For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, capital expenditures, constructions, repairs, replacements, improvements, developments, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations (including the Transactions) and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP) and any operational changes, business realignment projects or initiatives, New Projects, restructurings or reorganizations that the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary has determined to make and/or made during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Pro Forma EBITDA Calculation Date (each, for purposes of this definition, a “pro forma event”) shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, capital expenditures, constructions, repairs, replacements, improvements, developments, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations (including the Transactions), discontinued operations and other operational changes, business realignment projects or initiatives, New Projects, restructurings or reorganizations (and the change of 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 Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, capital expenditure, construction, repair, replacement, improvement, development, disposition, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, discontinued operation, operational change, business realignment project or initiative, New Project, restructuring or reorganization that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then Pro Forma EBITDA shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, capital expenditure, construction, repair, replacement, improvement, development, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, discontinued operations, operational change, business realignment project or initiative, New Project, restructuring or reorganization had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. If since the beginning of such period any Restricted Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated a Restricted Subsidiary, then Pro Forma EBITDA shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.
For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any pro forma event, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Issuer, to reflect operating expense reductions and other operating improvements, synergies or cost savings reasonably expected to result from the applicable event, which adjustments (x) shall not exceed 25% of EBITDA for the applicable four fiscal quarter period (calculated after giving effect to the adjustments in clause (xv) of the definition of EBITDA other than any such deal-related and integration, restructuring and severance costs relating to the Acquisition not to exceed $20.0 million, or any such cost savings, operating expense reductions or synergies relating to the Acquisition), and (y) shall only be included to the extent that actions resulting in such operating expense reductions and other operating improvements, synergies or cost savings are taken or commenced or expected to be taken or commenced (in the good faith determination of the Issuer) within 24 months after the date any such calculation is performed.
If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Pro Forma EBITDA Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Issuer may designate.
For purposes of making the computation referred to above, in giving effect to each New Project which commences operations and records not less than one full fiscal quarter’s operations during such period, the operating results of such New Project shall be annualized on a straight line basis during such period, taking into account any seasonality adjustments determined by the Issuer in good faith.
“Rating Agency” means (1) each of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch (and their respective successors and assigns) and (2) if Moody’s, S&P or Fitch ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the Issuer’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15cs-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act selected by the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer as a replacement agency for Moody’s, S&P or Fitch, as the case may be.
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