;
(e) Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business under performance, surety, statutory, and appeal bonds and similar obligations (other than in respect of other Indebtedness);
(f) Indebtedness owed to any Person (including obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees and similar instruments for the benefit of such Person) providing property, casualty, liability, or other insurance to the Loan Parties, so long as the amount of such Indebtedness is not in excess of the amount of the unpaid cost of, and shall be incurred only to defer the cost of, such insurance for the period in which such Indebtedness is incurred and such Indebtedness is outstanding only during such period;
(g) the incurrence by any Loan Party of Indebtedness under Hedging Agreements that are incurred for the bona fide purpose of hedging the interest rate, commodity, or foreign currency risks associated with such Loan Party’s operations and not for speculative purposes;
(h) Indebtedness incurred in respect of credit cards, credit card processing services, debit cards, stored value cards, purchase cards (including so-called “procurement cards” or “P-cards”) or other similar cash management services, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(i) contingent liabilities in respect of any indemnification obligation, adjustment of purchase price, non-compete, or similar obligation of any Loan Party incurred in connection with the consummation of one or more Permitted Acquisitions;
(j) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of incurrence;
(k) Indebtedness consisting of the financing of insurance premiums to the extent non-recourse (other than to the insurance premiums) incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(l) customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business from customers for goods purchased in the ordinary course of business;
(m) Indebtedness in respect of Contingent Obligations of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of Indebtedness of Holdings or any other Subsidiary permitted hereunder; provided that, in the case of a Contingent Obligation of a Loan Party in respect of Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, such Contingent Obligation is permitted under Section 7.02(e);
(n) other unsecured Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $5,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(o) the Existing Convertible Notes; and
(p) Capitalized Lease Obligations arising from Sale and Leaseback Transactions permitted pursuant to Section 7.02(f) and in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding.
“Permitted Intercompany Investments” means Investments made by (a) a Loan Party to or in another Loan Party, (b) a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to or in another Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party and (c) a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to or in a Loan Party, so long as, in the case of a loan or advance made pursuant to this clause (c), the parties thereto are party to the Intercompany Subordination Agreement.
“Permitted Investments” means:
(a) Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;
(b) Investments in negotiable instruments deposited or to be deposited for collection in the ordinary course of business;
(c) advances made in connection with purchases of goods or services in the ordinary course of business;
(d) Investments received in settlement of amounts due to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries effected in the ordinary course of business or owing to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of Insolvency Proceedings involving an Account Debtor or upon the foreclosure or enforcement of any Lien in favor of a Loan Party or its Subsidiaries;
(e) Investments existing on the date hereof, as set forth on Schedule 7.02(e) hereto, but not any increase in the amount thereof as set forth in such Schedule or any other modification of the terms thereof;
(f) Permitted Intercompany Investments;
(g) Permitted Acquisitions and any Investments held by any Person acquired in connection with (but not made in contemplation of) any Permitted Acquisition as of the date of consummation of such acquisition;
(h) [reserved];
(i) Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(j) Investments in Hedging Agreements permitted under Section 7.02(b);
(k) extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled Account Debtors in the ordinary course of business;
(l) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of endorsements for collection or deposit and customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practices; and
(m) Investments consisting of the purchase of outstanding minority interests in non-wholly owned subsidiaries of the Loan Parties pursuant to obligations existing as of the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.02(e).
“Permitted Junior Intercreditor Agreement” means, with respect to any Liens on Collateral that are intended to be junior to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Term Loans, an intercreditor agreement for the sharing of liens on a junior basis in form and substance that is reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders in their sole discretion.
“Permitted Liens” means:
(a) Liens securing the Obligations;
(b) Liens for taxes, assessments and governmental charges the payment of which is not required under Section 7.01(c)(ii);
(c) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money) that are not overdue by more than 30 days or are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings initiated as promptly as practicable and diligently conducted, and a reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made therefor;
(d) Liens described on Schedule 7.02(a), provided that any such Lien shall only secure the Indebtedness that it secures on the Closing Date and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;
(e) Liens in respect of Refinancing Facilities and subject to a Permitted Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement or a Permitted Junior Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable;
(f) deposits and pledges of cash securing (i) obligations incurred in respect of workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or other forms of governmental insurance or benefits, (ii) the performance of bids, tenders, leases, contracts (other than for the payment of money) and statutory obligations or (iii) obligations on surety or appeal bonds (and, in the case of each of the foregoing, deposits and pledges of cash in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments issued for the account of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary in support of any such obligations), but only to the extent such deposits or pledges are made or otherwise arise in the ordinary course of business and secure obligations not past due;
(g) with respect to any Mortgaged Property, covenants, easements, zoning restrictions and similar encumbrances on real property and minor irregularities in the title thereto that do not (i) secure obligations for the payment of money (other than Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder) or (ii) materially impair the value of such property or its use by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries in the normal conduct of such Person’s business;
(h) Liens of landlords and mortgagees of landlords securing unpaid rents (i) arising by statute or under any lease or related Contractual Obligation entered into in the ordinary course of business, (ii) on fixtures and movable tangible property located on the real property leased or subleased from such landlord, or (iii) for amounts not yet due or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;
(i) the title and interest of a lessor or sublessor, or of a licensor or a sublicensor, in and to personal property leased or subleased (other than through a Capitalized Lease), or licensed or sublicensed, in each case extending only to such personal property;
(j) non-exclusive licenses of Intellectual Property granted in the ordinary course of business;
(k) judgment liens securing judgments and other proceedings not constituting an Event of Default under Section 9.01(j);
(l) rights of set-off, bankers’ liens or similar rights and remedies upon deposits of cash in favor of banks or other depository institutions, solely to the extent incurred in connection with the maintenance of such deposit accounts in the ordinary course of business;
(m) Liens granted in the ordinary course of business on the unearned portion of insurance premiums securing the financing of insurance premiums to the extent the financing is permitted under the definition of Permitted Indebtedness;
(n) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by any Loan Party in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement with respect to a Permitted Acquisition;
(o) 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;
(p) Liens (x) 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, and (y) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(q) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(r) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(s) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and do not secure any Indebtedness;
(t) Liens arising from UCC or other applicable personal property financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(u) Liens to secure Capitalized Lease Obligations resulting from Sale and Leaseback Transactions that are permitted pursuant to Section 7.02(f) so long as any such Lien does not apply to any property or assets of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries other than the property or assets leased pursuant to the Capitalized Leases; and
(v) Liens arising from Cash Equivalents described in clause (d) of the definition of the term “Cash Equivalents”.
“Permitted Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement” means, with respect to any Liens on Collateral that are intended to be pari passu with the Liens on the Collateral securing the Term Loans, an intercreditor agreement for the sharing of liens on a pari passu in form and substance that is reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders in their sole discretion.
“Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means the extension of maturity, refinancing or modification of the terms of Indebtedness so long as:
(a) after giving effect to such extension, refinancing or modification, the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness is not greater than the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness and unused commitments outstanding immediately prior to such extension, refinancing or modification (other than by the amount of accrued and unpaid interest with respect thereto and premiums paid thereon and the fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith and by the amount of unfunded commitments with respect thereto);
(b) such extension, refinancing or modification does not result in (i) the average weighted maturity (measured as of the extension, refinancing or modification) of the Indebtedness so extended, refinanced or modified being shorter than the shorter of (x) the remaining average weighted maturity of the Term Loans and (y) the remaining average weighted maturity of such Indebtedness prior to giving effect to such extension, refinancing or modification or (ii) the maturity date of the Indebtedness so extended, refinanced or modified being earlier than the earlier of (x) the Final Maturity Date and (y) the maturity date of such Indebtedness prior to giving effect to such extension, refinancing or modification;
(c) such extension, refinancing or modification is pursuant to terms (including, without limitation, terms relating to the payment of cash interest (which cannot exceed the amount of cash interest payable on such Indebtedness as of the Closing Date)) that are not less favorable, when taken as a whole, to the Loan Parties and the Lenders than the terms of the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced or modified;
(d) the Indebtedness that is extended, refinanced or modified is not recourse to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries that is liable on account of the obligations other than those Persons which were obligated with respect to the Indebtedness that was refinanced, renewed, or extended
(e) if the Indebtedness that is extended, refinanced or modified is subordinated to the Obligations, then such extension, refinancing or modification shall also be subordinated to the Obligations on terms not less favorable in any material respect to the Lenders; and
(f) such extension, refinancing or modification shall not be secured by any Lien on any asset other than the assets that secured such Indebtedness (or would have been required to secure such Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof).
“Permitted Restricted Payments” means any of the following Restricted Payments made by:
(a) any Subsidiary of Holdings to Holdings or any other Subsidiary; provided that, if the Subsidiary making such Restricted Payment is a Loan Party, then the recipient of such Restricted Payment shall also be a Loan Party,
(b) Holdings to make Restricted Payments in the form of common Equity Interests,
(c) after the thirtieth (30th) day of the second full Fiscal Quarter following the Closing Date, so long as (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (ii) a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower is received by the Agents and the Lenders in accordance with Section 7.01(a)(iv) calculating the Total Gross Leverage Ratio for the Fiscal Quarter most recently ended prior to the Fiscal Quarter in which such Restricted Payment is made for purposes of determining the RP Threshold, Holdings to make Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the RP Cap,
(d) Holdings to make cash payments in lieu of issuing fractional shares in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchange for Equity Interests in Holdings and
(e) Holdings to repurchase Equity Interests upon the exercise of stock options if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such stock options.
“Permitted Specified Liens” means Permitted Liens described in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (e) of the definition of Permitted Liens, and, solely in the case of Section 7.01(b)(i), including clauses (g), (h) and (i) of the definition of Permitted Liens.
“Permitted Tax Distribution” means, for any taxable period during which (i) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are part of a consolidated, combined, unitary or similar group for U.S. federal and/or applicable, state, local or foreign Tax purposes (a “Consolidated Group”) or (ii) the Borrower is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is wholly owned (directly or indirectly) by a Person that is a member of a Consolidated Group, distributions to discharge the income Tax liabilities of such Consolidated Group, when and as due, in an amount not to exceed the amount that the Borrower would be required to pay in respect of income Taxes for such taxable period if the Borrower were the parent of a separate Consolidated Group consisting of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (computed at the highest marginal tax rate applicable to a corporation residing in New York, New York and in effect for such taxable period, and taking into account the character and type of income earned and any actual carryovers and carrybacks of Tax attributes (such as net operating losses) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries from other taxable years).
“Person” means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture or other enterprise or entity or Governmental Authority.
“Plan” means any Employee Plan or Multiemployer Plan.
