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FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 424(b)(3)
REGISTRATION NO. 333-190046
PROSPECTUS
Education Management LLC
Education Management Finance Corp.
Offer to Exchange (the “exchange offer”)
$203,044,423 aggregate principal amount of their Senior Cash Pay/PIK Notes due 2018 (the “exchange notes”), which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for any and all of their outstanding unregistered Senior Cash Pay/PIK Notes due 2018 (the “outstanding notes”).
We are conducting the exchange offer in order to provide you with an opportunity to exchange your unregistered notes for freely tradable notes that have been registered under the Securities Act.
The exchange offer
• | We will exchange all outstanding notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn for an equal principal amount of exchange notes that are freely tradable. |
• | You may withdraw tenders of outstanding notes at any time prior to the expiration date of the exchange offer. |
• | The exchange offer expires at 12:00 a.m. midnight, New York City time, on September 6, 2013, unless extended. We do not currently intend to extend the expiration date. |
• | The exchange of the outstanding notes for the exchange notes in the exchange offer will not be a taxable event for United States federal income tax purposes. |
• | The terms of the exchange notes to be issued in the exchange offer are substantially identical to the outstanding notes, except that the exchange notes will be freely tradable. |
Results of the exchange offer
• | The exchange notes, plus up to an additional $23,455,215 of exchange notes that may be issued as payment-in-kind interest under the terms of the notes through maturity, may be sold in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions or through a combination of such methods. We do not plan to list the exchange notes on a national market. |
All untendered outstanding notes will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in the outstanding notes and in the indenture. In general, the outstanding notes may not be offered or sold, unless registered under the Securities Act, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Other than in connection with the exchange offer, we do not currently anticipate that we will register the outstanding notes under the Securities Act.
See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 15 for a discussion of certain risks that you should consider before participating in the exchange offer.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the exchange notes to be distributed in the exchange offer or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is August 9 , 2013.
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You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. The prospectus may be used only for the purposes for which it has been published and no person has been authorized to give any information not contained herein. If you receive any other information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted.
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MARKET, RANKING AND OTHER INDUSTRY DATA
Some of the industry and market data contained in this prospectus are based on independent industry publications or other publicly available information, while other information is based on internal company sources. Although we believe that these independent sources and our internal data are reliable as of their respective dates, the information contained in them has not been independently verified, and we cannot assure you as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. As a result, you should be aware that the market industry data contained in this prospectus, and beliefs and estimates based on such data, may not be reliable. We obtained information relating to the U.S. post-secondary education market from the National Center for Education Statistics, which is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education, the College Board, the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Labor-Bureau of Labor Statistics.
TRADEMARKS
We have proprietary rights to a number of trademarks used in this prospectus which are important to our business, including Argosy University and Brown Mackie College, as well as the names of certain of our schools. We have omitted the “®” and “™” trademark designations for such trademarks in this prospectus. Nevertheless, all rights to such trademarks named in this prospectus are reserved.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain of the matters that we discuss in this prospectus may constitute forward-looking statements. These statements, which are based on information currently available to management, typically contain words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately” or “plans” or similar words and concern our strategy, plans or intentions. However, the absence of these or similar words does not mean that any particular statement is not forward-looking. All of the statements that we make relating to estimated and projected earnings, margins, costs, expenditures, cash flows, growth rates and financial results are forward looking statements. In addition, from time to time, we make forward-looking public statements concerning our expected future operations and performance and other developments. These and any other forward-looking statements involve estimates, assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially and unpredictably from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. We derive many of our forward-looking statements from our operating budgets and forecasts, which are based upon many detailed assumptions, and we caution that it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and impossible to anticipate all factors, that could affect our actual results.
Some of the factors that we believe could affect our results and that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, but are not limited to: the timing and magnitude of student enrollment and changes in student mix, including the relative proportions of on-ground and online students enrolled in our programs; changes in average registered credits taken by students; our ability to maintain eligibility to participate in Title IV programs; other changes in our students’ ability to access federal and state financial aid, as well as private loans from third-party lenders; any difficulties we may face in opening new schools, growing our online academic programs and otherwise implementing our growth strategy; increased or unanticipated legal and regulatory costs; the results of program reviews and audits; changes in accreditation standards; the implementation of new operating procedures for our fully online programs; the implementation of program initiatives in response to, or as a result of further developments in, the litigation concerning the U.S. Department of Education’s new gainful employment regulation; adjustments to our programmatic offerings to comply with the 90/10 rule; our high degree of leverage and our ability to generate sufficient cash to service all of our debt obligations and other liquidity needs; other market and credit risks associated with the post-secondary education
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industry, adverse media coverage of the industry and overall condition of the industry; changes in the overall U.S. or global economy; disruptions or other changes in access to the credit and equity markets in the United States and worldwide; and the effects of war, terrorism, natural disasters or other catastrophic events.
The foregoing review of factors should not be construed as exhaustive. For a more detailed discussion of certain risk factors affecting the Company’s risk profile, see the section entitled “Risk Factors” included elsewhere in this prospectus. We expressly disclaim any current intention to update any forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus.
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This summary highlights selected information in this prospectus and may not contain all of the information that is important to you. You should carefully read this entire prospectus, including the information set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” and the financial statements incorporated by reference into this prospectus, before making an investment decision. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to “we,” “our,” “us,” “the Company” and “EDMC” refer to Education Management Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries. References to our fiscal year refer to the twelve month period ended June 30 of the year referenced.
Our Business
We are among the largest providers of post-secondary education in North America, with approximately 132,000 enrolled students as of October 2012. We offer academic programs to our students through campus-based and online instruction, or through a combination of both. We are committed to offering quality academic programs and strive to improve the learning experience for our students. We target a large and diverse market, as our educational institutions offer students the opportunity to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral degrees, and certain specialized non-degree diplomas in a broad range of disciplines. These disciplines include media arts, health sciences, design, psychology and behavioral sciences, culinary, business, fashion, legal, education and information technology. Each of our schools located in the United States is licensed or permitted to offer post-secondary programs in the state in which it is located, accredited by a national or regional accreditation agency and certified by the U.S. Department of Education, enabling students to access federal student loans, grants and other forms of public and private financial aid. Our academic programs are designed with an emphasis on applied content and are taught primarily by faculty members who, in addition to having appropriate academic credentials, offer practical and relevant professional experience in their respective fields. We had net revenues of $2.76 billion in fiscal 2012.
Our schools comprise a national education platform that is designed to address the needs of a broad market, taking into consideration various factors that influence demand, such as programmatic and degree interest, employment opportunities, requirements for credentials in certain professions, demographics, tuition pricing points and economic conditions. We believe that our schools collectively enable us to provide access to a high quality education for potential students, at a variety of degree levels and across a wide range of disciplines.
During our more than 40-year operating history, we have expanded the reach of our education systems and currently operate 110 primary locations across 32 U.S. states and in Canada. In addition, we have offered online programs since 2000, enabling our students to pursue degrees fully online or through a flexible combination of both online and campus-based education. We strive to maintain a culture of compliance within our organization with the numerous regulations that govern our business and operations.
Each of our 110 schools provides student-centered education. Our schools are organized and managed to capitalize on our four recognized brands and align them with specific targeted markets based on field of study, employment opportunity, type of degree offering and student demographics. Our operations are organized into four corresponding reportable segments:
• | The Art Institutes. The Art Institutes focus on applied arts in creative professions such as graphic design, culinary arts, media arts and animation, interior design, web site development, digital filmmaking and video production, fashion design and marketing and game art and design. The Art Institutes offer Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs, as well as selective non-degree diploma programs. Students pursue their degrees through local campuses, fully online programs through The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Online Division and blended formats, which combine campus- |
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based and online education. As of March 31, 2013, there were 51 Art Institutes campuses in 25 U.S. states and in Canada. As of October 2012, students enrolled at The Art Institutes represented approximately 54% of our total enrollments. |
• | Argosy University. Argosy University offers academic programs in psychology and behavioral sciences, business, education and health sciences disciplines. Argosy University offers Doctoral, Master’s and undergraduate degrees through local campuses, fully online programs and blended formats. Argosy University’s academic programs focus on graduate students seeking advanced credentials as a prerequisite to initial licensing, career advancement and/or structured pay increases. As of March 31, 2013, there were 20 Argosy University campuses in 13 U.S. states. As of October 2012, students enrolled at Argosy University represented approximately 19% of our total enrollments. This segment includes Western State College of Law, which offers Juris Doctor degrees, and the Ventura Group, which provides courses and materials for post-graduate licensure examinations in the human services fields and continuing education courses for K-12 educators. |
• | Brown Mackie Colleges. Brown Mackie Colleges offer flexible Associate’s and non-degree diploma programs that enable students to develop skills for entry-level positions in high demand vocational specialties and Bachelor’s degree programs that assist students to advance within the workplace. Brown Mackie Colleges offer programs in growing fields such as medical assisting, criminal justice, nursing, business, legal support and information technology. As of March 31, 2013, there were 28 Brown Mackie College campuses in 15 U.S. states. As of October 2012, students enrolled at Brown Mackie Colleges represented approximately 13% of our total enrollments. |
• | South University. South University offers academic programs in health sciences and business disciplines, including business administration, criminal justice, nursing, information technology, psychology, pharmacy and physician assisting. South University offers Doctoral, Master’s, Bachelor’s and Associate’s degrees through local campuses, fully online programs and blended formats. As of March 31, 2013, there were 11 South University campuses in nine U.S. states. As of October 2012, students enrolled at South University represented approximately 14% of our total enrollments. |
The net revenues for fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010 for each of our reportable segments were as follows (in thousands):
For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | 2010 | ||||||||||
Net revenues: | ||||||||||||
The Art Institute | $ | 1,738,542 | $ | 1,791,176 | $ | 1,597,072 | ||||||
Argosy University | 397,458 | 431,097 | 344,382 | |||||||||
Brown Mackie Colleges | 314,801 | 348,140 | 301,850 | |||||||||
South University | 310,166 | 317,216 | 265,217 | |||||||||
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Total EDMC | $ | 2,760,967 | $ | 2,887,629 | $ | 2,508,521 | ||||||
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Industry Overview
The U.S. Department of Education estimates that the U.S. public and private post-secondary education market for degree-granting institutions was a $490 billion industry in 2010 (the most recent year for which such data is available), representing approximately 21.0 million students enrolled at over 4,600 institutions. According to the National Center of Education Statistics, traditional students, who typically are recent high school graduates under 25 years of age and are pursuing their first higher education degree, represent approximately 61% of the national student population. The remaining 39% of the student population is comprised of non-traditional students, who are largely working adults pursuing further education in their current field or are preparing for a new career.
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Although recently the industry as a whole has been challenged by state and federal regulatory pressures, negative media coverage, widespread enrollment declines and the overall negative impact of the current political and economic climate, there remain a number of factors that we believe should contribute to long-term demand for post-secondary education. The shift toward a services-based economy increases the demand for higher levels of education. Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce published a research study titled “Help Wanted—Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements through 2018”, based upon the U.S. Department of Labor—Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational employment projections. According to the study, jobs requiring an Associate’s or higher level degree are expected to grow by 28% to approximately 79 million jobs in 2018, while jobs requiring some or no college are expected to decrease by 3%. Of the jobs in 2018 requiring higher education, approximately 45% are in occupation groups in which we provide education—business, healthcare, education, food preparation, legal, and arts, design and media. Additionally, economic incentives are favorable for post-secondary graduates. According to the U.S. Department of Labor—Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2011 the median weekly earnings for individuals aged 25 years and older with a Bachelor’s degree was approximately 65% higher than for high school graduates of the same age with no college experience, and the average unemployment rate in 2011 for persons aged 25 years and older with a Bachelor’s degree was nearly half that of those without college experience. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Highly Regulated Industry” elsewhere in this prospectus.
The post-secondary education industry is highly fragmented, with no one provider controlling a significant share of the market. Students choose among providers based on programs and degrees offered, program flexibility and convenience, quality of instruction, graduate employment rates, reputation and recruiting effectiveness. This multi-faceted market fragmentation results in significant differentiation among various education providers, limited direct competition and minimal overlap between proprietary providers. The main competitors of proprietary, post-secondary education providers are local public and private two-year junior and community colleges, traditional public and private undergraduate and graduate colleges and, to a lesser degree, other proprietary providers.
Although competition exists, proprietary educators serve a segment of the market for post-secondary education that we believe has not been fully addressed by traditional public and private universities. Non-profit public and private institutions can face limited financial capability to expand their offerings in response to growth or changes in the demand for education, due to a combination of state funding challenges, significant expenditures required for research and the professor tenure system. Certain private institutions also may control enrollments to preserve the perceived prestige and exclusivity of their degree offerings. In contrast, proprietary providers of post-secondary education offer potential students the greater flexibility and convenience of their schools’ programmatic offerings and learning structure, an emphasis on applied content and an ability to consistently introduce new campuses and academic programs. At the same time, the share of the post-secondary education market that has been captured by proprietary providers remains relatively small. As a result, we believe that in spite of recent regulatory changes and other challenges facing the industry, proprietary, post-secondary education providers continue to have significant opportunities to address the demand for post-secondary education.
Our Competitive Strengths
We believe that the following strengths differentiate our business:
Commitment to offering quality academic programs and to student and graduate success. We are committed to offering quality academic programs, and we strive to improve the learning experience for our students. We are dedicated to recruiting and retaining quality faculty and instructors with relevant industry experience and appropriate academic credentials. Our program advisory boards help us to reassess and update our educational offerings on a regular basis in order to ensure the relevance of our curriculum and to design new academic programs with the goal of enabling students to either enter or advance in their chosen fields. We seek
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to identify emerging industry trends in order to understand the evolving educational needs of our students and graduates. We are able to rapidly develop new academic programs and to tailor our existing proprietary content for courses across our degree programs. In addition, we frequently introduce existing academic programs to additional locations in our national platform of schools. During fiscal 2012, we developed ten new academic programs and introduced over 250 new academic programs to locations that had not previously offered such programs. Additionally, our staff of trained, dedicated career services specialists maintain strong relationships with employers in an effort to improve our graduate employment rates for our students in their chosen fields.
Recognized brands aligned with specific fields of study and degree offerings. We offer academic programs primarily through four education systems. We have devoted significant resources to establishing, and continue to invest in developing, the brand identity for each education system. Through The Art Institutes, Argosy University, Brown Mackie Colleges and South University education systems, we have the ability to align our academic program offerings to address the unique needs of specific student groups. Our marketing strategy is designed to develop brand awareness among practitioners and likely prospects in particular fields of study. We believe that this comprehensive brand building approach in each specific market also enables us to gain economies of scale with respect to student acquisition and retention costs, assisting in the recruitment and retention of quality faculty and staff members.
Diverse program offerings and broad degree capabilities. Our breadth of programmatic and degree offerings enables us to appeal to a diverse range of potential students. We currently offer academic programs in the following areas: media arts, health sciences, design, psychology and behavioral sciences, culinary, business, fashion, legal, education and information technology. Approximately 61% of our students as of October 2012 were enrolled in Doctorate, Master’s and Bachelor’s degree programs, which are typically multi-year programs that contribute to the overall stability of our student population. We monitor and adjust our education offerings based on, among other factors, changes in demand for new programs, degrees, schedules and delivery methods.
National platform of schools and integrated online learning platform. The combination of our national platform of schools and integrated online learning platform provides students at three of our education systems with flexible curriculum delivery options and academic programs taught on campus, online and in blended formats. This flexibility enables our academic programs to appeal to both traditional students and working adults who may seek convenience due to scheduling, geographical or other constraints.
Our campuses are located primarily in large metropolitan areas, and we focus our marketing efforts on demand for post-secondary education primarily within a 100-mile radius of the campus. Throughout our history, we have invested in our campuses in order to provide attractive and efficient learning environments. Our schools offer many amenities found in traditional colleges, including libraries, bookstores and laboratories, as well as the industry-specific equipment necessary for the various programs that we offer. Additionally, we continue to believe that attractive locations are available to open additional campuses. In evaluating potential new locations, we focus our efforts on markets that we believe offer the most attractive projected growth and return on capital, and we rigorously analyze employment statistics and demographic data in order to align or new schools with the specific educational needs of the targeted market. During fiscal 2012, we opened four new locations, and we currently anticipate opening one new location during calendar 2013.
Strong management team with a focus on long-term performance. Our school presidents and senior operating executives have substantial experience in the sector and are instrumental in directing investments to enhance the student experience and build infrastructure.
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Corporate Structure
The following chart shows a summary of our capital structure as of March 31, 2013.
(1) | Education Management Corporation will guarantee the exchange notes. This guarantee is being provided solely for the purpose of allowing the Issuers (as defined herein) to satisfy their reporting obligations under the indenture that governs the exchange notes by furnishing financial information relating to Education Management Corporation instead of the Issuers and, accordingly, you should not assign any value to such guarantee. |
(2) | The obligations under our senior secured credit facilities are guaranteed by Education Management Holdings LLC and all of Education Management LLC’s existing direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries, other than any subsidiary that directly owns or operates a school or any inactive subsidiary that has less than $100,000 of assets. The exchange notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Education Management Corporation and all of our existing direct and indirect domestic restricted subsidiaries, other than any subsidiary that directly owns or operates a school or has been formed for such purpose and has no material assets. |
(3) | As of March 31, 2013, no borrowings were outstanding under our senior secured revolving credit facility (excluding $353.0 million of outstanding letters of credit). |
(4) | As of March 31, 2013, $738.5 million was outstanding under our senior secured term loan facility due June 1, 2016. |
(5) | As of March 31, 2013, $343.2 million (net of discount of $3.1 million) was outstanding under our senior secured term loan facility due March 30, 2018. |
(6) | Education Management Finance Corp. has only nominal assets, does not currently conduct any operations and acts as co-issuer of the exchange notes. |
Education Management Corporation is a Pennsylvania corporation founded in 1962. Education Management LLC was organized under Delaware law on March 15, 2006. Education Management Finance Corp. was incorporated under Delaware law on May 2, 2006. Our headquarters are located at 210 Sixth Avenue, 33rd Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222. Our telephone number is (412) 562-0900. Our website is accessible through www.edmc.com. Information on, or accessible through, this website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus.
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The Exchange Offer
$203,044,423 aggregate principal amount of outstanding Senior Cash Notes/PIK Notes due 2018 were issued in a private offering on March 5, 2013. The term “notes” refers collectively to the outstanding notes and the exchange notes.
General | In connection with the private offering, Education Management LLC (“EM LCC”) and Education Management Finance Corp. (“EMFC”, and together with EM LLC, the “Issuers”) and the guarantors of the outstanding notes entered into a registration rights agreement with Goldman, Sachs & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Barclays Capital Inc. (the “Dealer Managers”) in which they agreed, among other things, to deliver this prospectus to you and to complete the exchange offer within 240 days after the date of original issuance of the outstanding notes. You are entitled to exchange in the exchange offer your outstanding notes for the exchange notes which are identical in all material respects to the outstanding notes except: |
• | the exchange notes have been registered under the Securities Act; |
• | the exchange notes are not entitled to any registration rights which are applicable to the outstanding notes under the registration rights agreement; and |
• | the liquidated damages provisions of the registration rights agreements are no longer applicable. |
The Exchange Offer | EMFC and EM LLC are offering to exchange $203,044,423 aggregate principal amount of their exchange notes which have been registered under the Securities Act for any and all of the outstanding notes. |
You may only exchange outstanding notes in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1 excess thereof; provided that any unexchanged outstanding notes must be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1 in excess thereof. |
Resale | Based on an interpretation by the staff of the SEC set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties, we believe that the exchange notes issued pursuant to the exchange offer in exchange for outstanding notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by you (unless you are our “affiliate” within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act; provided that: |
• | you are acquiring the exchange notes in the ordinary course of your business; and |
• | you have not engaged in, do not intend to engage in, and have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of the exchange notes. |
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If you are a broker-dealer and receive exchange notes for your own account in exchange for outstanding notes that you acquired as a result ofmarket-making activities or other trading activities, you must acknowledge that you will deliver this prospectus in connection with any resale of the exchange notes. See “Plan of Distribution.” |
Any holder of outstanding notes who: |
• | is our affiliate; |
• | does not acquire exchange notes in the ordinary course of its business; or |
• | tenders its outstanding notes in the exchange offer with the intention to participate, or for the purpose of participating, in a distribution of exchange notes cannot rely on the position of the staff of the SEC enunciated inMorgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (available June 5, 1991) andExxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the SEC’s letter toShearman & Sterling, dated available July 2, 1993, or similar no-action letters and, in the absence of an exemption therefrom, must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of the exchange notes. |
Expiration Date | The exchange offer will expire at 12:00 a.m. midnight, New York City time, on September 6, 2013, unless extended by EMFC and EM LLC. EMFC and EM LLC do not currently intend to extend the expiration date. |
Withdrawal | You may withdraw the tender of your outstanding notes at any time prior to the expiration of the exchange offer. EMFC and EM LLC will return to you any of your outstanding notes that are not accepted for any reason for exchange, without expense to you, promptly after the expiration or termination of the exchange offer. |
Conditions to the Exchange Offer | Each exchange offer is subject to customary conditions, which EMFC and EM LLC may waive. See “The Exchange Offer—Conditions to the Exchange Offer.” |
Procedures for Tendering Outstanding Notes | If you wish to participate in the exchange offer, you must complete, sign and date the accompanying letter of transmittal, or a facsimile of such letter of transmittal, according to the instructions contained in this prospectus and the letter of transmittal. You must then mail or otherwise deliver the letter of transmittal, or a facsimile of such letter of transmittal, together with the outstanding notes and any other required documents, to the exchange agent at the address set forth on the cover page of the letter of transmittal. |
If you hold outstanding notes through The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and wish to participate in the exchange offer, you must comply with the Automated Tender Offer Program procedures of |
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DTC by which you will agree to be bound by the letter of transmittal. By signing, or agreeing to be bound by, the letter of transmittal, you will represent to us that, among other things: |
• | you are not our “affiliate” within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act; |
• | you do not have an arrangement or understanding with any person or entity to participate in the distribution of the exchange notes; |
• | you are acquiring the exchange notes in the ordinary course of your business; and |
• | if you are abroker-dealer that will receive exchange notes for your own account in exchange for outstanding notes that were acquired as a result ofmarket-making activities, that you will deliver a prospectus, as required by law, in connection with any resale of such exchange notes. |
Special Procedures for Beneficial Owners | If you are a beneficial owner of outstanding notes that are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, and you wish to tender those outstanding notes in the exchange offer, you should contact the registered holder promptly and instruct the registered holder to tender those outstanding notes on your behalf. If you wish to tender on your own behalf, you must, prior to completing and executing the letter of transmittal and delivering your outstanding notes, either make appropriate arrangements to register ownership of the outstanding notes in your name or obtain a properly completed bond power from the registered holder. The transfer of registered ownership may take considerable time and may not be able to be completed prior to the expiration date. |
Guaranteed Delivery Procedures | If you wish to tender your outstanding notes and your outstanding notes are not immediately available or you cannot deliver your outstanding notes, the letter of transmittal or any other required documents, or you cannot comply with the procedures under DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program for transfer of book-entry interests, prior to the expiration date, you must tender your outstanding notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in this prospectus under “The Exchange Offer—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.” |
Effect on Holders of Outstanding Notes | As a result of the making of, and upon acceptance for exchange of, all validly tendered outstanding notes pursuant to the terms of the exchange offer, EMFC and EM LLC and the guarantors of the notes will have fulfilled a covenant under the registration rights agreement. Accordingly, there will be no increase in the interest rate on the outstanding notes under the circumstances described in the registration rights agreement. If you do not tender your outstanding notes in the exchange offer, you will continue to be entitled to all the rights and limitations applicable to the outstanding notes as set forth |
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in the indenture; however, EMFC and EM LLC and the guarantors of the notes will not have any further obligation to you to provide for the exchange and registration of the outstanding notes under the registration rights agreement. To the extent that the outstanding notes are tendered and accepted in the exchange offer, the trading market for the outstanding notes that are not so tendered and accepted could be adversely affected. |
Consequences of Failure to Exchange | All untendered outstanding notes will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in the outstanding notes and in the indenture. In general, the outstanding notes may not be offered or sold, unless registered under the Securities Act, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Other than in connection with the exchange offer, EMFC and EM LLC and the guarantors of the notes do not currently anticipate that they will register the outstanding notes under the Securities Act. |
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences | The exchange of outstanding notes for exchange notes in the exchange offer will not be a taxable event to holders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.” |
Use of Proceeds | We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the exchange notes in the exchange offer. |
Exchange Agent | The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. is the exchange agent for the exchange offer. The addresses and telephone numbers of the exchange agent are set forth under “The Exchange Offer—Exchange Agent.” |
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The Exchange Notes
The summary below describes the principal terms of the exchange notes. Certain of the terms and conditions described below are subject to important limitations and exceptions. The “Description of Notes” section of this prospectus contains a more detailed description of the terms and conditions of the notes. The exchange notes will have terms identical in all material respects to the corresponding outstanding notes, except that the exchange notes will not contain terms with respect to transfer restrictions, registration rights and additional interest for failure to observe certain obligations in the registration rights agreement.
