NONE --12-31 0001776197 false 0001776197 2024-02-06 2024-02-06

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

February 6, 2024

 

 

Akumin Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-39479   88-4139425

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

8300 W. Sunrise Boulevard

Plantation, Florida

  33322
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(844) 730-0050

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.

 

Title of each class

 

Trading
Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange
on which registered

Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share   AKUMQ*   OTC Pink Open Market*
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share   AKU**   Toronto Stock Exchange**

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

Emerging growth company

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

 

*

On November 20, 2023, the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) filed a Form 25-NSE with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to delist the common stock of Akumin Inc. (the “Company”) from Nasdaq. The delisting became effective on November 30, 2023, 10 days after the filing date of the Form 25-NSE. The Company’s common stock has commenced trading on the OTC Pink Open Market under the symbol “AKUMQ”.

 

**

On January 19, 2024, the Company applied to voluntarily delist its common stock from the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”). The Company’s common stock was subsequently delisted from the TSX on February 1, 2024.

 

 

 


Introductory Note

As previously disclosed, on October 20, 2023, Akumin Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Restructuring Support Agreement (including all exhibits thereto, collectively, the “RSA”) with (i) certain of its debtor affiliates as set forth in the RSA (together with the Company, the “Debtors”); (ii) Stonepeak Magnet Holdings LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Stonepeak”); (iii) certain Consenting 2025 Noteholders (as defined in the RSA); (iv) certain Consenting 2028 Noteholders (as defined in the RSA) (together with the Consenting 2025 Noteholders, the “Consenting Noteholders”); (v) certain Consenting RCF Lenders (as defined in the RSA); (vi) certain Consenting Equityholders (as defined in the RSA); (vii) certain Consenting Non-Debtor Hospital Partner Entities (as defined in the RSA); and (viii) certain Consenting Physician-Owned Entities (as defined in the RSA, and collectively with Stonepeak, the Consenting Noteholders, the Consenting RCF Lenders, the Consenting Equityholders and the Consenting Non-Debtor Partner Entities, the “Consenting Stakeholders”). Under the terms of the RSA, the Debtors and the Consenting Stakeholders agreed to the terms of a restructuring of the Company (the “Restructuring”) pursuant to the terms set forth in that certain Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Akumin Inc. and its Debtor Affiliates (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Prepackaged Plan”). In connection therewith, on October 22, 2023, the Debtors filed voluntary petitions under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101-1532 (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (the “Bankruptcy Court”), thereby commencing chapter 11 cases for the Debtors (the “Chapter 11 Cases”) in order to implement the Restructuring. The Chapter 11 Cases are jointly administered under the caption In re Akumin Inc., et al., Case No. 23-90827 (CML).

On November 30, 2023, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order (the “Confirmation Order”) pursuant to which it confirmed the Prepackaged Plan.

On February 6, 2024 (the “Effective Date”), the Prepackaged Plan became effective in accordance with its terms, as set forth in the notice entered by the Bankruptcy Court on February 6, 2024, which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1, and the Company emerged from the Chapter 11 Cases. As part of the transactions undertaken pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, (i) all of the shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), together with any shares of restricted stock, restricted stock units, or any other right to receive equity in the Company, in each case, outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Date, were cancelled, discharged and of no force and effect and (ii) as of the Effective Date, Stonepeak became the 100% owner of the Company’s Common Stock.

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, the Company and certain of its affiliated Debtors, as applicable, entered into the material definitive agreements described below.

New 2027 Notes

On the Effective Date, certain holders of the Prepetition 2025 Senior Notes (as defined below) received new senior secured notes due 2027 (the “New 2027 Notes”) in an aggregate initial principal amount of $436.222 million issued by the Company and governed by that certain Indenture, dated February 6, 2024 by and among the Company, as issuer, the guarantors party thereto, as guarantors, and UMB Bank, National Association, as trustee and collateral agent (the “Trustee”), in respect of the issuance of the $436.222 million of aggregate principal amount of notes (the “New 2027 Notes Indenture”).

The terms of the New 2027 Notes include, among other things: (i) interest at a rate of 8% per annum, payable in cash through November 1, 2025 and, after such date, at the election of the Company, either (a) 9% per annum payable in cash or (b) 8% per annum, payable in cash, plus 2% per annum, payable in kind; (ii) an additional 2.25% prepayment premium above the prepayment premium set forth in the Prepetition 2025 Notes Indenture (as defined below); and (iii) certain more stringent covenants than those contained in the Prepetition 2025 Notes Indenture. The New 2027 Notes Indenture also provides for customary negative covenants related to incurrence of debt, creating liens, affiliate transactions, disposals of assets, declarations of dividends or distributions, changes in control, and engaging in mergers or consolidations.

The New 2027 Notes will mature and become due and payable on August 1, 2027, unless the New 2027 Notes are accelerated, prepaid, or extended prior to that date. If an Event of Default (as defined in the New 2027 Notes Indenture) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders (as defined in the New 2027 Notes Indenture) of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount then outstanding of the New 2027 Notes may declare all the New 2027 Notes to be due and payable immediately.

The foregoing description of the New 2027 Notes Indenture is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the New 2027 Notes Indenture, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 of this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.


New 2028 Notes

On the Effective Date, certain holders of the Prepetition 2028 Senior Notes (as defined below) received new senior secured notes due 2028 (the “New 2028 Notes”) in an aggregate initial principal amount of $354.583 million issued by the Company and governed by that certain Indenture, dated February 6, 2024 by and among the Company, as issuer, the guarantors party thereto, as guarantors, and the Trustee, as trustee and collateral agent, in respect of the issuance of the $354.583 million of aggregate principal amount of notes (the “New 2028 Notes Indenture”).

The terms of the New 2028 Notes include, among other things: (i) interest at a rate of 8% per annum, payable in cash; and (ii) certain more stringent covenants than those contained in the Prepetition 2028 Notes Indenture (as defined below) The New 2028 Notes Indenture also provides for customary negative covenants related to incurrence of debt, creating liens, affiliate transactions, disposals of assets, declarations of dividends or distributions, changes in control, and engaging in mergers or consolidations.

The New 2028 Notes will mature and become due and payable on August 1, 2028, unless the New 2028 Notes are accelerated, prepaid, or extended prior to that date. If an Event of Default (as defined in the New 2028 Notes Indenture) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders (as defined in the New 2028 Notes Indenture) of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount then outstanding of the New 2028 Notes may declare all the New 2028 Notes to be due and payable immediately.

The foregoing description of the New 2028 Notes Indenture is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the New 2028 Notes Indenture, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.2 of this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

New RCF Exit Facility

On the Effective Date, the Company, as borrower, the guarantors party thereto, as guarantors, the lenders party thereto, as lenders, and PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative and collateral agent (the “Agent”), entered into a certain Revolving Credit Agreement (the “New RCF Exit Facility Agreement”) which is comprised of a revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $55 million (the “New RCF Exit Facility”). The terms of the New RCF Exit Facility include, among other things, a two-year extension of the maturity date under the 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement (as defined below), (ii) amended covenants as set forth in the New RCF Exit Facility Agreement; and (iii) a consent fee equal to 50 basis points of the revolving commitments under the New RCF Exit Facility payable to the lenders party thereto.

The foregoing description of the New RCF Exit Facility Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the New RCF Exit Facility Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.3 of this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Contingent Value Rights Agreement

On the Effective Date, pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, the Company entered into a certain Contingent Value Rights Agreement, dated as of February 6, 2024, by and among the Company, Stonepeak, and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust, a federally chartered trust company (the “CVR Agent”), as agent (the “CVR Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of Prepackaged Plan and the CVR Agreement, the Company shall grant contingent value rights (the “CVRs”) to the CVR Agent on behalf of holders of certain shares of the Company’s Common Stock immediately prior to the Effective Date. The CVRs are contract rights, providing the holders thereof the right to receive contingent cash payments if and to the extent payable pursuant to the terms of the CVR Agreement at a later date, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein.


The foregoing description of the CVR Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the CVR Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.4 of this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 1.02. Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

Equity Interests

On the Effective Date, by operation of the Prepackaged Plan, all agreements, instruments, and other documents evidencing, relating to or connected with any equity interests of the Company, including the Common Stock, restricted stock, and restricted stock units issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Date, and any rights of any holder in respect thereof, were deemed cancelled, discharged and of no force or effect.

DIP Facility

On the Effective Date, that certain debtor-in-possession financing facility provided by Stonepeak in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $130 million (the “DIP Facility”) was cancelled and the applicable agreements governing the Debtors’ obligations in connection therewith were terminated. In full and final satisfaction of all allowed DIP Claims (as defined in the Prepackaged Plan), all Claims (as defined in the Prepackaged Plan) in respect of the outstanding principal amount of the DIP Loans and any accrued but unpaid interest thereon, were converted into Common Stock of the Company.

Senior Notes and Revolving Credit Agreement

On the Effective Date, by operation of the Prepackaged Plan, all outstanding obligations under each of the following debt instruments were cancelled and the applicable agreements governing such obligations were terminated:

 

   

that certain Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of November 2, 2020, as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1, dated as of February 8, 2021, Amendment No. 2, dated as of July 26, 2021, Amendment No. 3 & Waiver, dated as of September 11, 2021 and Amendment No. 4 & Waiver, dated as of October 22, 2021 (as has been and may be further amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time), by and among the Company, as borrower, certain subsidiaries of the Company as guarantors, PNC Bank, National Association, as successor to BBVA USA, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto, which is comprised of a revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $55 million (the “2020 Revolving Credit Agreement”);

 

   

that certain Indenture dated November 2, 2020, as supplemented by that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 11, 2021, that certain Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 30, 2021, and that certain Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 1, 2021 (as may be further amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time), by and among the Company, as issuer, the guarantors, the holders party thereto, and UMB Bank, National Association, in its capacity as trustee and collateral agent (the “Prepetition 2025 Notes Indenture”) and the related prepetition security agreements, collateral agreements, pledge agreements, and guarantees, under which were issued notes with an initial aggregate principal amount of $400 million, with an additional aggregate principal amount of $75 million issued through a private offering on February 11, 2021 (the “Prepetition 2025 Senior Notes”);

 

   

that certain Indenture dated August 9, 2021, as supplemented by that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 1, 2021 (as may be further amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time), by and among Akumin Escrow Inc. (whose obligations were assumed by the Company on closing of the acquisition of Alliance Healthcare Service on September 1, 2021), as issuer, the guarantors, the holders party thereto, and UMB Bank, National Association, in its capacity as trustee and collateral agent (the “Prepetition 2028 Notes Indenture”), and the related prepetition security agreements, collateral agreements, pledge agreements, and guarantees, under which were issued notes with an aggregate principal amount of $375 million (the “Prepetition 2028 Senior Notes”); and

 

   

that certain unsecured payment-in-kind toggle series A note, dated September 1, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time), issued by Akumin Operating Corp., a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of the Company, to Stonepeak with a face value of $357.0 million (including the 5% repayment premium of $17.0 million) as of September 1, 2021.

 


Item 1.03. Bankruptcy or Receivership.

As set forth above, on November 30, 2023, the Bankruptcy Court entered the Confirmation Order, which confirmed the Prepackaged Plan.

Confirmation of the Prepackaged Plan

This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Prepackaged Plan and the Confirmation Order, and capitalized terms used but not defined in the following summary shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Prepackaged Plan.

The Prepackaged Plan, as confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court, creates 11 classes of Claims and Interests in the Debtors. Holders of Allowed Claims in Class 1 (Other Secured Claims), Class 2 (Other Priority Claims), Class 3 (Prepetition RCF Facility Claims), Class 4 (Prepetition 2025 Notes Claims), Class 5 (Prepetition 2028 Notes Claims), Class 6 (Prepetition Series A Note Claims), and Class 7 (General Unsecured Claims) are entitled to receive distributions under the Prepackaged Plan subject to the terms thereunder. Holders of Allowed Claims or Interests, as applicable, in Class 8 (Intercompany Claims), Class 10 (Other Equity Interests), and Class 11 (Intercompany Interests) may, at the election of the applicable Debtor (with the consent of the Consenting Investor and in consultation with the Required Consenting Noteholders to the extent the holders of the New Notes may reasonably be impacted) have their respective Claims or Interests, as applicable, (i) reinstated, (ii) canceled, released, and extinguished, or (iii) otherwise addressed at the option of each applicable Debtor.

Holders of Allowed Interests in Class 9 (Existing Common Stock Interests) shall have such Interests canceled, released, and extinguished and such Interests will be of no further force or effect upon the effective date of the Prepackaged Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Holders of Interests in Class 9 (Existing Common Stock Interests) shall receive their Pro Rata Share of a Consenting Investment Cash Contribution and their Pro Rata Share of certain CVRs, in each case subject to the terms and limitations set forth in the Prepackaged Plan. The Holder of Claims in Class 6 (Prepetition Series A Note Claims) shall receive 100% of the New Common Stock of Reorganized Parent, subject to dilution (i) in accordance with the New Corporate Governance Documents and (ii) for any New Common Stock issued to the Holder of Allowed DIP Claims.

In addition, the Company will pay Administrative Claims, Professional Fee Claims, Priority Tax Claims, and certain other Restructuring Expenses due and owing under the Prepackaged Plan.

The foregoing description of the Confirmation Order does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to (i) the full text of the Prepackaged Plan, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 2.1 of this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference and (ii) the full text of the Confirmation Order, which was filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on December 5, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference.

Governance and Capital Structure

As part of the transactions undertaken pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, (i) all of the Common Stock, together with any shares of restricted stock, restricted stock units, or any other right to receive equity in the Company, in each case, outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Date, were cancelled, discharged and of no force and effect and (ii) as of the Effective Date, Stonepeak became the 100% owner of the New Common Stock. As the sole holder of all outstanding shares of the New Common Stock, Stonepeak will be in a position to control matters requiring approval by the holders of shares of the New Common Stock, including, among other things, the election of directors and the approval of a change of control.


Assets and Liabilities

Information regarding the assets and liabilities of the Company as of the most recent practicable date contained in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2023, as filed with the SEC on December 12, 2023 is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

Item 2.03. Creation of Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The information set forth in Item 1.01 regarding the New 2027 Notes, the New 2028 Notes and the New RCF Exit Facility is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

On the Effective Date, the Company issued the New Common Stock to Stonepeak pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Prepackaged Plan, in reliance upon the exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) provided by Section 1145 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Item 3.03. Material Modification to the Rights of Security Holders.

The information set forth in the Introductory Note and Items 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 5.01 and 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5.01. Changes in Control of Registrant.

On the Effective Date, pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, the Common Stock together with any shares of restricted stock, restricted stock units, or any other right to receive equity in the Company, in each case, outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Date, were cancelled, discharged and of no force and effect. As of the Effective Date, Stonepeak became the 100% owner of the Company’s Common Stock.

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Departure of Directors of the Company

On the Effective Date, pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, the terms of the current members of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) expired.

Appointment of Directors of the Company

In connection with the effectiveness of the Prepackaged Plan, Graham Brown, James Wyper, and Bill Theofilou have been appointed to the Board.

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

On the Effective Date, in connection with the Prepackaged Plan, certain amended bylaws of the Company (the “Amended Bylaws”) were adopted and approved. The Amended Bylaws contain provisions that are customary for governance documents of companies of this type. A copy of the Amended Bylaws is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.


Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

Suspension of SEC Reporting Obligations

The Company intends to file with the SEC post-effective amendments to (i) its Registration Statement on Form F-3 filed with the SEC on December 21, 2021 and declared effective on December 29, 2021, as amended by the Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form F-3 on Form S-3 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2022 and declared effective on April 13, 2022, and as further amended by the Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Form F-3 on Form S-3 filed with the SEC on November 10, 2022, and declared effective on November 15, 2022, and (ii) its Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the SEC on December 16, 2021, as amended by the Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-8 filed with the SEC on August 9, 2022 and as further amended by the Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Form S-8 filed with the SEC on November 10, 2022.

The Company also intends to file with the SEC a Form 15 to suspend its reporting obligations under Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Upon filing the Form 15, the Company’s obligations to file certain reports and forms with the SEC, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, will be immediately suspended.