“Post-Default Rate” means a rate of interest per annum equal to the rate of interest in respect of Term Loans then in effect (or that would have been in effect if Term Loans were then outstanding) from time to time pursuant to the terms of this Agreement plus 2.00%.
“PPSA” means the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Commonwealth of Australia).
“Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to a Lender’s obligation to make the Term Loan and the right to receive payments of interest, fees, and principal with respect thereto, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) such Lender’s Term Loan Commitment, by (ii) the Total Term Loan Commitment, provided that if the Total Term Loan Commitment has been reduced to zero, the numerator shall be the aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s portion of the Term Loan and the denominator shall be the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Term Loan of all Lenders.
“Projected Pension Obligation” means, with respect to any Fiscal Quarter, the portion of the following annual amounts that are expected to be paid in such Fiscal Quarter in respect of pension contributions, as set forth in a projection of quarterly payments prepared by the Borrower and delivered to the Administrative Agent prior to the start of the applicable Fiscal Year in which such Fiscal Quarter will occur: (i) for Fiscal Year 2020, $83,000,000; (ii) for Fiscal Year 2021, $53,000,000; (iii) for Fiscal Year 2022, $54,000,000; (iv) for Fiscal Year 2023, $34,000,000; and (v) for Fiscal Year 2024, $28,000,000.
“Projections” means financial projections of Holdings and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(vi).
“Qualified Cash” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount of unrestricted cash on-hand of (x) the Loan Parties maintained in deposit accounts in the name of a Loan Party in the United States as of such date, which deposit accounts are, on and after the date that is 60 days after the Closing Date, subject to Control Agreements and (y) the Excluded Subsidiaries.
“Qualified Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all Equity Interests of such Person that are not Disqualified Equity Interests.
“Real Property Deliverables” means the requirement that within ninety (90) days after the Closing Date, with respect to the Mortgaged Property, the Collateral Agent shall have received each of the following agreements, instruments and other documents in respect of each Mortgaged Property:
(a) a Mortgage duly executed by the applicable Loan Party, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent and suitable for recording or filing, together with such other documents and instruments, payments of recording charges and/or taxes necessary to cause the same to be recorded in the real property records,
(b) evidence of the recording of each Mortgage in such office or offices as may be necessary or, in the opinion of the Collateral Agent, desirable to perfect the Lien purported to be created thereby or to otherwise protect the rights of the Collateral Agent and the Lenders thereunder;
(c) a Title Insurance Policy with respect to each Mortgage;
(d) a current ALTA survey and a surveyor’s certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, certified to the Collateral Agent and to the issuer of the Title Insurance Policy with respect thereto by a professional surveyor licensed in the state in which such Mortgaged Property is located and satisfactory to Collateral Agent; provided, however, that, with respect to any Mortgaged Property, Holdings and its Subsidiaries shall not be required to satisfy the requirements of this clause (d) if the Title Insurance Policy for the applicable Mortgage does not include a general exception concerning matters a survey would show based on an existing survey together with an affidavit of no change;
(e) an opinion of counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, in the state where such Mortgaged Property is located with respect to the enforceability of the Mortgage to be recorded and such other reasonable and customary matters as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request;
(f) a reasonably satisfactory ASTM 1527-13 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment of each Mortgaged Property, in form and substance and by an independent firm reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent;
(g) if requested by any Lender, no later than three (3) Business Days prior to the delivery of the Mortgage, the following documents and instruments, in order to comply with the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 and related legislation (including the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) (“Flood Laws”): (1) a complete standard flood hazard determination form, (2) if any portion of the improvements on any Mortgaged Property is located in a special flood hazard area, a notification to the Borrower (“Borrower Notice”) and, if applicable, notification to the Borrower that flood insurance coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program (“NFIP”) is not available because the community does not participate in NFIP, (3) documentation evidencing the Borrower’s receipt of the Borrower Notice and (4) if the Borrower Notice is required to be given and flood insurance is available in the community in which the property is located, a copy of the flood insurance policy, the Borrower’s application for a flood insurance policy plus proof of premium payment, a declaration page confirming that flood insurance has been issued, or such other evidence of flood insurance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (any of the foregoing being “Evidence of Flood Insurance”); and
(h) such other agreements, instruments and other documents (including guarantees and opinions of counsel) as the Collateral Agent may reasonably require
“Recipient” means any Agent and any Lender, as applicable.
“Reference Rate” means, for any period, the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% per annum, and (ii) the rate last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the United States 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 Specified Lender) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the Specified Lender). Each change in the Reference Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.
“Refinancing Facilities” means, collectively, (i) any secured or unsecured term loans incurred by the Borrower (such loans, “Refinancing Term Loans”) or (ii) any secured or unsecured notes or loans issued by the Borrower (whether under an indenture, a credit agreement or otherwise) (such loans or notes, the “Refinancing Notes”) and, in each case, the Indebtedness represented thereby; provided, that (a) 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds of such Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Notes are used to permanently reduce Term Loans on a dollar-for-dollar basis substantially simultaneously with the incurrence or issuance thereof; (b) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Notes does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans so reduced plus any fees, premiums, original issue discount and accrued interest associated therewith, and costs and expenses related thereto; (c) the final maturity date of such Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Notes is on or after the Final Maturity Date; (d) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Notes is greater than or equal to the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Term Loans so reduced; (e) the terms of such Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Notes do not require any mandatory prepayments or mandatory redemptions, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, prior to the Final Maturity Date (except as a result of (i) the payment in full of the Obligations (other than Contingent Indemnification Obligations) and (ii) a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Term Loans and all other Obligations (other than Contingent Indemnification Obligations) and the termination of the Commitments); (f) the other terms of such Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Notes, taken as a whole, are substantially similar to, or not materially less favorable to (i) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or (ii) the Lenders, in each case, than the terms, taken as a whole, applicable to the Term Loans (other than any such less favorable terms that are (1) applicable only after the Final Maturity Date or (2) added for the benefit of the existing Term Loans at the time of the applicable refinancing); (g) there shall be no obligor in respect of such Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Notes that is not a Loan Party; (h) Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Notes that are secured by Collateral shall be subject to the provisions of a Permitted Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement or a Permitted Junior Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable and (i) such Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Notes (1) shall not accrue interest at a rate that exceeds the Applicable Margin, (2) shall not be issued with original issue discount and (3) shall not be subject to any “make-whole” provision in connection with a voluntary or mandatory prepayment thereof.
“Register” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.07(f).
“Registered Intellectual Property” means Intellectual Property that is issued, registered, renewed or the subject of a pending application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or the U.S. Copyright Office, or any equivalent office or agency in any other country throughout the world.
“Registered Loans” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.07(f).
“Registration Rights Agreements” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated and effective as of the Closing Date, between Holdings and FIG LLC.
“Regulation T”, “Regulation U” and “Regulation X” mean, respectively, Regulations T, U and X of the Board or any successor, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time.
“Related Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
“Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, trustees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.
“Release” means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, seeping, migrating, dumping or disposing of any Hazardous Material (including the abandonment or discarding of barrels, containers and other closed receptacles containing any Hazardous Material) into the indoor or outdoor environment, including, without limitation, the movement of Hazardous Materials through or in the ambient air, soil, surface or ground water, or property.
“Remedial Action” means all actions taken to (a) clean up, remove, remediate, contain, treat, monitor, assess, evaluate or in any other way address Hazardous Materials in the indoor or outdoor environment; (b) prevent or minimize a Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials so they do not migrate or endanger or threaten to endanger public health or welfare or the indoor or outdoor environment; (c) perform pre-remedial studies and investigations and post-remedial operation and maintenance activities; or (d) perform any other actions authorized by 42 U.S.C. § 9601.
“Replacement Lender” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.02(b).
“Reportable Event” means an event described in Section 4043 of ERISA (other than an event not subject to the provision for 30-day notice to the PBGC under the regulations promulgated under such Section).
“Required Lenders” means Lenders whose Pro Rata Shares aggregate at least 50.1%.
“Required Prepayment Date” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.05(g).
“Requirements of Law” means, with respect to any Person, collectively, the common law and all Federal, state, provincial, local, foreign, multinational or international laws, statutes, codes, treaties, standards, rules and regulations, guidelines, ordinances, orders, judgments, writs, injunctions, decrees (including administrative or judicial precedents or authorities) and the interpretation or administration thereof by, and other determinations, directives, requirements or requests of, any Governmental Authority, in each case that are applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.
“Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Agent, any officer within the department of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, administering this matter, including any vice president, assistant vice president, senior associate, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Agent who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any such matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Agreement.
“Restricted Payment” means (a) the declaration or payment of any dividend or other distribution, direct or indirect, on account of any Equity Interests of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, now or hereafter outstanding, (b) the making of any repurchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any Equity Interests of any Loan Party or any direct or indirect parent of any Loan Party, now or hereafter outstanding or (c) the making of any payment to retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition of shares of any class of Equity Interests of any Loan Party, now or hereafter outstanding.
“RP Cap” means, (i) for the Fiscal Quarter in which the Closing Date occurs and the next succeeding Fiscal Quarter, $0 (plus, in the case of the Fiscal Quarter in which the Closing Date occurs, any Restricted Payments made prior to the Closing Date); and (ii) for each Fiscal Quarter thereafter, (w) $30,000,000, plus (x) Cash Interest Savings, less (y) the amount of cash consideration paid in respect of Permitted Acquisitions in such Fiscal Quarter and less (z) any increased pension obligations incurred in such Fiscal Quarter that have, since the Closing Date, been satisfied with cash of Holdings or its Subsidiaries to the extent such amounts satisfied with cash exceed 105% of the Projected Pension Obligation for such Fiscal Quarter; provided that in the event clause (y) causes the RP Cap for the applicable Fiscal Quarter to be less than $0, then the amount by which such RP Cap is less than $0 shall be carried over to any succeeding Fiscal Quarter and reduce the RP Cap for such succeeding Fiscal Quarter (or any future succeeding Fiscal Quarter, as applicable); provided, further, that (A) unused amounts in any such Fiscal Quarter may be carried over to any succeeding Fiscal Quarter within the Fiscal Year of such Fiscal Quarter and (B) unused amounts not to exceed $40,000,000 in any Fiscal Year may be carried over to any succeeding Fiscal Year; provided, further, that the RP Cap for any Fiscal Quarter described in clause (ii) may not exceed $60,000,000 after giving effect to any permitted carry overs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Restricted Payments will not be permitted during any Fiscal Quarter if the Total Gross Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter exceeds the corresponding RP Threshold on a pro forma basis.