Issuers | Education Management LLC and Education Management Finance Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Education Management LLC, will jointly and severally issue the exchange notes. Education Management Finance Corp. has only nominal assets, does not currently conduct any operations and was formed solely to act as a co-issuer of notes issued by Education Management LLC. |
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Securities Offered | $203,044,423 aggregate principal amount of exchange notes. |
Maturity Date | July 1, 2018. |
Interest Rate | 15% per annum will be payable in cash. For any interest period after March 30, 2014 up to and including July 1, 2018, interest in addition to the cash interest shall be paid by increasing the principal amount of the outstanding exchange notes or by issuing additional exchange notes (rounded up to the nearest $1) (“PIK Interest”). PIK Interest on the exchange notes will accrue at a rate of (i) 1.0% per annum for the period from March 30, 2014 through and including March 30, 2015, (ii) 2.0% per annum for the period from March 30, 2015 through and including March 30, 2016, (iii) 3.0% per annum for the period from March 30, 2016 through and including March 30, 2017 and (iv) 4.0% per annum for the period from March 30, 2017 through and including July 1, 2018. |
Interest Payment Dates | March 30 and September 30, beginning on September 30, 2013. Interest on the exchange notes accrued from the issue date of the outstanding notes. |
Ranking | The exchange notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will: |
• | rank senior in right of payment to our future debt and other obligations that are, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the exchange notes; |
• | rank equally in right of payment to all of our existing and future senior debt and other obligations that are not, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the exchange notes; and |
• | be effectively subordinated in right of payment to all of our existing and future secured debt (including obligations under our senior secured credit facilities), to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and be structurally subordinated to all obligations of each of our subsidiaries that is not a guarantor of the exchange notes. |
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Similarly, the guarantees of the exchange notes will be senior unsecured obligations of the guarantors and will: |
• | rank senior in right of payment to all of the applicable guarantor’s future debt and other obligations that are, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the exchange notes; |
• | rank equally in right of payment to all of the applicable guarantor’s existing and future senior debt and other obligations that are not, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the exchange notes; and |
• | be effectively subordinated in right of payment to all of the applicable guarantor’s existing and future secured debt (including such guarantor’s guarantee under our senior secured credit facilities), to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and be structurally subordinated to all obligations of any subsidiary of a guarantor if that subsidiary is not also a guarantor of the exchange notes. |
Guarantees | The exchange notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Education Management Corporation and all of Education Management LLC’s existing direct and indirect domestic restricted subsidiaries, other than any subsidiary that directly owns or operates a school or has been formed for such purpose and has no material assets, and will also be guaranteed by certain future restricted subsidiaries that guarantee other debt. The guarantee by Education Management Corporation is being provided as a holding company guarantee solely for the purpose of allowing the Issuers to satisfy their reporting obligation under the indenture that will govern the exchange notes by furnishing financial information relating to Education Management Corporation and, accordingly, you should not assign any value to this guarantee. |
Our guarantor subsidiaries accounted for less than 1% of our net revenue and our total EBITDA for the twelve months ended March 31, 2013, and less than 1% of our total assets and our total liabilities as of March 31, 2013. |
Since our non-guarantor subsidiaries are our primary source of revenue, the guarantors will have limited ability to make payments in respect of the exchange notes if the Issuers are unable to satisfy their payment obligations. As a result, the guarantees will be of limited value. |
Optional Redemption | Prior to March 30, 2014, we will have the option to redeem some or all of the exchange notes for cash at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount plus an applicable make-whole premium (as described in “Description of Notes-Optional Redemption”) plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. Beginning on March 30, 2014, we may redeem some or all of the exchange notes at the redemption prices listed under “Description of Notes-Optional Redemption” plus accrued interest on the exchange notes to the date of redemption. |
See “Description of Notes-Optional Redemption.” |
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Optional Redemption After Certain Equity Offerings | At any time (which may be more than once) before March 30, 2014, we may choose to redeem up to 35% of the exchange notes at a redemption price equal to 115% of the face amount thereof with proceeds that we raise in one or more equity offerings, as long as at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the exchange notes issued remain outstanding afterwards. |
See “Description of Notes-Optional Redemption.” |
Mandatory Principal Redemption | If the exchange notes would otherwise constitute “applicable high yield discount obligations” within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), at the end of the first “accrual period” (as defined in Section 1272(a)(5) of the Code) ending after the fifth anniversary of the outstanding notes’ issuance (the “AHYDO redemption date”), we will be required to redeem for cash a portion of each exchange note then outstanding equal to the “Mandatory Principal Redemption Amount” (each such redemption, a “Mandatory Principal Redemption”). The redemption price for the portion of each exchange note redeemed pursuant to any Mandatory Principal Redemption will be 100% of the principal amount of such portion plus any accrued interest thereon on the date of redemption. “Mandatory Principal Redemption Amount” means, as of the AHYDO redemption date, the portion of an exchange note required to be redeemed to prevent such exchange note from being treated as an “applicable high yield discount obligation” within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Code. No partial redemption or repurchase of the exchange notes prior to the AHYDO redemption date pursuant to any other provision of the indenture governing the exchange notes will alter our obligation to make any Mandatory Principal Redemption with respect to any exchange notes that remain outstanding on the AHYDO redemption date. |
Change of Control | Upon the occurrence of a change of control, you will have the right, as holders of the exchange notes, to require us to repurchase some or all of the exchange notes at 101% of their face amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the repurchase date. See “Description of Notes-Repurchase at the Option of Holders-Change of Control.” |
We may not be able to pay you the required price for exchange notes you present to us at the time of a change of control, because: |
• | we may not have enough funds at that time; or |
• | terms of our senior debt, including our senior secured credit facilities, may prevent us from making such payment. |
Your right to require us to repurchase the exchange notes upon the occurrence of a change of control will be suspended during any time that the exchange notes have investment grade ratings from both Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s. |
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Restrictive Covenants | The indenture governing the exchange notes contains covenants limiting our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to: |
• | incur additional debt or issue certain preferred shares; |
• | pay dividends on or make distributions in respect of our capital stock or make other restricted payments; |
• | make certain investments; |
• | sell certain assets; |
• | create liens on certain assets to secure debt; |
• | consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets; |
• | enter into certain transactions with our affiliates; and |
• | designate our subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries. |
These covenants are subject to a number of important limitations and exceptions. See “Description of Notes.” At all times when the exchange notes have investment grade ratings from both Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s these covenants will be superseded. However, they will be reinstated if the exchange notes cease to have an investment grade rating. |
Form and Denomination | The exchange notes will be issued in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof. We will issue the exchange notes in the form of one or more global notes in definitive, fully registered, book-entry form. The global notes will be deposited with or on behalf of DTC. PIK Interest on the exchange notes will be made in denominations of $1.00 and integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof. |
Public Market | The exchange notes will be freely transferrable but will be new securities for which there will not initially be a market. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that a liquid market for the exchange notes will develop. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Exchange Offer—Your ability to transfer the exchange notes may be limited by the absence of an active trading market, and there is no assurance that any active trading market will be maintained for the exchange notes.” |
You should carefully consider all the information in the prospectus prior to exchanging your outstanding notes. In particular, we urge you to carefully consider the factors set forth under the “Risk Factors” section.
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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth the historical ratio of earnings to fixed charges for EM LLC for the periods presented:
Nine months ended March 31 | Year ended June 30 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (a) | (1.0)x | (9.2)x | 3.3x | 2.6x | 1.9x | 1.6x |
(a) | For the purpose of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “earnings” consist of consolidated pretax income (loss) from continuing operations before adjustment for minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries and income (loss) of equity investees, plus (1) amortization of capitalized interest, (2) distributed income of equity investees and (3) fixed charges described below, excluding interest capitalized. “Fixed charges” consist of (1) interest expensed, (2) capitalized interest, (3) amortization of debt issuance costs and (4) the portion of rent expense estimated to represent interest. |
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Before deciding to participate in the Exchange Offer, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, as well as other information contained in this prospectus. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, operating results or cash flow could be materially and adversely affected. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or not believed by us to be material may also negatively impact us.
Risks Related to the Exchange Offer
There may be adverse consequences if you do not exchange your outstanding notes.
If you do not exchange your outstanding notes for exchange notes in the exchange offer, you will continue to be subject to restrictions on transfer of your outstanding notes as set forth in the offering circular distributed in connection with the private offering of the outstanding notes. In general, the outstanding notes may not be offered or sold unless they are registered or exempt from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Except as required by the registration rights agreement, we do not intend to register resales of the outstanding notes under the Securities Act. You should refer to “Prospectus Summary—The Exchange Offer” and “The Exchange Offer” for information about how to tender your outstanding notes.
The tender of outstanding notes under the exchange offer will reduce the outstanding amount of the outstanding notes, which may have an adverse effect upon, and increase the volatility of, the market price of the outstanding notes not exchanged in the exchange offer due to a reduction in liquidity.
Certain persons who participate in the exchange offer must deliver a prospectus in connection with resales of the exchange notes.
Based on interpretations of the staff of the SEC contained in Exxon Capital Holdings Corp., SEC no-action letter (April 13, 1988), Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc., SEC no-action letter (June 5, 1991) and Shearman & Sterling, SEC no-action letter (July 2, 1983), we believe that you may offer for resale, resell or otherwise transfer the exchange notes without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. However, in some instances described in this prospectus under “Plan of Distribution,” certain holders of exchange notes will remain obligated to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to transfer the exchange notes. If such a holder transfers any exchange notes without delivering a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act or without an applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act, such a holder may incur liability under the Securities Act. We do not and will not assume, or indemnify such a holder against, this liability.
Risks Related to the Notes
Despite our current leverage, we may still be able to incur substantially more debt. This could further exacerbate the risks that we and our subsidiaries face.
We and our subsidiaries may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future. If we incur any additional indebtedness that ranks equally with the exchange notes, the holders of that additional debt will be entitled to share ratably with the holders of the exchange notes in any proceeds distributed in connection with any insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or other winding-up of us. This may have the effect of reducing the amount of proceeds paid to you. If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the related risks that we and our subsidiaries now face could intensify. In addition, under the exchange notes, beginning after March 30, 2014, we will pay additional interest on the exchange notes by increasing the principal amount of the exchange notes, which will increase our debt by the amount of any such PIK Interest.
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Your right to receive payments on the exchange notes is effectively junior to those lenders who have a security interest in our assets.
Our obligations under the exchange notes and our guarantors’ obligations under their guarantees of the exchange notes are unsecured, but our obligations under our senior secured credit facilities and each guarantor’s obligations under their respective guarantees of the senior secured credit facilities are secured by a security interest in substantially all of the domestic tangible and intangible assets of us and the guarantors, including the stock of most of our and the guarantors’ direct wholly-owned U.S. subsidiaries, and a portion of the stock of certain of our non-U.S. subsidiaries. If we are declared bankrupt or insolvent, or if we default under our senior secured credit agreement, the lenders could declare all of the funds borrowed thereunder, together with accrued interest, immediately due and payable. If we were unable to repay such indebtedness, the lenders could foreclose on the pledged assets to the exclusion of holders of the exchange notes, even if an event of default exists under the indenture governing the exchange notes at such time. Furthermore, if the lenders foreclose and sell the pledged equity interests in any subsidiary guarantor under the exchange notes, then that guarantor will be released from its guarantee of the exchange notes automatically and immediately upon such sale. In any such event, because the exchange notes will not be secured by any of our assets or the equity interests in subsidiary guarantors, it is possible that there would be no assets remaining from which your claims could be satisfied or, if any assets remained, they might be insufficient to satisfy your claims fully. See “Description of Other Indebtedness.”
As of March 31, 2013, we had $1,081.6 million (net of discount) of senior secured indebtedness, all of which was indebtedness under our credit facilities. We had $175.3 million of borrowing capacity under our senior secured revolving credit facility, excluding $353.0 million in letters of credit. We were required to post a letter of credit of $348.6 million as of March 31, 2013 in favor of the U.S. Department of Education due to our failure to meet certain regulatory financial ratios after giving effect to the acquisition of the company by our principal shareholders, which are private equity funds affiliated with Providence Equity Partners, Goldman Sachs Capital Partners and Leeds Equity Partners, which we refer to collectively as the “Sponsors,” and related financing transactions which took place on June 1, 2006. In December 2012, the U.S. Department of Education decreased the required letter of credit from $414.5 million at September 30, 2012 to $348.6 million, which equals 15% of total aid received by students attending our institutions pursuant to Title IV (“Title IV”) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (“HEA”) during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012. Subsequent to the U.S. Department of Education’s notification, we reduced the letter of credit to $388.1 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2012 and then to $348.6 million in January 2013. The indenture governing the exchange notes permits us and our restricted subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness in the future, including senior secured indebtedness.
Claims of noteholders will be structurally subordinate to claims of creditors of all of our non-U.S. subsidiaries and some of our U.S. subsidiaries because they will not guarantee the exchange notes.
The exchange notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by all of our existing direct and indirect domestic restricted subsidiaries, other than any subsidiary that directly owns or operates a school or has been formed for such purpose and has no material assets. The exchange notes will not be guaranteed by any of our non-U.S. subsidiaries or future subsidiaries, unless they guarantee other debt. Accordingly, claims of holders of the exchange notes will be structurally subordinate to the claims of creditors of these non-guarantor subsidiaries, including trade creditors. All obligations of our non-guarantor subsidiaries will have to be satisfied before any of the assets of such subsidiaries would be available for distribution, upon a liquidation or otherwise, to us or a guarantor of the exchange notes.
Our guarantor subsidiaries accounted for less than 1% of our net revenue and our total EBITDA for the twelve months ended March 31, 2013, and less than 1% of our total assets and our total liabilities as of March 31, 2013.
Since our non-guarantor subsidiaries are our primary source of revenue, the guarantors will have limited ability to make payments in respect of the exchange notes if the Issuers are unable to satisfy their payment obligations. As a result, the guarantees will be of limited value.
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If we default on our obligations to pay our indebtedness, we may not be able to make payments on the exchange notes.
Any default under the agreements governing our indebtedness, including a default under the senior secured credit agreement, that is not waived by the required lenders, and the remedies sought by the holders of such indebtedness, could prevent us from paying principal, premium, if any, and interest on the exchange notes and substantially decrease the market value of the exchange notes. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow and are otherwise unable to obtain funds necessary to meet required payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness, or if we otherwise fail to comply with the various covenants, including financial and operating covenants, in the instruments governing our indebtedness (including covenants in our senior secured credit facilities and the indenture governing the exchange notes), we could be in default under the terms of the agreements governing such indebtedness, including our senior secured credit agreement and the indenture governing the exchange notes. In the event of such default, the holders of such indebtedness could elect to declare all the funds borrowed thereunder to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest, the lenders under our senior secured credit facilities could elect to terminate their commitments thereunder, cease making further loans and institute foreclosure proceedings against our assets, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. If our operating performance declines, we may in the future need to obtain waivers from the required lenders under our senior secured credit facilities to avoid being in default. If we breach our covenants under our senior secured credit facilities and seek a waiver, we may not be able to obtain a waiver from the required lenders. If this occurs, we would be in default under our senior secured credit agreement, the lenders could exercise their rights, as described above, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.
We may not be able to repurchase the exchange notes upon a change of control.
Upon the occurrence of specific kinds of change of control events, we will be required to offer to repurchase all outstanding exchange notes at 101% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest. The source of funds for any such purchase of the exchange notes will be our available cash or cash generated from our subsidiaries’ operations or other sources, including borrowings, sales of assets or sales of equity. We may not be able to repurchase the exchange notes upon a change of control because we may not have sufficient financial resources to purchase all of the exchange notes that are tendered upon a change of control. Our failure to repurchase the exchange notes upon a change of control would cause a default under the indenture governing the exchange notes and a cross-default under the senior secured credit agreement. The senior secured credit agreement also provides that a change of control will be a default that permits lenders to accelerate the maturity of borrowings thereunder. Any of our future debt agreements may contain similar provisions.
In addition, the change of control provisions in the indenture that will govern the exchange notes offered hereby may not protect you from certain important corporate events, such as a leveraged recapitalization (which would increase the level of our indebtedness), reorganization, restructuring, merger or other similar transaction. Such a transaction may not involve a change in voting power or beneficial ownership or, even if it does, may not involve a change that constitutes a “Change of Control” as defined in such indenture that would trigger our obligation to repurchase the exchange notes. If an event occurs that does not constitute a “Change of Control” as defined in such indenture, we will not be required to make an offer to repurchase the exchange notes and you may be required to continue to hold your exchange notes despite the event.
The lenders under the senior secured credit facilities will have the discretion to release the guarantors under the senior secured credit agreement in a variety of circumstances, which will cause those guarantors to be released from their guarantees of the exchange notes.
While any obligations under the senior secured credit facilities remain outstanding, any guarantee of the exchange notes may be released without action by, or consent of, any holder of the exchange notes or the trustee under the indenture governing the exchange notes, at the discretion of lenders under the senior secured credit facilities, if the related guarantor is no longer a guarantor of obligations under the senior secured credit facilities or any other indebtedness. See “Description of Notes.” The lenders under the senior secured credit facilities will
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have the discretion to release the guarantees under the senior secured credit facilities in a variety of circumstances. You will not have a claim as a creditor against any subsidiary that is no longer a guarantor of the exchange notes, and the indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, whether secured or unsecured, of those subsidiaries will effectively be senior to claims of noteholders.
Federal and state fraudulent transfer laws may permit a court to void the exchange notes and related guarantees, and, if that occurs, you may not receive any payments on the exchange notes.
Federal and state fraudulent transfer and conveyance statutes may apply to the issuance of the exchange notes and the incurrence of the related guarantees. Under federal bankruptcy law and comparable provisions of state fraudulent transfer or conveyance laws, which may vary from state to state, the exchange notes or related guarantees could be voided as a fraudulent transfer or conveyance if (1) we or any of the guarantors, as applicable, issued the exchange notes or incurred the related guarantees with the intent of hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors or (2) we or any of the guarantors, as applicable, received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration in return for either issuing the exchange notes or incurring the related guarantees and, in the case of (2) only, one of the following is also true at the time thereof:
• | we or any of the guarantors, as applicable, were insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of the issuance of the exchange notes or the incurrence of the related guarantees; |
• | the issuance of the exchange notes or the incurrence of the related guarantees left us or any of the guarantors, as applicable, with an unreasonably small amount of capital to carry on the business; |
• | we or any of the guarantors intended to, or believed that we or such guarantor would, incur debts beyond our or such guarantor’s ability to pay as they mature; or |
• | we or any of the guarantors was a defendant in an action for money damages, or had a judgment for money damages docketed against us or such guarantor if, in either case, after final judgment, the judgment is unsatisfied. |
If a court were to find that the issuance of the exchange notes or the incurrence of the related guarantees was a fraudulent transfer or conveyance, the court could void the payment obligations under the exchange notes or such related guarantees or further subordinate the exchange notes or such related guarantees to presently existing and future indebtedness of ours or of the related guarantor, or require the holders of the exchange notes to repay any amounts received with respect to such related guarantees. In the event of a finding that a fraudulent transfer or conveyance occurred, you may not receive any repayment on the exchange notes. Further, the voidance of the exchange notes could result in an event of default with respect to our and our subsidiaries’ other debt that could result in acceleration of such debt.