Press Release

On the Effective Date, the Company issued a press release announcing the Effective Date and the Company’s emergence from the Chapter 11 Cases. A copy of this press release is attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information set forth in Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is being furnished pursuant to Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. The information in Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K shall not be incorporated by reference into any filings of the Company under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, regardless of any incorporation by reference language in any such filing.

Reverse Dutch Election

Pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, on the Effective Date, the Company completed the repurchase of $38.778 million in principal amount of the Prepetition 2025 Senior Notes and $20.417 million in principal amount of the Prepetition 2028 Senior Notes for the following bid prices:

 

  i.

Prepetition 2025 Senior Notes.

 

Accepted Reverse Dutch Election
Bid Price (per $1,000)

   Principal Amount Accepted at
Such Reverse Dutch Election
Bid Price
 

$810

   $ 50,000  

$825

   $ 38,728,000  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 38,778,000  
  

 

 

 

 

  ii.

Prepetition 2028 Senior Notes.

 

Accepted Reverse Dutch Election
Bid Price (per $1,000)

   Principal Amount Accepted at
Such Reverse Dutch Election
Bid Price
 

$675

   $ 10,000  

$750

   $ 20,000  

$765

   $ 30,000  

$770

   $ 20,000,000  

$775

   $ 357,000  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 20,417,000  
  

 

 

 

The repurchase was executed by way of a reverse Dutch auction, pursuant to and in accordance with the terms and conditions provided for in the Prepackaged Plan.


Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information in this Current Report on Form 8-K constitutes forward-looking information or forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this filing that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes, targets or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. The Company cautions that such forward-looking statements contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K or made from time to time by the Company’s management, including those regarding the Chapter 11 Cases and resulting proceedings in the Bankruptcy Court are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: the Company’s ability to implement the Prepackaged Plan effectively; the risks associated with third party motions in the Chapter 11 Cases; the effects of the Chapter 11 Cases on the Company and on the interests of various constituents; the potential adverse effects of the Chapter 11 Cases on the Company’s liquidity or results of operations and increased legal and other professional costs necessary to execute the Restructuring; the continued availability of operating capital following the Company’s emergence from the Chapter 11 Cases; and the risk that the Company may not be able to continue operating in the ordinary course of business following its emergence from the Chapter 11 Cases. The Company therefore cautions readers against relying on such forward-looking statements. A further description of the risks and uncertainties relating to the business of the Company is contained in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as any amendments thereto reflected in subsequent filings with the SEC. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on the Company’s behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. All such statements speak only as of the date made, and, except as required by law, the Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.    Description
2.1    Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Akumin Inc. and Its Debtor Affiliates, dated October 22, 2023, as amended on November 15, 2023 and February 6, 2024.
3.1    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Akumin Inc.
10.1    Indenture, dated February 6, 2024 by and among the Company, as issuer, the Guarantors, as guarantors, and UMB Bank, National Association, as trustee and notes collateral agent, in respect of the issuance of $475 million of aggregate principal amount of notes.
10.2    Indenture, dated February 6, 2024 by and among the Company, as issuer, the Guarantors, as guarantors, and UMB Bank, National Association, as trustee and notes collateral agent, in respect of the issuance of $375 million of aggregate principal amount of notes.
10.3    Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of February 6, 2024, by and among the Company, as borrower, certain subsidiaries of the borrower, as guarantors, the lenders party thereto, and PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral agent.
10.4    Contingent Value Rights Agreement, dated as of February 6, 2024, by and among the Company, Stonepeak and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust, a federally chartered trust company, as agent.
99.1    Notice of (I) Entry of Order Approving Disclosure Statement on a Final Basis and Confirming the Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Akumin Inc. and Its Debtor Affiliates and (II) Occurrence of the Effective Date.
99.2    Press Release, dated February 6, 2024.
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)


SIGNATURES

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

 

    Akumin Inc.
Date: February 6, 2024     By:  

/s/ Riadh Zine

     

Riadh Zine

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Exhibit 2.1

IN THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

HOUSTON DIVISION

 

 

In re:

 

AKUMIN INC., et al.,1

 

Debtors.

 

 

  

 

Chapter 11

 

Case No. 23-90827 (CML)

 

(Joint Administration Requested)

JOINT PREPACKAGED CHAPTER 11 PLAN

OF REORGANIZATION OF AKUMIN INC. AND ITS DEBTOR AFFILIATES

 

 

 

THIS CHAPTER 11 PLAN IS BEING SOLICITED FOR ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 1125 OF THE BANKRUPTCY CODE AND WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 1126 OF THE BANKRUPTCY CODE. THIS CHAPTER 11 PLAN WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE BANKRUPTCY COURT FOR APPROVAL FOLLOWING SOLICITATION AND THE DEBTORS’ FILING FOR CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY.

 

JACKSON WALKER L.L.P.

Matthew D. Cavenaugh (TX Bar No. 24062656)

Jennifer F. Wertz (TX Bar No. 24072822)

J. Machir Stull (TX Bar No. 24070697)

Victoria N. Argeroplos (TX Bar No. 24105799)

1401 McKinney Street, Suite 1900

  

DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP

Eric Lopez Schnabel (pro hac vice pending)

Rachel P. Stoian (pro hac vice pending)

Michael Galen (pro hac vice pending)

51 West 52nd Street

New York, New York 10019

Houston, Texas 77010    Telephone:   (212) 415-9200

Telephone:

Facsimile:

Email:

 

(713) 752-4200

(713) 752-4221

mcavenaugh@jw.com

jwertz@jw.com

mstull@jw.com

vargeroplos@jw.com

  

Facsimile:

Email:

 

(212) 953-7201

schnabel.eric@dorsey.com

stoian.rachel@dorsey.com

galen.michael@dorsey.com

Proposed Co-Counsel to the Debtors
and Debtors in Possession
   Proposed Co-Counsel to the Debtors
and Debtors in Possession

Dated: October 22, 2023

 

1 

A complete list of each of the Debtors in these chapter 11 cases may be obtained on the website of the Debtors’ proposed claims and noticing agent at https://dm.epiq11.com/Akumin The Debtors’ service address is 8300 W. Sunrise Boulevard, Plantation, Florida 33322.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I. DEFINED TERMS, RULES OF INTERPRETATION, COMPUTATION OF TIME, AND GOVERNING LAW      1  
     A.   

Defined Terms

     1  
  B.  

Rules of Interpretation

     17  
  C.  

Computation of Time

     18  
  D.  

Governing Law

     18  
  E.  

Reference to Monetary Figures

     18  
  F.  

Reference to the Debtors or the Reorganized Debtors

     18  
  G.  

Nonconsolidated Prepackaged Plan

     18  
  H.  

Controlling Document

     18  
  I.  

Consultation, Information, Notice, and Consent Rights

     19  
ARTICLE II. ADMINISTRATIVE CLAIMS, DIP CLAIMS, PRIORITY CLAIMS, AND RESTRUCTURING EXPENSES      19  
  A.  

Administrative Claims

     19  
  B.  

DIP Claims

     19  
  C.  

Professional Fee Claims

     19  
  D.  

Priority Tax Claims

     20  
  E.  

Payment of Restructuring Expenses

     20  
ARTICLE III. CLASSIFICATION AND TREATMENT OF CLAIMS AND INTERESTS      21  
  A.  

Classification of Claims and Interests

     21  
  B.  

Treatment of Claims and Interests

     21  
  C.  

Special Provision Governing Unimpaired Claims

     26  
  D.  

Elimination of Vacant Classes

     27  
  E.  

Voting Classes, Presumed Acceptance by Non-Voting Classes

     27  
  F.  

Intercompany Interests

     27  
  G.  

Confirmation Pursuant to Sections 1129(a)(10) and 1129(b) of the Bankruptcy Code

     27  
  H.  

Controversy Concerning Impairment

     27  
  I.  

Subordinated Claims

     27  
ARTICLE IV. MEANS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN      28  
  A.  

General Settlement of Claims and Interests

     28  
  B.  

Sale Transaction Election Deadline; Successful Bid

     28  
  C.  

Restructuring Transactions

     28  
  D.  

Continued Corporate Existence

     30  
  E.  

Vesting of Assets in the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors

     30  
  F.  

Cancellation of Existing Securities and Agreements

     30  
  G.  

Cancellation of Certain Existing Security Interests

     30  
  H.  

Sources of Consideration for Plan Distributions

     31  
  I.  

New Common Stock

     31  
  J.  

Consenting Investor Direct Investment and Cash Contribution

     32  
  K.  

CVR Agreement and CVR Distribution Framework

     32  
  L.  

New Notes and New RCF Exit Facility Agreement

     34  
  M.  

Corporate Action

     35  
  N.  

New Corporate Governance Documents

     35  
  O.  

Preservation of Causes of Action

     36  
  P.  

Certain Securities Law Matters

     37  
  Q.  

1146 Exemption

     37  
  R.  

Additional Sale Transaction Provisions

     38  
  S.  

Director and Officer Liability Insurance

     38  
  T.  

Indemnification Obligations

     39  

 

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ARTICLE V. TREATMENT OF EXECUTORY CONTRACTS AND UNEXPIRED LEASES      39  
     A.   

Assumption and Rejection of Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases

     39  
  B.  

Claims Based on Rejection of Executory Contracts or Unexpired Leases

     40  
  C.  

Cure of Defaults for Assumed Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases

     40  
  D.  

Preexisting Obligations to the Debtors Under Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases

     41  
  E.  

Insurance Policies

     42  
  F.  

Reservation of Rights

     42  
  G.  

Nonoccurrence of Effective Date

     42  
  H.  

Contracts and Leases Entered Into After the Petition Date

     42  
ARTICLE VI. PROVISIONS GOVERNING DISTRIBUTIONS      42  
  A.  

Distributions on Account of Claims Allowed as of the Effective Date

     42  
  B.  

Disbursing Agent

     43  
  C.  

Rights and Powers of Disbursing Agent

     43  
  D.  

Delivery of Distributions and Undeliverable or Unclaimed Distributions

     43  
  E.  

Manner of Payment

     45  
  F.  

Compliance with Tax Requirements

     45  
  G.  

Allocations

     45  
  H.  

No Postpetition Interest on Claims

     46  
  I.  

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate

     46  
  J.  

Setoffs and Recoupment

     46  
  K.  

Claims Paid or Payable by Third Parties

     46  
ARTICLE VII. PROCEDURES FOR RESOLVING CONTINGENT, UNLIQUIDATED, AND DISPUTED CLAIMS      47  
  A.  

Disputed Claims Process

     47  
  B.  

Allowance of Claims

     48  
  C.  

Claims Administration Responsibilities

     48  
  D.  

Estimation of Claims and Interests

     48  
  E.  

Adjustment to Claims or Interests without Objection

     48  
  F.  

Disallowance of Claims or Interests

     49  
  G.  

No Distributions Pending Allowance

     49  
  H.  

Distributions After Allowance

     49  
  I.  

No Interest

     49  
  J.  

Accrual of Dividends and Other Rights

     49  
ARTICLE VIII. SETTLEMENT, RELEASE, INJUNCTION, AND RELATED PROVISIONS      49  
  A.  

Discharge of Claims and Termination of Interests

     49  
  B.  

Release of Liens

     50  
  C.  

Releases by the Debtors

     50  
  D.  

Releases by the Releasing Parties

     51  
  E.  

Exculpation

     52  
  F.  

Injunction

     53  
  G.  

Protections Against Discriminatory Treatment

     54  
  H.  

Document Retention

     54  
  I.  

Reimbursement or Contribution

     54  
ARTICLE IX. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CONSUMMATION OF THE PLAN      54  
  A.  

Conditions Precedent to the Effective Date

     54  
  B.  

Waiver of Conditions

     56  
  C.  

Effect of Failure of Conditions

     56  
  D.  

Substantial Consummation

     56  
ARTICLE X. MODIFICATION, REVOCATION, OR WITHDRAWAL OF THE PLAN      57  
  A.  

Modification and Amendments

     57  
  B.  

Effect of Confirmation on Modifications

     57  
     C.   

Revocation or Withdrawal of Prepackaged Plan

     57  

 

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ARTICLE XI. RETENTION OF JURISDICTION      57  
ARTICLE XII. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS      59  
  A.  

Immediate Binding Effect

     59  
  B.  

Additional Documents

     60  
  C.  

Payment of Statutory Fees

     60  
  D.  

Statutory Committee and Cessation of Fee and Expense Payment

     60  
  E.  

Reservation of Rights

     60  
  F.  

Successors and Assigns

     60  
  G.  

Notices

     60  
  H.  

Term of Injunctions or Stays

     61  
  I.  

Entire Agreement

     61  
  J.  

Plan Supplement

     62  
  K.  

Severability of Prepackaged Plan Provisions

     62  
  L.  

Votes Solicited in Good Faith

     62  
  M.  

Closing of Chapter 11 Cases

     62  
  N.  

Waiver or Estoppel

     62  
  O.  

Creditor Default

     63  

 

 

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INTRODUCTION

Akumin Inc. and the above-captioned debtors and debtors in possession (collectively, the “Debtors”), propose this joint prepackaged chapter 11 plan of reorganization (as modified, amended, or supplemented from time to time, the “Prepackaged Plan”) for the resolution of the outstanding claims against, and equity interests in, the Debtors. Although proposed jointly for administrative purposes, the Prepackaged Plan constitutes a separate Prepackaged Plan for each Debtor. Holders of Claims against, or Interests in, the Debtors may refer to the Disclosure Statement for a discussion of the Debtors’ history, businesses, assets, results of operations, historical financial information, projections of future operations, risk factors, a summary and analysis of this Prepackaged Plan, the Restructuring Transactions, and certain related matters. The Debtors are the proponents of the Prepackaged Plan within the meaning of section 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code.

ALL HOLDERS OF CLAIMS ENTITLED TO VOTE ON THE PREPACKAGED PLAN ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ THE PREPACKAGED PLAN AND THE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT IN THEIR ENTIRETY BEFORE VOTING TO ACCEPT OR REJECT THE PREPACKAGED PLAN.

ARTICLE I.

DEFINED TERMS, RULES OF INTERPRETATION,

COMPUTATION OF TIME, AND GOVERNING LAW

 

A.

Defined Terms.

As used in this Prepackaged Plan, capitalized terms have the meanings set forth below.

1. “1125(e) Exculpation Parties” means, collectively, and in each case in its capacity as such: (a) each of the Exculpated Parties; (b) the directors and officers of any of the Debtors; (c) each Consenting Stakeholder; (d) each Prepetition Debt Facility Agent; and (e) with respect to each of the foregoing parties, the Related Parties thereof.

2. “Accredited Investor” has the meaning provided in ARTICLE IV.K of the Prepackaged Plan.

3. “Ad Hoc Noteholder Group” means that certain ad hoc group comprised of beneficial holders (or investment managers or advisors to beneficial holders) of Prepetition Senior Secured Notes represented by the Ad Hoc Noteholder Group Advisors.

4. “Ad Hoc Noteholder Group Advisors” means Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP and any other attorneys, accountants, other professionals, advisors, and consultants for the Ad Hoc Noteholder Group, if any, as may be mutually agreed to by the Required Consenting Noteholders, the Consenting Investor, and the Debtors.

5. “Administrative Claim” means a Claim for costs and expenses of administration of the Chapter 11 Cases pursuant to sections 327, 328, 330, 365, 503(b), 507(a), 507(b), or 1114(e)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code, including: (a) the actual and necessary costs and expenses of preserving the Estates and operating the businesses of the Debtors incurred on or after the Petition Date and through the Effective Date; (b) Allowed Professional Fee Claims; (c) all fees and charges assessed against the Estates under chapter 123 of the Judicial Code; and (d) Restructuring Expenses.

6. “Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in section 101(2) of the Bankruptcy Code as if the reference Entity was a debtor in a case under the Bankruptcy Code.