“RP Threshold” means, with respect to any Fiscal Quarter, the Total Gross Leverage Ratio set forth below opposite such Fiscal Quarter:
| Fiscal Quarter | Total Gross Leverage Ratio |
| The Fiscal Quarter in which the Closing Date occurs and each of the next two succeeding Fiscal Quarters | 3.75 to 1.00 |
| Each of the next two succeeding Fiscal Quarters, the second of which will occur no later than the last day of Fiscal Year 2020 | 3.50 to 1.00 |
| Each of the next two succeeding Fiscal Quarters, the first of which will occur no later than the Fiscal Quarter ending March 31, 2021 | 3.00 to 1.00 |
| Each of the next two succeeding Fiscal Quarters | 2.50 to 1.00 |
| Each of the next two succeeding Fiscal Quarters | 2.25 to 1.00 |
| Each of the next two succeeding Fiscal Quarters | 2.00 to 1.00 |
| Each of the next two succeeding Fiscal Quarters | 1.75 to 1.00 |
| Each Fiscal Quarter thereafter | 1.50 to 1.00 |
“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means, with respect to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any Person whereby Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries shall sell or transfer any property used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property (or any portion thereof) or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold or transferred.
“Sanctions Programs” means any of the sanctions programs and related Requirements of Law administered by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, the Government of Canada or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, in each case, as renewed, extended, amended, or replaced.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other similar or successor agency of the Federal government administering the Securities Act.
“Secured Party” means any Agent, any Lender and each Person providing treasury, depositary and cash management services to a Loan Party the obligations under which constitute Obligations.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any similar Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.
“Securitization” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.07(l).
“Security Agreement” means the Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of the Closing Date made by the Domestic Loan Parties in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties securing the Obligations.
“Security Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, the Mortgages, the Foreign Pledge Agreements, the Foreign Security Agreements and each other security agreement or other instrument or document executed and delivered pursuant to any of the foregoing or pursuant to Section 7.1(b), Section 7.1(n) or Section 7.1(q) to secure any of the Obligations.
“Seller” means any Person that sells Equity Interests or other property or assets to a Loan Party or a Subsidiary of a Loan Party in a Permitted Acquisition.
“Solvent” means, with respect to any Person on a particular date, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is not less than the total amount of the liabilities of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its existing debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person is able to realize upon its assets and pay its debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the normal course of business, (d) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature, and (e) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute unreasonably small capital.
“Specified Lender” means, collectively, one or more investment funds affiliated with Apollo Capital Management, L.P.
“Standard & Poor’s” means S&P Global Ratings and any successor thereto.
“Structuring Fee Letter” means that certain Structuring Fee Letter, dated August 5, 2019, between Apollo Capital Management, L.P. and New Media Investment Group, Inc.
“Subordinated Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of any Loan Party which has been expressly subordinated in right of payment to all Indebtedness of such Loan Party under the Loan Documents by the execution and delivery of a subordination agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person at any date, any corporation, limited or general partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate, association, joint venture or other business entity (a) the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of such Person in such Person’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP or (b) of which more than 50% of (i) the outstanding Equity Interests having (in the absence of contingencies) ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of such Person, (ii) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, the interest in the capital or profits of such partnership or limited liability company or (iii) in the case of a trust, estate, association, joint venture or other entity, the beneficial interest in such trust, estate, association or other entity business is, at the time of determination, owned or controlled directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, by such Person. References to a Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary of Holdings unless the context expressly provides otherwise.
“Target” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals hereto.
“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“Termination Date” means the first date on which all of the Obligations are paid in full in cash and the Commitments of the Lenders are terminated.
“Termination Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to any Employee Plan, (b) any event that causes any Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates to incur liability under Section 409, 502(i), 502(l), 515, 4062, 4063, 4064, 4069, 4201, 4204 or 4212 of ERISA or Section 4971 or 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code, (c) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate an Employee Plan or the treatment of an Employee Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of ERISA, (d) the institution of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate an Employee Plan, or (e) any other event or condition that would reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Employee Plan.
“Term Loan” means, collectively, the loans made by the Term Loan Lenders to the Borrower on the Closing Date pursuant to Sections 2.01(a).
“Term Loan Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make the Term Loan to the Borrower on the Closing Date in the amount set forth in Schedule 1.01(A) hereto or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender became a Lender under this Agreement, as the same may be terminated or reduced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
“Term Loan Lender” means a Lender with a Term Loan Commitment or a Term Loan.
“Title Insurance Policy” means a mortgagee’s loan policy, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, together with all endorsements made from time to time thereto, issued to the Collateral Agent by or on behalf of a title insurance company selected by or otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, insuring the Lien created by a Mortgage in an amount no greater than one hundred twenty (120%) percent of the fair market value of such property (as reasonably estimated by the Borrower) and with such endorsements reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (other than a zoning 3.1 endorsement).
“Total Gross Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person and its Subsidiaries for any period, the ratio of (a) all Indebtedness in respect of the Term Loans and any other Indebtedness (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, pension liabilities and any Indebtedness listed on Schedule 7.02(b) (other than any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof)), in each case of such Person and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis outstanding as of the end of such period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of such Person and its Subsidiaries for the period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters then last ended for which financial statements have been (or were required to be) delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(ii) or Section 7.01(a)(iii), as applicable. Unless otherwise specified, references to the “Total Gross Leverage Ratio” herein shall mean the Total Gross Leverage Ratio of Holdings and its Subsidiaries.
“Total Term Loan Commitment” means the sum of the amounts of the Lenders’ Term Loan Commitments. As of the date hereof, the Total Term Loan Commitments is $1,792,000,000.00.
“Transactions” means, collectively, (i) the consummation of the Merger, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents, (iii) the consummation of the Payoff and (iv) the payment of all fees and expenses to be paid and owing in connection with the foregoing.
“UK Guarantor” means each of (i) Gannett International Finance LLP, a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of England and Wales, (ii) Gannett International Holdings LLP, a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of England and Wales, (iii) Gannett U.K. Limited, a private limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales, (iv) Newsquest Capital Limited, a private limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales, (v) Newsquest Limited, a private limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales and (vi) each other party which accedes to the Debenture by executing a deed of accession in the form attached to the Debenture.
“UK Partnership Interest Charges” means the charges over limited liability partnership interests in Gannett International Holdings LLP and Gannett International Finance LLP dated on or around the date of this Agreement and each entered into by (1) the entities named therein as Chargors in favour of (2) the Collateral Agent.
“Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 1.05.
“U.S. Person” means any Person that is a “United States Person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code.
“U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.09(d)(ii)(B)(3).
“USA PATRIOT Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (PATRIOT) Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56, Oct. 26, 2001) as amended by the USA Patriot Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-177, March 9, 2006) and as the same may have been or may be further renewed, extended, amended, or replaced.
“Waivable Mandatory Prepayment” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.05(g).
“WARN” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 6.01(p).
“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (a) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.
“Withholding Agent” means any Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.
“Working Capital” means, at any date of determination thereof, (a) the sum, for any Person and its Subsidiaries, of (i) the unpaid face amount of all Accounts of such Person and its Subsidiaries as at such date of determination, plus (ii) the aggregate amount of prepaid expenses and other current assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries as at such date of determination (other than cash, Cash Equivalents and any Indebtedness owing to such Person or any of its Subsidiaries by Affiliates of such Person), minus (b) the sum, for such Person and its Subsidiaries, of (i) the unpaid amount of all accounts payable of such Person and its Subsidiaries as at such date of determination, plus (ii) the aggregate amount of all accrued expenses of such Person and its Subsidiaries as at such date of determination (other than the current portion of long-term debt and lease liabilities and all accrued interest and taxes).
“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.
Section 1.02 Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise, (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (e) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any right or interest in or to assets and properties of any kind whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible.
Section 1.03 Certain Matters of Construction. A Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to exist at all times during the period commencing on the date that such Default or Event of Default occurs to the date on which such Default or Event of Default is waived in writing pursuant to this Agreement or, in the case of a Default, is cured within any period of cure expressly provided for in this Agreement; and an Event of Default shall “continue” or be “continuing” until such Event of Default has been waived in writing by the Required Lenders. Any Lien referred to in this Agreement or any other Loan Document as having been created in favor of any Agent, any agreement entered into by any Agent pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, any payment made by or to or funds received by any Agent pursuant to or as contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any act taken or omitted to be taken by any Agent, shall, unless otherwise expressly provided, be created, entered into, made or received, or taken or omitted, for the benefit or account of the Agents and the Lenders. Wherever the phrase “to the knowledge of any Loan Party” or words of similar import relating to the knowledge or the awareness of any Loan Party are used in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, such phrase shall mean and refer to (i) the actual knowledge of a senior officer of any Loan Party or (ii) the knowledge that a senior officer would have obtained if such officer had engaged in good faith and diligent performance of such officer’s duties, including the making of such reasonably specific inquiries as may be necessary of the employees or agents of such Loan Party and a good faith attempt to ascertain the existence or accuracy of the matter to which such phrase relates. All covenants hereunder shall be given independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is not permitted by any of such covenants, the fact that it would be permitted by an exception to, or otherwise within the limitations of, another covenant shall not avoid the occurrence of a default if such action is taken or condition exists. In addition, all representations and warranties hereunder shall be given independent effect so that if a particular representation or warranty proves to be incorrect or is breached, the fact that another representation or warranty concerning the same or similar subject matter is correct or is not breached will not affect the incorrectness of a breach of a representation or warranty hereunder.
Section 1.04 Pro Forma Calculations.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, financial ratios and tests (including the Total Gross Leverage Ratio) pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated in the manner prescribed by this Section 1.04.
(b) In the event that the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries redeems, repays, retires or extinguishes any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness repaid under any revolving credit facility unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and has not been replaced) subsequent to the end of the applicable period for which such financial ratio or test is being calculated but prior to or simultaneously with the event for which such calculation is being made, then such financial ratio or test shall, except to the extent relating to the RP Threshold, be calculated giving pro forma effect to such redemption, repayment, retirement or extinguishment of Indebtedness, as if the same had occurred on the last day of the applicable period.
Section 1.05 Accounting and Other Terms.
(a) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, each accounting term used herein shall have the meaning given it under GAAP. For purposes of determining compliance with any incurrence or expenditure tests set forth in Section 7.01 and Section 7.02, any amounts so incurred or expended (to the extent incurred or expended in a currency other than Dollars) shall be converted into Dollars on the basis of the exchange rates (as shown on the Bloomberg currency page for such currency or, if the same does not provide such exchange rate, by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be reasonably selected by the Administrative Agent or, in the event no such service is selected, on such other basis as is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (acting at the written direction of the Required Lenders) as in effect on the date of such incurrence or expenditure under any provision of any such Section that has an aggregate Dollar limitation provided for therein (and to the extent the respective incurrence or expenditure test regulates the aggregate amount outstanding at any time and it is expressed in terms of Dollars, all outstanding amounts originally incurred or spent in currencies other than Dollars shall be converted into Dollars on the basis of the exchange rates (as shown on the Bloomberg currency page for such currency or, if the same does not provide such exchange rate, by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be reasonably selected by the Administrative Agent or, in the event no such service is selected, on such other basis as is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (acting at the written direction of the Required Lenders)) as in effect on the date of any new incurrence or expenditures made under any provision of any such Section that regulates the Dollar amount outstanding at any time). Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of Holdings and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 and FASB ASC 470-20 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.