As a general matter, value is given for a transfer or an obligation if, in exchange for the transfer or obligation, property is transferred or an antecedent debt is secured or satisfied. A debtor may not be considered to have received value in connection with a debt offering if the debtor uses the proceeds of that offering to make a dividend payment or otherwise retire or redeem equity securities issued by the debtor or to refinance debt that was incurred for such purposes.
We cannot be certain as to the standards a court would use to determine whether or not we or the guarantors were solvent at the relevant time or, regardless of the standard that a court uses, that the issuance of the related guarantees would not be further subordinated to our or any of our guarantors’ other debt. Generally, however, an entity would be considered solvent if, at the time it incurred indebtedness:
• | the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, was greater than the fair saleable value of all its assets; |
• | the present fair saleable value of its assets was less than the amount that would be required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts, including contingent liabilities, as they become absolute and mature; or |
• | it could not pay its debts as they become due. |
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Our obligations under the exchange notes will be guaranteed by certain of our existing domestic restricted subsidiaries, and the guarantees may also be subject to review under various laws for the protection of creditors. It is possible that creditors of the guarantors may challenge the guarantees as a fraudulent transfer or conveyance. The analysis set forth above would generally apply, except that the guarantees could also be subject to the claim that, since the guarantees were incurred for our benefit, and only indirectly for the benefit of the guarantors, the obligations of the guarantors thereunder were incurred for less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration. A court could void a guarantor’s obligation under its guarantee, subordinate the guarantee to the other indebtedness of a guarantor, direct that holders of the exchange notes return any amounts paid under a guarantee to the relevant guarantor or to a fund for the benefit of its creditors, or take other action detrimental to the holders of the exchange notes. In addition, the liability of each guarantor under the indenture is limited to the amount that will result in its guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or improper corporate distribution, and there can be no assurance as to what standard a court would apply in making a determination as to what would be the maximum liability of each guarantor.
We are dependent upon dividends from our subsidiaries to meet our debt service obligations.
We are a holding company and conduct all of our operations through our subsidiaries. Our ability to meet our debt service obligations will be dependent on receipt of dividends from our direct and indirect subsidiaries. Subject to the restrictions contained in the indenture, future borrowings by our subsidiaries may contain restrictions or prohibitions on the payment of dividends by our subsidiaries to us. See “Description of Notes—Certain Covenants.” In addition, federal and state regulations governing our regulated subsidiaries and applicable state corporate law may limit the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends to us on their capital stock. We cannot assure you that the agreements governing the current and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries and these applicable laws will permit our subsidiaries to provide us with sufficient dividends, distributions or loans to fund payments on these exchange notes when due. Additionally, we are required to maintain a majority of independent directors on the board of several of our non-guarantor subsidiaries. As a result, we may not be able to require such subsidiaries to pay us dividends. Our ability to satisfy obligations under the exchange notes may be impaired if the issuers’ or the guarantors’ ability to receive dividends from these subsidiaries is limited.
The Sponsors, acting collectively, have the right to control us and may have conflicts of interest with us or you in the future.
Investment funds associated with or designated by the Sponsors collectively own approximately 84% of the voting interests of our outstanding capital stock. While the Sponsors are not under common control, either directly or indirectly, were the Sponsors to act collectively they would have control over our decisions to enter into any corporate transaction and have the ability to prevent any transaction that requires the approval of stockholders regardless of whether noteholders believe that any such transactions are in their own best interests. For example, the Sponsors could collectively cause us to make acquisitions that increase the amount of indebtedness that is secured, which may impair our ability to make payments under the exchange notes.
Additionally, the Sponsors are in the business of making investments in companies and may from time to time acquire and hold interests in businesses that compete directly or indirectly with us. One or more of the Sponsors may also pursue acquisition opportunities that may be complementary to our business and, as a result, those acquisition opportunities may not be available to us. So long as investment funds associated with or designated by the Sponsors collectively continue to indirectly own a significant amount of the outstanding shares of our common stock, the Sponsors will collectively continue to be able to strongly influence or effectively control our decisions.
Your ability to transfer the exchange notes may be limited by the absence of an active trading market, and there is no assurance that any active trading market will develop for the exchange notes.
There is no established public market for the exchange notes.
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The dealer managers have advised us that they intend to make a market in the notes, as permitted by applicable laws and regulations; however, the dealer managers are not obligated to make a market in the notes, and they may discontinue their market-making activities at any time without notice. Therefore, we cannot assure you that an active market for the notes will develop or, if developed, that it will continue. Historically, the market for non-investment grade debt has been subject to disruptions that have caused substantial volatility in the prices of securities similar to the notes. We cannot assure you that the market, if any, for the notes will be free from similar disruptions or that any such disruptions may not adversely affect the prices at which you may sell your notes. In addition, subsequent to their initial issuance, the exchange notes may trade at a discount from their initial offering price, depending upon prevailing interest rates, the market for similar notes, our performance and other factors.
The trading price of the exchange notes may be volatile.
The trading price of the exchange notes could be subject to significant fluctuation in response to, among other factors, changes in our operating results, interest rates, the market for non-investment grade securities, general economic conditions and securities analysts’ recommendations regarding our securities.
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We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the exchange notes pursuant to the exchange offer. In consideration for issuing the exchange notes as contemplated in this prospectus, we will receive in exchange a like principal amount of outstanding notes, the terms of which are identical in all material respects to the exchange notes. The outstanding notes surrendered in exchange for the exchange notes will be retired and cancelled and cannot be reissued. Accordingly, the issuance of the exchange notes will not result in any change in our capitalization.
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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth the historical ratio of earnings to fixed charges for EM LLC for the periods presented:
Nine months ended March 31 | Year ended June 30 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (a) | (1.0 | )x | (9.2 | )x | 3.3x | 2.6x | 1.9x | 1.6x |
(a) | For the purpose of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “earnings” consist of consolidated pretax income (loss) from continuing operations before adjustment for minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries and income (loss) of equity investees, plus (1) amortization of capitalized interest, (2) distributed income of equity investees and (3) fixed charges described below, excluding interest capitalized. “Fixed charges” consist of (1) interest expensed, (2) capitalized interest, (3) amortization of debt issuance costs and (4) the portion of rent expense estimated to represent interest. |
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The following table summarizes our capitalization on a consolidated basis as of March 31, 2013. This table should be read in conjunction with the information included under the headings “Selected Historical Consolidated and Combined Financial Data,” included elsewhere in this prospectus and our consolidated financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
As of March 31, 2013 | ||||
(in thousands) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents, excluding restricted cash | $ | 183,614 | ||
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| |||
Long-term debt, including current portion: | ||||
Senior secured term loan facility, due in June 2016 | $ | 738,476 | ||
Senior secured term loan facility, due in March 2018, net of discount of $3,050 | 343,159 | |||
Senior cash pay/PIK notes, due in July 2018, net of discount of $29,074 | 203,826 | |||
Senior notes, due in June 2014 | 9,707 | |||
Other debt | 252 | |||
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| |||
Total long-term debt, including current portion | $ | 1,295,420 | ||
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Total shareholders’ equity | 245,240 | |||
|
| |||
Total capitalization | $ | 1,724,274 | ||
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Purpose and Effect of the Exchange Offer
EM LLC, EMFC and the guarantors of the outstanding notes entered into a registration rights agreement with the dealer managers involved in the exchange offer pursuant to which the outstanding notes were issued in which they agreed, under certain circumstances, to use their commercially reasonable efforts to file a registration statement relating to an offer to exchange the outstanding notes for exchange notes and thereafter cause the registration statement to become effective under the Securities Act no later than 240 days following the closing date of the issuance of the outstanding notes. The exchange notes will have terms identical in all material respects to the related outstanding notes, except that the exchange notes will not contain terms with respect to transfer restrictions, registration rights and additional interest for failure to observe certain obligations in the registration rights agreement. On March 5, 2013, $203,044,423 of outstanding notes were issued.
Under the circumstances set forth below, EM LLC, EMFC and the guarantors will use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the SEC to declare effective a shelf registration statement with respect to the resale of the exchange notes within the time periods specified in the registration rights agreement and keep the statement effective for a period of two years (or longer if extended pursuant to the registration rights agreement). These circumstances include:
• | if any changes in law, SEC rules or regulations or applicable interpretations thereof by the SEC do not permit us to effect an exchange offer as contemplated by the registration rights agreement; |
• | if an exchange offer is not consummated within 240 days after the date of issuance of the outstanding notes; |
• | if any dealer manager so requests with respect to the outstanding notes not eligible to be exchanged for the exchange notes and held by it within 30 days after the consummation of the exchange offer; or |
• | if any holder (other than a broker-dealer electing to exchange outstanding notes, acquired for its own account as a result of market making activities or other trading activities, for exchange notes) is not eligible to participate in the exchange offer or any holder that participates in the exchange offer does not receive freely transferable exchange notes in exchange for tendered outstanding notes. |
Under the registration rights agreement, if (i) EM LLC and EMFC fails to complete the exchange offer (other than in the event we file a shelf registration statement) on or prior to 240 days after the issue date (the “target registration date”), (ii) the shelf registration statement, if required thereby, is not declared effective on or prior to the target registration date or (iii) the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part becomes effective and (A) thereafter ceases to be effective or (B) such registration statement or this prospectus ceases to be usable in connection with resales of the exchange notes during the periods and for the reasons specified in the registration rights agreement, the interest rate on the related outstanding notes will be increased by (x) 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period immediately following the target registration date and (y) an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period, in each case, until the exchange offer is completed or the shelf registration statement, if required, is declared effective by the SEC or the outstanding notes cease to constitute transfer restricted notes, up to a maximum of 1.00% per annum of additional interest. Copies of the registration rights agreement have been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
If you wish to exchange your outstanding notes for exchange notes in the exchange offer, you will be required to make the following written representations:
• | you are not an affiliate of EM LLC and EMFC or an affiliate of any guarantor within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Securities Act; |
• | you have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the exchange notes in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act; |
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• | you are not engaged in, and do not intend to engage in, a distribution of the exchange notes; and |
• | you are acquiring the exchange notes in the ordinary course of your business. |
Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account in exchange for outstanding notes, where such outstanding notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such exchange notes. See “Plan of Distribution.”
Resale of Exchange Notes
Based on interpretations by the SEC set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties, we believe that you may resell or otherwise transfer exchange notes issued in the exchange offer without complying with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, if:
• | you are not our affiliate or an affiliate of any guarantor within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act; |
• | you do not have an arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a distribution of the exchange notes; |
• | you are not engaged in, and do not intend to engage in, a distribution of the exchange notes; and |
• | you are acquiring the exchange notes in the ordinary course of your business. |
If you are an affiliate of EM LLC and EMFC or an affiliate of any guarantor, or are engaging in, or intend to engage in, or have any arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of the exchange notes, or are not acquiring the exchange notes in the ordinary course of your business:
• | you cannot rely on the position of the SEC set forth inMorgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (available June 5, 1991) andExxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the SEC’s letter toShearman & Sterling, dated July 2, 1993, or similar no-action letters; and |
• | in the absence of an exception from the position stated immediately above, you must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of the exchange notes. |
This prospectus may be used for an offer to resell, resale or other transfer of exchange notes only as specifically set forth in this prospectus. With regard tobroker-dealers, onlybroker-dealers that acquired the outstanding notes as a result ofmarket-making activities or other trading activities may participate in the exchange offer. Eachbroker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account in exchange for outstanding notes, where such outstanding notes were acquired by suchbroker-dealer as a result ofmarket-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the exchange notes. Please read “Plan of Distribution” for more details regarding the transfer of exchange notes.
Terms of the Exchange Offer
On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the accompanying letters of transmittal, EM LLC and EMFC will accept for exchange in the exchange offer any outstanding notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to the expiration date. Outstanding notes may only be tendered in multiples of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1 in excess thereof. EM LLC and EMFC will issue $2,000 and integral multiples of $1, in excess thereof, principal amount of exchange notes in exchange for each $2,000 and integral multiples of $1, in excess thereof, principal amount of outstanding notes surrendered in the exchange offer.
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The form and terms of the exchange notes will be identical in all material respects to the form and terms of the outstanding notes except the exchange notes will be registered under the Securities Act, will not bear legends restricting their transfer and will not provide for any additional interest upon our failure to fulfill our obligations under the registration rights agreement to complete the exchange offer, or file, and cause to be effective, a shelf registration statement, if required thereby, within the specified time period. The exchange notes will evidence the same debt as the outstanding notes. The exchange notes will be issued under and entitled to the benefits of the indenture that authorized the issuance of the outstanding notes. For a description of the indenture, see “Description of Notes.”
The exchange offer is not conditioned upon any minimum aggregate principal amount of outstanding notes being tendered for exchange.
As of the date of this prospectus, $203,044,423 aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes that were issued in a private offering on March 5, 2013 are outstanding and unregistered. This prospectus and the letter of transmittal are being sent to all registered holders of outstanding notes. There will be no fixed record date for determining registered holders of outstanding notes entitled to participate in the exchange offer. EM LLC and EMFC intend to conduct the exchange offer in accordance with the provisions of the registration rights agreement, the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC. Outstanding notes that are not tendered for exchange in the exchange offer will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest and will be entitled to the rights and benefits such holders have under the indenture relating to such holders’ outstanding notes and the registration rights agreement except we will not have any further obligation to you to provide for the registration of the outstanding notes under the registration rights agreement.
EM LLC and EMFC will be deemed to have accepted for exchange properly tendered outstanding notes when it has given written notice of the acceptance to the exchange agent. The exchange agent will act as agent for the tendering holders for the purposes of receiving the exchange notes from us and delivering exchange notes to holders. Subject to the terms of the registration rights agreement, EM LLC and EMFC expressly reserve the right to amend or terminate the exchange offer and to refuse to accept the occurrence of any of the conditions specified below under “—Conditions to the Exchange Offer.”
If you tender your outstanding notes in the exchange offer, you will not be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to the instructions in the letter of transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of outstanding notes. We will pay all charges and expenses, other than certain applicable taxes described below in connection with the exchange offer. It is important that you read “—Fees and Expenses” below for more details regarding fees and expenses incurred in the exchange offer.
Expiration Date; Extensions, Amendments
As used in this prospectus, the term “expiration date” means 12:00 a.m. midnight, New York City time, on September 6, 2013. However, if we, in our sole discretion, extend the period of time for which an exchange offer is open, the term “expiration date” will mean the latest time and date to which we shall have extended the expiration of such exchange offer.
To extend the period of time during which an exchange offer is open, we will notify the exchange agent of any extension by written notice, followed by notification by press release or other public announcement to the registered holders of the outstanding notes no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled expiration date.
EM LLC and EMFC reserve the right, in their sole discretion:
• | to delay accepting for exchange any outstanding notes (only in the case that we amend or extend an exchange offer); |
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• | to extend or terminate the exchange offer if any of the conditions set forth below under “—Conditions to the Exchange Offer” have not been satisfied, by giving written notice of such delay, extension or termination to the exchange agent; and |
• | subject to the terms of the registration rights agreement, to amend the terms of the exchange offer in any manner. In the event of a material change in the exchange offer, including the waiver of a material condition, we will extend the offer period, if necessary, so that at least five business days remain in such offer period following notice of the material change. |
Any delay in acceptance, extension, termination or amendment will be followed as promptly as practicable by written notice to the registered holders of the outstanding notes. If EM LLC or EMFC amend the exchange offer in a manner that we determine to constitute a material change, they will promptly disclose the amendment in a manner reasonably calculated to inform the holders of outstanding notes of that amendment.
Conditions to the Exchange Offer
Despite any other term of the exchange offer, EM LLC and EMFC will not be required to accept for exchange, or to issue exchange notes in exchange for, any outstanding notes and they may terminate or amend the exchange offer as provided in this prospectus prior to the expiration date if in their reasonable judgment:
• | an exchange offer or the making of any exchange by a holder violates any applicable law or interpretation of the SEC; or |
• | any action or proceeding has been instituted or threatened in writing in any court or by or before any governmental agency with respect to the exchange offer that, in our judgment, would reasonably be expected to impair our ability to proceed with the exchange offer. |
In addition, EM LLC and EMFC will not be obligated to accept for exchange the outstanding notes of any holder that has not made to us:
• | the representations described under “—Purpose and Effect of the Exchange Offer,” “—Procedures for Tendering” and “Plan of Distribution;” or |
• | any other representations as may be reasonably necessary under applicable SEC rules, regulations, or interpretations to make available to us an appropriate form for registration of the exchange notes under the Securities Act. |
EM LLC and EMFC expressly reserve the right at any time or at various times to extend the period of time during which an exchange offer is open. Consequently, EM LLC and EMFC may delay acceptance of any outstanding notes by giving written notice of such extension to their holders. EM LLC and EMFC will return any outstanding notes that they do not accept for exchange for any reason without expense to their tendering holder promptly after the expiration or termination of an exchange offer.
EM LLC and EMFC expressly reserve the right to amend or terminate an exchange offer and to reject for exchange any outstanding notes not previously accepted for exchange, upon the occurrence of any of the conditions of an exchange offer specified above. EM LLC and EMFC will give written notice of any extension, amendment, non-acceptance or termination to the holders of the outstanding notes as promptly as practicable. In the case of any extension, such notice will be issued no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled expiration date.
These conditions are for our sole benefit and EM LLC and EMFC may assert them regardless of the circumstances that may give rise to them or waive them in whole or in part at any or at various times prior to the expiration date in our sole discretion. If EM LLC and EMFC fail at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights, this failure will not constitute a waiver of such right. Each such right will be deemed an ongoing right that they may assert at any time or at various times prior to the expiration date.
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In addition, EM LLC and EMFC will not accept for exchange any outstanding notes tendered, and will not issue exchange notes in exchange for any such outstanding notes, if at such time any stop order is threatened or in effect with respect to the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part or the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “TIA”).
Procedures for Tendering Outstanding Notes
To tender your outstanding notes in the exchange offer, you must comply with either of the following:
• | complete, sign and date the letter of transmittal, or a facsimile of the letter of transmittal, have the signature(s) on the letter of transmittal guaranteed if required by such letter of transmittal and mail or deliver such letter of transmittal or facsimile thereof to the exchange agent at the address set forth below under “—Exchange Agent—Notes” prior to the expiration date; or |
• | comply with DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program procedures described below. |
In addition, either:
• | the exchange agent must receive certificates for outstanding notes along with the letter of transmittal prior to the expiration date; |
• | the exchange agent must receive a timely confirmation of book-entry transfer of outstanding notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC according to the procedures for book-entry transfer described below or a properly transmitted agent’s message prior to the expiration date; or |
• | you must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures described below. |
Your tender, if not withdrawn prior to the expiration date, constitutes an agreement between us and you upon the terms and subject to the conditions described in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal.
The method of delivery of outstanding notes, letters of transmittal, and all other required documents to the exchange agent is at your election and risk. We recommend that instead of delivery by mail, you use an overnight or hand delivery service, properly insured. In all cases, you should allow sufficient time to assure timely delivery to the exchange agent before the expiration date. You should not send letters of transmittal or certificates representing outstanding notes to us. You may request that your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or nominee effect the above transactions for you.
If you are a beneficial owner whose outstanding notes are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company, or other nominee and you wish to tender your outstanding notes, you should promptly contact the registered holder and instruct the registered holder to tender on your behalf. If you wish to tender the outstanding notes yourself, you must, prior to completing and executing the letter of transmittal and delivering your outstanding notes, either:
• | make appropriate arrangements to register ownership of the outstanding notes in your name; or |
• | obtain a properly completed bond power from the registered holder of outstanding notes. |
The transfer of registered ownership may take considerable time and may not be able to be completed prior to the expiration date.
Signatures on the letter of transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange or of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States or another “eligible guarantor institution” within the meaning of Rule 17A(d)-15 under the Exchange Act unless the outstanding notes surrendered for exchange are tendered:
• | by a registered holder of the outstanding notes who has not completed the box entitled “Special Registration Instructions” or “Special Delivery Instructions” on the letter of transmittal; or |
• | for the account of an eligible guarantor institution. |
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If the letter of transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder of any outstanding notes listed on the outstanding notes, such outstanding notes must be endorsed or accompanied by a properly completed bond power. The bond power must be signed by the registered holder as the registered holder’s name appears on the outstanding notes and an eligible guarantor institution must guarantee the signature on the bond power.
If the letter of transmittal or any certificates representing outstanding notes, or bond powers are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations, or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, those persons should also indicate when signing and, unless waived by us, they should also submit evidence satisfactory to us of their authority to so act.
The exchange agent and DTC have confirmed that any financial institution that is a participant in DTC’s system may use DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program to tender. Participants in the program may, instead of physically completing and signing the letter of transmittal and delivering it to the exchange agent, electronically transmit their acceptance of the exchange by causing DTC to transfer the outstanding notes to the exchange agent in accordance with DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program procedures for transfer. DTC will then send an agent’s message to the exchange agent. The term “agent’s message” means a message transmitted by DTC, received by the exchange agent and forming part of the book-entry confirmation, which states that:
• | DTC has received an express acknowledgment from a participant in its Automated Tender Offer Program that is tendering outstanding notes that are the subject of the book-entry confirmation; |
• | the participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal, or in the case of an agent’s message relating to guaranteed delivery, that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by the notice of guaranteed delivery; and |
• | we may enforce that agreement against such participant. |
DTC is referred to herein as a “book-entry transfer facility.”