7. “Allowed” means, with respect to any Claim, except as otherwise provided herein: (a) a Claim allowed pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan or a Final Order; (b) a Claim that is scheduled by the Debtors as not contingent, not unliquidated, and not disputed, and for which no Proof of Claim, as applicable, has been timely Filed; or (c) a Claim that is evidenced by a Proof of Claim or a request for payment of an Administrative Claim, as applicable (or for which Claim a Proof of Claim is not required under the Prepackaged Plan, the Bankruptcy Code, or a Final Order); provided that with respect to a Claim described in clauses (b) and (c) above, such Claim shall be Allowed only

 

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if and to the extent that with respect to such Claim no objection to the allowance thereof is interposed within the applicable period of time fixed by the Prepackaged Plan, the Bankruptcy Code, the Bankruptcy Rules, or the Bankruptcy Court, or such an objection is so interposed and the Claim has been Allowed by a Final Order; provided, further, that the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors shall retain all claims and defenses with respect to Allowed Claims that are reinstated or otherwise Unimpaired pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan. To the extent applicable, any Claim that has been or is hereafter listed in the Schedules as contingent, unliquidated, or disputed, and for which no contrary or superseding Proof of Claim is or has been timely Filed, or that is not or has not been Allowed by a Final Order, is not considered Allowed and shall be expunged without further action by the Debtors and without further notice to any party or action, approval, or order of the Bankruptcy Court. Unless expressly waived by the Prepackaged Plan, the Allowed amount of Claims or Interests shall be subject to and shall not exceed the limitations or maximum amounts permitted by the Bankruptcy Code, including sections 502 or 503 of the Bankruptcy Code, to the extent applicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Claim of any Entity subject to section 502(d) of the Bankruptcy Code shall be deemed Allowed unless and until such Entity pays in full the amount that it owes the applicable Debtor or Reorganized Debtor, as applicable.

8. “Assumed Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases Schedule” means a schedule of Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases to be assumed by the Debtors pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, which may be included in the Plan Supplement (if applicable in connection with a Sale transaction), as the same may be amended, modified, or supplemented from time to time.

9. “Avoidance Actions” means any and all actual or potential avoidance, recovery, subordination, or other Claims, Causes of Action, or remedies that may be brought by or on behalf of the Debtors or their Estates or other authorized parties in interest under the Bankruptcy Code or applicable non-bankruptcy Law, including Claims, Causes of Action, or remedies under sections 502, 510, 542, 544, 545, 547 through 553, and 724(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or under similar local, state, federal, or foreign statutes and common law, including fraudulent transfer Laws.

10. “Bankruptcy Code” means title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101–1532, as amended from time to time.

11. “Bankruptcy Court” means the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.

12. “Bankruptcy Rules” means the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure promulgated under section 2075 of the Judicial Code and the general, local, and chambers rules of the Bankruptcy Court, each, as amended from time to time.

13. “Bidding Procedures” means the procedures governing the auction and the Sale Transaction, as approved by the Bankruptcy Court and as may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms, a substantially final form of which is attached as Exhibit G to the Restructuring Support Agreement.

14. “Bidding Procedures Motion” means the motion Filed by the Debtors seeking entry of an order approving the Bidding Procedures.

15. “Bidding Procedures Order” means the order entered by the Bankruptcy Court approving the Bidding Procedures and establishing deadlines for the submission of bids and the auction in accordance with such procedures, which order shall be consistent in all material respects with the Restructuring Support Agreement and this Prepackaged Plan.

16. “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the State of New York.

17. “Cash” or “$” means cash in legal tender of the United States of America and cash equivalents, including bank deposits, checks, and other similar items.

18. “Cash Collateral” has the meaning ascribed to such term in section 363(a) of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

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19. “Cause of Action” or “Causes of Action” means any claims, interests, damages, remedies, causes of action, demands, rights, actions, controversies, proceedings, agreements, suits, obligations, liabilities, judgments, accounts, defenses, offsets, powers, privileges, licenses, Liens, indemnities, and guaranties, of any kind or character whatsoever, whether known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen, existing or hereinafter arising, contingent or non-contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, disputed or undisputed, secured or unsecured, assertable, directly or derivatively, matured or unmatured, suspected or unsuspected, whether arising before, on, or after the Petition Date, in contract, tort, law, equity, or otherwise. Causes of Action also include: (a) all rights of setoff, counterclaim, or recoupment and claims under contracts or for breaches of duties imposed by Law or in equity; (b) any claim based on or relating to, or in any manner arising from, in whole or in part, tort, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, violation of state, provincial, or federal Law or breach of any duty imposed by Law or in equity, including securities Laws, negligence, and gross negligence; (c) the right to object to or otherwise contest Claims or Interests; (d) claims pursuant to section 362 or chapter 5 of the Bankruptcy Code; (e) such claims and defenses as fraud, mistake, duress, and usury, and any other defenses set forth in section 558 of the Bankruptcy Code; and (f) any other Avoidance Action.

20. “Chapter 11 Cases” means (a) when used with reference to a particular Debtor, the case pending for that Debtor under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court and (b) when used with reference to all the Debtors, the procedurally consolidated chapter 11 cases pending for the Debtors in the Bankruptcy Court.

21. “Claim” means any claim, as defined in section 101(5) of the Bankruptcy Code, against any of the Debtors.

22. “Claims and Balloting Agent” means Epiq Bankruptcy Solutions, LLC, the notice, claims, and solicitation agent retained by the Debtors in the Chapter 11 Cases.

23. “Claims Register” means the official register of Claims and Interests maintained by the Claims and Balloting Agent.

24. “Class” means a class of Claims or Interests as set forth in ARTICLE III of the Prepackaged Plan pursuant to section 1122(a) of the Bankruptcy Code.

25. “Clearing Price” has the meaning set forth in Article I.A.179 of the Prepackaged Plan.

26. “CM/ECF” means the Bankruptcy Court’s Case Management and Electronic Case Filing system.

27. “Confirmation” means the Bankruptcy Court’s entry of the Confirmation Order on the docket of the Chapter 11 Cases.

28. “Confirmation Date” means the date upon which the Bankruptcy Court enters the Confirmation Order on the docket of the Chapter 11 Cases, within the meaning of Bankruptcy Rules 5003 and 9021.

29. “Confirmation Hearing” means the hearing to be held by the Bankruptcy Court on confirmation of the Prepackaged Plan and the adequacy of the Disclosure Statement, as such hearing may be continued from time to time.

30. “Confirmation Order” means the order of the Bankruptcy Court confirming the Prepackaged Plan pursuant to, inter alia, section 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code and approving the Disclosure Statement as containing, among other things, “adequate information” as required by section 1125 of the Bankruptcy Code, which order shall be consistent with the terms of the Restructuring Support Agreement, including the consent rights contained therein.

31. “Consenting 2025 Noteholders” has the meaning set forth in the Restructuring Support Agreement.

32. “Consenting 2028 Noteholders” has the meaning set forth in the Restructuring Support Agreement.

33. “Consenting Equityholders” has the meaning set forth in the Restructuring Support Agreement.

 

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34. “Consenting Investor” has the meaning set forth in the Restructuring Support Agreement.

35. “Consenting Investor Advisors” means Moelis & Company LLC and Sidley Austin LLP in their capacity as advisors to the Consenting Investor.

36. “Consenting Investor Cash Contribution” has the meaning set forth in ARTICLE III.B.9(b)(i) of the Prepackaged Plan.

37. “Consenting Investor Direct Investment” means an investment on the Effective Date in the amount of the Consenting Investor Direct Investment Amount in accordance with the Restructuring Support Agreement and Article V.J of the Prepackaged Plan.

38. “Consenting Investor Direct Investment Amount” means $130,000,000.00; provided that any new money funded by the Consenting Investor under the DIP Facility (or any other new money contributions made by the Consenting Investor to the Debtors prior to the Effective Date), and any paid-in-kind interest accrued with respect thereto, shall reduce the Consenting Investor Direct Investment Amount on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

39. “Consenting Non-Debtor Hospital Partner Entities” has the meaning set forth in the Restructuring Support Agreement.

40. “Consenting Noteholders” has the meaning set forth in the Restructuring Support Agreement.

41. “Consenting Physician-Owned Entities” has the meaning set forth in the Restructuring Support Agreement.

42. “Consenting RCF Lenders has the meaning set forth in the Restructuring Support Agreement.

43. “Consenting RCF Lender Advisors” means (a) King & Spalding LLP, (b) one local counsel to the Consenting RCF Lenders, (c) such other attorneys, accountants, other professionals, advisors, and consultants for the Consenting RCF Lenders, if any, as may be mutually agreed to by the Required Consenting RCF Lenders, the Consenting Investor, and the Debtors.

44. Consenting Stakeholders” has the meaning set forth in the Restructuring Support Agreement.

45. “Consummation” means the occurrence of the Effective Date.

46. “Cure” means all amounts, including an amount of $0.00, required to cure any monetary defaults under any Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease (or such lesser amount as may be agreed upon by the parties under an Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease) that is to be assumed by the Debtors pursuant to sections 365 or 1123 of the Bankruptcy Code, other than a default that is not required to be cured pursuant to section 365(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code.

47. “CVR Agent” means the agent to be specified in and to be party to the CVR Agreement.

48. “CVR Agreement” means that certain agreement setting forth the full terms and conditions of the CVRs, a substantially final form of which shall be filed with the Plan Supplement and shall be consistent in form and substance with this Prepackaged Plan and the form attached to the Restructuring Support Agreement as Exhibit J.

49. “CVR Distribution Framework” means the procedures set forth in ARTICLE IV.K of the Prepackaged Plan (and as may be supplemented in the Plan Supplement) to be utilized by the Reorganized Debtors to distribute the CVRs pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan in a manner to ensure compliance with the Securities Exchange Act, solely to the extent that the Securities Exchange Act is applicable.

50. “CVR Distribution Conditions” means the conditions set forth in the CVR Distribution Framework that are required to be satisfied by an individual recipient prior to such recipient becoming eligible to receive CVRs.

 

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51. “CVR Notice” has the meaning provided in ARTICLE IV.K of the Prepackaged Plan.

52. “CVR Recipient Certification” has the meaning provided in ARTICLE IV.K of the Prepackaged Plan.

53. “CVR Recipient Conditions” has the meaning provided in ARTICLE IV.K of the Prepackaged Plan.

54. “CVRs” means those certain uncertificated, non-transferrable (unless expressly permitted therein) contractual contingent value rights to be governed by the CVR Agreement entered into by the Parent, Consenting Investor and the CVR Agent.

55. “CVR Submission Deadline” has the meaning provided in ARTICLE IV.K of the Prepackaged Plan.

56. “D&O Liability Insurance Policies” means all insurance policies of any of the Debtors for directors’, managers’, and officers’ liability existing as of the Petition Date (including any “tail policy”) and all agreements, documents, or instruments relating thereto.

57. “Debtors” means Akumin Inc.; Advanced Diagnostic Group, LLC; Advanced Diagnostic Resources, LLC; Affiliated PET Systems, L.L.C.; AFO Imaging, Inc.; Akumin FL, LLC; Akumin Florida Holdings, LLC; Akumin Health Illinois, LLC; Akumin Holdings Corp.; Akumin Operating Corp.; Alliance Imaging NC, LLC; Alliance Oncology of Arizona, LLC; Alliance Radiosurgery, LLC; Decatur Health Imaging, L.L.C.; Diagnostic Health Center of Anchorage, LLC; Greater Boston MRI Limited Partnership; Greater Boston MRI Services, LLC; Imaging Center of West Palm Beach LLC; InMed Diagnostic Services of MA, LLC; LCM Imaging, Inc.; Medical Diagnostics, LLC; Medical Outsourcing Services, LLC; Mid-American Imaging Inc.; Monroe PET, LLC; MUSC Health Cancer Care Organization, LLC; NEHE/WSIC II, LLC; NEHE-MRI, LLC; Neospine Blocker Corp.; New England Health Imaging—Houlton, LLC; New England Molecular Imaging LLC; PET Scans of America Corp.; PMI Partners, LLC; PREFERRED IMAGING AT CASA LINDA PLAZA, LLC; PREFERRED IMAGING AT THE MEDICAL CENTER, LLC; PREFERRED IMAGING HEB, LLC; Preferred Imaging of Austin, LLC; Preferred Imaging of Corinth, LLC; Preferred Imaging of Denton, LLC; Preferred Imaging of Fort Worth, LLC; Preferred Imaging of Frisco, LLC; PREFERRED IMAGING OF GARLAND, LLC; PREFERRED IMAGING OF GRAPEVINE/COLLEYVILLE, LLC; Preferred Imaging of Irving, LLC; Preferred Imaging of McKinney, LLC; Preferred Imaging of Mesquite, LLC; PREFERRED IMAGING OF PLANO, LLC; Preferred Imaging on Plano Parkway, LLC; PREFERRED OPEN MRI, LLC; ROUND ROCK IMAGING, LLC; Shared P.E.T. Imaging, LLC; SMT Health Services, LLC; SyncMed, LLC; Three Rivers Holding, LLC; TIC Acquisition Holdings, LLC; USR Holdings, LLC; Vista PEM Providers, LLC; Western Massachusetts Magnetic Resonance Services, LLC; Woodland Diagnostic Imaging, LLC; and New England Health Enterprises Business Trust.

58. “Debtor Release” means the release set forth in ARTICLE VIII.C of the Prepackaged Plan.

59. “Definitive Documents” means the documents listed in Section 3 of the Restructuring Support Agreement, as modified, amended, or supplemented from time to time, in accordance with the Restructuring Support Agreement and Article I.I herein.

60. “DIP Agent” means the administrative agent, collateral agent, or similar Entity under the DIP Facility.

61. “DIP Claims” means any and all Claims arising under, derived from, or based upon the DIP Facility Documents, which DIP Claims shall have the priorities set forth in the DIP Facility Term Sheet or DIP Credit Agreement, as applicable and the DIP Orders.

62. “DIP Credit Agreement” means a junior secured debtor in possession credit agreement that governs the DIP Facility among Parent as borrower, the Debtor guarantors as party thereto, and the lender parties thereto, as may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented, or modified from time to time, in a form to be agreed upon by the Debtors and the DIP Lenders, which shall be in form and substance consistent with the terms of the Restructuring Support Agreement and the consent rights contained therein

 

5


63. “DIP Facility” means the junior secured debtor in possession financing facility for the DIP Loans, in the aggregate principal amount of $75 million, entered into on the terms and conditions set forth in the DIP Facility Documents.

64. “DIP Facility Documents” means any documents governing the DIP Facility that are entered into in accordance with the DIP Facility Term Sheet (or DIP Credit Agreement, as applicable), and the DIP Orders, and any amendments, modifications, and supplements thereto, and together with any related notes, certificates, agreements, securities agreements, documents, and instruments (including any amendments, restatements, supplements, or modifications of any of the foregoing) related to or executed in connection therewith.

65. “DIP Facility Term Sheet” means the DIP Loan Term Sheet attached as Exhibit F to the Restructuring Support Agreement and the DIP Orders; provided, that following entry of the DIP Orders, the version attached to the DIP Order shall control.

66. “DIP Lenders” means the lenders providing the DIP Facility under the DIP Facility Documents.

67. “DIP Loans” means the loans provided under the DIP Facility, which shall be converted into New Common Stock on the Effective Date in accordance with Article II.B. of the Prepackaged Plan.

68. “DIP Orders” means, together, the Interim DIP Order and the Final DIP Order.

69. “Disbursing Agent” means, as applicable, the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, the Post-Effective Date Debtors, the Post-Effective Date Plan Administrator, or such other Entity or Entities selected by the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, the Post-Effective Date Debtors, or the Post-Effective Date Plan Administrator, in each case, in consultation with the Consenting Stakeholders, as applicable, to make or facilitate distributions pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan.

70. “Disclosure Statement” means the disclosure statement for the Prepackaged Plan, including all exhibits and schedules thereto, to be approved by the Confirmation Order, a copy of which is attached to the Restructuring Support Agreement as Exhibit E.

71. “Disputed” means, as to a Claim or an Interest, any Claim or Interest: (a) that is not Allowed; (b) that is not disallowed by the Prepackaged Plan, the Bankruptcy Code, or a Final Order, as applicable; (c) as to which a dispute is being adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with non-bankruptcy Law; (d) that is Filed in the Bankruptcy Court and not withdrawn, as to which a timely objection or request for estimation has been Filed; and (e) with respect to which a party in interest has Filed a Proof of Claim or otherwise made a written request to a Debtor for payment, without any further notice to or action, order, or approval of the Bankruptcy Court.