(b) All terms used in this Agreement which are defined in Article 8 or Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York (the “Uniform Commercial Code” or the “UCC”) and which are not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings herein as set forth therein, provided that terms used herein which are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York on the date hereof shall continue to have the same meaning notwithstanding any replacement or amendment of such statute except as any Agent (acting at the written direction of the Required Lenders) may otherwise determine.
Section 1.06 Time References. Unless otherwise indicated herein, all references to time of day refer to Eastern Standard Time or Eastern daylight saving time, as in effect in New York City on such day. For purposes of the computation of a period of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including” and the words “to” and “until” each means “to but excluding”; provided, however, that with respect to a computation of fees or interest payable to any Secured Party, such period shall in any event consist of at least one full day.
Section 1.07 Australian Terms. (a) Unless the context requires otherwise, a reference to “Australia” shall include the Commonwealth of Australia and each State or Territory of the Commonwealth of Australia (and “Australian” shall have a corresponding meaning).
(b) In relation to any Australian Person or where the PPSA otherwise applies, a reference to a Lien or other security interest includes any “security interest” as defined in sections 12(1) or (2) of the PPSA.
(c) Where it relates to any Australian Person, a reference to: (i) bankruptcy includes administration; (ii) liquidation includes winding up; (iii) a receiver includes a controller and a managing controller, each as defined in the Corporations Act (and a reference to receivership has a corresponding meaning); (iv) Insolvency Proceeding includes any corporate action, legal proceedings or other formal procedure, filing or step under the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Commonwealth of Australia) and Chapter 5 and Part 5C.9 of the Corporations Act in relation to the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, winding-up, dissolution, administration or reorganisation or the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrator, compulsory manager or other similar officer; or (v) such Australian Person being insolvent or unable, or admitting inability, to pay its debts as they become due includes such Australian Person being, or being presumed or deemed under applicable law to be, insolvent.
(d) A reference to any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority includes, in relation to anything which will be fully or partly prohibited or restricted by Australian law if a Governmental Authority in or of Australia intervenes or acts in any way within a specified period after lodgment, filing, registration or notification, the expiry of that period without intervention or action.
Section 1.08 Canadian Terms. (a) Unless the context requires otherwise, a reference to “Canada” shall include the country of Canada and each Province or Territory of Canada (and “Canadian” shall have a corresponding meaning).
(b) In relation to any Canadian Person or where the Canadian PPSA otherwise applies, a reference to a Lien or other security interest includes any “security interest” as defined in the applicable Canadian PPSA.
(c) Where it relates to any Canadian Person, a reference to: (i) bankruptcy includes administration, (ii) liquidation includes winding up; (iii) a receiver includes a receiver and manager (and a reference to receivership has a corresponding meaning); (iv) Insolvency Proceeding includes a proceeding is taken with respect to a reorganization, liquidation, winding up, proposal, compromise or arrangement with creditors, or to any Canadian Person being declared bankrupt, (including, without limitation, any proceeding commenced by or in respect of any Canadian Person under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, (Canada) R.S.C. 1985, c. B-3 as amended or the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada), R.S.C. 1985, c. C-36 as amended) or a proceeding is taken to have a receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager or agent appointed over all or any part of the property and assets of a Canadian Person (including, without limitation, the private appointment of any such receiver, receiver and manager or agent) or any encumbrancer taking possession of all or any part of the property and assets of a Canadian Person, or any execution, writ of seizure and sale, sequestration or extent or any other process of any court becomes enforceable against a Canadian Person or a distress or analogous process is levied upon a material portion of the properties and assets of a Canadian Person; (v) such Canadian Person being insolvent or unable, or admitting inability, to pay its debts as they become due includes such Canadian Person being, or being presumed or deemed under applicable law to be, insolvent.
(d) A reference to any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority includes, in relation to anything which will be fully or partly prohibited or restricted by Canadian law if a Governmental Authority in or of Canada intervenes or acts in any way within a specified period after lodgment, filing, registration or notification, the expiry of that period without intervention or action.
(e) No Canadian Loan Party nor any of its Affiliates is or has at any time been an employer participating in a “registered pension plan” as defined in subsection 248(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (a “Canadian Pension Plan”) and no Canadian Loan Party shall establish a Canadian Pension Plan without the Lenders express prior written consent.
(f) For any Canadian Loan Party, (i) for the purposes of the Interest Act (Canada) and disclosure thereunder, whenever any interest or any fee to be paid hereunder or in connection herewith is to be calculated on the basis of a 360-day or 365-day year, the yearly rate of interest to which the rate used in such calculation is equivalent is the rate so used multiplied by the actual number of days in the calendar year in which the same is to be ascertained and divided by 360 or 365, as applicable; (ii) the rates of interest under this Agreement are nominal rates, and not effective rates or yields; and (iii) the principle of deemed reinvestment does not apply to any interest calculation under this Agreement.
(g) Each Canadian Loan Party confirms that they fully understand and are able to calculate the rate of interest applicable and based on the methodology for calculating per annum rates provided for in this Agreement and each Canadian Loan Party hereby irrevocably agrees not to plead or assert, whether by way of defense or otherwise, in any proceeding relating to this Agreement or to any other documents, that the interest payable under this Agreement and the calculation thereof has not been adequately disclosed to the Canadian Loan Party as required pursuant to Section 4 of the Interest Act (Canada).
ARTICLE II
THE LOANS
Section 2.01 Commitments. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth in Article VI, each Term Loan Lender severally agrees to make its portion of the Term Loan to be advanced on the Closing Date to the Borrower on the Closing Date, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount of such Lender’s Term Loan Commitment.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loan made on the Closing Date shall not exceed the Total Term Loan Commitment. Any principal amount of the Term Loan which is repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.
Section 2.02 Making the Term Loans. With respect to the making of Term Loans:
(a) The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent prior written notice substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto (a “Notice of Borrowing”), not later than 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date which is one Business Day prior to the Closing Date. Such Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify (i) the principal amount of the proposed Loan, (ii) wire instructions for the account of the Borrower into which such funds should be deposited, and (iii) the proposed borrowing date, which must be a Business Day. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders may act without liability upon the basis of written, emailed or telecopied notice believed by the Administrative Agent in good faith to be from the Borrower (or from any Authorized Officer thereof designated in writing purportedly from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent). The Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be entitled to rely conclusively on any Authorized Officer’s authority to request a Loan on behalf of the Borrower until the Administrative Agent receives written notice to the contrary. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have no duty to verify the authenticity of the signature appearing on any written Notice of Borrowing.
(b) Each Notice of Borrowing pursuant to this Section 2.02 shall be irrevocable and the Borrower shall be bound to make a borrowing in accordance therewith.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.02(c), the Term Loans under this Agreement shall be made by the Lenders simultaneously and proportionately to their Pro Rata Shares of the Total Term Loan Commitment; it being understood that no Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in that other Lender’s obligations to make a Term Loan requested hereunder, nor shall the Commitment of any Lender be increased or decreased as a result of the default by any other Lender in that other Lender’s obligation to make a Term Loan requested hereunder, and each Lender shall be obligated to make the Term Loans required to be made by it by the terms of this Agreement regardless of the failure by any other Lender. Not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the borrowing date, each Lender shall deliver to the account of the Borrower specified in the Notice of Borrowing an amount in immediately available funds equal to the such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Term Loan to be made by the Lenders.
Section 2.03 Repayment of Term Loans; Evidence of Debt.
(a) [Reserved].
(b) The outstanding principal amount of the Term Loan, and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall be due and payable on the earlier of (i) the Final Maturity Date and (ii) the date on which the Term Loan is declared due and payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
(c) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from the Term Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of the Term Loan made hereunder, (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 for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.
(e) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to Section 2.03(c) or Section 2.03(d) shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that (i) the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Term Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and (ii) in the event of any conflict between the entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to Section 2.03(c) and the accounts maintained pursuant to Section 2.03(d), the accounts maintained pursuant to Section 2.03(d) shall govern and control.
(f) Any Lender may request that Term Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto. In such event, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) in the form of Exhibit D hereto. Thereafter, the Term Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 12.07) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the payee named therein.
Section 2.04 Interest.
(a) [Reserved].
(b) Interest Rate. The Term Loan shall bear interest on the principal amount thereof from time to time outstanding, from the Closing Date until repaid, at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin.
(c) Default Interest. To the extent permitted by law and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section, automatically upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the principal of, and all accrued and unpaid interest on, all Term Loans, fees, indemnities or any other Obligations of the Loan Parties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, shall bear interest, from the date such Event of Default occurred until the date such Event of Default is cured or waived in writing in accordance herewith, at a rate per annum equal at all times to the Post-Default Rate.
(d) Interest Payment. Interest on the Term Loan shall be payable quarterly, in arrears, commencing with the second full Fiscal Quarter after the Closing Date, on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December. For the avoidance of doubt, interest will accrue from and including the Closing Date. Interest at the Post-Default Rate shall be payable on demand. All interest payments shall be payable in cash.
(e) General. All interest shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days for the actual number of days, including the first day but excluding the last day, elapsed.
Section 2.05 Termination of Commitment; Prepayment of Term Loans.
(a) Termination of Commitments. The Total Term Loan Commitment shall terminate at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Closing Date.
(b) Optional Prepayment.
(i) [Reserved].
(ii) Term Loan. The Borrower may, at any time and from time to time, upon at least 3 Business Days’ prior written notice prior to 12:00 p.m. New York Time to the Administrative Agent, prepay the principal of the Term Loan, in whole or in part, at par plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of prepayment but without any premium or penalty. Each prepayment notice delivered pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(ii) shall be irrevocable (except that such notice may be conditioned on the closing of a replacement financing facility, in which case such notice may be revoked or extended by the Borrower if any such condition is not satisfied prior to the date of the applicable prepayment) and accompanied by the payment of accrued interest to the date of such payment on the amount prepaid.