Acceptance of Exchange Notes
In all cases, EM LLC and EMFC will promptly issue exchange notes for outstanding notes that it has accepted for exchange under the exchange offer only after the exchange agent timely receives:
• | outstanding notes or a timely book-entry confirmation of such outstanding notes into the exchange agent’s account at the book-entry transfer facility; and |
• | a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal and all other required documents or a properly transmitted agent’s message. |
By tendering outstanding notes pursuant to the exchange offer, you will represent to us that, among other things:
• | you are not an affiliate of any Issuer or guarantor within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act; |
• | you do not have an arrangement or understanding with any person or entity to participate in a distribution of the exchange notes; and |
• | you are acquiring the exchange notes in the ordinary course of your business. |
In addition, eachbroker-dealer that is to receive exchange notes for its own account in exchange for outstanding notes must represent that such outstanding notes were acquired by thatbroker-dealer as a result ofmarket-making activities or other trading activities and must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus that meets the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of the exchange notes. The letter of transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, abroker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. See “Plan of Distribution.”
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EM LLC and EMFC will interpret the terms and conditions of the exchange offer, including the letters of transmittal and the instructions to the letters of transmittal, and will resolve all questions as to the validity, form, eligibility, including time of receipt, and acceptance of outstanding notes tendered for exchange. Our determinations in this regard will be final and binding on all parties. EM LLC and EMFC reserves the absolute right to reject any and all tenders of any particular outstanding notes not properly tendered or to not accept any particular outstanding notes if the acceptance might, in their or their counsel’s judgment, be unlawful. We also reserve the absolute right to waive any defects or irregularities as to any particular outstanding notes prior to the expiration date.
Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of outstanding notes for exchange must be cured within such reasonable period of time as we determine. Neither EM LLC, EMFC, the exchange agent, nor any other person will be under any duty to give notification of any defect or irregularity with respect to any tender of outstanding notes for exchange, nor will any of them incur any liability for any failure to give notification. Any outstanding notes received by the exchange agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned by the exchange agent to the tendering holder, unless otherwise provided in the letter of transmittal, promptly after the expiration date.
Book-Entry Delivery Procedures
Promptly after the date of this prospectus, the exchange agent will establish an account with respect to the outstanding notes at DTC and, as the book-entry transfer facility, for purposes of the exchange offer. Any financial institution that is a participant in the book-entry transfer facility’s system may make book-entry delivery of the outstanding notes by causing the book-entry transfer facility to transfer those outstanding notes into the exchange agent’s account at the facility in accordance with the facility’s procedures for such transfer. To be timely, book-entry delivery of outstanding notes requires receipt of a confirmation of a book-entry transfer, a “book-entry confirmation,” prior to the expiration date. In addition, although delivery of outstanding notes may be effected through book-entry transfer into the exchange agent’s account at the book-entry transfer facility, the letter of transmittal or a manually signed facsimile thereof, together with any required signature guarantees and any other required documents, or an “agent’s message,” as defined below, in connection with a book-entry transfer, must, in any case, be delivered or transmitted to and received by the exchange agent at its address set forth on the cover page of the letter of transmittal prior to the expiration date to receive exchange notes for tendered outstanding notes, or the guaranteed delivery procedure described below must be complied with. Tender will not be deemed made until such documents are received by the exchange agent. Delivery of documents to the book-entry transfer facility does not constitute delivery to the exchange agent.
Holders of outstanding notes who are unable to deliver confirmation of the book-entry tender of their outstanding notes into the exchange agent’s account at the book-entry transfer facility or all other documents required by the letter of transmittal to the exchange agent on or prior to the expiration date must tender their outstanding notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures described below.
Guaranteed Delivery Procedures
If you wish to tender your outstanding notes but your outstanding notes are not immediately available or you cannot deliver your outstanding notes, the letter of transmittal or any other required documents to the exchange agent or comply with the procedures under DTC’s Automatic Tender Offer Program in the case of outstanding notes, prior to the expiration date, you may still tender if:
• | the tender is made through an eligible guarantor institution; |
• | prior to the expiration date, the exchange agent receives from such eligible guarantor institution either a properly completed and duly executed notice of guaranteed delivery, by facsimile transmission, mail, or hand delivery or a properly transmitted agent’s message and notice of guaranteed delivery, that (1) sets forth your name and address, the certificate number(s) of such outstanding notes and the |
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principal amount of outstanding notes tendered; (2) states that the tender is being made thereby; and (3) guarantees that, within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the expiration date, the letter of transmittal, or facsimile thereof, together with the outstanding notes or a book-entry confirmation, and any other documents required by the letter of transmittal, will be deposited by the eligible guarantor institution with the exchange agent; and |
• | the exchange agent receives the properly completed and executed letter of transmittal or facsimile thereof, as well as certificate(s) representing all tendered outstanding notes in proper form for transfer or a book-entry confirmation of transfer of the outstanding notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC all other documents required by the letter of transmittal within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the expiration date. |
Upon request, the exchange agent will send to you a notice of guaranteed delivery if you wish to tender your outstanding notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures.
Withdrawal Rights
Except as otherwise provided in this prospectus, you may withdraw your tender of outstanding notes at any time prior to 12:00 a.m. midnight, New York City time, on the expiration date.
For a withdrawal to be effective:
• | the exchange agent must receive a written notice, which may be by telegram, telex, facsimile or letter, of withdrawal at its address set forth below under “—Exchange Agent”; or |
• | you must comply with the appropriate procedures of DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program system. |
Any notice of withdrawal must:
• | specify the name of the person who tendered the outstanding notes to be withdrawn; |
• | identify the outstanding notes to be withdrawn, including the certificate numbers and principal amount of the outstanding notes; and |
• | where certificates for outstanding notes have been transmitted, specify the name in which such outstanding notes were registered, if different from that of the withdrawing holder. |
• | if certificates for outstanding notes have been delivered or otherwise identified to the exchange agent, then, prior to the release of such certificates, you must also submit: |
• | the serial numbers of the particular certificates to be withdrawn; and |
• | a signed notice of withdrawal with signatures guaranteed by an eligible institution unless you are an eligible guarantor institution. |
If outstanding notes have been tendered pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer described above, any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account at the book-entry transfer facility to be credited with the withdrawn outstanding notes and otherwise comply with the procedures of the facility. We will determine all questions as to the validity, form, and eligibility, including time of receipt of notices of withdrawal and our determination will be final and binding on all parties. Any outstanding notes so withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the exchange offer. Any outstanding notes that have been tendered for exchange but that are not exchanged for any reason will be returned to their holder, without cost to the holder, or, in the case of book-entry transfer, the outstanding notes will be credited to an account at the book-entry transfer facility, promptly after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of the exchange offer. Properly withdrawn outstanding notes may be retendered by following the procedures described under “—Procedures for Tendering Outstanding Notes” above at any time on or prior to the expiration date.
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Exchange Agent
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. has been appointed as the exchange agent for the exchange offer. The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. also acts as trustee under the indentures governing the outstanding notes. You should direct all executed letters of transmittal and all questions and requests for assistance, requests for additional copies of this prospectus or of the letters of transmittal, and requests for notices of guaranteed delivery to the exchange agent addressed as follows:
By Registered or Certified Mail: | By Regular Mail: | By Overnight Courier or Hand Delivery: | ||
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. c/o The Bank of New York Mellon P.O. Box 396 East Syracuse, New York 13057 Attn: Corporate Trust Operations Christopher Landers | The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. c/o The Bank of New York Mellon P.O. Box 396 East Syracuse, New York 13057 Attn: Corporate Trust Operations Christopher Landers | The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. c/o The Bank of New York Mellon 111 Sanders Creek East Syracuse, New York 13057 Attn: Corporate Trust Operations Christopher Landers | ||
By Facsimile Transmission: (eligible institutions only): (732) 667-9408 | ||||
Telephone Inquiries: (315) 414-3362 |
Note: Delivery of this instrument to an address other than as set forth above, or transmission of instructions other than as set forth above, will not constitute a valid delivery.
If you deliver the letter of transmittal to an address other than the one set forth above or transmit instructions via facsimile other than the one set forth above, that delivery or those instructions will not be effective.
Fees and Expenses
The registration rights agreement provides that we will bear all expenses in connection with the performance of our obligations relating to the registration of the exchange notes and the conduct of the exchange offer. These expenses include registration and filing fees, accounting and legal fees and printing costs, among others. We will pay the exchange agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. We will also reimburse brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for customary mailing and handling expenses incurred by them in forwarding this prospectus and related documents to their clients that are holders of outstanding notes and for handling or tendering for such clients.
We have not retained any dealer manager in connection with the exchange offer and will not pay any fee or commission to any broker, dealer, nominee or other person, other than the exchange agent, for soliciting tenders of outstanding notes pursuant to the exchange offer.
Accounting Treatment
We will record the exchange notes in our accounting records at the same carrying value as the outstanding notes, which is the aggregate principal amount as reflected in our accounting records on the date of exchanges, as the terms of the exchange notes are substantially identical to the terms of the outstanding notes. Accordingly, we will not recognize any gain or loss for accounting purposes upon the consummation of the exchange offer.
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Transfer Taxes
We will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchanges of outstanding notes under the exchange offer. The tendering holder, however, will be required to pay any transfer taxes, whether imposed on the registered holder or any other person, if:
• | certificates representing outstanding notes for principal amounts not tendered or accepted for exchange are to be delivered to, or are to be issued in the name of, any person other than the registered holder of outstanding notes tendered; |
• | tendered outstanding notes are registered in the name of any person other than the person signing the letter of transmittal; or |
• | a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the exchange of outstanding notes under the exchange offer. |
If satisfactory evidence of payment of such taxes is not submitted with the letter of transmittal, the amount of such transfer taxes will be billed to that tendering holder.
Holders who tender their outstanding notes for exchange will not be required to pay any transfer taxes. However, holders who instruct us to register exchange notes in the name of, or request that outstanding notes not tendered or not accepted in the exchange offer be returned to, a person other than the registered tendering holder will be required to pay any applicable transfer tax.
Consequences of Failure to Exchange
If you do not exchange your outstanding notes for exchange notes under the exchange offer, your outstanding notes will remain subject to the restrictions on transfer of such outstanding notes:
• | as set forth in the legend printed on the outstanding notes as a consequence of the issuance of the outstanding notes pursuant to the exemptions from, or in transactions not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws; and |
• | as otherwise set forth in the offering circular distributed in connection with the private offering of the outstanding notes. |
In general, you may not offer or sell your outstanding notes unless they are registered under the Securities Act or if the offer or sale is exempt from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Except as required by the registration rights agreement, we do not intend to register resales of the outstanding notes under the Securities Act.
Other
Participating in the exchange offer is voluntary, and you should carefully consider whether to accept. You are urged to consult your financial and tax advisors in making your own decision on what action to take.
We may in the future seek to acquire untendered outstanding notes in open market or privately negotiated transactions, through subsequent exchange offer or otherwise. We have no present plans to acquire any outstanding notes that are not tendered in the exchange offer or to file a registration statement to permit resales of any untendered outstanding notes.
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General
The Issuers expect to issue up to $203,044,423 aggregate principal amount of exchange notes under an Indenture dated as of March 5, 2013 (the “Indenture”) among the Issuers, the Guarantors and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”) in exchange for up to $203,044,423 aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes. Both the exchange notes and the outstanding notes will generally be referred to as “Notes,” unless the context otherwise requires. The outstanding notes were issued in a private transaction that was not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The terms of the outstanding notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act.
Certain terms used in this description are defined under the subheading “Certain Definitions.” In this description, the term “Company” refers to Education Management LLC and not any of its Affiliates, “EM Finance” and “Co-Issuer” refer only to Education Management Finance Corp. and not any of its Affiliates and “Issuers” refers to both the Company and the Co-Issuer.
The Issuers will be jointly and severally liable for all obligations under the Notes. EM Finance is a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Company that has been incorporated in Delaware as a special purpose finance subsidiary to facilitate the offering of the outstanding notes and other debt securities of the Company. The Company believes that certain prospective purchasers of the Notes may be restricted in their ability to purchase debt securities of partnerships or LLCs such as the Company unless the securities were jointly issued by a corporation. EM Finance does not have any substantial operations or assets and does not have any revenues. Accordingly, EM Finance does not participate in servicing the principal and interest obligations on the outstanding notes and should not be expected to do so with respect to the exchange notes.
The exchange notes are authorized by and will be issued under the Indenture. The exchange notes will have terms identical in all material respects to the outstanding notes, except that the exchange notes will not contain terms with respect to transfer restrictions, registration rights and additional interest for failure to observe certain obligations in the registration rights agreement. The exchange notes will evidence the same debt as the outstanding notes. The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the Notes. Such description is only a summary, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the Indenture, including the definitions therein of certain terms used below. We urge you to read the Indenture because it, not this description, defines your rights as Holders of the Notes. You may request copies of the Indenture at our address set forth on the cover page of this Registration Statement.
Brief Description of Notes
The Notes:
• | will be unsecured senior obligations of the Issuers; |
• | will bepari passu in right of payment with or senior to all other Indebtedness of the Issuers (including borrowings under the Senior Credit Facilities); |
• | will be effectively subordinated to all secured Indebtedness of the Issuers (including borrowings under the Senior Credit Facilities) to the extent of the value of the assets securing such Indebtedness, and to all liabilities of non-guarantor subsidiaries of the Issuers; |
• | will be senior in right of payment to any existing and future Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuers; and |
• | will be initially guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis by Education Management Corporation (“Parent”) and all of the Company’s existing and future direct and indirect domestic Restricted |
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Subsidiaries, other than any subsidiary that directly owns or operates a school or has been formed for such purpose and has no material assets. |
Guarantees
The Guarantors, as primary obligors and not merely as sureties, will initially jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally, guarantee the performance and full and punctual payment when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all obligations of the Issuers under the Indenture and the Notes, whether for payment of principal of or interest on or Additional Interest in respect of the Notes, expenses, indemnification or otherwise, on the terms set forth in the Indenture by executing such Indenture. The Guarantors will guarantee the Notes on an unsecured senior basis.
Parent and all existing Restricted Subsidiaries, other than as detailed below,will initially guarantee the Notes. Under certain circumstances, future Subsidiaries of the Company will also guarantee the Notes. Each of the Guarantees of the Notes will be a general unsecured obligation of each Guarantor and will be effectively subordinated to all Secured Indebtedness of each such entity. The Guarantees of the Notes will bepari passu in right of payment with or senior to all Indebtedness of each such entity. The Notes will be structurally subordinated to Indebtedness of Subsidiaries of the Issuers that do not Guarantee the Notes. The Guarantee by Parent is being provided solely for the purpose of allowing the Issuers to satisfy their reporting obligations under the Indenture by furnishing financial information relating to Parent instead of the Issuers and, accordingly, you should not assign any value to such Guarantee.
Not all of the Company’s existing Subsidiaries will Guarantee the Notes. None of the Company’s existing Foreign Subsidiaries, non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries or Subsidiaries that directly own or operate a school will guarantee the Notes. In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of any of these non-guarantor Subsidiaries, the non-guarantor Subsidiaries will pay the holders of their debt and their trade creditors before they will be able to distribute any of their assets to the Company. Although the Indenture limits the incurrence of Indebtedness by non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries, the limitation is subject to a number of significant exceptions. Moreover, the Indenture does not impose any limitation on the incurrence by non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries of liabilities that are not considered Indebtedness under the Indenture. Our Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries accounted for less than 1%, of the Company’s net revenue, and less than 1%, of the Company’s total EBITDA, in each case for the twelve months ended September 30, 2012, and less than 1%, of the Company’s total assets and less than 1%, of the Company’s total liabilities, in each case as of September 30, 2012. Since the Company’s non-Guarantor Subsidiaries are the Company’s primary source of revenue on a consolidated basis, the Guarantors will have limited ability to make payments in respect of the Notes if the Issuers are unable to satisfy their payment obligations. As a result, the Guarantees will be of limited value.
The obligations of each Guarantor under its Guarantees will be limited as necessary to prevent the Guarantees from constituting a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law.
Any entity that makes a payment under its Guarantee will be entitled upon payment in full of all guaranteed obligations under the Indenture to a contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP.
If a Guarantee was rendered voidable, it could be subordinated by a court to all other indebtedness (including guarantees and other contingent liabilities) of the Guarantor, and, depending on the amount of such indebtedness, a Guarantor’s liability on its Guarantee could be reduced to zero. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Notes—Federal and state fraudulent transfer laws may permit a court to void the guarantees, and, if that occurs, you may not receive any payment on the notes.”
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A Guarantee by a Guarantor shall provide by its terms that it shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon:
(1) (a) any sale, exchange or transfer (by merger or otherwise) of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor (including any sale, exchange or transfer), after which the applicable Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary which sale, exchange or transfer is made in compliance with the provisions of the Indenture;
(b) the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Guarantor of the Senior Credit Facilities or the guarantee which resulted in the creation of such Guarantee, except a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such guarantee;
(c) the proper designation of such Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary under the Indenture; or
(d) the Issuers exercising their legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option as described under “Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” or the Issuers’ obligations under the Indenture being discharged in accordance with the terms of such Indenture; and
(2) such Guarantor delivering to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture relating to such transaction have been complied with.
Ranking
The payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and the payment of any Guarantee on the Notes will bepari passuwith or senior to all other Indebtedness of the Issuers or the relevant Guarantor, as the case may be, but will be effectively subordinated to all of the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ existing and future Secured Indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such Indebtedness. As of March 31, 2013, the Company had $1,295.4 million of consolidated Indebtedness (excluding letters of credit) that would have beenpari passuwith the Notes (all of which would have been secured Indebtedness, consisting entirely of Secured Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities). Subject to the limits described below, the Issuers may incur additional Secured Indebtedness.
Paying Agent and Registrar for the Notes
The Issuers will maintain one or more paying agents for the Notes in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The initial paying agent for the Notes will be the Trustee.
The Issuers will also maintain a registrar with offices in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The initial registrar will be the Trustee. The registrar will maintain a register reflecting ownership of the Notes outstanding from time to time and will make payments on and facilitate transfer of Notes on behalf of the Issuers.
The Issuers may change the paying agents or the registrars without prior notice to the Holders. The Issuers or any of their Subsidiaries may act as a paying agent or registrar.
Transfer and Exchange
A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents in connection with a transfer of Notes. Holders will be required to pay all taxes due on transfer. The Issuers are not required to transfer or exchange any New Note selected for redemption. Also, the Issuers are not required to transfer or exchange any New Note for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.
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Principal, Maturity and Interest
The Issuers will issue $203.0 million of Notes in this offering. The Notes will mature on July 1, 2018. Interest on the Notes will accrue at the rate of 15% per annum and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on March 30 and September 30, commencing on September 30, 2013 to the Holders of Notes of record on the immediately preceding March 15 and September 15. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including the Issue Date. Interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. At the maturity date of the Notes, an additional principal amount of 13% of the then aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding as of such maturity date shall be due and payable in cash to holders of record of the Notes on such maturity date. The calculation of such additional principal amount will be made by the Issuers or on behalf of the Issuers by such Person as the Issuers shall designate, and such calculation and the correctness thereof shall not be a duty or obligation of the Trustee.
For any interest payment period after March 30, 2014 up to and including July 1, 2018, interest in addition to the cash interest payable as provided above shall be paid by increasing the principal amount of the outstanding Notes or by issuing Notes (rounded up to the nearest $1.00) (‘‘PIK Interest’’) under the Indenture, with any additional Notes issued having the same terms and conditions as the Notes (in each case, a ‘‘PIK Payment’’). PIK Interest on the Notes will accrue at a rate of (i) 1.0% per annum for the period from March 30, 2014 through and including March 30, 2015, (ii) 2.0% per annum for the period from March 30, 2015 through and including March 30, 2016, (iii) 3.0% per annum for the period from March 30, 2016 through and including March 30, 2017 and (iv) 4.0% per annum for the period from March 30, 2017 through and including July 1, 2018 and be payable (x) with respect to Notes represented by one or more global notes registered in the name of, or held by, The Depository Trust Company (‘‘DTC’’) or its nominee on the relevant record date, by increasing the principal amount of the outstanding global Note by an amount equal to the amount of PIK Interest for the applicable interest period (rounded up to the nearest whole dollar) and (y) with respect to Notes represented by certificated notes, by issuing Notes in certificated form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the amount of PIK Interest for the applicable period (rounded up to the nearest whole dollar), and the Trustee will, at the request of the Issuers, authenticate and deliver such Notes in certificated form for original issuance to the Holders on the relevant record date, as shown by the records of the register of Holders. Following an increase in the principal amount of the outstanding global Notes as a result of a PIK Payment, the global Notes will bear interest on such increased principal amount from and after the date of such PIK Payment. Any Notes issued in certificated form will be dated as of the applicable interest payment date and will bear interest from and after such date. All Notes issued pursuant to a PIK Payment will mature on July 1, 2018 and will be governed by, and subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of, the Indenture and shall have the same rights and benefits as the Notes issued on the Issue Date. Any certificated Notes will be issued with the description PIK on the face of such Note, and references to the ‘‘principal amount’’ of the Notes shall include any increase in the principal amount of the outstanding Notes as a result of any PIK Payment.
The calculation of PIK Interest will be made by the Issuers or on behalf of the Issuers by such Person as the Issuers shall designate, and such calculation and the correctness thereof shall not be a duty or obligation of the Trustee.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the payment of accrued interest (including interest that would be PIK Interest when paid) in connection with any redemption of Notes as described under “—Optional Redemption” or ‘‘Repurchase at the Option of Holders’’ shall be made solely in cash.
If the Notes would otherwise constitute “applicable high yield discount obligations” within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), at the end of the first “accrual period” (as defined in Section 1272(a)(5) of the Code) ending after the fifth anniversary of the outstanding notes’ issuance (the “AHYDO redemption date”), the Issuers will be required to redeem for cash a portion of each Note then outstanding equal to the “Mandatory Principal Redemption Amount” (each such redemption, a “Mandatory
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Principal Redemption”). The redemption price for the portion of each Note redeemed pursuant to any Mandatory Principal Redemption will be 100% of the principal amount of such portion plus any accrued interest thereon on the date of redemption. “Mandatory Principal Redemption Amount” means, as of the AHYDO redemption date, the portion of a Note required to be redeemed to prevent such Note from being treated as an “applicable high yield discount obligation” within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Code. No partial redemption or repurchase of the Notes prior to the AHYDO redemption date pursuant to any other provision of the Indenture will alter the Issuers’ obligation to make any Mandatory Principal Redemption with respect to any Notes that remain outstanding on the AHYDO redemption date.