72. “Distribution Date” means, except as otherwise set forth herein, the date or dates determined by the Debtors or the Reorganized Debtors, on or after the Effective Date, with the first such date occurring on or as soon as is reasonably practicable after the Effective Date, upon which the Disbursing Agent shall make distributions to Holders of Allowed Claims and Interests entitled to receive distributions under the Prepackaged Plan.

73. “Distribution Record Date” means the record date for purposes of making distributions under the Prepackaged Plan on account of Allowed Claims and Interests except with respect to public securities, which date shall be on or as soon as is reasonably practicable after the Effective Date, subject to the consent of the Consenting Investor, reasonable consent of the Required Consenting Noteholders, and, solely as the Distribution Record Date relates to Holders of Prepetition RCF Claims, the Required Consenting RCF Lenders.

74. “DTC” means the Depository Trust Company.

75. “Effective Date” means, as to the applicable Debtor, the date that is the first Business Day on which (a) no stay of the Confirmation Order is in effect and (b) all conditions precedent to the occurrence of the Effective Date set forth in Article IX.A of the Prepackaged Plan have been satisfied or waived in accordance with Article IX.B of the Prepackaged Plan. Any action to be taken on the Effective Date may be taken on or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter.

 

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76. “Entity” has the meaning set forth in section 101(15) of the Bankruptcy Code, including “person” (as defined in section 101(41) of the Bankruptcy Code) and “governmental unit” (as defined in section 101(27) of the Bankruptcy Code).

77. “Estate” means as to each Debtor, the estate created for such Debtor in its Chapter 11 Case pursuant to section 541 of the Bankruptcy Code upon the commencement of such Debtor’s Chapter 11 Case.

78. “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. § 78a, et seq., as amended from time to time.

79. “Exculpated Parties” means collectively, and in each case in its capacity as such: (a) the Debtors; and (b) any statutory committees appointed in the chapter 11 cases and each of their respective members.

80. “Executory Contract” means a contract to which one or more of the Debtors is a party and that is subject to assumption or rejection under section 365 or 1123 of the Bankruptcy Code.

81. “Existing Common Stock Interests” means shares of the class of common stock of Parent, which is traded and quoted on the NASDAQ under the symbol “AKU” and Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “AKU.TO”, that existed immediately prior to the Effective Date, including (i) any restricted stock units of Parent that vest upon a “change of control” transaction and (ii) the exercise of any stock options Parent in accordance with their terms prior to the Effective Date.

82. “Federal Judgment Rate” means the federal judgment rate in effect as of the Petition Date.

83. “File,” “Filed,” or “Filing” means file, filed, or filing with the Bankruptcy Court or its authorized designee in the Chapter 11 Cases.

84. “Final DIP Order” means any order approving the DIP Facility and authorizing the Debtors’ use of Cash Collateral on a final basis.

85. “Final Order” means an order or judgment of the Bankruptcy Court, or court of competent jurisdiction with respect to the subject matter that has not been reversed, stayed, modified, or amended, as entered on the docket in any Chapter 11 Case or the docket of any court of competent jurisdiction, and as to which the time to appeal, or seek certiorari or move for a new trial, reargument, or rehearing has expired and no appeal or petition for certiorari or other proceedings for a new trial, reargument, or rehearing has been timely taken, or as to which any appeal that has been taken or any petition for certiorari that has been or may be timely filed has been withdrawn or resolved by the highest court to which the order or judgment was appealed or from which certiorari was sought or the new trial, reargument, or rehearing will have been denied, resulted in no stay pending appeal of such order, or has otherwise been dismissed with prejudice; provided that the possibility that a motion under Rules 59 or 60 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, or any analogous rule under the Bankruptcy Rules, may be filed with respect to such order will not preclude such order from being a Final Order.

86. “General Unsecured Claim” means any Claim against any of the Debtors that is not (a) paid in full prior to the Effective Date pursuant to an order of the Bankruptcy Court; (b) an Administrative Claim; (c) a DIP Claim;] (d) a Secured Claim; (e) an Other Secured Claim; (f) a Priority Tax Claim; (g) an Other Priority Claim; (h) a Prepetition 2025 Notes Claim; (i) a Prepetition 2028 Notes Claim; (j) a Prepetition Series A Note Claim; (k) a Prepetition RCF Claim; (l) an Intercompany Claim; or (m) a Section 510(b) Claim.

87. “Governing Body” means, in each case in its capacity as such, the board of directors, board of managers, manager, general partner, special committee, or such similar governing body of any of the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable.

 

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88. “Governmental Unit” has the meaning set forth in section 101(27) of the Bankruptcy Code.

89. “Holder” means an Entity holding a Claim against or an Interest in a Debtor, as applicable.

90. “Impaired” means with respect to a Class of Claims or Interests, a Class of Claims or Interests that is impaired within the meaning of section 1124 of the Bankruptcy Code.

91. “Intercompany Claim” means any Claim against a Debtor or an Affiliate of a Debtor held by another Debtor or an Affiliate of a Debtor.

92. “Intercompany Interest” means an Interest in a Debtor held by another Debtor.

93. “Interest” means any equity security (as defined in section 101(16) of the Bankruptcy Code) in any Debtor and any other rights, options, warrants, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock rights, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units, redemption rights, repurchase rights, convertible, exercisable or exchangeable Securities or other agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character relating to, or whose value is related to, any such interest or other ownership interest in any Debtor.

94. “Interim DIP Order” means one or more orders entered on an interim basis approving the DIP Facility and the DIP Facility Documents and authorizing the Debtors’ use of Cash Collateral.

95. “Judicial Code” means title 28 of the United States Code, 28 U.S.C. §§ 1–4001, as amended from time to time.

96. “Law” means any federal, state, local or foreign law (including common law), statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, ruling, or judgment, in each case, that is validly adopted, promulgated, issued, or entered by a governmental authority of competent jurisdiction (including the Bankruptcy Court).

97. “Lien” has the meaning set forth in section 101(37) of the Bankruptcy Code.

98. “Maximum CVR Recipients” has the meaning provided in ARTICLE IV.K of the Prepackaged Plan.

99. “Nasdaq” means Nasdaq Stock Market, together with any successors thereto.

100. “New 2027 Notes” means new senior secured notes due 2027 in an aggregate initial principal amount of $475 million to be issued by Reorganized Parent on the Effective Date and governed by the New 2027 Notes Indenture; provided, that the aggregate principal amount of the New 2027 Notes to be issued pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan shall be reduced dollar-for-dollar by the aggregate principal amount of the Selected Reverse Dutch Election Participating Notes that are Prepetition 2025 Notes. For the avoidance of doubt, the aggregate principal amount of the New 2027 Notes shall not be reduced on account of any Reverse Dutch Election Participating Notes for which the applicable holder does not receive any Reverse Dutch Election Available Proceeds on account of such Reverse Dutch Election Participating Notes.

101. “New 2027 Notes Indenture” means the indenture that will govern the New 2027 Notes, a substantially final form of which is attached as Exhibit H to the Restructuring Support Agreement and shall be filed with the Plan Supplement.

102. “New 2028 Notes” means new senior secured notes due 2028 in an aggregate initial principal amount of $375 million to be issued by Reorganized Parent on the Effective Date and governed by the New 2028 Notes Indenture; provided, that the aggregate principal amount of the New 2028 Notes to be issued pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan shall be reduced dollar-for-dollar by the aggregate principal amount of the Selected Reverse Dutch Election Participating Notes that are Prepetition 2028 Notes. For the avoidance of doubt, the aggregate principal amount of the New 2028 Notes shall not be reduced on account of any Reverse Dutch Election Participating Notes for which the applicable holder does not receive any Reverse Dutch Election Available Proceeds on account of such Reverse Dutch Election Participating Notes.

 

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103. “New 2028 Notes Indenture” means the indenture that will govern the New 2028 Notes, a substantially final form of which is attached as Exhibit I to the Restructuring Support Agreement and shall be filed with the Plan Supplement.

104. “New Board” means the boards of directors or members of the applicable Governing Bodies of the applicable Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, and as set forth in the Plan Supplement.

105. “New Common Stock” means, if the Reorganization Transaction occurs, shares of common stock of Reorganized Parent to be issued on the Effective Date or as otherwise permitted pursuant to the New Corporate Governance Documents.

106. “New Corporate Governance Documents” means the documents providing for corporate governance of the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, including charters, bylaws, operating agreements, or other organizational documents or shareholders’ agreements, as applicable, which (a) shall be consistent with the terms of the Restructuring Support Agreement and the consent rights contained therein and (b) will be filed with the Plan Supplement solely to the extent of any material amendments to the Prepetition Organizational Documents. For the avoidance of doubt, the New Corporate Governance Documents of Reorganized Parent shall be filed in the Plan Supplement.

107. “New Debt Documents” means, collectively, the New 2027 Notes Indenture, the New 2028 Notes Indenture, the New RCF Exit Facility Agreement, and all other agreements, documents, and instruments evidencing or securing the New Debt Facilities, to be delivered or entered into in connection therewith (including any guarantee agreements (including the New Debt Facilities Guarantees), pledge and collateral agreements, intercreditor agreements, subordination agreements, commitment letters, term sheets, fee letters, and other security documents), each of which shall be consistent with the terms of the Restructuring Support Agreement and the consent rights contained therein.

108. “New Debt Facilities” means, collectively, the New RCF Exit Facility and the New Notes.

109. “New Debt Facilities Guarantees” means, collectively, the New Debt Facilities Non-Debtor Hospital Partner Entity Guarantees and the New Debt Facilities Physician-Owned Entity Guarantees.

110. “New Debt Facilities Non-Debtor Hospital Partner Entity Guarantees” means those certain secured guarantees of the obligations arising under the New Debt Facilities, to be provided by the Consenting Non-Debtor Hospital Partner Entities, as guarantors in favor of one or more of the Company Parties as obligor of the obligations under the New Debt Documents from and after the Effective Date, which guarantees and related liens and security interests (together with any amendments thereto) shall be subject to the consent rights set forth in the Restructuring Support Agreement and in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Consenting Non-Debtor Hospital Partner Entities (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).

111. “New Debt Facilities Physician-Owned Entity Guarantees means those certain secured guarantees of the obligations arising under the New Debt Facilities, to be provided by the Consenting Physician-Owned Entities as guarantors in favor of one or more of the Company Parties as obligor for the obligations under the New Debt Documents from and after the Effective Date, which guarantees, liens and security interests (together with any amendments thereto) shall be subject to the consent rights set forth in the Restructuring Support Agreement and in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Consenting Physician-Owned Entities (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).

112. “New Notes” means, collectively, the New 2027 Notes and the New 2028 Notes.

113. “New RCF Exit Facility” means a new revolving credit facility to be entered into by certain of the Debtors on the Effective Date.

 

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114. “New RCF Exit Facility Agreement” means the revolving credit agreement governing the New RCF Exit Facility, a copy of which will be filed in the Plan Supplement, which shall be consistent with the terms of the Restructuring Support Agreement and the consent rights contained therein.

115. “Other Equity Interests” means any and all Interests in the Debtors other than Existing Common Stock Interests or Intercompany Interests, including any and all outstanding and unexercised or unvested Prepetition Consenting Investor Warrants, other warrants, options, or rights to acquire Existing Common Stock Interests or other Interests in the Debtors existing immediately prior to the Effective Date and any Section 510(b) Claims.

116. “Other Priority Claim” means any unsecured Claim, other than an Administrative Claim or a Priority Tax Claim, entitled to priority in right of payment under section 507(a) of the Bankruptcy Code.

117. “Other Secured Claim” means any Secured Claim other than a DIP Claim, Prepetition 2025 Notes Claim, Prepetition 2028 Notes Claim, or Prepetition RCF Claim.

118. “Parent” means Akumin Inc.

119. “Person” has the meaning set forth in section 101(41) of the Bankruptcy Code.

120. “Petition Date” means the date on which the Debtors commenced the Chapter 11 Cases.

121. “Plan Administrator Agreement” means, in the event of a Sale Transaction that results in one or more Post-Effective Date Debtor(s), the agreement between the Post-Effective Date Plan Administrator and the Post-Effective Date Debtor(s) regarding the administration and wind-down of the Post-Effective Date Debtor(s) assets and other matters related to their applicable Estate(s), which shall be filed as part of the Plan Supplement.

122. “Plan Distribution” means a payment or distribution of consideration to Holders of Allowed Claims and Allowed Interests under the Prepackaged Plan.

123. “Plan Supplement” means the compilation of documents and forms of documents, term sheets, agreements, schedules, and exhibits to the Prepackaged Plan (in each case, as may be altered, amended, modified, or supplemented up to and through the Effective Date in accordance with the terms hereof and the Restructuring Support Agreement, including the consent rights contained therein, and this Prepackaged Plan) to be Filed prior to the Confirmation Hearing to the extent available, and any additional documents Filed prior to the Effective Date as amendments to the Plan Supplement, including the following, as applicable: (a) the New Corporate Governance Documents; (b) in the event of a Reorganization Transaction, and to the extent known, the identities of the members of the New Board of Reorganized Parent; (c) in the event of a Sale Transaction, the identity of the Post-Effective Date Plan Administrator Agreement; (d) in the event of a Reorganization Transaction, the Rejected Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases Schedule; (e), in the event of a Sale Transaction, the Assumed Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases Schedule; (f) the Schedule of Retained Causes of Action; (g) the CVR Agreement; (h) the New 2027 Notes Indenture and the New 2028 Notes Indenture; (i) the New RCF Exit Facility Agreement; (j) in the event of a Reorganization Transaction, a restructuring transactions memorandum (if any); and (k) in the event of a Sale Transaction, the Sale Transaction Documents.

124. “Post-Effective Date Debtors” means, in the event of a Sale Transaction, the Debtors after the Effective Date.

125. “Post-Effective Date Plan Administrator” means, in the event of a Sale Transaction, the person or entity identified in the Plan Supplement to be appointed on the Effective Date and who will serve as the plan administrator for the Post-Effective Date Debtors as set forth in ARTICLE IV.R.2 of the Prepackaged Plan.

126. “Prepackaged Plan” means this joint chapter 11 plan of reorganization, the Plan Supplement, and all exhibits and schedules annexed hereto or referenced herein, in each case, as may be amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the Bankruptcy Code, the Restructuring Support Agreement, and the terms hereof.

 

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127. “Prepetition 2025 Notes” means the 7.00% Senior Secured Notes, due 2025, outstanding under the Prepetition 2025 Notes Indenture.

128. “Prepetition 2025 Notes Claim(s)” means any Claim for obligations arising under the Prepetition 2025 Notes Indenture, including Claims in respect of all principal amounts outstanding, interest, fees, redemption premiums, expenses, costs, and other charges arising thereunder or related thereto, including postpetition interest, as applicable.

129. “Prepetition 2025 Notes Indenture” means that certain Indenture, dated as of November 2, 2020 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time), by and among Parent, as issuer, certain of the Debtors, as guarantors, and the Prepetition 2025 Notes Trustee.

130. “Prepetition 2025 Notes Trustee” means UMB Bank, National Association, in its capacity as trustee and collateral agent under the Prepetition 2025 Notes Indenture.

131. “Prepetition 2028 Notes” means the 7.50% Senior Secured Notes, due 2028, outstanding under the Prepetition 2028 Notes Indenture.

132. “Prepetition 2028 Notes Claim(s)” means any Claim for obligations arising under the Prepetition 2028 Notes, including Claims in respect of all principal amounts outstanding, interest, fees, redemption premiums, expenses, costs, and other charges arising thereunder or related thereto, including postpetition interest, as applicable.

133. “Prepetition 2028 Notes Indenture” means that certain Indenture, dated as of August 9, 2021 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time), by and among Parent, as issuer and successor to Akumin Escrow Inc., certain of the Debtors, as guarantors, and the Prepetition 2028 Notes Trustee.

134. “Prepetition 2028 Notes Trustee” means UMB Bank, National Association, in its capacity as trustee and collateral agent under the Prepetition 2028 Notes Indenture.