(iii) Termination of Agreement. The Borrower may, upon at least 3 days’ prior written notice prior to 12:00 p.m. New York Time to the Administrative Agent, terminate this Agreement by paying to the Administrative Agent, in cash, the Obligations (but excluding any Contingent Indemnity Obligations) in full; provided that such notice may provide that it is conditioned upon the consummation of other financing or the consummation of a sale of Equity Interests, in which case, such notice may be revoked or extended by the Borrower if any such condition is not satisfied prior to the date of termination of this Agreement in such notice. If the Borrower has sent a notice of termination pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(iii), then the Lenders’ obligations to extend credit hereunder shall terminate and the Borrower shall be obligated to repay the Obligations (but excluding any Contingent Indemnity Obligations) in full on the date set forth in such notice (except as revoked or extended as provided above).
(c) Mandatory Prepayment.
(i) Within 5 Business Days after the delivery to the Agents and the Lenders of financial statements pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(ii) and Section 7.01(a)(iii):
(A) commencing with the delivery to the Agents and the Lenders of the financial statements for the third full Fiscal Quarter ending after the Closing Date (and ending with the delivery of the financial statements pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(iii) for the Fiscal Year 2020) or, if such financial statements are not delivered to the Agents and the Lenders on the date such statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(ii) or Section 7.01(a)(iii), as applicable, on the date such statements are required to be delivered to the Agents and the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(ii) or Section 7.01(a)(iii), as applicable, the Borrower shall prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d) in an amount equal to 50% of Excess Cash Flow for Holdings and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarter;
(B) commencing with the delivery to the Agents and the Lenders of the financial statements for each Fiscal Quarter ending after Fiscal Year 2020 or, if such financial statements are not delivered to the Agents and the Lenders on the date such statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(ii) or Section 7.01(a)(iii), as applicable, on the date such statements are required to be delivered to the Agents and the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(ii) or Section 7.01(a)(iii), as applicable, the Borrower shall prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d) in an amount equal to (i) if the Total Gross Leverage Ratio for the four Fiscal Quarter period ending on the last day of such Fiscal Quarter is 1.00 to 1.00 or greater, 90% of Excess Cash Flow for Holdings and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarter and (ii) if the Total Gross Leverage Ratio for the four Fiscal Quarter period ending on the last day of such Fiscal Quarter is less than 1.00 to 1.00, 50% of Excess Cash Flow for Holdings and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarter.
(C) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans required to be prepaid pursuant to this Section 2.05(c)(i) for any Fiscal Quarter shall be reduced, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, by the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans prepaid pursuant to Section 2.05(b) during such Fiscal Quarter.
(ii) Within 5 Business Days after any Sale and Leaseback Transactions or any Disposition (excluding Dispositions which qualify as Permitted Dispositions under clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i) (but only to the extent the fair market value of such property does not exceed $100,000 per such Disposition or series of related Dispositions) or (j) of the definition of Permitted Disposition) by any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries, the Borrower shall prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d) in an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds received by such Person in connection with such Sale and Leaseback Transaction or Disposition, as applicable. Nothing contained in this Section 2.05(c)(ii) shall permit any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries to make a Sale and Leaseback Transaction or Disposition of any property other than in accordance with Section 7.02(f) or Section 7.02(c)(ii), as applicable.
(iii) Within 1 Business Day after the issuance or incurrence by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness), the Borrower shall prepay the outstanding amount of the Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d) in an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds received by such Person in connection therewith. The provisions of this Section 2.05(c)(iii) shall not be deemed to be implied consent to any such issuance, incurrence or sale otherwise prohibited by the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
(iv) Within 5 Business Days after the receipt by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of any Extraordinary Receipts, the Borrower shall prepay the outstanding principal of the Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d) in an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds received by such Person in connection therewith.
(v) Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to Net Cash Proceeds received by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the receipt of Extraordinary Receipts consisting of insurance proceeds or condemnation awards that are required to be used to prepay the Obligations pursuant to Section 2.05(c)(iv), such Extraordinary Receipts shall not be required to be so used to prepay the Obligations to the extent that such Net Cash Proceeds are used to replace, repair, improve, renovate or restore properties or assets (other than current assets) used in such Person’s business, provided that, (A) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date such Person receives such Net Cash Proceeds, (B) the Borrower delivers a certificate to the Administrative Agent within 5 Business Days after the receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds stating that such Net Cash Proceeds shall be used to replace, repair or restore properties or assets used in such Person’s business within a period specified in such certificate not to exceed 180 days after the date of receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds (which certificate shall set forth estimates of the Net Cash Proceeds to be so expended), (C) such Net Cash Proceeds are deposited in an account subject to a Control Agreement, and (D) upon the earlier of (1) the expiration of the period specified in the relevant certificate furnished to the Administrative Agent pursuant to clause (B) above or (2) the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default, such Net Cash Proceeds, if not theretofore so used, shall be used to prepay the Obligations in accordance with Section 2.05(c)(iv).
(vi) Within 5 Business Days after the delivery to the Agents and the Lenders of annual financial statements pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(iii) for the Fiscal Years ending in 2020 and 2021, or, if such financial statements are not delivered to the Agents and the Lenders on the date such statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(iii), on the date such statements are required to be delivered to the Agents and the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(iii), the Borrower shall prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d) in an amount equal to the amount by which the aggregate amount of unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as of the last day of the applicable Fiscal Year exceeds $40,000,000.
(vii) On the date that is 37 Business Days after the Closing Date, the Borrower shall prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d) in an amount, if any, equal to the aggregate principal amount of Existing Convertible Notes that have not been surrendered for repurchase or conversion on or prior to such date.
(d) Application of Payments. Each such prepayment of the Term Loan shall be applied against the remaining principal of the Term Loan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent shall, if directed in writing by the Required Lenders, apply payments in respect of any Obligations in accordance with Section 4.03(b), and apply prepayments required under Section 2.05(c) in the manner set forth in Section 4.03(b).
(e) Interest and Fees. Any prepayment made pursuant to this Section 2.05 shall be accompanied by accrued interest on the principal amount being prepaid to the date of prepayment.
(f) Cumulative Prepayments. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Section 2.05, payments with respect to any subsection of this Section 2.05 are in addition to payments made or required to be made under any other subsection of this Section 2.05.
(g) Waivable Mandatory Prepayments. Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that the Borrower is required to make any mandatory prepayment (a “Waivable Mandatory Prepayment”) of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(c), not less than 3:00 p.m. New York Time two (2) Business Days prior to the date on which the Borrower is required to make such Waivable Mandatory Prepayment (the “Required Prepayment Date”), the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of the amount of such prepayment, and the Administrative Agent will promptly thereafter notify each Lender of the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such Waivable Mandatory Prepayment and such Lender’s option to refuse such amount. Each such Lender may exercise such option by giving written notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of its election to do so on or before the first Business Day prior to the Required Prepayment Date (it being understood that any Lender that does not notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of its election to exercise such option on or before 3:00 p.m. New York Time on the first Business Day prior to the Required Prepayment Date shall be deemed to have elected, as of such date, not to exercise such option). On the Required Prepayment Date, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent the amount of the Waivable Mandatory Prepayment, which amount shall be applied (i) in an amount equal to that portion of the Waivable Mandatory Prepayment payable to those Lenders that have elected not to exercise such option, to prepay the Term Loans of such Lenders (which prepayment shall be applied to prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Obligations in accordance with Section 2.05(d)), and (ii) to the extent of any remaining excess, to the Borrower.
Section 2.06 Fees. As and when due and payable under the terms of the Fee Letters, the Borrower shall pay the fees set forth in each Fee Letter.
Section 2.07 [Reserved].
Section 2.08 [Reserved].
Section 2.09 Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any and all Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of any Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Taxes from or in respect of any such payment, (i) the applicable Withholding Agent shall make such deduction or withholding (for which it shall have no liability), (ii) the applicable Withholding Agent shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and (iii) if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased by the amount (an “Additional Amount”) necessary such that after making all required deductions and withholdings (including deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.09) the applicable Recipient receives the amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.
(b) In addition, each Loan Party shall pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law any Other Taxes, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of any Other Taxes by any Secured Party. Each Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent official receipts in respect of any Taxes or Other Taxes payable hereunder as promptly as practicable after payment of such Taxes or Other Taxes.
(c) The Loan Parties hereby jointly and severally indemnify and agree to hold each Secured Party harmless from and against Indemnified Taxes (including, without limitation, Indemnified Taxes imposed on any amounts payable under this Section 2.09) paid or payable by such Secured Party or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Secured Party and any expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally asserted. Such indemnification shall be paid within 10 days from the date on which any such Person makes written demand therefore specifying in reasonable detail the nature and amount of such Indemnified Taxes. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Secured Party (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of another Secured Party shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(d) (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 2.09(d)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.
(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
(A) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;
(B) any Lender that is not a U.S. Person (a “Foreign Lender”) shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be reasonably requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
(1) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;
(2) executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI;
(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.09(d)-1 hereto to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E; or
(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.09(d)-2 or Exhibit 2.09(d)-3, IRS Form W-9, or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.09(d)-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
(C) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be reasonably requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and
(D) if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
(e) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent, if it is not a U.S. Person, shall deliver to the Borrower an accurate, complete, original, signed copy of IRS Form W-8IMY certifying in Part I that the Administrative Agent is a U.S. branch of a foreign bank and in Part VI that the Administrative Agent agrees to be treated as a U.S. Person with respect to any payments associated with such IRS Form W-8IMY.
(f) Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 12.07(i) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (f).
(g) If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.09 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.09), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 2.09 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (g) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (g), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (g) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.
(h) The obligations of the Loan Parties under this Section 2.09 shall survive the termination of this Agreement, the payment of the Term Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder and the resignation or removal of any Agent.
Section 2.10 Increased Costs and Reduced Return. (a) If any Secured Party shall have determined that any Change in Law shall (i) subject such Secured Party, or any Person controlling such Secured Party, to any Tax with respect to this Agreement or any Term Loans, or other Obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto, made by such Agent or such Lender, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Secured Party or any Person controlling such Secured Party of any amounts payable hereunder (except for Indemnified Taxes and Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes), (ii) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against any Term Loan or against assets of or held by, or deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, such Secured Party or any Person controlling such Secured Party or (iii) impose on such Secured Party or any Person controlling such Secured Party any other condition regarding this Agreement or any Term Loan, and the result of any event referred to in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above shall be to increase the cost to such Secured Party of making any Term Loan or agreeing to make any Term Loan, or to reduce any amount received or receivable by such Secured Party hereunder, then, upon demand by such Secured Party, the Borrower shall pay to such Secured Party such additional amounts as will compensate such Secured Party for such increased costs or reductions in amount.