Subject to the payment of PIK Interest, the Notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof. PIK Interest on the Notes will be paid in denominations of $1.00 and integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof.
Additional Notes
Subject to compliance with the covenant described below under the caption “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock,” the Issuers may issue additional Notes (“Additional Notes”) from time to time after this offering under the Indenture. The Notes issued under the Indenture, any additional Notes issued as a PIK Payment and any Additional Notes subsequently issued under such Indenture will be part of the same issue of Notes offered hereby and will be treated as a single class with the Notes for all purposes under the Indenture, including waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase; provided that if the Additional Notes are not fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes with the Notes previously issued under the Indenture, the Additional Notes will have a separate CUSIP number. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “Notes” for all purposes of the Indenture and this “Description of Notes” include any Additional Notes that are actually issued.
Payment of Principal and Interest
Principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes will be payable at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose within Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania or, at the option of the Issuers, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders of the Notes at their respective addresses set forth in the register of Holders;provided that all payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to the Notes represented by one or more global notes registered in the name of or held by DTC or its nominee will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holder or Holders thereof. Until otherwise designated by the Issuers, the Issuers’ office or agency in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania will be the office of the Trustee maintained for such purpose.
Mandatory Redemption; Offers to Purchase; Open Market Purchases
Except with respect to a Mandatory Principal Redemption described above under “Principal, Maturity and Interest,” the Issuers are not required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. However, under certain circumstances, the Issuers may be required to offer to purchase Notes as described under the caption “Repurchase at the Option of Holders.” We may at any time and from time to time purchase Notes in the open market or otherwise.
Optional Redemption
General
At any time prior to March 30, 2014 the Issuers may redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to the registered address of each Holder, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the Notes, plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to, the date of redemption (the “Redemption Date”), subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.
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On and after March 30, 2014 the Issuers may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first class mail to the registered address of each Holder, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on March 30 of each of the years indicated below:
Year | Percentage | |||
2014 | 107.50 | % | ||
2015 | 107.50 | % | ||
2016 | 110.00 | % | ||
2017 and thereafter | 113.00 | % |
Upon Certain Equity Offerings
In addition, until March 30, 2014, the Issuers may (except in connection with a Change of Control), at their option, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued by them at a redemption price equal to 115% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon and Additional Interest, if any, to the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of Notes of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings, other than net cash proceeds of Equity Offerings to Affiliates; provided that at least 65% of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under the Indenture and any Additional Notes that are Notes issued under the Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; provided further that each such redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.
Notice of any redemption upon any Equity Offering may be given prior to the redemption thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Issuers’ discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of the related Equity Offering.
The Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased in the manner described under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Selection and Notice.”
Repurchase at the Option of Holders
Change of Control
The Indenture will provide that if a Change of Control occurs, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently mailed a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes issued under such Indenture as described under “Optional Redemption,” the Issuers will make an offer to purchase all of the Notes issued under such Indenture pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at a price in cash (the “Change of Control Payment”) equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of purchase, subject to the right of Holders of the Notes of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date. Within 30 days following any Change of Control in the case of the Notes, the Issuers will send notice of such Change of Control Offer by first-class mail, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the security register with a copy to the Trustee, with the following information:
(1) that a Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to the covenant entitled “Change of Control,” and that all Notes properly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer will be accepted for payment by the Issuers;
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(2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which will be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”);
(3) that any Note not properly tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest;
(4) that unless the Issuers default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest on the Change of Control Payment Date;
(5) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender such Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of such Notes completed, to the paying agent specified in the notice at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;
(6) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their tendered Notes and their election to require the Issuers to purchase such Notes, provided that the paying agent receives, not later than the close of business on the 30th day following the date of the Change of Control notice, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder of the Notes, the principal amount of Notes tendered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its tendered Notes and its election to have such Notes purchased;
(7) that if the Issuers are redeeming less than all of the Notes, the Holders of the remaining Notes will be issued new Notes and such new Notes will be equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered. The unpurchased portion of the Notes must be equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof (and, if PIK Interest has been paid, in minimum denominations of $1.00 or an integral multiple of $1.00 in excess thereof); and
(8) the other instructions, as determined by the Issuers, consistent with the covenant described hereunder, that a Holder must follow.
The Issuers will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of the Indenture, the Issuers will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached their obligations described in the Indenture by virtue thereof.
On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Issuers will, to the extent permitted by law,
(1) accept for payment all Notes issued by them or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer,
(2) deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the aggregate Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered, and
(3) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes so accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating that such Notes or portions thereof have been tendered to and purchased by the Issuers.
The Senior Credit Facilities provide that certain change of control events with respect to the Issuers would constitute a default thereunder. If we experience a change of control that triggers a default under our Senior Credit Facilities, we could seek a waiver of such default or seek to refinance our Senior Credit Facilities. In the event we do not obtain such a waiver or refinance the Senior Credit Facilities, such default could result in amounts outstanding under our Senior Credit Facilities being declared due and payable.
Our ability to pay cash to the Holders of Notes following the occurrence of a Change of Control may be limited by our then-existing financial resources. Therefore, sufficient funds may not be available when necessary to make any required repurchases.
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The Change of Control purchase feature of the Notes may in certain circumstances make more difficult or discourage a sale or takeover of us and, thus, the removal of incumbent management. The Change of Control purchase feature is a result of negotiations between the Dealer Managers and the Issuers. After the Issue Date, we have no present intention to engage in a transaction involving a Change of Control, although it is possible that we could decide to do so in the future. Subject to the limitations discussed below, we could, in the future, enter into certain transactions, including acquisitions, refinancings or other recapitalizations, that would not constitute a Change of Control under the Indenture, but that could increase the amount of indebtedness outstanding at such time or otherwise affect our capital structure or credit ratings. Restrictions on our ability to incur additional Indebtedness are contained in the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock.” Such restrictions in the Indenture can be waived only with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of then outstanding Notes issued under such Indenture. Except for the limitations contained in such covenants, however, the Indenture will not contain any covenants or provisions that may afford Holders of the Notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction.
We will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuers and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditional upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of the making of the Change of Control Offer.
The definition of “Change of Control” includes a disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any Person. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, in certain circumstances there may be a degree of uncertainty as to whether a particular transaction would involve a disposition of “all or substantially all” of the assets of the Company. As a result, it may be unclear as to whether a Change of Control has occurred and whether a Holder of Notes may require the Issuers to make an offer to repurchase the Notes as described above.
The provisions under the Indenture relative to the Issuers’ obligation to make an offer to repurchase the Notes as a result of a Change of Control may be waived or modified with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes issued thereunder.
Asset Sales
The Indenture will provide that the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to consummate an Asset Sale, unless:
(1) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of; and
(2) except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents;provided, however,that, for purposes of this provision and for no other purpose, each of the following shall be deemed to be cash:
(a) any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto) of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes issued under such Indenture or, in the case of liabilities of a Guarantor, the Guarantee of such Guarantor, that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets and for
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which the Company and all of its Restricted Subsidiaries have been validly released by all creditors in writing,
(b) any securities received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received) within 180 days following the closing of such Asset Sale, and
(c) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (c) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed 3.0% of Total Assets at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value.
Within 450 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, at its option, may apply the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale,
(1) to permanently reduce:
(a) any Secured Indebtedness (and to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto);
(b) Obligations under Indebtedness rankingpari passu with such Notes (and to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto) or reduce Obligations under such Notes as provided under “Optional Redemption,” through open-market purchases (to the extent such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof) or by making an Asset Sale Offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below);provided that in the case of a reduction of Obligations other than under the Notes the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to equally and ratably reduce Obligations under such Notes as provided under “Optional Redemption,” through open market purchases (to the extent such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof), or
(c) with respect to assets of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor, the Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary, other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary,
(2) to make (a) an Investment in any one or more businesses, provided that such Investment in any business is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock and results in the Company or another of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, owning an amount of the Capital Stock of such business such that it constitutes a Restricted Subsidiary, (b) capital expenditures or (c) acquisitions of other assets, in each of (a), (b) and (c), used or useful in a Similar Business, or
(3) to make an investment in (a) any one or more businesses, provided that such Investment in any business is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock and results in the Company or another of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, owning an amount of the Capital Stock of such business such that it constitutes a Restricted Subsidiary, (b) properties or (c) acquisitions of other assets that, in each of (a), (b) and (c), replace the businesses, properties and/or assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale;
provided that, in the case of clauses (2) and (3) above, a binding commitment shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date of such commitment so long as the Company, or such other Restricted Subsidiary enters into such commitment with the good faith expectation that such Net Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment within 180 days of such commitment (an “Acceptable Commitment”);provided further that if any Acceptable Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are applied, then such Net Proceeds shall constitute Excess Proceeds.
Any Net Proceeds from the Asset Sale that are not invested or applied as provided and within the time period set forth in the first sentence of the preceding paragraph will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.”
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When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $25.0 million, the Issuers shall make an offer to all Holders of the Notes issued under such Indenture and, if required by the terms of any Indebtedness that ispari passu with such Notes (“Pari Passu Indebtedness”), to the holders of such Pari Passu Indebtedness (an “Asset Sale Offer”), to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of the Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness that is an integral multiple of $1,000 (but in minimum amounts of $2,000) that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. The Issuers will commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within ten Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $25.0 million by mailing the notice required pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee.
The Indenture will provide that, to the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes, subject to other covenants contained in such Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture or the Pari Passu Indebtedness surrendered by such holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the accreted value or principal amount of the Notes or such Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered. Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds under the Indenture shall be reset at zero. Additionally, the Issuers, at their option, may make an Asset Sale Offer using proceeds from any Asset Sale at any time after consummation of such Asset Sale. Upon consummation of such Asset Sale Offer, any Net Proceeds not required to be used to purchase Notes shall not be deemed Excess Proceeds.
Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds pursuant to this covenant, the holder of such Net Proceeds may apply such Net Proceeds temporarily to reduce Indebtedness outstanding under a revolving credit facility or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by the Indenture.
The Issuers will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of the Indenture, the Issuers will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in the Indenture by virtue thereof.
Selection and Notice
If the Issuers are redeeming less than all of the Notes issued by them under the Indenture at any time, the Trustee will select the Notes to be redeemed (a) if the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Notes are listed or (b) on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable, by lot, in compliance with the requirements of DTC, or by such other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate.
Notices of purchase or redemption shall be mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the purchase or redemption date to each Holder of Notes under the Indenture at such Holder’s registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture. If any Note is to be purchased or redeemed in part only, any notice of purchase or redemption that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof that has been or is to be purchased or redeemed.
The Issuers will issue a new Note of the same series in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note in the name of the Holder upon cancellation of the original Note. Notes called for redemption
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become due on the date fixed for redemption. On and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of them called for redemption.
Certain Covenants
Set forth below are summaries of certain covenants contained in the Indenture. During any period of time that: (i) the Notes issued under the Indenture have Investment Grade Ratings from both Rating Agencies and (ii) no Default has occurred and is continuing under such Indenture (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being collectively referred to as a “Covenant Suspension Event”), the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to the following covenants (the “Suspended Covenants”):
(1) “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales”;
(2) “—Limitation on Restricted Payments”;
(3) “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”;
(4) clause (4) of the first paragraph of “—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets— The Company”;
(5) “—Transactions with Affiliates”;
(6) “—Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries”;
(7) “—Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries”; and
(8) “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control.”
In the event that the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants under such Indenture for any period of time as a result of the foregoing, and on any subsequent date (the “Reversion Date”) one or both of the Rating Agencies withdraw their Investment Grade Rating or downgrade the rating assigned to the Notes below an Investment Grade Rating, then the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants under such Indenture with respect to future events. The period of time between the suspension of the Suspended Covenants and the Reversion Date is referred to in this description as the “Suspension Period.” The Guarantees of the Guarantors will be suspended during the Suspension Period. Additionally, upon the occurrence of a Covenant Suspension Event, the amount of Excess Proceeds from Net Proceeds shall be reset at zero.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of any such reinstatement, no action taken or omitted to be taken by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries prior to such reinstatement will give rise to a Default or Event of Default under the Indenture with respect to Notes;provided that (1) with respect to Restricted Payments made after any such reinstatement, the amount of Restricted Payments made will be calculated as though the covenant described above under the caption “—Limitation on Restricted Payments” had been in effect prior to, but not during the Suspension Periodprovided that any Subsidiaries designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries during the Suspension Period shall automatically become Restricted Subsidiaries on the Reversion Date (subject to the Company’s right to subsequently designate them as Unrestricted in compliance with the covenants set out below) and (2) all Indebtedness incurred, or Disqualified Stock issued, during the Suspension Period will be classified to have been incurred or issued pursuant to clause (3) of the second paragraph of “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock.”
There can be no assurance that the Notes will ever achieve or maintain Investment Grade Ratings.
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Limitation on Restricted Payments
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:
(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any payment or distribution on account of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests, including any dividend or distribution payable in connection with any merger or consolidation, other than:
(a) dividends or distributions by the Company payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; or
(b) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, a majority of such class is owned by the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary and the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities;
(2) purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company, including in connection with any merger or consolidation;
(3) make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, in each case, prior to any scheduled repayment, sinking fund payment or maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness, other than:
(a) Indebtedness permitted under clauses (7) and (8) of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”; or
(b) the purchase, repurchase or other acquisition of Subordinated Indebtedness purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of purchase, repurchase or acquisition; or
(4) make any Restricted Investment
(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”).
The foregoing provisions will not prohibit:
(1) the payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of the Indenture;
(2) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“Treasury Capital Stock”) or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuers or any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company to the extent contributed to the Company as common equity (in each case, other than any Disqualified Stock) (“Refunding Capital Stock”);
(3) the redemption, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuers or a Guarantor made in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, new Indebtedness of the Issuers or a Guarantor, as the case may be, which is incurred in compliance with “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” so long as:
(a) the principal amount or accreted value of such new Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of (or accreted value, if applicable), plus any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Subordinated
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Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired for value, plus the amount of any reasonable premium to be paid (including reasonable tender premiums) and any reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness;
(b) such new Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or the applicable Guarantee issued under such Indenture at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness so purchased, exchanged, redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired for value;
(c) such new Indebtedness has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired; and
(d) such new Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired;
(4) a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies held by any future, present or former employee, director or consultant of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement;provided,however, that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (4) do not exceed in any calendar year $10.0 million (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum (without giving effect to the following proviso) of $20.0 million in any calendar year);provided further that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:
(a) the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company and, to the extent contributed to the Company as equity (other than Disqualified Stock), Equity Interests of any of the Company’s direct or indirect parent companies, in each case to members of management, directors or consultants of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies that occurs after the Issue Date, to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments;plus
(b) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date;less
(c) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clauses (a) and (b) of this clause (4);
andprovided further that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from members of management of the Company, any of the Company’s direct or indirect parent companies or any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this covenant or any other provision of the Indenture;
(5) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in accordance with the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of “Fixed Charges”;
(6) Investments (“Permitted Student Loan Investments”) made by the Company or any Guarantor consisting of the purchase (other than from an Affiliate) of student loans;provided, however,that (i) the aggregate Investments made under this clause (6) do not exceed in any calendar year $200.0 million and do not in the aggregate exceed $425.0 million at any one time outstanding, (ii) such Investments shall continue to be held by the Company or a Guarantor until transferred to a party that is not an Affiliate of the Company or its Subsidiaries (provided that such transfer may be to an Affiliate of the Company or its Subsidiaries if such transfer is for cash
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and the Company complies with the Fairness Requirement with respect to such transaction), and (iii) any net cash proceeds from a disposition, sale, factoring, securitization or similar monetization transaction relating to such Permitted Student Loan Investments shall be applied as if they were Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, in accordance with “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales”;
(7) Investments having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (7) that are at the time outstanding, without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash or marketable securities, not to exceed 2.5% of Total Assets at the time of such Investment (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);
(8) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;
(9) any Investment in a Similar Business having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed 1.5% of Total Assets at the time of such Investment (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);
(10) Restricted Payments that are made with Excluded Contributions;provided,to the extent that any such Restricted Payment is permitted to be made on the basis of any Excluded Contribution made in the form of Qualified Proceeds, such Restricted Payment shall be comprised of such Qualified Proceeds;
(11) [Reserved];
(12) [Reserved];
(13) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness in accordance with the provisions similar to those described under the captions “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control” and “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales”;provided that all Notes issued under the Indenture governing such Notes that are tendered by Holders in connection with a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as applicable, have been repurchased, redeemed or acquired for value; and
(14) the declaration and payment of dividends by the Company to, or the making of loans to, any direct or indirect parent in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent companies to pay, in each case without duplication,
(a) franchise taxes and other fees, taxes and expenses required to maintain their corporate existence;
(b) federal, state and local income taxes, to the extent such income taxes are attributable to the income of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and, to the extent of the amount actually received from its Unrestricted Subsidiaries, in amounts required to pay such taxes to the extent attributable to the income of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries; provided that in each case the amount of such payments in any fiscal year does not exceed the amount that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and its Unrestricted Subsidiaries (to the extent described above) would be required to pay in respect of federal, state and local taxes for such fiscal year were the Company, its Restricted Subsidiaries and its Unrestricted Subsidiaries (to the extent described above) to pay such taxes separately from any such parent entity;
(c) customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to officers and employees of any direct or indirect parent company of the Company to the extent such salaries, bonuses and other benefits are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(d) general corporate operating and overhead costs and expenses of any direct or indirect parent company of the Company to the extent such costs and expenses are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; and
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(e) fees and expenses, other than to Affiliates of the Company (it being understood that Goldman, Sachs & Co., shall not be deemed an Affiliate of the Company for this purpose solely as a result of the equity ownership of the Company’s direct or indirect parent by its Affiliates), related to any unsuccessful equity or debt offering of such parent entity.
provided,however, that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (6) (7), (9), (11) and (14), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.
As of the Issue Date, all of the Company’ Subsidiaries will be Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the last sentence of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investment.” Such designation will be permitted only if a Restricted Payment in such amount would be permitted at such time, whether pursuant to clause (6), (7), (9) or (10) of the second paragraph of this covenant, or pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments,” and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the restrictive covenants set forth in the Indenture.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not directly or indirectly make any Upstream Restricted Payment by means of Investments.
Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise (collectively, “incur” and collectively, an “incurrence”) with respect to any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) and the Company will not issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock.
The foregoing limitations will not apply to:
(1) (a) the incurrence of Indebtedness under Credit Facilities by the Company or any Guarantor and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof), up to an aggregate principal amount of $1,469.0, million outstanding at any one time, less principal payments actually made by the borrower thereunder in respect of Indebtedness thereunder with Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale (provided that no Indebtedness incurred under this clause (1)(a) may be issued in an exchange offer for outstanding Notes);
(b) the incurrence of Indebtedness under Credit Facilities by the Company or any Guarantor in the form of letters of credit of up to $200.0 million outstanding at any one time; and
(c) the incurrence of Indebtedness under Credit Facilities by the Company or any Guarantor in the form of letters of credit of up to $225.0 million outstanding at any one time (to the extent required by applicable regulatory requirements);
(2) the incurrence by the Company and any Guarantor of Indebtedness represented by the Notes (including (A) any increase in the principal amount of outstanding Notes as a result of the payment of PIK Interest or any issuance of additional Notes as a result of the payment of PIK Interest and (B) any Guarantee) (other than any Additional Notes) and any notes (including Guarantees thereof) issued in exchange for the Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement or similar agreement;
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(3) Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in existence on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (1) and (2));
(4) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations), Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, to finance the purchase, lease or improvement of property (real or personal) or equipment (other than software) that is used or useful in a Similar Business (in each case, other than from an Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, unless the Company complies with the Fairness Requirement with respect to such transaction), whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets, in an aggregate principal amount at the date of such incurrence (including all Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance any other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4)) not to exceed the greater of (x) $80.0 million and (y) 2.0% of Total Assets; provided, however, that such Indebtedness exists at the date of such purchase or transaction, or is created within 270 days thereafter (it being understood that any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (4) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (4) but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of the first paragraph of this covenant from and after the first date on which the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under the first paragraph of this covenant without reliance on this clause (4));
(5) Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business, including letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims;provided,however, that upon the drawing of such letters of credit or the incurrence of such Indebtedness, such obligations are reimbursed within 30 days following such drawing or incurrence;
(6) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or a Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;provided,however, that
(a) such Indebtedness is not reflected on the balance sheet of the Company, or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (contingent obligations referred to in a footnote to financial statements and not otherwise reflected on the balance sheet will not be deemed to be reflected on such balance sheet for purposes of this clause (6)(a)); and
(b) the maximum assumable liability in respect of all such Indebtedness shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds including non-cash proceeds (the fair market value of such non-cash proceeds being measured at the time received and without giving effect to any subsequent changes in value) actually received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition;
(7) Indebtedness of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary;provided that any such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes issued under such Indenture;provided further that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause;
(8) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary;provided that if a Guarantor incurs such Indebtedness to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor, such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Guarantee of the Notes of such Guarantor issued under such Indenture;provided further that any subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause;
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(9) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary,provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Company or another of its Restricted Subsidiaries) shall be deemed in each case to be an issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock not permitted by this clause;
(10) Hedging Obligations (excluding Hedging Obligations entered into for speculative purposes) for the purpose of limiting interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock,” exchange rate risk or commodity pricing risk;
(11) obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(12) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference, which when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred pursuant to this clause (12), does not at any one time outstanding exceed $50.0 million (it being understood that any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (12) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (12) but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of the first paragraph of this covenant from and after the first date on which the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under the first paragraph of this covenant without reliance on this clause (12));
(13) the incurrence or issuance by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock which serves to refund or refinance any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred as permitted under the first paragraph of this covenant and clauses (2), (3) and (4) above, this clause (13) and clause (14) below, including additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to pay premiums (including reasonable tender premiums), defeasance costs and fees in connection therewith (the “Refinancing Indebtedness”) prior to its respective maturity;provided,however, that such Refinancing Indebtedness:
(a) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred which is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being refunded or refinanced,
(b) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (i) Indebtedness subordinated orpari passu to the Notes issued under such Indenture or any Guarantee thereof, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated orpari passu to the Notes or the Guarantee at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness being refinanced or refunded or (ii) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness must be Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, respectively, and
(c) shall not include:
(i) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Company that is not an Issuer or a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company;
(ii) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Company, that is not an Issuer or a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Guarantor; or
(iii) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;
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(14) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of (x) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary incurred to finance an acquisition or (y) Persons that are acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of the Indenture;provided that after giving effect to such acquisition or merger, either:
(a) both (i) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on a consolidated basis for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00, determined on apro forma basis (including apro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom and consummation of such acquisition), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom and such acquisition had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period and (ii) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been not more than 3.25 to 1.00, determined on apro forma basis (including apro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom and consummation of such acquisition), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom and such acquisition had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period; or
(b) both (i) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries is greater than immediately prior to such acquisition or merger, and (ii) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries is lower than immediately prior to such acquisition or merger;
(15) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business,provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within two Business Days of its incurrence;
(16) Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries supported by a letter of credit issued pursuant to the Credit Facilities, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit;
(17) (a) any guarantee by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of any Restricted Subsidiary so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of the Indenture,
(b) any guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Companyprovided that such guarantee is incurred in accordance with the covenant described below under “—Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries”; or
(c) any incurrence by EM Finance of Indebtedness as a co-issuer of Indebtedness of the Company that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this covenant; and
(18) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries of the Company incurred not to exceed at any one time outstanding and together with any other Indebtedness incurred under this clause (18) 5.0% of the Total Assets of the Foreign Subsidiaries (it being understood that any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (18) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (18) but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of the first paragraph of this covenant from and after the first date on which the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred such Indebtedness under the first paragraph of this covenant without reliance on this clause (18)).