135. “Prepetition Consenting Investor Warrants” means warrants to purchase Existing Common Stock Interests held by the Consenting Investor.

136. “Prepetition Debt Facility Agents” means the Prepetition RCF Agent and the Prepetition Senior Secured Notes Trustees.

137. “Prepetition Notes” means the Prepetition 2025 Notes and the Prepetition 2028 Notes.

138. “Prepetition Organizational Documents” means the formation documents and governance documents for the Debtors as of the Petition Date.

139. “Prepetition RCF Agent” means PNC Bank, National Association, as successor to BBVA USA, in its capacity as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent for the Prepetition RCF Facility.

140. “Prepetition RCF Claims” means any Claim for obligations arising under the Prepetition RCF Credit Agreement or relating to the Prepetition RCF Facility, including the Prepetition Swap Claims and Claims for all principal amounts outstanding, interest, fees, expenses, costs and other charges arising thereunder or related thereto. In the event that the Prepetition RCF Claims are not paid down in full pursuant to the Interim DIP Order, Prepetition RCF Claims shall be Allowed in an amount to be agreed to by the Debtors and the Consenting RCF Lenders prior to the Confirmation Hearing, which amount shall be included in the Confirmation Order.

141. “Prepetition RCF Credit Agreement” means that certain Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of November 2, 2020, by and among certain of the Debtors as borrowers and guarantors thereto, the lenders party thereto from time to time, and the Prepetition RCF Agent, as may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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142. “Prepetition RCF Facility” means the revolving credit facility arising under the Prepetition RCF Credit Agreement.

143. “Prepetition Senior Secured Notes” means, collectively, the Prepetition 2025 Notes and the Prepetition 2028 Notes.

144. “Prepetition Senior Secured Notes Trustees” means the Prepetition 2025 Notes Trustee and the Prepetition 2028 Notes Trustee.

145. “Prepetition Series A Note” means those certain 11% Cash / 13% PIK Unsecured Notes due 2032 / 2033, issued by Akumin Corp. to the Consenting Investor on September 1, 2021.

146. “Prepetition Series A Note Claims” means any Claim on account of the Prepetition Series A Note.

147. “Prepetition Swap Agreement” means, collectively, as may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented, or modified from time to time, the Amended and Restated ISDA Master Agreement dated as of September 28, 2012, between PNC Bank, National Association and Alliance-HNI Leasing Co., L.L.C. and subsequently supplemented on March 29, 2019 and March 19, 2020.

148. “Prepetition Swap Claims” means any and all Claims against the Debtors arising under, derived from, or based upon the Prepetition Swap Agreement.

149. “Priority Tax Claim” means any Claim of a Governmental Unit of the kind specified in sections 502(i) and 507(a)(8) of the Bankruptcy Code.

150. “Pro Rata” means the proportion that an Allowed Claim or an Allowed Interest in a particular Class bears to the aggregate amount of Allowed Claims or Allowed Interests in that Class, unless otherwise indicated.

151. “Professional” means an Entity: (a) employed pursuant to a Bankruptcy Court order in accordance with sections 327, 363, or 1103 of the Bankruptcy Code and to be compensated for services rendered prior to or on the Confirmation Date, pursuant to sections 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, and 363 of the Bankruptcy Code; or (b) awarded compensation and reimbursement by the Bankruptcy Court pursuant to section 503(b)(4) of the Bankruptcy Code.

152. “Professional Fee Amount” means the aggregate amount of Professional Fee Claims and other unpaid fees and expenses that the Professionals estimate they have incurred or will incur in rendering services to the Debtors as set forth in Article II.B of the Prepackaged Plan.

153. “Professional Fee Claim” means a Claim by a Professional seeking an award by the Bankruptcy Court of compensation for services rendered or reimbursement of expenses incurred through and including the Confirmation Date under sections 330, 331, 503(b)(2), 503(b)(3), 503(b)(4), or 503(b)(5) of the Bankruptcy Code.

154. “Professional Fee Account” means an account to be funded by the Debtors with Cash on the Effective Date in an amount equal to the Professional Fee Amount.

155. “Proof of Claim” means a proof of Claim Filed against any of the Debtors in the Chapter 11 Cases.

156. “Purchase Agreement” means the definitive purchase agreement(s) effectuating the Sale Transaction, including all exhibits and schedules thereto, and as may be amended, modified, or supplemented in accordance with the terms thereof, which shall be in form and substance consistent with the Restructuring Support Agreement and the consent rights contained therein.

157. “Purchaser” means one or more Entities that are the purchaser or purchasers under the Purchase Agreement(s), if any, together with any successors to and permitted assigns of such purchaser(s).

 

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158. “Reinstate,” “Reinstated,” or “Reinstatement” means with respect to Claims and Interests, that the Claim or Interest shall not be discharged hereunder and the holder’s legal, equitable, and contractual rights on account of such Claim or Interest shall remain unaltered by Consummation in accordance with section 1124(1) of the Bankruptcy Code.

159. “Rejected Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases Schedule” means, in the event of a Reorganization Transaction, a schedule of Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases to be rejected by the Debtors pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, which schedule shall be included in the Plan Supplement, as the same may be amended, modified, or supplemented from time to time; provided that such schedule shall be in form and substance acceptable to the Consenting Investor.

160. “Related Party” means, collectively, current and former directors, managers, officers, equity holders (regardless of whether such interests are held directly or indirectly), affiliated investment funds or investment vehicles, predecessors, participants, successors, assigns, subsidiaries, affiliates, managed accounts or funds, partners, limited partners, general partners, principals, members, management companies, fund advisors or managers, employees, agents, advisory board members, financial advisors, attorneys, accountants, investment bankers, consultants, representatives, heirs, executors, and assigns, and other professionals, in each case solely in their capacities as such, together with their respective past and present directors, officers, stockholders, partners, members, employees, agents, attorneys, representatives, heirs, executors and assigns, in each case solely in their capacities as such.

161. “Released Parties” means, collectively, and in each case in its capacity as such: (a) each Debtor; (b) each Reorganized Debtor or Post-Effective Date Debtor, as applicable; (c) each Consenting Non-Debtor Hospital Partner Entity; (d) each Consenting Physician-Owned Entity; (e) the Prepetition Debt Facility Agents; (f) the Consenting Investor; (g) each Consenting Stakeholder; (h) the DIP Lender; (i) the DIP Agent; (j) each current and former Affiliate of each Entity in the foregoing clause (a) through (i); and (k) each Related Party of each Entity in clause (a) through (j); provided that any Holder of a Claim or Interest that affirmatively opts out of the releases provided by the Prepackaged Plan by checking the box on the applicable ballot or Notice of Non-Voting Status indicating that they opt not to grant the releases provided in the Prepackaged Plan shall not be a “Released Party.”

162. “Releasing Parties” means, collectively, and in each case in its capacity as such: (a) each Debtor; (b) each Reorganized Debtor or Post-Effective Date Debtor, as applicable; (c) each Consenting Non-Debtor Hospital Partner Entity; (d) each Consenting Physician-Owned Entity; (e) the Prepetition Debt Facility Agents; (f) the Consenting Investor; (g) each Consenting Stakeholder; (h) the DIP Lender; (i) the DIP Agent; (j) all Holders of Claims or Interests that vote to accept the Prepackaged Plan; (k) all Holders of Claims or Interests that are deemed to accept the Prepackaged Plan who do not affirmatively opt out of the releases provided by the Prepackaged Plan by checking the box on the applicable Notice of Non-Voting Status indicating that they opt not to grant the releases provided in the Prepackaged Plan; (l) all Holders of Claims or Interests that abstain from voting on the Prepackaged Plan and who do not affirmatively opt out of the releases provided by the Prepackaged Plan by checking the box on the applicable ballot indicating that they opt not to grant the releases provided in the Prepackaged Plan; (m) all holders of Claims or Interests that vote to reject the Prepackaged Plan or are deemed to reject the Prepackaged Plan and who do not affirmatively opt out of the releases provided by the Prepackaged Plan by checking the box on the applicable ballot or Notice of Non-Voting Status, as applicable, indicating that they opt not to grant the releases provided in the Prepackaged Plan; (n) each current and former Affiliate of each Entity in the foregoing clause (a) through (m); and (o) each Related Party of each Entity in clause (a) through (n).

163. “Reorganization Transaction” means the Restructuring Transaction to be effectuated on the Effective Date unless the Debtors elect to pursue the Sale Transaction.

164. “Reorganized Debtors” means, in the event that the Reorganization Transaction is consummated, collectively, Reorganized Parent and each other Debtor, or any successor or assign thereto, by merger, consolidation, or otherwise, on and after the Effective Date.

165. “Reorganized Parent” means, in the event that the Reorganization Transaction is consummated, Parent, as reorganized on the Effective Date in accordance with the Prepackaged Plan.

 

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166. “Required Consenting Equityholders” has the meaning set forth in the Restructuring Support Agreement.

167. “Required Consenting 2025 Noteholders has the meaning set forth in the Restructuring Support Agreement.

168. “Required Consenting 2028 Noteholders” has the meaning set forth in the Restructuring Support Agreement.

169. “Required Consenting Noteholders” has the meaning set forth in the Restructuring Support Agreement.

170. “Required Consenting RCF Lenders” has the meaning set forth in the Restructuring Support Agreement.

171. “Restructuring Expenses” means the prepetition and postpetition reasonable and documented fees and expenses of the Ad Hoc Noteholder Group Advisors, Consenting RCF Lenders Advisors, the Consenting Investor Advisors, not previously paid by the Debtors, in each case, in accordance with the engagement letters of such professionals, and which, without further order of, or application to the Bankruptcy Court by such professionals, including, the requirement for the filing of retention applications, fee applications, or any applications in the Chapter 11 Cases, shall be Allowed as an Administrative Claim upon incurrence and shall not be subject to any offset, defense, counter-claim, reduction, or credit.

172. “Restructuring Support Agreement” means that certain restructuring support agreement to which the Debtors are a party, a copy of which is attached to this Prepackaged Plan as Exhibit A.

173. “Restructuring Transactions” means any transaction and any actions as may be necessary or appropriate to effect a restructuring of the Debtors’ respective businesses or a corporate restructuring of the overall corporate structure of the Debtors on the terms set forth in this Prepackaged Plan, the issuance of all securities, notes, instruments, agreements, certificates, and other documents required to be issued or executed pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, one or more inter-company mergers, consolidations, amalgamations, arrangements, continuances, restructurings, conversions, dissolutions, transfers, liquidations, or other corporate transactions, as described in Article IV.C of the Prepackaged Plan, in each case, in form and substance consistent with the terms of the Restructuring Support Agreement and the consent rights contained therein.

174. “Reverse Dutch Election Available Proceeds” means $60,000,000 in the aggregate to be made available by the Debtors upon receipt of the Consenting Investor Direct Investment to fund Cash payments pursuant to the Reverse Dutch Election Opportunity.

175. “Reverse Dutch Election Bid Price” means, with respect to each participant, the lowest price at which the applicable holder consents to receive cash in lieu of New Notes pursuant to the Reverse Dutch Election Opportunity, which shall be no higher than the Reverse Dutch Election Maximum Price and specified in such holder’s Required Reverse Dutch Election Submission Materials.

176. “Reverse Dutch Election Deadline” means the deadline by which holders of Prepetition 2025 Notes Claims and Prepetition 2028 Notes Claims shall direct their applicable brokers and/or nominees to submit the Reverse Dutch Election Required Submission Materials, which will be at least twenty (20) Business Days after the date that the Reverse Dutch Election Required Submission Materials are distributed to the Holders of Prepetition 2025 Notes Claims and Prepetition 2028 Notes Claims and specifically identified in the Reverse Dutch Election Form; provided, that the Debtors shall extend the Reverse Dutch Election Deadline such that it is no more than ten (10) calendar days prior to the anticipated Effective Date and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide notice of such extension to the Holders of Prepetition 2025 Notes Claims and Prepetition 2028 Notes Claims at least five (5) Business Days prior to the previously scheduled Reverse Dutch Election Deadline by filing a notice on the docket and posting such notice on the Debtors’ restructuring website at https://dm.epiq11.com/Akumin. The Reverse Dutch Election Required Submission Materials must be actually received by the Claims and Balloting Agent by 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) to be considered timely submitted by the Reverse Dutch Election Deadline.

 

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177. “Reverse Dutch Election Form” means a form and instructions to be prepared by the Debtors and distributed to holders of Prepetition 2025 Notes Claims and Prepetition 2028 Notes Claims in accordance with the Reverse Dutch Election Procedures set forth in the Solicitation Procedures Motion and any order approving the Solicitation Procedures Motion.

178. “Reverse Dutch Election Maximum Price” means, (a) with respect to the Prepetition 2025 Notes Claims, $825 per $1,000 in principal amount of the Prepetition 2025 Notes Claims, and (b) with respect to the Prepetition 2028 Notes Claims, $775 per $1,000 in principal amount of the Prepetition 2028 Notes Claims.

179. “Reverse Dutch Election Opportunity” means an election process pursuant to which the Reverse Dutch Election Available Proceeds will be paid at the applicable Reverse Dutch Election Bid Price to each of the Reverse Dutch Election Participants in lieu of New Notes under the Prepackaged Plan; provided, that if the Reverse Dutch Election Available Proceeds are insufficient to pay the aggregate Reverse Dutch Election Bid Price to all Reverse Dutch Election Participants, then (a) the Reverse Dutch Election Available Proceeds shall be allocated first to the participants that have submitted the lowest Reverse Dutch Election Bid Price for the full amount of Reverse Dutch Election Participating Notes for which such Reverse Dutch Election Bid Price was submitted, which allocation of Reverse Dutch Election Available Proceeds shall be repeated for each next-lowest Reverse Dutch Election Bid Price until the highest Reverse Dutch Election Bid Price for which allocation of remaining Reverse Dutch Election Available Proceeds for the full amount of Reverse Dutch Election Participating Notes does not exhaust all of the remaining Reverse Dutch Election Available Proceeds; (b) any participants that have submitted Reverse Dutch Election Participating Notes with the Reverse Dutch Election Bid Price at which the remaining Reverse Dutch Election Available Proceeds would be exhausted after allocation of Reverse Dutch Election Available Proceeds with respect to all lower Reverse Dutch Election Bid Prices as set forth in step (a) above (the “Clearing Price”) shall receive their pro rata share (based on the principal amount of Reverse Dutch Election Participating Notes that were submitted with such Reverse Dutch Election Bid Price, subject to adjustments required under the procedures of DTC relating to minimum denominations) of the remaining Reverse Dutch Election Available Proceeds; and (c) any Reverse Dutch Election Participants that select a Reverse Dutch Election Bid Price that is higher than the Clearing Price shall not receive any Reverse Dutch Election Available Proceeds with respect to their Reverse Dutch Election Participating Notes. Reverse Dutch Election Participants that select Reverse Dutch Election Bid Prices equal to or lower than the Clearing Price will receive consideration equal to their applicable Reverse Dutch Election Bid Price for each $1,000 principal amount of Selected Reverse Dutch Election Participating Notes.

180. “Reverse Dutch Election Participants” means holders of Prepetition 2025 Notes Claims and Prepetition 2028 Notes Claims that have timely submitted the Reverse Dutch Election Required Submission Materials by the Reverse Dutch Election Deadline.

181. “Reverse Dutch Election Participating Notes” means the Prepetition Notes held by the Reverse Dutch Election Participants that the Reverse Dutch Election Participants have elected to participate in the Reverse Dutch Election Opportunity by submitting the Reverse Dutch Election Required Submission Materials.

182. “Reverse Dutch Election Required Submission Materials” means, collectively, (a) the executed Reverse Dutch Election Form specifying, among other things, the Reverse Dutch Election Bid Price and (b) delivery of book-entry positions for the applicable Prepetition Notes identified in each respective Reverse Dutch Election Form through DTC’s ATOP system or as otherwise provided in the Reverse Dutch Election Form.

183. “Sale Hearing” means a hearing to consider the approval of any Sale Transaction, which may be combined with the Confirmation Hearing.