(b) If any Secured Party shall have determined that any Change in Law either (i) affects or would affect the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Secured Party or any Person controlling such Secured Party, and such Secured Party determines that the amount of such capital is increased as a direct or indirect consequence of any Term Loans made or maintained or any guaranty or participation with respect thereto or any agreement to make Term Loans or such Secured Party’s or such other controlling Person’s other obligations hereunder, or (ii) has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Secured Party’s or such other controlling Person’s capital to a level below that which such Secured Party or such controlling Person could have achieved but for such circumstances as a consequence of any Term Loans made or maintained or any guaranty or participation with respect thereto or any agreement to make Term Loans or such Secured Party’s or such other controlling Person’s other obligations hereunder (in each case, taking into consideration such Secured Party’s or such other controlling Person’s policies with respect to capital adequacy), then, upon demand by such Secured Party, the Borrower shall pay to such Secured Party from time to time such additional amounts as will compensate such Secured Party for such cost of maintaining such increased capital or such reduction in the rate of return on such Secured Party’s or such other controlling Person’s capital.
(c) All amounts payable under this Section 2.10 shall bear interest from the date that is 10 days after the date of demand by any Secured Party until payment in full to such Secured Party at the Reference Rate. A certificate of such Secured Party claiming compensation under this Section 2.10, specifying the event herein above described and the nature of such event shall be submitted by such Secured Party to the Borrower, setting forth the additional amount due and an explanation of the calculation thereof, and such Secured Party’s reasons for invoking the provisions of this Section 2.10, and shall be final and conclusive absent manifest error.
(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.10 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.10 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
(e) The obligations of the Loan Parties under this Section 2.10 shall survive the termination of this Agreement, the payment of the Term Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder and the resignation or removal of any Agent.
Section 2.11 [Reserved].
Section 2.12 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(a) If any Lender requires the Borrower to pay any Additional Amounts under Section 2.09 or requests compensation under Section 2.10, then such Lender shall (at the request of the Borrower) use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to such Section in the future, and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) If any Lender requires the Borrower to pay any Additional Amounts under Section 2.09 or requests compensation under Section 2.10 and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different lending office in accordance with clause (a) above, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 12.07), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if such Lender accepts such assignment); provided that:
(i) the Borrower shall have paid to the Agents any assignment fees specified in Section 12.07;
(ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 2.09) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);
(iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.09 or a claim for compensation under Section 2.10, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and
(iv) such assignment does not conflict with applicable law.
Prior to the effective date of such assignment, the assigning Lender shall execute and deliver an Assignment and Acceptance, subject only to the conditions set forth above. If the assigning Lender shall refuse or fail to execute and deliver any such Assignment and Acceptance prior to the effective date of such assignment, the assigning Lender shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such Assignment and Acceptance. Any such assignment shall be made in accordance with the terms of Section 12.07.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
ARTICLE III
[RESERVED]
ARTICLE IV
APPLICATION OF PAYMENTS
Section 4.01 Payments; Computations and Statements. The Borrower will make each payment under this Agreement not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the day when due, in lawful money of the United States of America and in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent’s Account. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) on any Business Day may, in the Administrative Agent’s discretion, be credited on the next succeeding Business Day. All payments shall be made by the Borrower without set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, deduction or other defense to the Agents and the Lenders. Except as provided in Section 2.02, after receipt, the Administrative Agent will promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds relating to the payment of principal ratably to the Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount payable to any Lender to such Lender, in each case to be applied in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Lenders and the Borrower hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to, and the Administrative Agent may, from time to time, revise the Register with any amount due and payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document. Each of the Lenders and the Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent shall have the right to make such changes whether or not any Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. The Lenders and the Borrower confirm that any changes which the Administrative Agent may so make to the Register as herein provided will be made as an accommodation to the Borrower and solely at the Administrative Agent’s discretion, provided that the Administrative Agent shall from time to time upon the request of the Required Lenders, revise the Register with any amount due and payable under any Loan Document. Whenever any payment to be made under any such Loan Document shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of interest or fees, as the case may be. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes in the absence of manifest error.
Section 4.02 Sharing of Payments. Except as provided in Section 2.02 hereof, if any Lender shall obtain any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) on account of any Obligation in excess of its ratable share of payments on account of similar obligations obtained by all the Lenders, such Lender shall forthwith purchase from the other Lenders such participations in such similar obligations held by them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment ratably with each of them; provided, however, that (a) if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Lender, such purchase from each Lender shall be rescinded and each Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price to the extent of such recovery together with an amount equal to such Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Lender’s required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered and (b) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (i) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), or (ii) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply). The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender pursuant to this Section may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all of its rights (including the Lender’s right of set-off) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.
Section 4.03 Apportionment of Payments.Subject to Section 2.02 hereof:
(a) All payments of principal and interest in respect of outstanding Term Loans and all other payments in respect of any other Obligations, shall be allocated by the Administrative Agent among such of the Lenders as are entitled thereto, in proportion to their respective Pro Rata Shares or otherwise as provided herein or, in respect of payments not made on account of Term Loans, as designated by the Person making payment when the payment is made.
(b) (w) After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default described in Section 9.01(a), (f) or (g), (x) after the acceleration of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 9.01, (y) after the exercise of enforcement remedies by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Loan Documents or (z) otherwise upon the written direction of the Required Lenders, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, in each case, the Administrative Agent shall apply all payments in respect of any Obligations, including, without limitation, proceeds of the Collateral and any amounts received on account of the Obligations (whether received as a consequence of the exercise of any remedies under Section 9.01 hereof or any Loan Document or as a distribution out of any proceeding in respect of or commenced under any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding including payments in respect of “adequate protection” for the use of Collateral during such proceeding or under any plan of reorganization or on account of any liquidation of any Loan Party, subject to the provisions of this Agreement), (i) first, ratably to pay the Obligations in respect of any fees, expense reimbursements, indemnities and other amounts then due and payable to the Agents until paid in full; (ii) second, to pay interest then due and payable in respect of the Collateral Agent Advances until paid in full; (iii) third, to pay principal of the Collateral Agent Advances until paid in full; (iv) fourth, ratably to pay the Obligations in respect of any fees, expense reimbursements, indemnities and other amounts then due and payable to the Lenders until paid in full; (v) fifth, ratably to pay interest then due and payable in respect of the Term Loans until paid in full; (vi) sixth, ratably to pay principal of the Term Loans until paid in full; (vii) seventh, to the ratable payment of all other Obligations then due and payable; and (viii) eighth, to the extent of any remaining amounts, to the Borrower or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.
(c) [reserved.]
(d) In the event of a conflict between the priority provisions of this Section 4.03 and other provisions contained in any other Loan Document, the terms and provisions of this Section 4.03 shall control and govern.
ARTICLE V
CONDITIONS TO LOANS
Section 5.01 Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective as of the Business Day (the “Closing Date”) when each of the following conditions precedent shall have been satisfied in a manner satisfactory to the Required Lenders:
(a) Payment of Fees, Etc. The Borrower shall have paid on or before the Closing Date all fees then payable pursuant to Section 2.06 and, to the extent invoiced at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by any Loan Party pursuant to Section 12.04.
(b) Representations and Warranties. The following statements shall be true and correct: (i) the representations made by or with respect to the Target and its subsidiaries in the Merger Agreement as are material to the interests of the Lenders (in their capacities as such) (but only to the extent that Holdings has the right to terminate its obligations under the Merger Agreement as a result of a breach of such representations in the Merger Agreement) shall be true and correct in all material respects and (ii) the representations and warranties made in respect of the Borrower, and, to the extent applicable, the Guarantors, in Sections 6.01(a)(i), (a)(ii), (b)(i), (b)(ii)(A), (d), (k), (t), (w) and, solely with respect to the use of the proceeds of the Term Loans, (y) and (z) shall be true and correct in all material respects.
(c) [Reserved].
(d) Delivery of Documents. The Agents shall have received on or before the Closing Date the following, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agents and, unless indicated otherwise, dated the Closing Date and, if applicable, duly executed by the Persons party thereto:
(i) subject to the last paragraph of this Article V, the Security Agreement, together with the original stock certificates representing all of the Equity Interests and all promissory notes required to be pledged thereunder, accompanied by undated stock powers executed in blank and other proper instruments of transfer;
(ii) to the extent applicable in the relevant jurisdiction, the results of searches for any effective UCC or other applicable personal property financing statements, tax Liens or judgment Liens filed against any Loan Party or its property, which results shall not show any such Liens (other than Permitted Liens);
(iii) subject to the last paragraph of this Article V, the UK Partnership Interest Charges;
(iv) a Perfection Certificate;
(v) the Agent Fee Letter;
(vi) the Intercompany Subordination Agreement;
(vii) a certificate of an Authorized Officer of each Loan Party, certifying (A) as to copies of the Governing Documents of such Loan Party, together with all amendments thereto (including, without limitation, a true and complete copy of the charter, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or other publicly filed organizational document of each Loan Party certified as of a recent date not more than 30 days prior to the Closing Date by an appropriate official of the jurisdiction of organization of such Loan Party which shall set forth the same complete name of such Loan Party as is set forth herein and the organizational number of such Loan Party, if an organizational number is issued in such jurisdiction), (B) as to a copy of the resolutions or written consents of such Loan Party authorizing (1) the borrowings hereunder and the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is or will be a party, and (2) the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Loan Party is or will be a party and the execution and delivery of the other documents to be delivered by such Person in connection herewith and therewith and (C) the names and true signatures of the representatives of such Loan Party authorized to sign each Loan Document (in the case of the Borrower, including, without limitation, Notices of Borrowing, and all other notices under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents) to which such Loan Party is or will be a party and the other documents to be executed and delivered by such Loan Party in connection herewith and therewith, together with evidence of the incumbency of such authorized officers;
(viii) in addition to a certificate as described in Section 5.01(d)(vi) above, a certificate of an Authorized Officer of each UK Guarantor certifying (A) that guaranteeing and securing the Secured Obligations would not cause any guarantee, security or similar limit binding on any UK Guarantor to be exceeded, (B) that each copy document relating to it and supplied pursuant to this Section 5.01 is correct, complete and in full force and effect and has not been amended or superseded as at a date no earlier than the date of this Agreement and (C) that (1) each UK Guarantor has complied with the relevant timeframe with any notice it has received pursuant to Part 21A of the Companies Act 2006 from any other UK Guarantor and no “warning notice” or “restrictions notice” (in each case as defined in Schedule 1B of the Companies Act 2006) has been issued in respect of such UK Guarantor’s shares, together with a copy of the “PSC register” (within the meaning of section 790C(10) of the Companies Act 2006) or (2) such UK Guarantor is not required to comply with Part 21A of the Companies Act 2006;
(ix) a certificate of the chief financial officer of Holdings, certifying as to the solvency of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole (after giving effect to the Term Loans and the other transactions to be consummated on the Closing Date) (or, at the Borrower’s option, a solvency opinion from an independent investment bank or valuation firm of nationally recognized standing);
(x) the Financial Statements;
(xi) a duly executed Notice of Borrowing;
(xii) to the extent that the concept is applicable in the relevant jurisdiction, a certificate of the appropriate official(s) of the jurisdiction of organization certifying as of a recent date not more than 30 days prior to the Closing Date as to the subsistence in good standing of such Loan Party in such jurisdictions;
(xiii) an opinion of (A) Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, New York counsel to the Loan Parties, (B) Slaughter and May, United Kingdom counsel to the Loan Parties, (C), DLA Piper Australia, Australian counsel to the Lenders, (D) DLA Piper (Canada) LLP, Canadian counsel to the Lenders, (E) Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Illinois counsel to the Loan Parties, (F) Maddin, Hauser, Roth & Heller, P.C., Michigan counsel to the Loan Parties, (G) Ryley Carlock & Applewhite, P.C., Arizona counsel to the Loan Parties, (H) SmithAmundsen LLC, Wisconsin counsel to the Loan Parties, (I) Whitfield & Eddy, P.L.C., Iowa counsel to the Loan Parties, and (J) Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP, Arkansas counsel to the Loan Parties, in each case as to such matters regarding the Loan Parties, this Agreement (including the Guaranty) and the Term Loans as the Required Lenders may reasonably request, and the Loan Parties hereby request such opinions;
(xiv) a pro forma consolidated balance sheet and a related pro forma consolidated statement of income of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as of and for the twelve-month period ending on June 30, 2019;
(xv) evidence of the consummation of the Payoff simultaneously or substantially concurrently with the consummation of the Merger; and
(xvi) a duly executed W-9 (or such other applicable IRS tax form), from each of the Loan Parties.