For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant:
(1) in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred
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Stock described in clauses (1) through (18) above or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, the Company, in its sole discretion, will classify or reclassify such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in one of the above clauses; and
(2) at the time of incurrence, the Company will be entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in the first and second paragraphs above;
provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Facilities on the Issue Date will be treated as incurred on the Issue Date under clause (1)(a) or (1)(b) of the preceding paragraph.
Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this covenant but will be included as Fixed Charges.
For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit debt;provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced.
The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.
Liens
(A) The Company will not, and will not permit the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien (except Permitted Liens), on any asset or property of the Company, the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor, or any income or profits therefrom, or assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom, and (B) no Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor) will, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien (except Permitted Liens), on any asset or property of such Restricted Subsidiary (excluding accounts receivable), or any income or profits therefrom, or assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom, in each case, in support of Indebtedness of either Issuer or any Guarantor, other than in respect of cash in connection with letters of credit issued pursuant to clause (1)(b) or (1)(c) of the second paragraph of “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”), unless, in the case of either (A) or (B):
(1) in the case of Liens securing Subordinated Indebtedness or other Indebtedness that is subordinated or junior in right of payment to the Notes and related Guarantees, the Notes and related Guarantees are secured by a Lien on such property, assets or proceeds that is senior in priority to such Liens; or
(2) in all other cases, the Notes or the Guarantees are equally and ratably secured, except that the foregoing shall not apply to Liens securing the Notes and the related Guarantees.
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Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets
The Company
The Company may not consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Company is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:
(1) the Company is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Company”);
(2) the Successor Company, if other than the Company, expressly assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes issued under the indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;
(3) immediately after such transaction, no Default exists;
(4) immediately after givingpro forma effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions, as if such transactions had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period,
(a) (i) the Successor Company’s Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on a consolidated basis for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which the transactions occur would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00, had such transactions occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period and (ii) in the event that after consummation of such transactions, the Successor Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would have obligations of Indebtedness in excess of the obligations in respect of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately before consummation of the transactions, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such transactions occur would have been not more than 3.25 to 1.00, had such transactions occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period, or
(b) (i) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Successor Company, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction, and (ii) in the event that after consummation of such transactions, the Successor Company would have obligations in respect of Indebtedness in excess of the obligations in respect of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately before consummation of the transactions, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be less than such Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction;
(5) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, in which case clause (b) of the second succeeding paragraph shall apply, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations under the Indenture, the Notes and the Registration Rights Agreement; and
(6) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with the Indenture.
The Successor Company will succeed to, and be substituted for the Company, under the Indenture, the Guarantees and the Notes, as applicable.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (3) and (4),
(1) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with or merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Company, and
(2) the Company may merge with an Affiliate of the Company, solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in the United States or any State thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuers and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby.
Guarantors
Subject to certain limitations described in the Indenture governing release of a Guarantee upon the sale, disposition or transfer of a guarantor, no Guarantor (other than Parent) will, and the Company will not permit any Guarantor (other than Parent) to, consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Company or Guarantor is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:
(1) (a) such Guarantor is the surviving corporation or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Guarantor, as the case may be, or the laws of the United States, any State thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Guarantor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Person”);
(b) the Successor Person, if other than such Guarantor, expressly assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor under the Indenture and such Guarantor’s related Guarantees pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;
(c) immediately after such transaction, no Default exists; and
(d) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with the Indenture; or
(2) the transaction is made in compliance with the covenant described under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales.”
Subject to certain limitations described in the Indenture, the Successor Person will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Guarantor under the Indenture and such Guarantor’s Guarantees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Guarantor may merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to another Guarantor or the Company.
EM Finance
EM Finance shall not consolidate with, merge into, sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its property and assets to, any Person, or permit any Person to merge with or into EM Finance unless:
(1) concurrently therewith, a corporate Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America or any jurisdiction thereof (which may be the continuing Person as a result of such transaction) shall expressly assume, by a supplemental Indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee, all of the obligations of an issuer under the Notes, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement; or
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(2) after giving effect thereto, at least one obligor on the Notes shall be a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America or any jurisdiction thereof; and
(3) immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing.
Transactions with Affiliates
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $5.0 million, unless:
(1) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not materially less favorable to the Company or its relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person on an arm’s-length basis; and
(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $10.0 million, a resolution adopted by the majority of the disinterested members of the board of directors of the Company approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (1) above.
The foregoing provisions will not apply to the following:
(1) transactions between or among the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(2) Restricted Payments permitted by the provisions of the Indenture described above under the covenant “—Limitation on Restricted Payments” and the definition of “Permitted Investments”;
(3) [reserved];
(4) the payment of reasonable and customary fees paid to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, officers, directors, employees or consultants of Issuers, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(5) transactions in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or stating that the terms are not materially less favorable to the Company or its relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person on an arm’s-length basis;
(6) any agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date, or any amendment thereto (so long as any such amendment is not disadvantageous to the Holders when taken as a whole as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect on the Issue Date);
(7) the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, any stockholders agreement (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Issue Date and any similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter;provided,however, that the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations under any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under
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any similar agreement entered into after the Issue Date shall only be permitted by this clause (6) to the extent that the terms of any such amendment or new agreement are not otherwise disadvantageous to the Holders when taken as a whole;
(8) [reserved];
(9) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of the Indenture which are fair to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the board of directors of the Company or the senior management thereof, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;
(10) the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to any Permitted Holder or to any director, officer, employee or consultant;
(11) payments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to any of the Investors (or their Affiliates) made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities, including, without limitation, in connection with acquisitions or divestitures which payments are approved by a majority of the board of directors of the Company in good faith;
(12) payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to employees or consultants of the Company, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and employment agreements, stock option plans and other similar arrangements with such employees or consultants which, in each case, are approved by the Company in good faith; and
(13) investments by the Investors in securities of the Issuers or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries so long as (i) the investment is being offered generally to other investors on the same or more favorable terms and (ii) the investment constitutes less than 5% of the proposed or outstanding issue amount of such class of securities.
Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any such Restricted Subsidiary to:
(1) (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or
(b) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(2) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or
(3) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Issuers or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, except (in each case) for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:
(a) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date, including pursuant to the Senior Credit Facilities and the related documentation;
(b) the Indenture and the Notes;
(c) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in clause (3) above on the property so acquired;
(d) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;
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(e) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in existence at the time of such acquisition (but not created in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired;
(f) contracts for the sale of assets, including customary restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary;
(g) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to the covenants described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” and “—Liens” that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;
(h) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(i) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries or other Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors permitted to be incurred subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to the provisions of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”;
(j) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements relating solely to such joint venture;
(k) customary provisions contained in leases or licenses of intellectual property and other agreements, in each case, entered into in the ordinary course of business; and
(l) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (1), (2) and (3) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (a) through (k) above;provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Issuers, no more restrictive with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions taken as a whole than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.
Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries
The Company will not permit any of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries (and non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries if such non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries guarantee other capital markets debt securities), other than EM Finance, a Guarantor or a Foreign Subsidiary guaranteeing Indebtedness of another Foreign Subsidiary, to guarantee the payment of any Indebtedness of the Issuers or any other Guarantor unless:
(1) such Restricted Subsidiary within 30 days executes and delivers a supplemental indenture to the Indenture providing for a Guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary, except that with respect to a guarantee of Indebtedness of the Company, the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor:
(a) if the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee are subordinated in right of payment to such Indebtedness, the Guarantee under the supplemental indenture shall be subordinated to such Restricted Subsidiary’s guarantee with respect to such Indebtedness substantially to the same extent as the Notes are subordinated to such Indebtedness; and
(b) if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes issued under such Indenture, or such Guarantor’s Guarantee, any such guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to such Guarantee substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes; and
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(2) such Restricted Subsidiary waives and will not in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any rights of reimbursement, indemnity or subrogation or any other rights against the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary as a result of any payment by such Restricted Subsidiary under its Guarantee; and
provided that this covenant shall not be applicable to any guarantee of any Restricted Subsidiary that existed at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary and was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary.
Reports and Other Information
Notwithstanding that the Parent may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise report on an annual and quarterly basis on forms provided for such annual and quarterly reporting pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, the Indenture will require the Parent to file with the SEC (and make available to the Trustee and Holders of the Notes (without exhibits), without cost to any Holder, within 15 days after it files them with the SEC) from and after the Issue Date,
(1) within 90 days (or any other time period then in effect under the rules and regulations of the Exchange Act with respect to the filing of a Form 10-K by a non-accelerated filer) after the end of each fiscal year, annual reports on Form 10-K, or any successor or comparable form, containing the information required to be contained therein, or required in such successor or comparable form;
(2) within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, reports on Form 10-Q containing all quarterly information that would be required to be contained in Form 10-Q, or any successor or comparable form;
(3) promptly from time to time after the occurrence of an event required to be therein reported, such other reports on Form 8-K, or any successor or comparable form; and
(4) any other information, documents and other reports which the Parent would be required to file with the SEC if it were subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;
in each case, in a manner that complies in all material respects with the requirements specified in such form;providedthat the Parent shall not be so obligated to file such reports with the SEC if the SEC does not permit such filing, in which event the Parent will make available such information to prospective purchasers of Notes, in addition to providing such information to the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes, in each case within 15 days after the time the Parent would be required to file such information with the SEC, if it were subject to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. In addition, to the extent not satisfied by the foregoing, the Issuers will agree that, for so long as any Notes are outstanding, it will furnish to Holders and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.
In the event that any direct or indirect parent company of Parent is a guarantor of the Notes, the Indenture will permit the Parent to satisfy its obligations in this covenant with respect to financial information relating to the Parent by furnishing financial information relating to such parent;provided that the same is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such parent, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a stand-alone basis, on the other hand.
Limitation on Business Activities of EM Finance
EM Finance may not hold any assets, become liable for any obligations or engage in any business activities;provided that it may be a co-obligor with respect to the Notes or any other Indebtedness issued by the Company,
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and may engage in any activities directly related thereto or necessary in connection therewith. EM Finance shall be a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Company at all times.
Events of Default and Remedies
The Indenture will provide that each of the following is an Event of Default:
(1) default in payment when due and payable, upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise, of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes issued under such Indenture;
(2) default for 30 days or more in the payment when due of interest or Additional Interest on or with respect to the Notes issued under such Indenture;
(3) failure by the Issuers or any Guarantor for 60 days after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes issued under such Indenture to comply with any of its obligations, covenants or agreements (other than a default referred to in clauses (1) and (2) above) contained in the Indenture or the Notes issued thereunder;
(4) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there is issued or by which there is secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the issuance of the Notes, if both:
(a) such default either results from the failure to pay any principal of such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) or relates to an obligation other than the obligation to pay principal of any such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity and results in the holder or holders of such Indebtedness causing such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; and
(b) the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregate $50.0 million or more at any one time outstanding;
(5) failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $50.0 million, which final judgments remain unpaid, undischarged and unstayed for a period of more than 60 days after such judgment becomes final, and in the event such judgment is covered by insurance, an enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree which is not promptly stayed;
(6) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any Significant Subsidiary; or
(7) the Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary shall for any reason cease to be in full force and effect or be declared null and void or any responsible officer of any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary, as the case may be, denies that it has any further liability under its Guarantee or gives notice to such effect, other than by reason of the termination of such Indenture or the release of any such Guarantee in accordance with such Indenture.
If any Event of Default (other than of a type specified in clause (6) above) occurs and is continuing under an Indenture, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes issued thereunder may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Notes issued thereunder to be due and payable immediately.
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Upon the effectiveness of such declaration, such principal and interest will be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising under clause (6) of the first paragraph of this section with respect to the Company, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. The Indenture will provide that the Trustee may withhold from the Holders notice of any continuing Default, except a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. In addition, the Trustee shall have no obligation to accelerate the Notes if in the best judgment of the Trustee acceleration is not in the best interest of the Holders of the Notes.
The Indenture provides that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes issued thereunder by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default and its consequences under such Indenture except a continuing Default in the payment of interest on, premium, if any, or the principal of any Note held by a non-consenting Holder. In the event of any Event of Default specified in clause (4) above, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding any resulting payment default, other than as a result of acceleration of the Notes) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose:
(1) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged; or
(2) holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default; or
(3) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured.
Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee thereunder, in case an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of the Notes issued thereunder unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no Holder of a Note may pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or the Notes unless:
(1) such Holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing;
(2) Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the total outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(3) Holders of the Notes have offered the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense;
(4) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt thereof and the offer of security or indemnity; and
(5) Holders of a majority in principal amount of the total outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.
Subject to certain restrictions, under the Indenture the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the total outstanding Notes issued thereunder are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder of a Note or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability.
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The Indenture will provide that the Issuers are required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with such Indenture, and the Issuers are required, within 30 days, upon becoming aware of any Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default.
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders
No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member or stockholder of the Issuers or any Guarantor or any of their parent companies shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.
Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
The obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors under the Indenture will terminate (other than certain obligations) and will be released upon payment in full of all of the Notes issued thereunder. The Issuers may, at their option and at any time, elect to have all of their obligations discharged with respect to the Notes and have each Guarantor’s obligation discharged with respect to its Guarantee of such Notes (“Legal Defeasance”) and cure all then existing Events of Default except for:
(1) the rights of Holders of the Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Notes when such payments are due solely out of the trust created pursuant to the Indenture;
(2) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of such Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;
(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee, and the Issuers’ obligations in connection therewith; and
(4) the Legal Defeasance provisions of the Indenture.
In addition, the Issuers may, at their option and at any time, elect to have their obligations and those of each Guarantor released with respect to substantially all the restrictive covenants that are described in the Indenture (“Covenant Defeasance”) and thereafter any omission to comply with such obligations shall not constitute a Default with respect to the Notes issued thereunder. In the event Covenant Defeasance occurs with respect to the Indenture, certain events (not including bankruptcy, receivership, rehabilitation and insolvency events pertaining to the Issuers) described under “Events of Default and Remedies” will no longer constitute an Event of Default with respect to the Notes issued thereunder.
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to the Notes:
(1) the Issuers must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in U.S. dollars, Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest due on such Notes on the stated maturity date or on the redemption date, as the case may be, of such principal, premium, if any, or interest on such Notes and the Issuers must specify whether such Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date;
(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions,
(a) the Issuers have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or
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(b) since the issuance of the Notes, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law,
in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(4) no Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and the granting of Liens in connection therewith) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;
(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the Senior Credit Facilities or any other material agreement or instrument (other than the Indenture) to which, the Issuers or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuers or any Guarantor is bound;
(6) the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and subject to customary assumptions and exclusions following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of Section 547 of Title 11 of the United States Code;
(7) the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuers with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Issuers or any Guarantor or others; and
(8) the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.
Satisfaction and Discharge
The Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued thereunder, when either:
(1) all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered under such Indenture, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(2) (a) all Notes issued under such Indenture not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise, will become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuers and the Issuers or any Guarantor have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes issued under such Indenture, cash in U.S. dollars, Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes issued under such
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Indenture not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption;
(b) no Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit) with respect to the Indenture or the Notes issued thereunder shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the Senior Credit Facilities or any other material agreement or instrument (other than the Indenture) to which the Issuers or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuers or any Guarantor is bound;
(c) the Issuers have paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under the Indenture; and
(d) the Issuers have delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes issued under such Indenture at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be.
In addition, the Issuers must deliver an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.
Amendment, Supplement and Waiver
Except as provided in the next two succeeding paragraphs, the Indenture, the Notes issued thereunder and any Guarantee may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes issued thereunder then outstanding, including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, such Notes, and any existing Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes issued thereunder may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes issued thereunder, other than Notes beneficially owned by the Issuers or their Affiliates (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of or tender offer or exchange offer for the applicable Notes).
The Indenture will provide that, without the consent of each affected Holder of Notes issued thereunder, an amendment or waiver may not, with respect to any such Notes held by a non-consenting Holder:
(1) reduce the principal amount of such Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed final maturity of any such Note or alter or waive the provisions with respect to the redemption of such Notes (other than provisions relating to the covenants described above under the caption “Repurchase at the Option of Holders”);
(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any such Note;
(4) waive a Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Notes, except a rescission of acceleration of such Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration, or in respect of a covenant or provision contained in the Indenture or any Guarantee which cannot be amended or modified without the consent of all Holders of the Notes;
(5) make any such Note payable in money other than that stated therein;
(6) make any change in the provisions of the Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes issued thereunder;
(7) make any change in these amendment and waiver provisions;
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(8) impair the right of any Holder of such Notes to receive payment of principal of, or interest on such Holder’s applicable Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes;
(9) except as expressly permitted by the Indenture, modify the Guarantees of any Significant Subsidiary in any manner adverse to the Holders of the Notes issued thereunder; or
(10) subordinate the Notes or the Guarantees in right of payment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuers, any Guarantor (with respect to a Guarantee or the Indenture to which it is a party) and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture and any Guarantee or Notes without the consent of any Holder:
(1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency;
(2) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;
(3) to comply with the covenant relating to mergers, consolidations and sales of assets;
(4) to provide the assumption of the Issuers’ or any Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders;
(5) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder;
(6) to add covenants for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuers or any Guarantor;
(7) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under the Indenture of a successor Trustee thereunder pursuant to the requirements thereof;
(9) to provide for the issuance of exchange notes or private exchange notes, which are identical to exchange notes except that they are not freely transferable;
(10) to add a Guarantor under the Indenture;
(11) to conform the text of the Indenture, Guarantees or the Notes to any provision of this “Description of Notes” to the extent that such provision in this “Description of Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of such Indenture, Guarantee or Notes;
(12) to make any amendment to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by the Indenture, including, without limitation to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes;provided,however, that (i) compliance with the Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (ii) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes;
(13) to make any other modifications to the Notes or the Indenture of a formal, minor or technical nature or necessary to correct a manifest error, so long as such modification does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder of the Notes in any material respect; or
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(14) in the event that notes issued in connection with the payment of PIK Interest are issued in certificated form, to establish minimum redemption amounts for certificated PIK Interest notes.
The consent of the Holders is not necessary under the Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment.
Notices
Notices given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, will be deemed given five calendar days after mailing.
Concerning the Trustee
The Indenture will contain certain limitations on the rights of the Trustee thereunder, should it become a creditor of the Issuers, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The Trustee will be permitted to engage in other transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue or resign.
The Indenture will provide that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes issued thereunder will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee, subject to certain exceptions. The Indenture will provide that in case an Event of Default shall occur (which shall not be cured), the Trustee will be required, in the exercise of its power, to use the degree of care of a prudent person in the conduct of his own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request of any Holder of the Notes, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
Governing Law
The Indenture, the Notes and any Guarantee will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Certain Definitions
Set forth below are certain defined terms used in the Indenture. For purposes of the Indenture, unless otherwise specifically indicated, the term “consolidated” with respect to any Person refers to such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries, and excludes from such consolidation any Unrestricted Subsidiary as if such Unrestricted Subsidiary were not an Affiliate of such Person.
“Acquired Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person,
(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, including Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, and
(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.
“Additional Interest” means all additional interest then owing pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.
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“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.
“Applicable Premium” means, with respect to any Note on any Redemption Date, the greater of:
(1) 1.0% of the principal amount of such Note; and
(2) the excess, if any, of (a) the present value at such Redemption Date of (i) the redemption price of such Note at March 30, 2014 (each such redemption price being set forth in the table appearing above under the caption “Optional Redemption”), plus (ii) all required interest payments due on such Note through March 30, 2014 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the Redemption Date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points; over (b) the principal amount of such Note.
Calculation of the Applicable Premium will be made by the Issuers or on behalf of the Issuers by such Person as the Issuers shall designate, and such calculation and the correctness thereof shall not be a duty or obligation of the Trustee.