184. “Sale Order” means one or more Bankruptcy Court orders, which may be the Confirmation Order, approving the Debtors’ entry into one or more Purchase Agreement(s) in connection with the Sale Transaction, in each case, in form and substance consistent with the Restructuring Support Agreement and the consent rights contained therein.

 

15


185. “Sale Transaction” means one or more sales of all, substantially all, or a material portion of the Debtors’ Estate assets pursuant to section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or the Prepackaged Plan in accordance with the Bidding Procedures and this Prepackaged Plan.

186. “Sale Transaction Documents” means the documents governing the Sale Transaction, including, without limitation, the Bidding Procedures, the Bidding Procedures Motion, the Bidding Procedures Order, the Purchase Agreement(s), and any Sale Order(s), in each case, in form and substance consistent with the terms of the Restructuring Support Agreement and the consent rights contained therein.

187. “Sale Transaction Election Notice” means a notice Filed in advance of the earlier of the Confirmation Hearing or applicable Sale Hearing indicating that the Debtors have (a) received a Successful Bid in accordance with the Bid Procedures (and the requirements set forth therein) and this Prepackaged Plan and (b) elected to pursue the Sale Transaction.

188. “Sale Transaction Election Notice Deadline” means 5:00 p.m. (Central Time) on the day that is seven days prior to the Confirmation Hearing.

189. “Schedule of Retained Causes of Action” means the schedule of certain Causes of Action of the Debtors that are not released, waived, or transferred pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, as the same may be amended, modified, or supplemented from time to time, in each case, in form and substance consistent with the terms of the Restructuring Support Agreement and the consent rights contained therein.

190. “Schedules” means, collectively, the schedules of assets and liabilities, schedules of Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases, and statements of financial affairs Filed by the Debtors pursuant to section 521 of the Bankruptcy Code, including any amendments or supplements thereto, in each case.

191. “Section 510(b) Claims” means any Claim against a Debtor subject to subordination under section 510(b) of the Bankruptcy Code, whether by operation of Law or contract.

192. “SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

193. “Secured Claim” means a Claim: (a) secured by a valid, perfected, and enforceable Lien on collateral to the extent of the value of such collateral, as determined in accordance with section 506(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or (b) subject to a valid right of setoff pursuant to section 553 of the Bankruptcy Code to the extent of the amount subject to setoff.

194. “Secured Tax Claim” means any Secured Claim that, absent its secured status, would be entitled to priority in right of payment under section 507(a)(8) of the Bankruptcy Code (determined irrespective of time limitations), including any related Secured Claim for penalties.

195. “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 15 U.S.C. §§ 77a–77aa, or any similar Law, as now in effect or hereafter amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

196. “Security” means any security, as defined in section 2(a)(1) of the Securities Act or section 101(49) of the Bankruptcy Code.

197. “Selected Reverse Dutch Election Participating Notes” means those Reverse Dutch Election Participating Notes for which the holder(s) received Cash payments from the Reverse Dutch Election Available Proceeds.

198. “Solicitation Materials” means the solicitation materials provided by the Claims and Balloting Agent to the parties entitled to vote to accept or reject the Prepackaged Plan.

 

16


199. “Solicitation Procedures Motion” means the motion Filed by the Debtors seeking, among other things, entry of an order approving the solicitation procedures, conditional approval of Disclosure Statement, and scheduling the Confirmation Hearing to consider final approval of the Disclosure Statement and a hearing to consider Confirmation of the Prepackaged Plan, which shall be consistent with the terms of the Restructuring Support Agreement and the consent rights contained therein.

200. “Successful Bid” means a qualified bid that is selected by the Debtors in accordance with the Bidding Procedures; provided that the Debtors shall not select any bid as the Successful Bid unless such bid meets the Successful Bid Mandatory Conditions.

201. “Successful Bid Mandatory Conditions” has the meaning ascribed to such term in ARTICLE IV.B of the Prepackaged Plan.

202. “Third-Party Release” means the release set forth in ARTICLE VIII.D of the Prepackaged Plan.

203. “Unexpired Lease” means a lease to which one or more of the Debtors is a party that is subject to assumption or rejection under section 365 or 1123 of the Bankruptcy Code.

204. “Unimpaired” means with respect to a Class of Claims or Interests, a Class of Claims or Interests that is unimpaired within the meaning of section 1124 of the Bankruptcy Code.

205. “Unsecured Claim” means any Claim that is not a Secured Claim.

206. “Voting Deadline” means, subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy Court, November 15, 2023, or such other date as ordered by the Bankruptcy Court.

 

B.

Rules of Interpretation.

For purposes of this Prepackaged Plan: (1) in the appropriate context, each term, whether stated in the singular or the plural, shall include both the singular and the plural, and pronouns stated in the masculine, feminine, or neuter gender shall include the masculine, feminine, and the neuter gender; (2) unless otherwise specified, any reference herein to a contract, lease, instrument, release, indenture, or other agreement or document being in a particular form or on particular terms and conditions means that the referenced document shall be substantially in that form or substantially on those terms and conditions; provided that nothing in this clause (2) shall affect any parties’ consent rights over any of the Definitive Documents or any amendments thereto, as provided for in the Restructuring Support Agreement; (3) unless otherwise specified, any reference herein to an existing document, schedule, or exhibit, whether or not Filed, having been Filed or to be Filed shall mean that document, schedule, or exhibit, as it may thereafter be amended, modified, or supplemented in accordance with the Prepackaged Plan or Confirmation Order, as applicable; (4) any reference to an Entity as a Holder of a Claim or Interest includes that Entity’s successors and assigns; (5) unless otherwise specified, all references herein to “Articles” are references to Articles hereof or hereto; (6) unless otherwise specified, all references herein to exhibits are references to exhibits in the Plan Supplement; (7) unless otherwise specified, the words “herein,” “hereof,” and “hereto” refer to the Prepackaged Plan in its entirety rather than to a particular portion of the Prepackaged Plan; (8) subject to the provisions of any contract, certificate of incorporation, by-law, instrument, release, or other agreement or document entered into in connection with the Prepackaged Plan, the rights and obligations arising pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with the applicable federal Law, including the Bankruptcy Code and Bankruptcy Rules; (9) captions and headings to Articles are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be a part of or to affect the interpretation of the Prepackaged Plan; (10) unless otherwise specified herein, the rules of construction set forth in section 102 of the Bankruptcy Code shall apply; (11) any term used in capitalized form herein that is not otherwise defined but that is used in the Bankruptcy Code or the Bankruptcy Rules shall have the meaning assigned to that term in the Bankruptcy Code or the Bankruptcy Rules, as the case may be; (12) all references to docket numbers of documents Filed in the Chapter 11 Cases are references to the docket numbers under the Bankruptcy Court’s CM/ECF system; (13) all references to statutes, regulations, orders, rules of courts, and the like shall mean as amended from time to time, and as applicable to the Chapter 11 Cases, unless otherwise stated; (14) the words “include” and “including,” and variations thereof, shall not be deemed to be terms of limitation, and shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (15) references to “Proofs of Claim,” “holders of Claims,” “Disputed Claims,” and the like shall include “Proofs of Interest,” “holders of Interests,” “Disputed Interests,” and the like, as applicable; (16)

 

17


any immaterial effectuating provisions may be interpreted by the Reorganized Debtors in such a manner that is consistent with the overall purpose and intent of the Prepackaged Plan all without further notice to or action, order, or approval of the Bankruptcy Court or any other Entity; and (17) all references herein to consent, acceptance, or approval may be conveyed by counsel for the respective parties that have such consent, acceptance, or approval rights, including by electronic mail.

 

C.

Computation of Time.

Unless otherwise specifically stated herein, the provisions of Bankruptcy Rule 9006(a) shall apply in computing any period of time prescribed or allowed herein. If the date on which a transaction may occur pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan shall occur on a day that is not a Business Day, then such transaction shall instead occur on the next succeeding Business Day. Any action to be taken on the Effective Date may be taken on or as soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Date.

 

D.

Governing Law.

Unless a rule of law or procedure is supplied by federal Law (including the Bankruptcy Code and Bankruptcy Rules) or unless otherwise specifically stated, the Laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws (other than section 5-1401 and section 5-1402 of the New York General Obligations Law), shall govern the rights, obligations, construction, and implementation of the Prepackaged Plan, any agreements, documents, instruments, or contracts executed or entered into in connection with the Prepackaged Plan (except as otherwise set forth in those agreements, in which case the governing Law of such agreement shall control), and corporate governance matters; provided that corporate governance matters relating to the Debtors or the Reorganized Debtors, as applicable, not incorporated in New York shall be governed by the Laws of the state of incorporation or formation of the relevant Debtor or the Reorganized Debtors, as applicable.

 

E.

Reference to Monetary Figures.

All references in the Prepackaged Plan to monetary figures shall refer to currency of the United States of America, unless otherwise expressly provided herein.

 

F.

Reference to the Debtors or the Reorganized Debtors.

Except as otherwise specifically provided in the Prepackaged Plan to the contrary, references in the Prepackaged Plan to the Debtors or the Reorganized Debtors shall mean the Debtors and the Reorganized Debtors, as applicable, to the extent the context requires.

 

G.

Nonconsolidated Prepackaged Plan.

Although for purposes of administrative convenience and efficiency this Prepackaged Plan has been filed as a joint plan for each of the Debtors and presents together Classes of Claims against and Interests in the Debtors, the Prepackaged Plan does not provide for the substantive consolidation of any of the Debtors.

 

H.

Controlling Document.

In the event of an inconsistency between the Prepackaged Plan and the Disclosure Statement, the terms of the Prepackaged Plan shall control in all respects. In the event of an inconsistency between the Prepackaged Plan and the Plan Supplement, the terms of the relevant provision in the Plan Supplement shall control (unless stated otherwise in such Plan Supplement document or in the Confirmation Order). In the event of an inconsistency between the Confirmation Order and the Prepackaged Plan (including the Plan Supplement), the Confirmation Order shall control.

 

18


I.

Consultation, Information, Notice, and Consent Rights.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any and all consultation, information, notice, and consent rights of the parties to the Restructuring Support Agreement set forth in the Restructuring Support Agreement (including the exhibits thereto) with respect to the form and substance of this Prepackaged Plan, all exhibits to the Prepackaged Plan, and the Plan Supplement, and all other Definitive Documents, including any amendments, restatements, supplements, or other modifications to such agreements and documents, and any consents, waivers, or other deviations under or from any such documents, shall be incorporated herein by this reference (including to the applicable definitions in Article I.A hereof) and fully enforceable as if stated in full herein.

Failure to reference the rights referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph as such rights relate to any document referenced in the Restructuring Support Agreement shall not impair such rights and obligations.

Solely with respect to any consultation, information, notice, or consent rights in the Prepackaged Plan, in the event of any inconsistency between the Prepackaged Plan and the Restructuring Support Agreement, the terms of the Restructuring Support Agreement shall control.

ARTICLE II.

ADMINISTRATIVE CLAIMS, DIP CLAIMS, PRIORITY

CLAIMS, AND RESTRUCTURING EXPENSES

In accordance with section 1123(a)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code, Administrative Claims, Professional Fee Claims, and Priority Tax Claims have not been classified and, thus, are excluded from the Classes of Claims and Interests set forth in Article III hereof.

 

A.

Administrative Claims.

Subject to the provisions of sections 328, 330(a), and 331 of the Bankruptcy Code, unless otherwise agreed to by the Holder of an Allowed Administrative Claim and the Debtors or the Reorganized Debtors, as applicable, or otherwise provided for under the Prepackaged Plan or the Restructuring Support Agreement, each Holder of an Allowed Administrative Claim (other than holders of Professional Fee Claims and Claims for fees and expenses pursuant to section 1930 of chapter 123 of title 28 of the United States Code) will receive in full and final satisfaction of its Administrative Claim an amount of Cash equal to the amount of such Allowed Administrative Claim in accordance with the following: (1) if an Administrative Claim is Allowed on or prior to the Effective Date, on the Effective Date or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter (or, if not then due, when such Allowed Administrative Claim is due or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter); (2) if such Administrative Claim is not Allowed as of the Effective Date, no later than thirty (30) days after the date on which an order allowing such Administrative Claim becomes a Final Order, or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter; (3) if such Allowed Administrative Claim is based on liabilities incurred by the Debtors in the ordinary course of their business after the Petition Date in accordance with the terms and conditions of the particular transaction giving rise to such Allowed Administrative Claim without any further action by the holders of such Allowed Administrative Claim; (4) at such time and upon such terms as may be agreed upon by such holder and the Debtors or the Reorganized Debtors, as applicable, and in each case, with the consent of the Consenting Investor; or (5) at such time and upon such terms as set forth in an order of the Bankruptcy Court.

 

B.

DIP Claims.

On the Effective Date, in full and final satisfaction of all Allowed DIP Claims, including, for the avoidance of doubt, all Claims in respect of the outstanding principal amount of DIP Loans and any accrued but unpaid interest thereon, shall be converted into New Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the DIP Facility Documents and the DIP Orders and shall reduce dollar-for-dollar the Consenting Investor Direct Investment Amount.

 

C.

Professional Fee Claims.

 

  1.

Final Fee Applications and Payment of Professional Fee Claims.

All requests for payment of Professional Fee Claims for services rendered and reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to the Confirmation Date must be Filed no later than forty-five (45) days after the Effective Date. The Bankruptcy Court shall determine the Allowed amounts of such Professional Fee Claims after notice and a hearing in

 

19


accordance with the procedures established by the Bankruptcy Court. The Reorganized Debtors shall pay Professional Fee Claims in Cash in the amount the Bankruptcy Court allows, including from the Professional Fee Account, which the Reorganized Debtors will establish in trust for the Professionals and fund with Cash equal to the Professional Fee Amount on the Effective Date.

 

  2.

Professional Fee Account.

On the Effective Date, the Reorganized Debtors shall, in consultation with the Consenting Investor, establish and fund the Professional Fee Account with Cash equal to the Professional Fee Amount, which shall be funded by the Reorganized Debtors. The Professional Fee Account shall be maintained solely for the Professionals. The amount of Allowed Professional Fee Claims shall be paid in Cash to the Professionals by the Reorganized Debtors from the Professional Fee Account as soon as reasonably practicable after such Professional Fee Claims are Allowed. When such Allowed Professional Fee Claims have been paid in full, any remaining amount in the Professional Fee Account shall promptly be paid to the Reorganized Debtors without any further action or order of the Bankruptcy Court.

 

  3.

Professional Fee Amount.

Professionals shall reasonably estimate their unpaid Professional Fee Claims in consultation with the Consenting Investor and other unpaid fees and expenses incurred in rendering services to the Debtors before and as of the Effective Date, and shall deliver such estimate to the Debtors no later than five (5) days before the Effective Date; provided that such estimate shall not be deemed to limit the amount of the fees and expenses that are the subject of each Professional’s final request for payment in the Chapter 11 Cases. If a Professional does not provide an estimate, the Debtors or Reorganized Debtors may estimate the unpaid and unbilled fees and expenses of such Professional in consultation with the Consenting Investor.

 

  4.

Post-Confirmation Fees and Expenses.

Except as otherwise specifically provided in the Prepackaged Plan, from and after the Confirmation Date, the Debtors shall, in the ordinary course of business and without any further notice to or action, order, or approval of the Bankruptcy Court, pay in Cash the reasonable and documented legal, professional, or other fees and expenses related to implementation of the Prepackaged Plan and Consummation incurred by the Debtors. Upon the Confirmation Date, any requirement that Professionals comply with sections 327 through 331, 363, and 1103 of the Bankruptcy Code in seeking retention or compensation for services rendered after such date shall terminate, and the Debtors may employ and pay any Professional in the ordinary course of business without any further notice to or action, order, or approval of the Bankruptcy Court.

 

D.

Priority Tax Claims.

Except to the extent that a Holder of an Allowed Priority Tax Claim agrees to a less favorable treatment, in full and final satisfaction, settlement, release, and discharge of and in exchange for each Allowed Priority Tax Claim, each Holder of such Allowed Priority Tax Claim shall be treated in accordance with the terms set forth in section 1129(a)(9)(C) of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

E.

Payment of Restructuring Expenses.