(e) Material Adverse Effect. Except as expressly disclosed in the Company SEC Reports (as defined in the Merger Agreement as in effect as of August 5, 2019) filed with or furnished to the SEC and publicly available after January 1, 2017 and prior to the date of the Merger Agreement (other than (a) any information that is contained solely in the “Risk Factors” section of such Company SEC Reports that are not statements of historical fact and (b) any forward-looking statements, or other statements that are similarly predictive or forward-looking in nature, contained in such Company SEC Reports), or in the Company Disclosure Letter (as defined in the Merger Agreement as in effect on August 5, 2019), since December 31, 2018, there shall not have been any event, change, circumstance, effect, development or state of facts that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have, a Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement as in effect on August 5, 2019).
(f) Merger. The closing of the Merger shall be consummated substantially simultaneously or substantially concurrently with the funding of the Term Loans on the terms described in the Merger Agreement, without giving effect to any amendment, waiver, consent or other modification thereof that is adverse to the interests of the Lenders in their capacities as such, unless it is approved by the Specified Lender (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned).
(g) Minimum Liquidity. Immediately after giving effect to the Transactions, the Loan Parties shall have unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents on their consolidated balance sheet in an aggregate amount of at least $40,000,000.
(h) Other Debt. On the Closing Date, immediately after giving effect to the Transactions, none of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the other Subsidiaries shall have any Indebtedness for borrowed money other than (i) the Term Facility, (ii) other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred or outstanding on or prior to the Closing Date pursuant to the Merger Agreement and (iii) any rollover of then existing Capitalized Leases.
(i) KYC; Beneficial Ownership. The Agents and the Lenders shall have received all information required under the applicable “know your customer” requirements of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Laws, including without limitation, the USA PATRIOT Act and a Beneficial Ownership Certification for the Borrower and any Guarantor, in each case, that qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation to any Lender that has requested such certification (in each case, with such documentation and information to be requested not later than 10 Business Days prior to the Closing Date and to be delivered at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that, to the extent any security interest in the intended Collateral or any deliverable related to the perfection of security interests in the intended Collateral (other than any Collateral the security interest in which may be perfected by the filing of a UCC or other applicable personal property financing statement or the possession of the stock certificates of the Borrower, any subsidiary of Holdings or the Target to the extent that, in the case of subsidiaries of the Target, such stock certificates are received from the Target, after using commercially reasonable efforts, on or prior to the Closing Date), is not or cannot be provided and/or perfected on the Closing Date (i) without undue burden or expense or (ii) after the Borrower’s use of commercially reasonable efforts to do so, then the provision and/or perfection of such security interest(s) or deliverable shall not constitute a condition precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement on the Closing Date but shall be required to be provided and/or perfected within 60 days after the Closing Date.
ARTICLE VI
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 6.01 Representations and Warranties. Each Loan Party hereby represents and warrants to the Secured Parties as follows:
(a) Organization, Good Standing, Etc. Each Loan Party (i) is a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state or jurisdiction of its organization, (ii) has all requisite power and authority to conduct its business as now conducted and as presently contemplated and, in the case of the Borrower, to make the borrowings hereunder, and to execute and deliver each Loan Document to which it is a party, and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby, and (iii) is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned or leased by it or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification necessary, except (solely for the purposes of this subclause (iii)) where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Authorization, Etc. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which it is or will be a party, (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary action, (ii) do not and will not contravene (A) any of its Governing Documents, (B) any applicable material Requirement of Law or (C) any material Contractual Obligation binding on or otherwise affecting it or any of its properties, (iii) do not and will not result in or require the creation of any Lien (other than pursuant to any Loan Document) upon or with respect to any of its properties, and (iv) do not and will not result in any default, noncompliance, suspension, revocation, impairment, forfeiture or nonrenewal of any permit, license, authorization or approval applicable to its operations or any of its properties, except, in the case of clause (iv), to the extent where such contravention, default, noncompliance, suspension, revocation, impairment, forfeiture or nonrenewal would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Governmental Approvals. No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the due execution, delivery and performance by any Loan Party of any Loan Document to which it is or will be a party other than filings and recordings with respect to Collateral to be made, or otherwise delivered to the Collateral Agent for filing or recordation, on the Closing Date.
(d) Enforceability of Loan Documents. This Agreement is, and each other Loan Document to which any Loan Party is or will be a party, when delivered hereunder, will be, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person, enforceable against such Person in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.
(e) Capitalization. On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby to occur on the Closing Date, the authorized Equity Interests of Holdings and each of its Subsidiaries and the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings and each of its Subsidiaries are as set forth on Schedule 6.01(e) (giving effect to any supplements to or modifications of such Schedule that are delivered to, and satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent not later than five Business Days after the Closing Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion)). All of the issued and outstanding shares of Equity Interests of Holdings and each of its Subsidiaries have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and the holders thereof are not entitled to any preemptive, first refusal or other similar rights. All Equity Interests of such Subsidiaries of Holdings are owned by Holdings free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Specified Liens). Except as described on Schedule 6.01(e) (giving effect to any supplements to or modifications of such Schedule that are delivered to, and satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent not later than five Business Days after the Closing Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion)), there are no outstanding debt or equity securities of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries and no outstanding obligations of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries convertible into or exchangeable for, or warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, or other obligations of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, directly or indirectly, any shares of Equity Interests of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries.
(f) Litigation. Except as set forth in Schedule 6.01(f), there is no pending or, to the best knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened action, suit or proceeding affecting any Loan Party or any of its properties before any court or other Governmental Authority or any arbitrator that (i) if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) relates to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby.
(g) Financial Statements. The Financial Statements, copies of which have been delivered to each Agent and each Lender, fairly present the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal periods ended on such respective dates, all in accordance with GAAP. Since December 30, 2018, no event or development has occurred that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(h) Compliance with Law, Etc. No Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of (i) any of its Governing Documents, (ii) any material Requirement of Law or (iii) any material term of any material Contractual Obligation (including, without limitation, any Material Contract) binding on or otherwise affecting it or any of its properties, and no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing thereunder.
(i) ERISA. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Employee Plan is in substantial compliance with ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code, (ii) no Termination Event has occurred nor is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any Employee Plan, (iii) the most recent annual report (Form 5500 Series) with respect to each Employee Plan, including any required Schedule B (Actuarial Information) thereto, copies of which have been filed with the Internal Revenue Service and delivered to the Lenders, is complete and correct and fairly presents the funding status of such Employee Plan, and since the date of such report there has been no material adverse change in such funding status, (iv) copies of each agreement entered into with the PBGC, the U.S. Department of Labor or the Internal Revenue Service with respect to any Employee Plan have been delivered to the Agents, (v) no Employee Plan had an accumulated or waived funding deficiency or permitted decrease which would create a deficiency in its funding standard account or has applied for an extension of any amortization period within the meaning of Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code at any time during the previous 60 months, and (vi) no Lien imposed under the Internal Revenue Code or ERISA exists or is likely to arise on account of any Employee Plan within the meaning of Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.01(i), no Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates has occurred or may reasonably be expected to incur any withdrawal liability under ERISA with respect to any Multiemployer Plan. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates nor any fiduciary of any Employee Plan has (i) engaged in a nonexempt prohibited transaction described in Sections 406 of ERISA or 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code, (ii) failed to pay any required installment or other payment required under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code on or before the due date for such required installment or payment, (iii) engaged in a transaction within the meaning of Section 4069 of ERISA or (iv) incurred any liability to the PBGC which remains outstanding other than the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due which are unpaid. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, there are no pending or, to the best knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened claims, actions, proceedings or lawsuits (other than claims for benefits in the normal course) asserted or instituted against (i) any Employee Plan or its assets, (ii) any fiduciary with respect to any Employee Plan, or (iii) any Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates with respect to any Employee Plan. Except as required by Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code or any other applicable law or as would not be material, no Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates maintains an employee welfare benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) which provides health or welfare benefits (through the purchase of insurance or otherwise) for any retired or former employee of any Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates or coverage after a participant’s termination of employment.
(j) Taxes, Etc. (i) All material Federal, state, provincial and local tax returns and other reports required by applicable Requirements of Law to be filed by any Loan Party have been filed, or extensions have been obtained, and (ii) all taxes, assessments and other governmental charges imposed upon any Loan Party or any property of any Loan Party and which have become due and payable on or prior to the date hereof have been paid, except (x) to the extent contested in good faith by proper proceedings which stay the imposition of any penalty, fine or Lien resulting from the non-payment thereof and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside for the payment thereof on the Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP or (y) unpaid taxes, assessment and other governmental charges in an aggregate amount not exceed $25,000,000.
(k) Regulations T, U and X. No Loan Party is or will be engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation T, U or X), and no proceeds of any Term Loan will be used to purchase or carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock or for any purpose that violates, or is inconsistent with, the provisions of Regulation T, U and X.
(l) Nature of Business.
(i) No Loan Party is engaged in any business other than as set forth on Schedule 6.01(l) or business activities incidental or related thereto.