“Asset Sale” means:
(1) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of property or assets (including by way of a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction) of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (each referred to in this definition as a “disposition”); or
(2) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries issued in compliance with the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions;
in each case, other than:
(a) any disposition of Cash Equivalents or obsolete or worn out equipment in the ordinary course of business or any disposition of inventory or goods (or other assets) held for sale in the ordinary course of business;
(b) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in a manner permitted pursuant to the provisions described above under “Certain Covenants—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets” or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control pursuant to the Indenture;
(c) the making of any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under the covenant described above under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments”;
(d) any disposition of assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary in any transaction or series of transactions with an aggregate fair market value of less than $10.0 million;
(e) any disposition of property or assets or issuance of securities by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
(f) to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon) for use in a Similar Business;
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(g) the lease, assignment or sub-lease of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business;
(h) any issuance or sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;
(i) foreclosures on assets; and
(j) any financing transaction with respect to property built or acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, including Sale and Lease-Back Transactions and asset securitizations permitted by the Indenture.
“Business Day” means each day which is not a Legal Holiday.
“Capital Stock” means:
(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;
(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;
(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and
(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.
“Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP.
“Cash Equivalents” means:
(1) United States dollars;
(2) such local currencies held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from time to time in the ordinary course of business;
(3) securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government (or any agency or instrumentality thereof the securities of which are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of such government), with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;
(4) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $500.0 million in the case of U.S. banks and $100.0 million (or the U.S. dollar equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks;
(5) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (3) and (4) entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;
(6) commercial paper rated at least P-1 by Moody’s or at least A-1 by S&P and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof;
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(7) marketable short-term money market and similar securities having a rating of at least P-2 or A-2 from either Moody’s or S&P, respectively (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof;
(8) investment funds investing 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (7) above;
(9) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof having an Investment Grade Rating from either Moody’s or S&P with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;
(10) Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A2” or higher from Moody’s with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition; and
(11) Investments with average maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds rated AAA- (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or Aaa3 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cash Equivalents shall include amounts denominated in currencies other than those set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above,provided that such amounts are converted into any currency listed in clauses (1) and (2) as promptly as practicable and in any event within ten Business Days following the receipt of such amounts.
“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:
(1) the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than a Permitted Holder; or
(2) the Company becomes aware of (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), other than the Permitted Holders, in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of 50% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies holding directly or indirectly 100% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph under “General”;provided that when used in the context of determining the fair market value of an asset or liability under the Indenture, “Company” shall be deemed to mean the board of directors of the Company when the fair market value is equal to or in excess of $50.0 million (unless otherwise expressly stated).
“Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense” means with respect to any Person for any period, the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense, including the amortization of deferred financing fees of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, without duplication, the sum of:
(1) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such expense was deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income (including
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(a) amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par, (b) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit or bankers acceptances, (c) non-cash interest payments (but excluding any non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement in the mark to market valuation of Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP), (d) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations, and (e) net payments, if any, pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations with respect to Indebtedness, and excluding (v) accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities not constituting Indebtedness, (w) any expense resulting from the discounting of any Indebtedness in connection with the application of purchase accounting in connection with any acquisition, (x) any Additional Interest with respect to the Notes, (y) amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses, and (z) any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees; plus
(2) consolidated capitalized interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued; less
(3) interest income for such period.
For purposes of this definition, interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by such Person to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income, of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP;provided,however, that, without duplication,
(1) any after-tax effect of extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) or expenses (including relating to the Transaction to the extent incurred on or prior to June 30, 2007), severance, relocation costs and curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans and other restructuring costs, shall be excluded,
(2) the Net Income for such period shall not include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period,
(3) any after-tax effect of income (loss) from disposed or discontinued operations and any net after-tax gains or losses on disposal of disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations shall be excluded, and
(4) any after-tax effect of gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) attributable to asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business, as determined in good faith by the Company, shall be excluded,
(5) the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not a Subsidiary, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be excluded;provided that Consolidated Net Income of the Company shall be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments that are actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period,
(6) solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3)(a) of the first paragraph of “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments,” the Net Income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Guarantor) shall be excluded if the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination wholly permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule, or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, unless
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such restriction with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions has been legally waived,provided that Consolidated Net Income of the Company will be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein,
(7) effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries) in the property and equipment, software and other intangible assets, deferred revenue and debt line items in such Person’s consolidated financial statements pursuant to GAAP resulting from the application of purchase accounting in relation to the Transaction or any consummated acquisition or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, shall be excluded,
(8) any after-tax effect of income (loss) from the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments shall be excluded,
(9) any impairment charge or asset write-off, in each case, pursuant to GAAP and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP shall be excluded,
(10) any non-cash compensation expense recorded from grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights shall be excluded, and
(11) accruals and reserves that are established within twelve months after June 1, 2006 that are so required to be established as a result of the Transaction in accordance with GAAP shall be excluded.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments” only (other than clause (3)(d) thereof), there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any income arising from any sale or other disposition of Restricted Investments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any repurchases and redemptions of Restricted Investments from the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any repayments of loans and advances which constitute Restricted Investments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, any sale of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any distribution or dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary, in each case only to the extent such amounts increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under such covenant pursuant to clause (3)(d) thereof.
“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means the total amount of assets (less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items and excluding the amount of any Excluded Contributions) after deducting (i) all current liabilities (excluding the amount of those which are by their terms extendable or renewable at the option of the obligor to a date more than 12 months after the date as of which the amount is being determined) and (2) all goodwill, tradenames, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and other intangible assets, all as set forth on the most recent balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries and determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Leverage Ratio” as of any date of determination means, the ratio of (1) Consolidated Total Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date (without giving effect to any repayments or prepayments of Indebtedness from the proceeds of Excluded Contributions) to (2) the Company’s EBITDA for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such event for which such calculation is being made shall occur, in each case with suchpro forma adjustments to Consolidated Total Indebtedness and EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with thepro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.
“Consolidated Total Indebtedness” means, as at any date of determination, an amount equal to the sum of (1) the aggregate amount of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a
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consolidated basis consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Obligations in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations and debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes and similar instruments (and any such Indebtedness of another Person guaranteed, or secured by a lien on any assets of, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) and (2) the aggregate amount of all outstanding Disqualified Stock of the Company and all Preferred Stock of its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, with the amount of such Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock equal to the greater of their respective voluntary or involuntary liquidation preferences and maximum fixed repurchase prices, in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP. For purposes hereof, the “maximum fixed repurchase price” of any Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock as if such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock were purchased on any date on which Consolidated Total Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to the Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the fair market value of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such fair market value shall be determined reasonably and in good faith by the Company.
“Contingent Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent,
(1) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor,
(2) to advance or supply funds
(a) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation, or
(b) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, or
(3) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.
“Credit Facilities” means, with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, one or more debt facilities, including the Senior Credit Facilities, or other financing arrangements (including, without limitation, commercial paper facilities or indentures) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit or other long-term indebtedness, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”) or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders.
“Dealer Managers” means Goldman, Sachs & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Barclays Capital Inc.
“Default” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Designated Non-cash Consideration” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated
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Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, executed by the principal financial officer of the Company, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of or collection on such Designated Non-cash Consideration.
“Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms, or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is putable or exchangeable, or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale) pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale), in whole or in part, in each case prior to the date 91 days after the earlier of the maturity date of the Notes issued under such Indenture or the date the Notes are no longer outstanding;provided,however, that if such Capital Stock is issued to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Company or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations.
“EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period
(1) increased (without duplication) by:
(a) provision for taxes based on income or profits or capital, including, without limitation, state, franchise and similar taxes (such as the Pennsylvania capital tax) and foreign withholding taxes of such Person paid or accrued during such period deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income;plus
(b) Fixed Charges of such Person for such period (including (x) net losses or Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk and (y) costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities, in each case, to the extent included in Fixed Charges) to the extent the same was deducted (and not added back) in calculating such Consolidated Net Income;plus
(c) Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense of such Person for such period to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income;plus
(d) any expenses or charges (other than depreciation or amortization expense) related to any Equity Offering, Permitted Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or the incurrence of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by the Indenture (including a refinancing thereof) (whether or not successful), including (i) such fees, expenses or charges related to the offering of the Notes and the Credit Facilities and (ii) any amendment or other modification of the Notes, and, in each case, deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income;plus
(e) the amount of any restructuring charge or reserve deducted (and not added back) in such period in computing Consolidated Net Income, including any one-time costs incurred in connection with acquisitions after the Issue Date and costs related to the closure and/or consolidation of facilities;plus
(f) any other non-cash charges, including any write offs or write downs, reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period (other than any such non-cash charges that represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period);plus
(g) the amount of any minority interest expense consisting of Subsidiary income attributable to minority equity interests of third parties in any non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary deducted (and not added back) in such period in calculating Consolidated Net Income;plus
(h) the amount of management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees and related expenses paid in such period to the Investors to the extent otherwise permitted under clause (3) of “Certain Covenants—Transactions with Affiliates”;plus
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(i) any costs or expense incurred by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement reducing Consolidated Net Income, to the extent that such cost or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Company as equity (other than Disqualified Stock) or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interest of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) solely to the extent that such net cash proceeds are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (3) of the first paragraph under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments” and the calculation set forth in clause (12) under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuances of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”; plus
(j) any fees and expenses incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, disposition, Investment, Asset Sale, issuance or repayment of Indebtedness, issuance of Equity Interests, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt instrument (in each case, including any such transaction consummated prior to the Issue Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed) and any charges or non-recurring merger costs incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction shall be excluded;
(2) decreased by (without duplication) non-cash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period, excluding any non-cash gains to the extent they represent the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced EBITDA in any prior period, and
(3) increased or decreased by (without duplication):
(a) any net gain or loss resulting in such period from Hedging Obligations and the application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133;plus orminus, as applicable,
(b) any net gain or loss resulting in such period from currency translation gains or losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net loss or gain resulting from hedge agreements for currency exchange risk).
“EMU” means economic and monetary union as contemplated in the Treaty on European Union.
“Equity Interests” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock, but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock.
“Equity Offering” means any public or private sale of common stock or Preferred Stock (excluding Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies to the extent contributed to the Company as common equity, other than:
(1) public offerings with respect to the Company’s or any direct or indirect parent company’s common stock registered on Form S-8;
(2) issuances to any Subsidiary of the Company; and
(3) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution.
“euro” means the single currency of participating member states of the EMU.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
“Excluded Contribution” means net cash proceeds, marketable securities or Qualified Proceeds received by the Company from
(1) contributions to its common equity capital, and
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(2) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company or to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Company) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company,
provided,that in the case of any Excluded Contribution relating to Qualified Proceeds, such contribution is designated as an Excluded Contributions pursuant to an officer’s certificate executed by the principal financial officer of the Company on the date such capital contributions are made.
“Fairness Requirement” means, with respect to any transaction or series of related transactions, (i) the Company obtaining from an Independent Financial Advisor a written opinion to the effect that such transaction or transactions are fair, from a financial point of view (or words of similar import) to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole and (ii) the Company otherwise is complying with the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Transactions with Affiliates.”
“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of EBITDA of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs, assumes, guarantees, redeems, retires, defeases 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) or issues or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated givingpro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, retirement, defeasance or extinguishment of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.
For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations and disposed operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP) that have been made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date shall be calculated on apro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations and disposed operations (and the change in any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation or disposed operation that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated givingpro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation or disposed operation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.
For purposes of this definition, wheneverpro forma effect is to be given to a transaction, thepro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being givenpro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on apro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period except as set forth in the first paragraph of this definition. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate,
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shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Company may designate.
“Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of:
(1) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period;
(2) all cash dividends or other distributions paid (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Preferred Stock during such period; and
(3) all dividends or other distributions accrued (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Disqualified Stock during such period.
“Foreign Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person that is not organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof, or the District of Columbia.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States which are in effect on the Issue Date.
“Government Securities” means securities that are:
(1) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged; or
(2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America,
which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuers thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such Government Securities or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Securities held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt;provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Securities or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Government Securities evidenced by such depository receipt.
“guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations.
“Guarantee” means the guarantee by any Guarantor of the Issuers’ Obligations under the Indenture.
“Guarantor” means Parent and each Restricted Subsidiary that Guarantees the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
“Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, commodity swap agreement, commodity cap agreement, commodity collar agreement, foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or similar agreement providing for the transfer or mitigation of interest rate or currency risks either generally or under specific contingencies.
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“Holder” means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the registrar’s books.
“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication:
(1) any indebtedness (including principal and premium) of such Person, whether or not contingent:
(a) in respect of borrowed money;
(b) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);
(c) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property (including Capitalized Lease Obligations), except (i) any such balance that constitutes a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor, in each case accrued in the ordinary course of business and (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP; or
(d) representing any Hedging Obligations;
if and to the extent that any of the foregoing Indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;
(2) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, on the obligations of the type referred to in clause (1) of a third Person (whether or not such items would appear upon the balance sheet of the such obligor or guarantor), other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business; and
(3) to the extent not otherwise included, the obligations of the type referred to in clause (1) of a third Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such first Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such first Person;
provided,however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business.
“Independent Financial Advisor” means an accounting, appraisal, investment banking firm or consultant to Persons engaged in Similar Businesses of nationally recognized standing that is, in the good faith judgment of the Company, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.
“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency.
“Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit, advances to customers, commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees, in each case made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet (excluding the footnotes) of the Company in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments”:
(1) “Investments” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Company at the time that such
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Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary;provided,however, that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount (if positive) equal to:
(a) the Company’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; less
(b) the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and
(2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its fair market value at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by the Company.
“Investors” means Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, Providence Equity Partners, Inc. and Leeds Equity Partners and each of their respective Affiliates but not including, however, any portfolio companies of any of the foregoing.
“Issue Date” means the date the Notes are issued initially upon settlement of the Exchange Offer.
“Issuers” has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph under “General”.
“Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banking institutions are not required to be open in the State of New York.
“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien (statutory or otherwise), pledge, hypothecation, charge, security interest, preference, priority or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction;provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor to its rating agency business.
“Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends.
“Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale, including any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale, net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, including legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and brokerage and sales commissions, any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on Secured Indebtedness required (other than required by clause (1) of the second paragraph of “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales”) to be paid as a result of such transaction and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after such sale or other disposition thereof, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction.
“Obligations” means any principal, interest (including any interest accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under applicable state, federal or foreign law),
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penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and banker’s acceptances), damages and other liabilities, and guarantees of payment of such principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities, payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the applicable Issuer, or any other applicable Person.
“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of each Issuer, or on behalf of any other applicable Person, by an Officer of such Issuer, or such applicable Person, who must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of such Issuer, or such applicable Person, that meets the requirements set forth in the Indenture.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuers or the Trustee.
“Permitted Asset Swap” means the concurrent purchase and sale or exchange of Related Business Assets or a combination of Related Business Assets and cash or Cash Equivalents between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person;provided, that any cash or Cash Equivalents received must be applied in accordance with the “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales” covenant.
“Permitted Holders” means each of the Investors and members of management of the Company (or its direct parent) who are holders of Equity Interests of the Company (or any of its direct or indirect parent companies) on the Issue Date and any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision) of which any of the foregoing are members;provided, that, in the case of such group and without giving effect to the existence of such group or any other group, such Investors and members of management, collectively, have beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies.
“Permitted Investments” means:
(1) any Investment in the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(2) any Investment in cash and Cash Equivalents;
(3) any Investment by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Person that is engaged in a Similar Business if as a result of such Investment:
(a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; or
(b) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary,
and, in each case, any Investment held by such Person;provided, that such Investment was not acquired by such Person in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, consolidation or transfer;
(4) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to the provisions of “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales” or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;
(5) any Investment existing on the Issue Date;
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(6) any Investment acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries:
(a) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable; or
(b) as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;
(7) Hedging Obligations permitted under clause (10) of the covenant described in “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”;
(8) [Reserved];
(9) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests (exclusive of Disqualified Stock) of the Company, or any of its direct or indirect parent companies;provided,however, that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3) of the first paragraph under the covenant described in “Certain Covenants—Limitations on Restricted Payments”;
(10) guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under the covenant described in “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”;
(11) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material or equipment;
(12) [Reserved];
(13) advances to, or guarantees of Indebtedness of, employees not in excess of $5.0 million outstanding at any one time, in the aggregate;
(14) loans and advances to officers, directors and employees for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses and other similar expenses, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practices or to fund such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company thereof; and
(15) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted and made in accordance with the provisions of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Transactions with Affiliates” (except transactions described in clauses (2), (6), (7) and (9) of such paragraph).
“Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:
(1) pledges or deposits by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(2) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;
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(3) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;
(4) Liens in favor of the issuers of performance and surety bonds or bid bonds or with respect to other regulatory requirements or letters of credit issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business;
(5) minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental, to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;
(6) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clauses (1) (“Credit Facility Indebtedness”), (4), (12) or (18) of the second paragraph under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”provided that (i) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (18) extend only to the assets of Foreign Subsidiaries and (ii) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to clauses (4) of the second paragraph under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” extend only to the assets acquired;
(7) Liens existing on the Issue Date;
(8) Liens on property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary;provided,however, such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary;provided,further,however, that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Issuers or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(9) Liens on property at the time the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;provided,however, that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition;provided,further,however, that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(10) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred in accordance with the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”;
(11) Liens securing Hedging Obligations so long as related Indebtedness is, and is permitted to be under the Indenture, secured by a Lien on the same property securing such Hedging Obligations;
(12) Liens on specific items of inventory of other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;
(13) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and do not secure any Indebtedness;
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(14) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Issuers and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(15) Liens in favor of an Issuer or any Guarantor;
(16) Liens on equipment of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries granted in the ordinary course of business to the Issuers’ clients;
(17) Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancing, refunding, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (6) (other than Liens securing Credit Facility Indebtedness), (7), (8) and (9) (it being understood that any such refinancing or replacement Liens shall be deemed reallocated to such clauses or subparts thereof);provided,however, that (a) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), and (b) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (6), (7), (8) and (9) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under the Indenture, and (ii) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement;
(18) deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers;
(19) other Liens securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business which obligations do not exceed $35.0 million at any one time outstanding;
(20) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under clause (5) under the caption “Events of Default and Remedies” so long as such Liens are adequately bonded and any appropriate legal proceedings that may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment have not been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated has not expired;
(21) 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;
(22) Liens (i) 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, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) in favor of banking institutions arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;
(23) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”;provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those that are the subject of such repurchase agreement;
(24) Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;
(25) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Issuers or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to
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purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business; and
(26) during a Suspension Period only, Liens securing Indebtedness, and Indebtedness represented by Sale and Leaseback Transactions, in an amount that does not exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries at any one time outstanding.
For purposes of this definition, the term “Indebtedness” shall be deemed to include interest on such Indebtedness. Additionally, solely for purposes of this definition and the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Liens,” any Indebtedness incurred during a Suspension Period that could have been incurred in compliance with an applicable provision under the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Incurrence of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock,” were such covenant in effect at such time, may be deemed by the Company to have been so incurred.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
“Preferred Stock” means any Equity Interest with preferential rights of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.
“Qualified Proceeds” means assets that are used or useful in, or Capital Stock of any Person engaged in, a Similar Business;provided that the fair market value of any such assets or Capital Stock shall be determined by the Company in good faith.
“Rating Agencies” means Moody’s and S&P or if Moody’s or S&P or both shall not make ratings on the Notes publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Issuers which shall be substituted for Moody’s or S&P or both, as the case may be.
“Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement with respect to the Notes dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Dealer Managers.
“Related Business Assets” means assets (other than cash or Cash Equivalents) used or useful in a Similar Business,provided that any assets received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in exchange for assets transferred by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed to be Related Business Assets if they consist of securities of a Person, unless upon receipt of the securities of such Person, such Person would become a Restricted Subsidiary.
“Restricted Investment” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.
“Restricted Subsidiary” means, at any time, any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company (including any Foreign Subsidiary) that is not then an Unrestricted Subsidiary;provided,however, that upon the occurrence of an Unrestricted Subsidiary ceasing to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall be included in the definition of “Restricted Subsidiary.”
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.
“Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” means any arrangement providing for the leasing by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any real or tangible personal property, which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to a third Person in contemplation of such leasing.
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“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Secured Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries secured by a Lien.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
“Senior Credit Facilities” means the Credit Facility under the Second Amended and Restated Credit and Guarantee Agreement, dated December 7, 2010 among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto in their capacities as lenders thereunder and the Agents party thereto, including any guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements, refundings or refinancings thereof and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that replace, refund or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount borrowable thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” above).
“Significant Subsidiary” means (i) the Co-Issuer or (ii) any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such regulation is in effect on the Issue Date.
“Similar Business” means any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date or any business that is similar, reasonably related, incidental or ancillary thereto.
“Subordinated Indebtedness” means, with respect to the Indenture,
(1) any Indebtedness of the Issuers which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes issued under such Indenture, and
(2) any Indebtedness of any Guarantor which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of such entity of the Notes issued under such Indenture.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person:
(1) any corporation, association, or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof or is consolidated under GAAP with such Person at such time; and
(2) any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which
(x) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership or otherwise, and
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(y) such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.
“Total Assets” means the total assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Company or such other Person as may be expressly stated (excluding the amount of any Excluded Contributions).
“Transaction” means the merger contemplated by the Transaction Agreement, the issuance by the Issuers of the 8 3/4% Senior Notes due 2014 and the 10 1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016 and the related borrowings under the credit facilities to finance the merger and repay certain outstanding debt as contemplated in the Transaction Agreement.
“Transaction Agreement” means the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 3, 2006 between Education Management Corporation and EM Acquisition Corporation, as amended.
“Treasury Rate” means, as of any Redemption Date, the yield to maturity as of such Redemption Date of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to March 30, 2014;provided,however, that if the period from the Redemption Date to such date is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.
“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C §§ 77aaa-777bbbb).
“Upstream Restricted Payment” means any dividend, distribution, repayment, prepayment, repurchase, redemption, purchase or other retirement for value of Equity Interests or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, except for any of the foregoing made to the Issuer or a Guarantor.