The Restructuring Expenses and the outstanding reasonable and documented fees and expenses of the Prepetition Senior Secured Notes Trustees incurred, or estimated to be incurred, up to and including the Effective Date, shall be paid in full in Cash on the Effective Date or as reasonably practicable thereafter (to the extent not previously paid during the course of the Chapter 11 Cases) in accordance with, and subject to, the terms of the Restructuring Support Agreement, any applicable engagement letter(s), and any DIP Orders, as applicable, without any requirement to file a fee application with the Bankruptcy Court, without the need for itemized time detail, or without any requirement for Bankruptcy Court review or approval. All Restructuring Expenses to be paid on the Effective Date shall be estimated prior to and as of the Effective Date and such estimates shall be delivered to the Debtors at least two (2) Business Days before the anticipated Effective Date; provided that such estimates shall not be considered an admission or limitation with respect to such Restructuring Expenses. On or as soon as practicable after

 

20


the Effective Date, final invoices for all Restructuring Expenses incurred prior to and as of the Effective Date shall be submitted to the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable. In addition, the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, and/or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, shall continue to pay pre-and post-Effective Date, when due Restructuring Expenses related to implementation, consummation, and defense of the Prepackaged Plan, whether incurred before, on, or after the Effective Date, without any requirement for Bankruptcy Court review or approval.

ARTICLE III.

CLASSIFICATION AND TREATMENT OF CLAIMS AND INTERESTS

 

A.

Classification of Claims and Interests.

This Prepackaged Plan constitutes a separate Prepackaged Plan proposed by each Debtor. Except for the Claims addressed in Article II hereof, all Claims and Interests are classified in the Classes set forth below in accordance with sections 1122 and 1123(a)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code. A Claim or an Interest, or any portion thereof, is classified in a particular Class only to the extent that any portion of such Claim or Interest fits within the description of that Class and is classified in other Classes to the extent that any portion of the Claim or Interest fits within the description of such other Classes. A Claim or an Interest also is classified in a particular Class for the purpose of receiving distributions under the Prepackaged Plan only to the extent that such Claim or Interest is an Allowed Claim or Allowed Interest in that Class and has not been paid, released, or otherwise satisfied prior to the Effective Date.

The classification of Claims and Interests against the Debtors pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan is as follows:

 

Class

  

Type of Claim or Interest

  

Impairment

  

Entitled to Vote

Class 1    Other Secured Claims    Unimpaired    No (Deemed to accept)
Class 2    Other Priority Claims    Unimpaired    No (Deemed to accept)
Class 3    Prepetition RCF Claims    Impaired    Yes
Class 4    Prepetition 2025 Notes Claims    Impaired    Yes
Class 5    Prepetition 2028 Notes Claims    Impaired    Yes
Class 6    Prepetition Series A Note Claims    Impaired    Yes
Class 7    General Unsecured Claims    Unimpaired    No (Deemed to accept)
Class 8    Intercompany Claims    Impaired / Unimpaired    No (Deemed to accept or reject)
Class 9    Existing Common Stock Interests    Impaired    No (Deemed to reject)
Class 10    Other Equity Interests    Impaired    No (Deemed to reject)
Class 11    Intercompany Interests    Impaired / Unimpaired    No (Deemed to accept or reject)

 

B.

Treatment of Claims and Interests.

Each Holder of an Allowed Claim or Allowed Interest, as applicable, shall receive under the Prepackaged Plan the treatment described below in full and final satisfaction, settlement, release, and discharge of and in exchange for such holder’s Allowed Claim or Allowed Interest, except to the extent different treatment is agreed to by the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, and the Holder of such Allowed Claim or Allowed Interest, as applicable. Unless otherwise indicated, the Holder of an Allowed Claim or Allowed Interest, as applicable, shall receive such treatment on the Effective Date or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter.

 

  1.

Class 1 – Other Secured Claims

 

  (a)

Classification: Class 1 consists of all Other Secured Claims.

 

21


  (b)

Treatment: The legal, equitable, and contractual rights of the Holders of Allowed Other Secured Claims are unaltered by the Prepackaged Plan. Each Holder of an Allowed Other Secured Claim shall receive, at the option of the applicable Debtor:

 

  (i)

payment in full in Cash of its Allowed Other Secured Claim;

 

  (ii)

the collateral securing its Allowed Other Secured Claim;

 

  (iii)

Reinstatement of its Allowed Other Secured Claim; or

 

  (iv)

such other treatment that renders its Allowed Other Secured Claim Unimpaired in accordance with section 1124 of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

  (c)

Voting: Class 1 is Unimpaired under the Prepackaged Plan. Holders of Other Secured Claims are conclusively presumed to have accepted the Prepackaged Plan pursuant to section 1126(f) of the Bankruptcy Code. Therefore, such holders are not entitled to vote to accept or reject the Prepackaged Plan.

 

  2.

Class 2 – Other Priority Claims

 

  (a)

Classification: Class 2 consists of all Other Priority Claims.

 

  (b)

Treatment: The legal, equitable, and contractual rights of the holders of Allowed Other Priority Claims are unaltered by the Prepackaged Plan. Each Holder of an Allowed Other Priority Claim shall receive payment in full in Cash.

 

  (c)

Voting: Class 2 is Unimpaired under the Prepackaged Plan. Holders of Other Priority Claims are conclusively presumed to have accepted the Prepackaged Plan pursuant to section 1126(f) of the Bankruptcy Code. Therefore, such holders are not entitled to vote to accept or reject the Prepackaged Plan.

 

  3.

Class 3 – Prepetition RCF Claims

 

  (a)

Classification: Class 3 consists of all Prepetition RCF Claims.

 

  (b)

Treatment:

 

  (i)

In the event of a Reorganization Transaction, each Holder of an Allowed Prepetition RCF Claim shall receive, in full and final satisfaction of such Claim, its Pro Rata Share of the New RCF Exit Facility.

 

  (ii)

In the event of a Sale Transaction, each Holder of an Allowed Prepetition RCF Claim shall receive payment in full in Cash, including, for the avoidance of doubt, all principal amounts outstanding under the Prepetition RCF Facility and any pre- and postpetition interest, fees, redemption premium, expenses, costs, and other charges arising thereunder or related thereto, as applicable.

 

  (c)

Voting: Class 3 is impaired under the Prepackaged Plan. Holders of Prepetition RCF Claims are entitled to vote to accept or reject the Prepackaged Plan.

 

  4.

Class 4 – Prepetition 2025 Notes Claims

 

  (a)

Classification: Class 4 consists of all Prepetition 2025 Notes Claims.

 

22


  (b)

Allowance: Prepetition 2025 Notes Claims shall be deemed Allowed in the aggregate principal amount of $475 million, plus all interest, fees, redemption premiums, expenses, costs, and other charges due under the Prepetition 2025 Notes Indenture.

 

  (c)

Treatment:

 

  (i)

In the event of a Reorganization Transaction, each Holder of an Allowed Prepetition 2025 Notes Claim shall receive, in full and final satisfaction of such Claim, its Pro Rata Share of:

 

  (a)

(x) the New 2027 Notes; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, any Allowed Prepetition 2025 Notes Claims arising on account of Selected Reverse Dutch Election Participating Notes shall not receive any portion of the New 2027 Notes that such Holder would have otherwise been entitled to receive on account of such Claims; and

 

  (b)

(y) the opportunity to voluntarily participate in the Reverse Dutch Election Opportunity by submitting a Reverse Dutch Election Form prior to the Reverse Dutch Election Deadline.

 

  (ii)

In the event of a Sale Transaction, each Holder of an Allowed Prepetition 2025 Notes Claim shall receive payment in full in Cash, including, for the avoidance of doubt, all principal amounts outstanding under the Prepetition 2025 Indenture and any pre- and postpetition interest, fees, redemption premium, expenses, costs, and other charges arising thereunder or related thereto, as applicable.

 

  (d)

Voting: Class 4 is Impaired under the Prepackaged Plan. Holders of Prepetition 2025 Notes Claims are entitled to vote to accept or reject the Prepackaged Plan.

 

  5.

Class 5 – Prepetition 2028 Notes Claims

 

  (a)

Classification: Class 5 consists of all Prepetition 2028 Notes Claims.

 
  (b)

Allowance: Prepetition 2028 Notes Claims shall be deemed Allowed in the aggregate principal amount of $375 million, plus all interest, fees, redemption premiums, expenses, costs, and other charges due under the Prepetition 2028 Notes Indenture.

 
  (c)

Treatment:

 

  (i)

In the event of a Reorganization Transaction, each Holder of an Allowed Prepetition 2028 Notes Claim shall receive, in full and final satisfaction of such Claim, its Pro Rata Share of:

 

  (a)

(x) the New 2028 Notes; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, any Allowed Prepetition 2028 Notes Claims arising on account of Selected Reverse Dutch Election Participating Notes shall not receive any portion of the New 2028 Notes that such Holder would have otherwise been entitled to receive on account of such Claims; and

 
  (b)

(y) the opportunity to voluntarily participate in the Reverse Dutch Election Opportunity by submitting a Reverse Dutch Election Form prior to the Reverse Dutch Election Deadline.

 

23


  (ii)

In the event of a Sale Transaction, each Holder of an Allowed Prepetition 2028 Notes Claim shall receive payment in full in Cash, including, for the avoidance of doubt, all principal amounts outstanding under the Prepetition 2028 Indenture and any pre- and postpetition interest, fees, redemption premium, expenses, costs, and other charges arising thereunder or related thereto, as applicable.

 

  (d)

Voting: Class 5 is Impaired under the Prepackaged Plan. Holders of Prepetition 2028 Notes Claims are entitled to vote to accept or reject the Prepackaged Plan.

 

  6.

Class 6 – Prepetition Series A Note Claims

 

  (a)

Classification: Class 6 consists of the Prepetition Series A Note Claims.

 

  (b)

Allowance: Prepetition Series A Note Claims shall be deemed Allowed in the aggregate principal amount of $469,791,590.16, plus all interest, fees, expenses, costs, and other charges due under the Prepetition Series A Note.

 

  (c)

Treatment:

 

  (i)

In the event of a Reorganization Transaction, the Holder of the Allowed Prepetition Series A Note Claims shall receive 100% of the New Common Stock of Reorganized Parent, subject to dilution (i) in accordance with the New Corporate Governance Documents and (ii) for any New Common Stock issued to Holders of Allowed DIP Claims, in full and final satisfaction of such Claim.

 

  (ii)

In the event of a Sale Transaction, the Holder of the Allowed Prepetition Series A Note Claims shall receive payment in full in Cash.

 

  (d)

Voting: Class 6 is Impaired under the Prepackaged Plan. Holders of Prepetition Series A Note Claims are entitled to vote to accept or reject the Prepackaged Plan.

 

  7.

Class 7 – General Unsecured Claims

 

  (a)

Classification: Class 7 consists of all General Unsecured Claims.

 

  (b)

Treatment: The legal, equitable, and contractual rights of the holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims are unaltered by the Prepackaged Plan. Except to the extent that a Holder of an Allowed General Unsecured Claim agrees to different treatment, on and after the Effective Date, the Debtors shall continue to pay or dispute each General Unsecured Claim in the ordinary course of business as if the Chapter 11 Cases had never been commenced.

 

  (c)

Voting: Class 7 is Unimpaired under the Prepackaged Plan. Holders of General Unsecured Claims are conclusively presumed to have accepted the Prepackaged Plan pursuant to section 1126(f) of the Bankruptcy Code. Therefore, such Holders are not entitled to vote to accept or reject the Prepackaged Plan.

 

  8.

Class 8 – Intercompany Claims

 

  (a)

Classification: Class 8 consists of all Intercompany Claims.

 

  (b)

Treatment: Each Allowed Intercompany Claim shall be, at the option of the applicable Debtor (with the consent of the Consenting Investor and in consultation with the Required Consenting Noteholders to the extent the holders of the New Notes may reasonably be impacted), either:

 

24


  (i)

Reinstated;

 

  (ii)

canceled, released, and extinguished, and will be of no further force or effect; or

 

  (iii)

otherwise addressed at the option of each applicable Debtor such that holders of Intercompany Claims will not receive any distribution on account of such Intercompany Claims.

 

  (c)

Voting: Class 8 is conclusively deemed to have accepted the Prepackaged Plan pursuant to section 1126(f) of the Bankruptcy Code or rejected the Prepackaged Plan pursuant to section 1126(g) of the Bankruptcy Code. Class 8 is not entitled to vote to accept or reject the Prepackaged Plan.

 

  9.

Class 9 – Existing Common Stock Interests

 

  (a)

Classification: Class 9 consists of all Existing Common Stock Interests.

 

  (b)

Treatment: All Existing Common Stock Interests shall be canceled, released, and extinguished and will be of no further force or effect.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Reorganization Transaction is consummated, on the Effective Date:

 

  (i)

each Holder of an Existing Common Stock Interest (other than the Consenting Investor) shall receive its Pro Rata Share (not taking into account the Existing Common Stock Interest held by the Consenting Investor) of $25,000,000 in Cash to be contributed by the Consenting Investor to the holders of Existing Common Stock Interests other than the Consenting Investor (the “Consenting Investor Cash Contribution”); and

 

  (ii)

each Holder of an Existing Common Stock Interest (other than the Consenting Investor) that satisfies the CVR Distribution Conditions shall receive its Pro Rata Share of the CVRs, which shall be distributed pursuant to the CVR Distribution Framework; provided that no Holder of Existing Common Stock Interests shall be entitled to receive any interest in the CVRs to be distributed pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan if (A) the receipt of such CVRs by a particular holder (together with the other holders) will prevent Reorganized Parent from becoming or remaining a privately held company whose securities are not required to be registered under the Securities Exchange Act, (B) the receipt of such CVRs by a particular holder will prevent Reorganized Parent from ceasing to be a reporting issuer under applicable Canadian securities Laws on the Effective Date, or (C) such recipient has not satisfied the CVR Distribution Conditions.

For the avoidance of doubt, pursuant to the CVR Distribution Framework, in order to ensure compliance with the Securities Exchange Act (to the extent applicable), (x) the Reorganized Debtor shall not be required to distribute the CVRs under the Prepackaged Plan until as soon as reasonably practicable after the deadline set forth in the CVR Distribution Framework for the holders of Existing Common Stock Interests to submit required forms and agreements to claim their potential right to receive CVRs and (y) the CVR Distribution Framework shall provide a mechanism for the Reorganized Debtor to pay Cash in an amount equal to the value of the CVRs at the Effective Date as determined by an independent valuator acceptable to the Consenting Investor to be retained by the Parent as soon as practicable following the Confirmation Date (such value, the “Effective Date CVR Value”) to holders of Existing Common Stock Interests that have otherwise

 

25


met the CVR Distribution Conditions in lieu of distribution of CVRs to such holder; provided, that if the Cash to be distributed to a particular beneficial holder in lieu of CVRs is less than the minimum distribution amount set forth in ARTICLE VI.D.3 of the Prepackaged Plan, then such holder shall not receive any additional Cash nor any rights under or interest in the CVRs.

If the Sale Transaction is consummated, each Holder of an Existing Common Stock Interest shall receive its Pro Rata Share of any proceeds available after all Claims and obligations of the Debtors’ Estates have been satisfied (or otherwise reserved for) in full in Cash.

 

  (c)

Voting: Class 9 is conclusively deemed to have rejected the Prepackaged Plan pursuant to section 1126(g) of the Bankruptcy Code. Class 9 is not entitled to vote to accept or reject the Prepackaged Plan.

 

  10.

Class 10 – Other Equity Interests

 

  (a)

Classification: Class 10 consists of all Other Equity Interests.

 

  (b)

Treatment: Holders of Other Equity Interests will not receive any distribution on account of such Interests, which will be canceled, released, and extinguished as of the Effective Date, and will be of no further force or effect. For the avoidance of doubt, the Consenting Investor shall not receive any recovery on account of the Prepetition Consenting Investor Warrants, which will be canceled, released, and extinguished as of the Effective Date, and will be of no further force or effect.

 

  (c)

Voting: Class 10 is conclusively deemed to have rejected the Prepackaged Plan pursuant to section 1126(g) of the Bankruptcy Code. Therefore, such Holders are not entitled to vote to accept or reject the Prepackaged Plan.