(ii) Holdings does not have any material liabilities (other than liabilities arising under the Loan Documents), own any material assets (other than the Equity Interests of its Subsidiaries or cash and cash equivalents held in connection with the performing of activities in each case permitted under this Agreement) or engage in any operations or business (other than the ownership of its Subsidiaries).
(m) Adverse Agreements, Etc. No Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any Contractual Obligation or subject to any restriction or limitation in any Governing Document or any judgment, order, regulation, ruling or other requirement of a court or other Governmental Authority, which (either individually or in the aggregate) has, or in the future would reasonably be expected (either individually or in the aggregate) to have, a Material Adverse Effect.
(n) Permits, Etc. Each Loan Party has, and is in compliance with, all permits, licenses, authorizations, approvals, entitlements and accreditations required for such Person lawfully to own, lease, manage or operate, or to acquire, each business and Mortgaged Property currently owned, leased, managed or operated by such Person, except to the extent the failure to have or be in compliance therewith would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No condition exists or event has occurred which, in itself or with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would result in the suspension, revocation, impairment, forfeiture or non-renewal of any such permit, license, authorization, approval, entitlement or accreditation, and there is no claim that any thereof is not in full force and effect, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(o) Properties. Each Loan Party has good and marketable title to, valid leasehold interests in, or valid licenses to use, all property and assets material to its business, free and clear of all Liens, except Permitted Liens. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, all such properties and assets are in good operating condition and repair, ordinary wear and tear excepted.
(p) Employee and Labor Matters. There is (i) no unfair labor practice complaint pending or, to the best knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened against any Loan Party before any Governmental Authority and no grievance or arbitration proceeding pending or threatened against any Loan Party which arises out of or under any collective bargaining agreement, (ii) no strike, labor dispute, slowdown, stoppage or similar action or grievance pending or threatened against any Loan Party or (iii) to the knowledge of each Loan Party, no union representation question existing with respect to the employees of any Loan Party and no union organizing activity taking place with respect to any of the employees of any Loan Party, in each case, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates has incurred any material liability or material obligation under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (“WARN”) or similar state law, which remains unpaid or unsatisfied. The hours worked and payments made to employees of any Loan Party have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable legal requirements, except to the extent such violations would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. All payments due from any Loan Party on account of wages and employee health and welfare insurance and other benefits have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of such Loan Party, except where the failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(q) Environmental Matters. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.01(q), (i) the operations of each Loan Party are in material compliance with all Environmental Laws, except for such noncompliance that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) there has been no Release at any of the properties owned or operated by any Loan Party or a legal predecessor in interest, or at any disposal or treatment facility which received Hazardous Materials generated by any Loan Party or any legal predecessor in interest which in either case would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) no Environmental Action has been asserted against any Loan Party or any predecessor in interest, nor does any Loan Party have knowledge or notice of any threatened or pending Environmental Action against any Loan Party or any predecessor in interest, which, in either case, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iv) no Environmental Actions have been asserted against any facilities that have received Hazardous Materials generated by any Loan Party or any predecessor in interest which in either case would reasonably be expected to be material to the Loan Parties; (v) no property now or formerly owned or operated by a Loan Party has been used as a treatment or disposal site for any Hazardous Material in a manner which violates Environmental Laws in any material respect or has resulted in or would reasonably be expected to result in an Environmental Action, Environmental Liabilities and Costs, or an obligation on the part of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries to conduct a Remedial Action, in each case which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (vi) no Loan Party has failed to report to the proper Governmental Authority any Release which is required to be so reported by any Environmental Laws which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (vii) each Loan Party holds all licenses, permits and approvals required under any Environmental Laws in connection with the operation of the business carried on by it, except for such licenses, permits and approvals as to which a Loan Party’s failure to maintain or comply with would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (viii) no Loan Party has received any written notification by any Governmental Authority pursuant to any Environmental Laws that (A) any work, repairs, construction or Capital Expenditures are required to be made to continue to comply with any Environmental Laws, or any license, permit or approval issued pursuant thereto or (B) any license, permit or approval referred to above is about to be reviewed, made, subject to limitations or conditions, revoked, withdrawn or terminated, in each case, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(r) Insurance. Each Loan Party maintains the insurance and required services and financial assurance as required by law and as required by Section 7.01(h). Schedule 6.01(r) sets forth a list of all insurance maintained by each Loan Party on the Closing Date.
(s) Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Term Loans shall be used by the Borrower on the Closing Date to (i) partially fund the Merger, (ii) consummate the Payoff, (iii) pay fees and expenses incurred to obtain the Term Loans and to consummate of the Payoff and (iv) fund $40,000,000 or more of unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents to the balance sheet of the Borrower and Guarantors.
(t) Solvency. Immediately after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to occur on the Closing Date (including, without limitation, the funding of the Term Loans), the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis are Solvent. No transfer of property is being made by any Loan Party and no obligation is being incurred by any Loan Party in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents with the intent to hinder, delay, or defraud either present or future creditors of such Loan Party.
(u) Intellectual Property. Each Loan Party owns or licenses or otherwise has the right to use all Intellectual Property rights that are necessary for the operation of its business, without infringement upon or conflict with the rights of any other Person with respect thereto, except for such infringements and conflicts which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Subject to Section 6(b) of the Security Agreement, set forth on Schedule 6.01(u) (giving effect to any supplements to or modifications of such Schedule that are delivered to, and satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent not later than (x) in the case of information relating to copyrights, 20 days and (y) in the case of information relating to patents and trademarks, 60 days, in each case after the Closing Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion)) is a complete and accurate list as of the Closing Date of each item of Registered Intellectual Property (except with respect to copyrights, which shall be limited to the Material Copyrights (as defined in the Security Agreement)) owned by each Loan Party. No trademark or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by any Loan Party infringes upon or conflicts with any rights owned by any other Person, and no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or threatened, except for such infringements and conflicts which would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of each Loan Party, no patent, invention, device, application, principle or any statute, law, rule, regulation, standard or code pertaining to Intellectual Property is pending or proposed, which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(v) Material Contracts. Set forth on Schedule 6.01(v) is a complete and accurate list as of the Closing Date of all Material Contracts of each Loan Party. Each such Material Contract (i) is in full force and effect and is binding upon and enforceable against each Loan Party that is a party thereto and, to the best knowledge of such Loan Party, all other parties thereto in accordance with its terms, except as such may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles, (ii) has not been otherwise amended or modified, and (iii) is not in default due to the action of any Loan Party or, to the best knowledge of any Loan Party, any other party thereto.
(w) Investment Company Act. None of the Loan Parties is (i) an “investment company” or an “affiliated person” or “promoter” of, or “principal underwriter” of or for, an “investment company”, as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or (ii) subject to regulation under any Requirement of Law that limits in any respect its ability to incur Indebtedness or which may otherwise render all or a portion of the Obligations unenforceable.
(x) Customers and Suppliers. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, there exists no actual or threatened termination, cancellation or limitation of, or modification to or change in, the business relationship between (i) any Loan Party, on the one hand, and any customer or any group thereof, on the other hand, whose agreements with any Loan Party are individually or in the aggregate material to the business or operations of such Loan Party, or (ii) any Loan Party, on the one hand, and any supplier or any group thereof, on the other hand, whose agreements with any Loan Party are individually or in the aggregate material to the business or operations of such Loan Party.
(y) Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Laws.
(i) None of the Loan Parties, any of their respective Subsidiaries, their respective directors, officers or employees nor to the knowledge of the Borrower, their respective agents, has violated or is in violation of any of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Laws in any material respect or has engaged in or conspired to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate, any of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Laws.
(ii) None of the Loan Parties, nor any Subsidiary of any of the Loan Parties, nor any officer, director, employees or principal shareholder or owner of any of the Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, any of the Loan Parties’ or any of their Subsidiaries’ respective agents acting or benefiting in any capacity in connection with the Term Loans or other transactions hereunder, is a Blocked Person.
(iii) None of the Loan Parties, nor any Subsidiary of any of the Loan Parties, nor, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, any of their respective agents acting in any capacity in connection with the Term Loans or other transactions hereunder, (A) conducts any business with or for the benefit of any Blocked Person or engages in making or receiving any contribution of funds, goods or services to, from or for the benefit of any Blocked Person, or (B) deals in, or otherwise engages in any transaction relating to, any property or interests in property blocked or subject to blocking pursuant to any Sanctions Programs.
(iv) The Borrower will not request any Term Loan, and the Borrower 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 Term Loan (A) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Blocked Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, or (B) in any manner that would result in the violation of Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Laws applicable to any by any Person (including any Lender or any Agent).
(v) The Loan Parties have adopted, implemented and maintain policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Laws by the Loan Parties, their respective Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents.
(z) Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Laws.
(i) The Loan Parties, their respective Subsidiaries, their respective directors, officers and employees and to the knowledge of the Borrower, their respective agents, are in compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the “FCPA”), and the anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws, rules and regulations of any jurisdictions applicable to the Loan Parties or their Subsidiaries from time to time (collectively, the “Anti-Corruption Laws”).
(ii) None of the Loan Parties has at any time:
(A) offered, promised, paid, given, or authorized the payment or giving of any money, gift or other thing of value, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of any employee, official, or other person acting on behalf of any foreign (i.e., non-U.S.) Governmental Authority, or of any public international organization, or any foreign political party or official thereof, or candidate for foreign political office (collectively, “Foreign Official”), for the purpose of: (1) improperly influencing any act or decision of such Foreign Official in his, her, or its official capacity; or (2) inducing such Foreign Official to do, or omit to do, an act in violation of the lawful duty of such Foreign Official, or (3) securing any improper advantage, in order to obtain or retain business for, or with, or to direct business to, any Person; or
(B) acted or attempted to act in any manner which would subject any of the Loan Parties to liability under any Anti-Corruption Law.
(iii) There are, and have been, no allegations, investigations or inquiries with regard to a potential violation of any Anti-Corruption Law by any of the Loan Parties or any of their respective current or former directors, officers, employees, stockholders or agents, or other persons acting on their behalf.
(iv) The Loan Parties have adopted, implemented and maintain anti-bribery and anti-corruption policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure compliance with the Anti-Corruption Laws by the Loan Parties, their respective Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents.
(v) The Borrower will not request any Term Loan, and the Borrower 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 Term Loan in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws.
(aa) Full Disclosure.
(i) Each Loan Party has disclosed to the Agents all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Agents (other than forward-looking information and projections and information of a general economic nature and general information about Borrower’s industry) in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which it was made, not materially misleading.
(ii) As of the Closing Date, the information included in any Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct in all material respects.
(bb) Not a Trustee. No Australian Loan Party enters into this Agreement or any other Loan Document as a trustee of any trust or settlement.