“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:
(1) any Subsidiary of the Company which at the time of determination is an Unrestricted Subsidiary (as designated by the Company, as provided below); and
(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
The Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any existing Subsidiary and any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on, any property of, the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (other than solely any Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated);provided that
(1) any Unrestricted Subsidiary must be an entity of which the Equity Interests entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes that may be cast by all Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or Persons performing a similar function are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company;
(2) such designation complies with the covenants described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments”; and
(3) each of:
(a) the Subsidiary to be so designated; and
(b) its Subsidiaries
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has not at the time of designation, and does not thereafter, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.
The Company may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary;provided that, immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and either:
(1) the Company’s Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on a consolidated basis for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which the designation occurs would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00, had such designation occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period and (ii) in the event that after such designation, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would have obligations of Indebtedness in excess of the obligations in respect of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately before such designation, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such designation occurs would have been not more than 3.25 to 1.00, had such designation occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period or
(2) (i) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, and (ii) in the event that after such designation, the Successor Company would have obligations in respect of Indebtedness in excess of the obligations in respect of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately before such designation, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be less than such Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation;
in each case on apro forma basis taking into account such designation.
Any such designation by the Company shall be notified by the Company to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the board of directors of the Company or any committee thereof giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.
“Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the board of directors of such Person.
“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing:
(1) the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment; by
(2) the sum of all such payments.
“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person, 100% of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.
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CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The Exchange Offer
The exchange of outstanding notes for exchange notes in the exchange offer will not constitute a taxable event to holders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Consequently, no gain or loss will be recognized by a holder upon receipt of an exchange note, the holding period of the exchange note will include the holding period of the outstanding unregistered note exchanged therefor and the basis of the exchange note will be the same as the basis of the outstanding unregistered note immediately before the exchange.
In any event, persons considering the exchange of outstanding notes for exchange notes should consult their own tax advisors concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences in light of their particular situations as well as any consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.
Ownership of the Notes
The following discussion summarizes certain U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders and Non-U.S. Holders (each term as defined below and in the aggregate referred to as “Holders”) of the ownership and disposition of the outstanding notes and the exchange notes acquired in the exchange offer (collectively, the “notes”). This summary is based upon the provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), proposed, temporary and final Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code, and administrative rulings and judicial decisions, in each case as of the date hereof. These authorities are subject to differing interpretations and may be changed, perhaps retroactively, resulting in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below. We have not obtained, nor do we intend to obtain, a ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) with respect to the statements made and the conclusions reached in the following summary, and there can be no assurance that the IRS will agree with such statements and conclusions.
This summary assumes that the notes will be held as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This summary does not address other U.S. federal tax laws (such as Medicare contribution tax laws and estate and gift tax laws) or the tax considerations arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. jurisdiction. In addition, this summary does not address all tax considerations that may be applicable to a particular Holder’s circumstances or to Holders that may be subject to special tax rules, including, without limitation, Holders subject to the alternative minimum tax, banks, insurance companies or other financial institutions, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, tax-exempt organizations, dealers in securities or currencies, traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of tax accounting for their securities holdings, U.S. Holders whose “functional currency” is not the U.S. dollar, controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies, U.S. expatriates, partnerships or other pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or Holders holding the notes as a position in a hedging transaction, “straddle,” “conversion transaction” or other risk reduction transaction.
For purposes of this discussion, a U.S. Holder is a beneficial owner of the notes that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes: (i) a citizen or individual resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation, including any entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in, or under the laws of, the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust, if its administration is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or if it has made a valid election under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.
For purposes of this discussion, a Non-U.S. Holder is a beneficial owner of the notes that is neither a U.S. Holder nor a partnership or other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
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If a partnership (or other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds the notes, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partnership or a partner of a partnership holding the notes, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the ownership of the notes.
This summary is for general information purposes only, and is not intended to be, and should not be construed to be, legal or tax advice to any particular Holder. You are urged to consult your own tax advisor with regard to the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws, as well as the application of non-income tax laws and the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction, to your particular situation.
Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders
The following discussion is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences or the ownership and disposition of the notes that will apply to you if you are a U.S. Holder.
Payments of Interest. Payments of “qualified stated interest” (as defined below) on a note will be taxed to you as ordinary income at the time the interest is paid or accrued in accordance with your method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Original Issue Discount. The notes were treated as issued with original issue discount (“OID”) in an amount equal to the excess of their “stated redemption price at maturity” (the sum of all payments to be made on the notes other than payments of “qualified stated interest”) over their “issue price”. The term “qualified stated interest” means stated interest that is unconditionally payable in cash or in property (other than debt instruments of the issuer) at least annually at a single fixed rate or, subject to certain conditions, at a rate based on one or more interest indices. For this purpose, the cash interest on the notes is qualified stated interest, but the PIK Interest does not so qualify. You should consult the information published on our website and your tax advisor regarding the determination of the “issue price” of the notes for these purposes.
The issuance of certificated notes in respect of PIK Interest (“PIK Notes”) is generally not treated as a payment of interest for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Instead, the original notes and any PIK Notes issued in respect of PIK Interest thereon are treated as a single debt instrument under the OID rules.
You must generally include OID in your gross income (as ordinary income) as it accrues (on a constant yield to maturity basis) over the term of a note without regard to your regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes and in advance of the receipt of cash payments attributable to that income.
The amount of OID that you must include in income will generally equal the sum of the “daily portions” of OID with respect to the note for each day during the taxable year or portion of the taxable year in which you held such note (“accrued OID”). The daily portion is determined by allocating to each day in each “accrual period” a pro rata portion of the OID allocable to that accrual period. The “accrual period” for a note may be of any length and may vary in length over the term of the note,providedthat each accrual period is no longer than one year and each scheduled payment of principal or interest occurs on the first day or the final day of an accrual period. The amount of OID allocable to any accrual period other than the final accrual period is an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the product of the note’s adjusted issue price at the beginning of such accrual period and its yield to maturity (determined on the basis of compounding at the close of each accrual period and properly adjusted for the length of the accrual period) over (ii) the aggregate of all qualified stated interest allocable to the accrual period. OID allocable to a final accrual period is the difference between the amount payable at maturity (other than a payment of qualified stated interest) and the adjusted issue price of the note at the beginning of the final accrual period. The adjusted issue price of a note at the beginning of any accrual period is equal to its issue price, increased by the accrued OID for each prior accrual period (determined without regard to the amortization of any acquisition premium or amortizable bond premium, as discussed below under “—Acquisition Premium or
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Amortizable Bond Premium”), and reduced by any payments previously made on the note other than qualified stated interest. Under these rules, you generally will have to include in income increasingly greater amounts of OID in successive accrual periods.
You may elect to treat all interest (including stated interest, OID orde minimisOID, and market discount orde minimismarket discount, as adjusted by any acquisition premium or amortizable bond premium) on a note as OID and calculate the amount includible in gross income under the constant yield method described above. The election must be made for the taxable year in which you acquire the note, and may not be revoked without the consent of the IRS. You should consult your own tax advisor about this election. This discussion assumes this election is not made.
Market Discount. If your notes have “market discount” under the market discount rules, you will be required to treat any gain on the sale, exchange or retirement of the notes as ordinary income to the extent of the market discount that is treated as having accrued on the notes at the time of the sale, exchange or retirement, and which you have not previously included in income. Any market discount will be considered to accrue ratably during the period from the date of acquisition to the maturity date of the notes unless you elect to accrue on a constant interest method. You may elect to include market discount in income currently as it accrues, on either a ratable or constant interest method, in which case any gain recognized will not be recharacterized as ordinary income. You should consult your tax advisor as to whether your notes have market discount under the market discount rules.
Acquisition Premium or Amortizable Bond Premium. If your initial tax basis in the notes is greater than their issue price and less than or equal to their stated redemption price at maturity, the notes will be considered to have been acquired by you at an “acquisition premium.” Under the acquisition premium rules, the amount of OID that you must include in gross income with respect to the notes for any taxable year will be reduced by the portion of the acquisition premium properly allocable to that year.
If your initial tax basis in the notes is greater than their stated redemption price at maturity, you will be considered to have acquired the notes with “amortizable bond premium” and you will not be required to include any OID in income. You generally may elect to amortize the premium over the remaining term of the notes on a constant yield method as an offset to interest when includible in income under your regular accounting method. However, because the notes may be redeemed by us prior to maturity at a premium, special rules apply that may reduce or eliminate the amount of premium that you may amortize with respect to a note. You should consult your tax advisor about these special rules. If you do not elect to amortize the premium, that premium will decrease the gain or increase the loss you would otherwise recognize on disposition of the notes. An election to amortize premium on a constant yield method will also apply to all other taxable debt instruments held or subsequently acquired by you on or after the first day of the first taxable year for which the election is made. Such an election may not be revoked without the consent of the IRS. You should consult your tax advisor about this election.
Sale, Exchange or Retirement of the Notes. Unless a non-recognition provision applies and subject to the discussion below regarding the Mandatory Principal Redemption, you will recognize taxable gain or loss upon a sale, exchange or retirement of a note in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received (less an amount equal to any accrued but unpaid qualified stated interest, which will be taxed in the manner described above under “—Payments of Interest”) and (ii) your adjusted tax basis in the note. Your adjusted tax basis in a note will be your initial tax basis in the note, increased by any OID or market discount previously included in income, and reduced by any amortized bond premium and any payments previously made on the note other than qualified stated interest.
Any gain or loss on the sale, exchange or retirement of a note will be capital gain or loss (although all or a portion of any recognized gain could be subject to ordinary income treatment if there is any accrued market discount on the note that has not been included in income at the time of the sale, exchange or retirement, as
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discussed above under “—Market Discount”) and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the note has a holding period of more than one year at the time of the sale, exchange or retirement. Long-term capital gain of non-corporate U.S. Holders (including individuals) may be taxed at preferential rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Although not free from doubt, your adjusted tax basis in a note should be allocated between the original note and any PIK Notes received in respect of PIK Interest thereon in proportion to their relative principal amounts. Your holding period in any PIK Notes received in respect of PIK Interest would likely be identical to your holding period for the original note with respect to which the PIK Notes were received.
Payments received by you upon the Mandatory Principal Redemption of a portion of a note will be treated as tax-free payments of a portion of the then-accrued OID with respect to such note in its entirety (including the portion of the note not redeemed).
Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders
The following discussion is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the notes that will apply to you if you are a Non-U.S. Holder.
Payments of Interest. U.S. federal withholding tax will not apply to any payment of interest (including any OID) on the notes under the “portfolio interest rule,”provided that: (i) such interest is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States by you; (ii) you do not actually or constructively own 10% or more of EDMC’s or Education Management Finance Corp.’s voting stock; (iii) you are not a controlled foreign corporation that is actually or constructively related to EDMC or Education Management Finance Corp. through stock ownership; (iv) you are not a bank receiving interest on a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of your trade or business; and (v) you have provided a validly completed IRS Form W-8BEN (or other applicable form) establishing that you are not a United States person as defined under the Code (or you satisfy certain documentary evidence requirements for establishing that you are not a United States person).
If you cannot satisfy the requirements described above, payments of interest (including any OID) on the notes made to you will be subject to a 30% U.S. federal withholding tax, unless you provide us (or our paying agent) with a properly executed (i) IRS Form W-8BEN (or other applicable form) claiming an exemption from or reduction in withholding under the benefit of an applicable income tax treaty; or (ii) IRS Form W-8ECI (or other applicable form) certifying that interest paid on the notes is not subject to withholding tax because it is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States.
Sale, Exchange or Retirement of the Notes. Any gain realized upon the sale, exchange or retirement of a note will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless:
• | the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States by you (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment that you maintain), in which case the gain will be subject to tax as described below under “—Effectively Connected Interest and Gain”; or |
• | you are an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of that sale, exchange or retirement, and certain other conditions are met, in which case the gain (net of certain U.S. source capital losses) will be subject to a flat 30% tax, unless an applicable income tax treaty provides otherwise. |
However, payments received by you upon the Mandatory Principal Redemption of a portion of a note will be treated as payments of a portion of the then-accrued OID with respect to such note in its entirety (including the portion of the note not redeemed) and therefore possibly subject to the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax (subject to the exceptions described above.) In addition, to the extent proceeds from the sale, exchange or
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retirement of a note represent accrued and unpaid qualified stated interest, you will be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to such accrued and unpaid qualified stated interest in the same manner as described above under “—Payments of Interest.”
Effectively Connected Interest and Gain. If you are engaged in a trade or business in the United States and interest (including any OID) on, or gain realized upon the disposition of, the notes is effectively connected with the conduct of that trade or business (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment that you maintain), then you will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on that interest or gain on a net income basis (although you will be exempt from the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax on interest,provided the certification requirements discussed above are satisfied) in the same manner as if you were a United States person as defined under the Code. In addition, if you are a corporate Non-U.S. Holder, you may be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or lower applicable income tax treaty rate) of such interest or gain, subject to adjustments.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
U.S. Holders
Information reporting requirements will generally apply to payments of principal and interest on the notes, any OID accruals on the notes, and proceeds from a disposition (including a retirement or redemption) of the notes (unless, in each case, you are an exempt recipient such as a corporation).
Backup withholding may apply to any such payments described in the preceding paragraph if you fail to provide a taxpayer identification number or a certification that you are not subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability,provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Non-U.S. Holders
Generally, we must report to the IRS and to you the amount of interest (including any OID) paid to you with respect to the notes, and the amount of tax, if any, withheld with respect to such payments. Copies of the information returns reporting such interest payments and any withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which you reside under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty.
In general, you will not be subject to backup withholding with respect to interest (including any OID) that we pay to you with respect to the notes,provided that we (or our paying agent) do not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person as defined under the Code, and you have provided a validly completed IRS Form W-8BEN (or other applicable form) establishing that you are not a United States person as defined under the Code (or you satisfy certain documentary evidence requirements for establishing that you are not a United States person).
Information reporting and, depending on the circumstances, backup withholding will apply to the proceeds of a sale or other disposition (including a retirement or redemption) of the notes made within the United States or conducted through certain United States-related financial intermediaries, unless you certify to the payor under penalties of perjury that you are not a United States person as defined under the Code (and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person), or you otherwise establish an exemption.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability,provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
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The following is a summary of certain considerations associated with the acquisition and holding of the exchange notes (and the exchange of outstanding notes for exchange notes) by employee benefit plans that are subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), plans, individual retirement accounts and other arrangements that are subject to Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or provisions under any other federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that are similar to such provisions of the Code or ERISA (collectively, “Similar Laws”), and entities whose underlying assets are considered to include “plan assets” of any such plan, account or arrangement (each, a “Plan”).
General Fiduciary Matters
ERISA and the Code impose certain duties on persons who are fiduciaries of a Plan subject to Part 4 of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (an “ERISA Plan”) and prohibit certain transactions involving the assets of an ERISA Plan and its fiduciaries or other interested parties. Under ERISA and the Code, any person who exercises any discretionary authority or control over the administration of such an ERISA Plan or the management or disposition of the assets of such an ERISA Plan, or who renders investment advice for a fee or other compensation to such an ERISA Plan, is generally considered to be a fiduciary of the ERISA Plan.
In considering an investment in the exchange notes (including the exchange of outstanding notes for exchange notes) of a portion of the assets of any Plan, a fiduciary should determine whether the investment is in accordance with the documents and instruments governing the Plan and the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code or any Similar Law relating to a fiduciary’s duties to the Plan including, without limitation, the prudence, diversification, delegation of control and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA, the Code and any other applicable Similar Laws.
Prohibited Transaction Issues
Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit ERISA Plans from engaging in specified transactions involving plan assets with persons or entities who are “parties in interest,” within the meaning of ERISA, or “disqualified persons,” within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code, unless an exemption is available. A party in interest or disqualified person who engaged in a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to excise taxes and other penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code. In addition, the fiduciary of the ERISA Plan that engaged in such a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code. The acquisition and/or holding of the outstanding notes or the exchange notes (including the exchange of outstanding notes for exchange notes) by an ERISA Plan with respect to which the Issuers, a guarantor or the exchange agent is considered a party in interest or a disqualified person may constitute or result in a direct or indirect prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code, unless the investment is acquired and is held in accordance with an applicable statutory, class or individual prohibited transaction exemption. In this regard, the U.S. Department of Labor has issued prohibited transaction class exemptions, or “PTCEs,” that may apply to the acquisition and holding of the outstanding notes or the exchange notes (including the exchange of outstanding notes for exchange notes). These class exemptions include, without limitation, PTCE 84-14 respecting transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers, PTCE 90-1 respecting insurance company pooled separate accounts, PTCE 91-38 respecting bank collective investment funds, PTCE 95-60 respecting life insurance company general accounts and PTCE 96-23 respecting transactions determined by in-house asset managers. In addition, Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA and Section 4975(d)(20) of the Code provide relief from the prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code for certain transactions, provided that neither the issuer of the securities nor any of its affiliates (directly or indirectly) have or exercise any discretionary authority or control or render any investment advice with respect to the assets of any ERISA Plan involved in the transaction and provided further that the ERISA Plan receives no less, nor pays no more, than adequate consideration in connection with the transaction. There can be no assurance that all of the conditions of any such exemptions will be satisfied.
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Because of the foregoing, the exchange notes should not be acquired or held by any person investing “plan assets” of any Plan, unless such acquisition and holding (and the exchange of outstanding notes for exchange notes) will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA and the Code or a similar violation of any applicable Similar Laws.
Representation
Accordingly, by acceptance of an exchange note, each purchaser and subsequent transferee of an exchange note will be deemed to have represented and warranted that either (i) no portion of the assets used by such purchaser or transferee to acquire or hold an exchange note (including an exchange of outstanding notes for exchange notes) or any interest therein constitutes assets of any Plan or (ii) the acquisition, holding and disposition of the exchange notes (including the exchange of outstanding notes for exchange notes) or any interest therein by such purchaser or transferee will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or a similar violation under any applicable Similar Laws.
The foregoing discussion is general in nature and is not intended to be all inclusive. Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may be imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited transactions, it is particularly important that fiduciaries, or other persons considering acquiring any exchange notes (including any exchange of outstanding notes for exchange notes) on behalf of, or with the assets of, any Plan, consult with their counsel regarding the potential applicability of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code and any Similar Laws to such investment and whether an exemption would be applicable to any such purchase or holding of the exchange notes.
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Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such exchange notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of exchange notes received in exchange for outstanding notes where such outstanding notes were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. We have agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the expiration date, we will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until 90 days after the consummation of the exchange offer all dealers effecting transactions in the exchange notes may be required to deliver a prospectus.
We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of exchange notes by broker-dealers. Exchange notes received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the exchange offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the exchange notes or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker dealer or the purchasers of any such exchange notes. Any broker-dealer that resells exchange notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such exchange notes may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of exchange notes and any commission or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The letter of transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.
For a period of 180 days after the expiration date we will promptly send additional copies of this prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents in the letter of transmittal. We have agreed to pay all expenses incident to the exchange offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the holders of the notes) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the holders of the notes (including any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
The validity and enforceability of the exchange notes and the related guarantees will be passed upon for us by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York, New York. In rendering its opinion, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP will rely upon the opinion of Jones Day as to all matters governed by the laws of the State of California, the State of Florida, the State of Georgia, the State of Illinois and the State of Texas, the opinion of Barnes & Thornburg LLP as to all matters governed by the laws of the State of Indiana and the State of Minnesota, the opinion of Mr. Devitt Kramer, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company as to all matters governed by the laws of the State of Pennsylvania and the opinion of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP as to all matters governed by the laws of the State of Tennessee.
The consolidated financial statements of Education Management Corporation and Subsidiaries appearing in Education Management Corporation and Subsidiaries’ Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended June 30, 2012, including the schedule appearing therein, and the effectiveness of Education Management Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2012 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and
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incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
EDMC files periodic reports and other information with the SEC. In this registration statement, we “incorporate by reference” certain information we have filed with the SEC, which means that important information is being disclosed to you by referring to those documents. Those documents that are filed prior to the date of this registration statement are considered part of this registration statement, and those documents that are filed after the date of this registration statement and prior to the completion of the exchange offer will be considered a part of this registration statement from the date of the filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference, or contained in this registration statement, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently dated or filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. The documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are incorporated by reference in this registration statement:
• | The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 (including information specifically incorporated by reference into our Form 10-K from our Proxy Statement for our 2012 Annual Meeting); |
• | The Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2012, December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2013; and |
• | The Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed on July 27, 2012, October 5, 2012, November 5, 2012, January 29, 2013 (other than information furnished pursuant to Item 7.01), February 4, 2013, February 15, 2013, February 20, 2013, March 4, 2013, March 8, 2013, March 22, 2013, April 10, 2013, May 17, 2013, June 20, 2013 and June 27, 2013. |
We are not, however, incorporating by reference any documents or portions thereof, whether specifically listed above or filed in the future, that are not deemed “filed” with the SEC, including any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or certain exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K. You may read and copy any document we have filed or will file with the SEC at the SEC’s public website (www.sec.gov) or at the Public Reference Room of the SEC located at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such materials can be obtained from the Public Reference Room of the SEC at prescribed rates. You can call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 to obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room. You should not assume that the information in this registration statement is accurate as of any date other than the date of this registration statement or that the documents incorporated by reference herein are accurate as of any date other than the date of such incorporated document. So long as we are subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, we are required to furnish the information required to be filed with the SEC to the trustee and the holders of the outstanding notes. We have agreed that, even if we are not required under the Exchange Act to furnish such information to the SEC, we will nonetheless continue to furnish information that would be required to be furnished by us by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
This registration statement contains summaries of certain agreements that we have entered into or will enter into in connection with the exchange offer, such as the indenture governing the exchange notes. The descriptions contained in this registration statement of these agreements do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, the definitive agreements. Copies of the definitive agreements will be made available without charge to you in response to a written or oral request to the exchange agent or us.
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Education Management LLC
Education Management Finance Corp.
Offer to Exchange
$203,044,423 aggregate principal amount of their Senior Cash Pay/PIK Notes due 2018, which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for any and all of their outstanding unregistered Senior Cash Pay/PIK Notes due 2018.
Until the date that is 180 days from the date of this prospectus, all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions or otherwise.