 

  11.

Class 11 – Intercompany Interests

 

  (a)

Classification: Class 11 consists of all Intercompany Interests.

 

  (b)

Treatment: Each Intercompany Interest shall be, at the option of the applicable Debtor (with the consent of the Consenting Investor and in consultation with the Required Consenting Noteholders to the extent the holders of the New Notes may reasonably be impacted), either:

 

  (i)

Reinstated;

 

  (ii)

canceled, released, and extinguished, and will be of no further force or effect; or

 

  (iii)

otherwise addressed at the option of each applicable Debtor such that holders of Intercompany Interests will not receive any distribution on account of such Intercompany Interests.

 

  (c)

Class 11 is conclusively deemed to have accepted the Prepackaged Plan pursuant to section 1126(f) of the Bankruptcy Code or rejected the Prepackaged Plan pursuant to section 1126(g) of the Bankruptcy Code. Class 11 is not entitled to vote to accept or reject the Prepackaged Plan

 

C.

Special Provision Governing Unimpaired Claims.

Except as otherwise provided in the Prepackaged Plan, nothing under the Prepackaged Plan shall affect the Debtors’ or the Reorganized Debtors’ (or the Post-Effective Date Debtors’, as applicable) rights regarding any Unimpaired Claim, including, all rights regarding legal and equitable defenses to or setoffs or recoupments against any such Unimpaired Claim. Unless otherwise Allowed, Claims that are Unimpaired shall remain Disputed Claims under the Prepackaged Plan.

 

26


D.

Elimination of Vacant Classes.

Any Class of Claims or Interests that does not have a Holder of an Allowed Claim or Allowed Interest or a Claim or Interest temporarily Allowed by the Bankruptcy Court in an amount greater than zero as of the date of the Confirmation Hearing shall be deemed eliminated from the Prepackaged Plan for purposes of voting to accept or reject the Prepackaged Plan and for purposes of determining acceptance or rejection of the Prepackaged Plan by such Class pursuant to section 1129(a)(8) of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

E.

Voting Classes, Presumed Acceptance by Non-Voting Classes.

If a Class contains Claims or Interests eligible to vote and no holders of Claims or Interests eligible to vote in such Class vote to accept or reject the Prepackaged Plan, the holders of such Claims or Interests in such Class shall be deemed to have accepted the Prepackaged Plan.

 

F.

Intercompany Interests.

To the extent Reinstated under the Prepackaged Plan, distributions on account of Intercompany Interests are not being received by holders of such Intercompany Interests on account of their Intercompany Interests but for the purposes of administrative convenience and due to the importance of maintaining the prepetition corporate structure for the ultimate benefit of the holders of New Common Stock, and in exchange for the Debtors’, Reorganized Debtors’, or Post-Effective Date Debtors’, as applicable, agreement under the Prepackaged Plan to make certain distributions to the holders of Allowed Claims.

 

G.

Confirmation Pursuant to Sections 1129(a)(10) and 1129(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.

Section 1129(a)(10) of the Bankruptcy Code shall be satisfied for purposes of Confirmation by acceptance of the Prepackaged Plan by one or more of the Classes entitled to vote pursuant to Article III.B of the Prepackaged Plan. The Debtors reserve the right, subject to the prior consent of the Consenting Investor and the Required Consenting Noteholders and the reasonable prior consent of the Required Consenting RCF Lenders, to modify the Prepackaged Plan in accordance with Article X hereof and the Restructuring Support Agreement to the extent, if any, that Confirmation pursuant to section 1129(b) of the Bankruptcy Code requires modification, including by modifying the treatment applicable to a Class of Claims or Interests to render such Class of Claims or Interests Unimpaired to the extent permitted by the Bankruptcy Code and the Bankruptcy Rules.

 

H.

Controversy Concerning Impairment.

If a controversy arises as to whether any Claims or Interests, or any Class of Claims or Interests, are Impaired, the Bankruptcy Court shall, after notice and a hearing, determine such controversy on or before the Confirmation Date.

 

I.

Subordinated Claims.

The allowance, classification, and treatment of all Allowed Claims and Allowed Interests and the respective distributions and treatments under the Prepackaged Plan take into account and conform to the relative priority and rights of the Claims and Interests in each Class in connection with any contractual, legal, and equitable subordination rights relating thereto, whether arising under general principles of equitable subordination, section 510(b) of the Bankruptcy Code, or otherwise. Any such contractual, legal, or equitable subordination rights shall be settled, compromised, and released pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan.

 

27


ARTICLE IV.

MEANS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN

 

A.

General Settlement of Claims and Interests.

As discussed in detail in the Disclosure Statement and as otherwise provided herein, pursuant to section 1123 of the Bankruptcy Code and Bankruptcy Rule 9019, and in consideration for the classification, distributions, releases, and other benefits provided under the Prepackaged Plan, upon the Effective Date, the provisions of the Prepackaged Plan shall constitute a good faith compromise and settlement of all Claims, Interests, Causes of Action, and controversies released, settled, compromised, discharged, or otherwise resolved pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, whether under any provision of chapter 5 of the Bankruptcy Code, on any equitable theory (including equitable subordination, equitable disallowance, or unjust enrichment) or otherwise.

The Prepackaged Plan shall be deemed a motion to approve the good faith compromise and settlement of all such Claims, Interests, and controversies pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 9019, and the entry of the Confirmation Order shall constitute the Bankruptcy Court’s approval of such compromise and settlement under section 1123 of the Bankruptcy Code and Bankruptcy Rule 9019, as well as a finding by the Bankruptcy Court that such settlement and compromise is fair, equitable, reasonable and in the best interests of the Debtors and their Estates. Subject to Article VI hereof, all distributions made to holders of Allowed Claims and Allowed Interests (as applicable) in any Class are intended to be and shall be final.

 

B.

Sale Transaction Election Deadline; Successful Bid.

In accordance with the Restructuring Support Agreement, the Debtors intend to pursue Consummation of the Reorganization Transaction pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan; provided, however, that if a Successful Bid is received in accordance with the Bidding Procedures, the Debtors may elect to pursue the Sale Transaction by filing the Sale Transaction Election Notice by the Sale Transaction Election Notice Deadline.

Except as otherwise may be agreed by the Consenting Investor and the Required Consenting Noteholders, the Debtors shall only designate a qualified bid as a Successful Bid if such qualified bid meets the requirements to be set forth in the Bidding Procedures and the following mandatory requirements (such conditions, the “Successful Bid Mandatory Conditions”):

 

  1.

The qualified bid provides for the payment in full in Cash (from readily available funds) of all Allowed Claims against the Debtors Estates (including Administrative Claims) on the Effective Date or such other treatment as to render such claims Unimpaired, including satisfaction in full of all Allowed Prepetition RCF Claims, Allowed Prepetition 2025 Notes Claims, Allowed Prepetition 2028 Notes Claims, and Allowed Prepetition Series A Note Claims; and

 

  2.

Provides for a greater recovery to the holders of Existing Common Stock Interests than the Reorganization Transaction.

 

C.

Restructuring Transactions.

On or before the Effective Date, the applicable Debtors or the Reorganized Debtors (and their respective officers, directors, members, or managers (as applicable)) shall enter into and shall take any actions as may be necessary or appropriate to effect the Restructuring Transactions, including as may be set forth in a restructuring transactions memorandum (to be filed in the Plan Supplement if applicable) and may take all actions as may be necessary or appropriate to effect any transaction described in, approved by, contemplated by, or necessary to effectuate the Prepackaged Plan and the Restructuring Support Agreement that are consistent with and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Prepackaged Plan and the Restructuring Support Agreement (and without the need for any approvals, authorizations, or consents except for those expressly required pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan). These actions to implement the Restructuring Transactions may include: (1) the execution and delivery of appropriate agreements or other documents of merger, amalgamation, consolidation, restructuring, conversion, disposition, transfer, arrangement, continuance, dissolution, sale, purchase, or liquidation containing terms that are consistent with

 

28


the terms of the Prepackaged Plan and the Restructuring Support Agreement and that satisfy the applicable requirements of applicable Law and any other terms to which the applicable Entities may agree; (2) the execution and delivery of appropriate instruments of transfer, assignment, assumption, or delegation of any asset, property, right, liability, debt, or obligation on terms consistent with the terms of the Prepackaged Plan and the Restructuring Support Agreement and having other terms for which the applicable parties agree; (3) the filing of appropriate certificates or articles of incorporation, formation, reincorporation, merger, consolidation, conversion, amalgamation, arrangement, continuance, or dissolution pursuant to applicable state or provincial Law; (4) the issuance of the New Common Stock; (5) the execution and delivery of the CVR Agreement and any filing related thereto, and distribution of the CVRs pursuant to the CVR Distribution Framework; (6) the execution and delivery of the New Corporate Governance Documents, and any certificates or articles of incorporation, bylaws, or such applicable formation documents (if any) of each Reorganized Debtor or Post-Effective Date Debtor, as applicable (including all actions to be taken, undertakings to be made, and obligations to be incurred and fees and expenses to be paid by the Debtors and/or the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable); (7) the execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement (if applicable) and/or the New Debt Documents, and any filing related thereto, and the issuance of the New Notes thereunder; and (8) all other actions that the applicable Entities determine to be necessary, including making filings or recordings that may be required by applicable Law in connection with the Prepackaged Plan. All Holders of Claims and Interests receiving distributions pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan and all other necessary parties in interest, including any and all agents thereof, shall prepare, execute, and deliver any agreements or documents, including any subscription agreements, and take any other actions as the Debtors and the Consenting Investor, in consultation with the Required Consenting Noteholders, may jointly determine are necessary or advisable, including by voting and/or exercising any powers or rights available to such Holder, including at any board, or creditors’, or shareholders’ meeting (including any Special Meeting), to effectuate the provisions and intent of the Prepackaged Plan.

The Confirmation Order shall, and shall be deemed to, pursuant to sections 363 and 1123 of the Bankruptcy Code, authorize, among other things, all actions as may be necessary or appropriate to effect any transaction described in, contemplated by, or necessary to effectuate the Prepackaged Plan.

 

  1.

Reorganization Transaction.

If the Reorganization Transaction is to be consummated, on the Effective Date or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, the Reorganized Debtors, as applicable, shall issue all securities, notes, instruments, certificates, and other documents required to be issued pursuant to the Restructuring Transactions.

On the Effective Date, the New Board shall be established, and the Reorganized Debtors shall adopt their New Corporate Governance Documents. The Reorganized Debtors shall be authorized to adopt any other agreements, documents, and instruments and to take any other actions contemplated under the Prepackaged Plan as necessary to consummate the Prepackaged Plan. Cash payments to be made pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan will be made by the Debtors or Reorganized Debtors, as applicable. The Debtors and Reorganized Debtors will be entitled to transfer funds between and among themselves as they determine to be necessary or appropriate to enable the Debtors or Reorganized Debtors, as applicable, to satisfy their obligations under the Prepackaged Plan. Except as set forth herein, any changes in intercompany account balances resulting from such transfers will be accounted for and settled in accordance with the Debtors’ historical intercompany account settlement practices and will not violate the terms of the Prepackaged Plan.

From and after the Effective Date, the Reorganized Debtors, subject to any applicable limitations set forth in any post-Effective Date agreement, shall have the right and authority without further order of the Bankruptcy Court to raise additional capital and obtain additional financing, subject to the New Corporate Governance Documents, and the New Debt Documents, as the Governing Bodies of the applicable Reorganized Debtors deem appropriate.

 

  2.

Sale Transaction.

In the event the Sale Transaction occurs, the Sale Transaction will be effectuated either by (a) one or more equity sale(s) under the Prepackaged Plan or (b) one or more asset sale(s) pursuant to section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or the Prepackaged Plan, in each case, with such Sale Transaction Documents to be set forth in the Plan Supplement or Filed with the Bankruptcy Court.

 

29


D.

Continued Corporate Existence.

Except as otherwise provided in the Prepackaged Plan or any agreement, instrument, or other document incorporated in the Prepackaged Plan or the Plan Supplement, each Debtor shall continue to exist after the Effective Date as a separate corporate entity, limited liability company, partnership, or other form, as the case may be, with all the powers of a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other form, as the case may be, pursuant to the applicable Law in the jurisdiction in which each applicable Debtor is incorporated or formed and pursuant to the respective certificate of incorporation and bylaws (or other formation documents) in effect prior to the Effective Date, except to the extent such certificate of incorporation and bylaws (or other formation documents) are amended under the Prepackaged Plan or otherwise, in each case, consistent with the Prepackaged Plan, and to the extent such documents are amended in accordance therewith, such documents are deemed to be amended pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan and require no further action or approval (other than any requisite filings required under applicable state, provincial, or federal Law). After the Effective Date, the respective certificate(s) of incorporation and bylaws (or other formation documents) of one or more of the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors may be amended or modified on the terms therein without supervision or approval by the Bankruptcy Court and free of any restrictions of the Bankruptcy Code or Bankruptcy Rules. After the Effective Date, one or more of the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors may be disposed of, dissolved, wound down, or liquidated without supervision or approval by the Bankruptcy Court and free of any restrictions of the Bankruptcy Code or Bankruptcy Rules.

 

E.

Vesting of Assets in the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors.

Except as otherwise provided in the Confirmation Order, the Prepackaged Plan, or any agreement, instrument, or other document incorporated in, or entered into in connection with or pursuant to, the Prepackaged Plan or Plan Supplement, on the Effective Date, pursuant to sections 1141(b) and (c), all property in each Estate, all Causes of Action, and any property acquired by any of the Debtors pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan shall vest in each respective Reorganized Debtor or Post-Effective Date Debtor, as applicable, free and clear of all Liens, Claims, charges, or other encumbrances. On and after the Effective Date, except as otherwise provided in the Prepackaged Plan, each Reorganized Debtor or Post-Effective Date Debtor, as applicable, may operate its business and may use, acquire, or dispose of property and compromise or settle any Claims, Interests, or Causes of Action without supervision or approval by the Bankruptcy Court and free of any restrictions of the Bankruptcy Code or Bankruptcy Rules.

 

F.

Cancellation of Existing Securities and Agreements.

Except for the purpose of evidencing a right to a distribution under the Prepackaged Plan and except as otherwise set forth in the Prepackaged Plan or the Plan Supplement, on the Effective Date, all agreements, instruments, and other documents evidencing any Claim or Interest (other than Intercompany Interests that are not modified by the Prepackaged Plan) and any rights of any holder in respect thereof shall be deemed cancelled and of no force or effect and the obligations of the Debtors, and with respect to the Prepetition RCF Claims, the Prepetition 2025 Notes Claims, the Prepetition 2028 Notes Claims and Prepetition Series A Note Claims, the Non-Debtor Hospital Partner Entities and the Physician Owned Entities, thereunder shall be deemed fully satisfied, released, and discharged; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not impact any Claims that are Unimpaired by the Prepackaged Plan. The holders of or parties to such cancelled instruments, Securities, and other documentation shall have no rights arising from or related to such instruments, Securities, or other documentation or the cancellation thereof, except the rights provided for pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan.

 

G.

Cancellation of Certain Existing Security Interests.

Upon the full payment or other satisfaction of an Allowed Secured Claim (including Allowed DIP Claims), or promptly thereafter, all mortgages, deeds of trust, Liens, pledges, or other security interests against any property of the Estates shall be fully released and discharged, and all of the right, title, and interest of any holder of such mortgages, deeds of trust, Liens, pledges, or other security interests shall revert to the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors and their successors and assigns. Any Holder of such Secured Claim (and the applicable agents for such Holder) shall be authorized and directed, at the sole cost and expense of the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, to release any collateral or other property of any Debtor (including any Cash Collateral and possessory collateral) held by such Holder (and the applicable agents for such Holder), and to take such actions as may be

 

30


reasonably requested by the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors to evidence the release of such Liens and/or security interests, including the execution, delivery, and filing or recording of such releases. The presentation or filing of the Confirmation Order to or with any federal, state, provincial, or local agency, records office, or department shall constitute good and sufficient evidence of, but shall not be required to effect, the termination of such Liens.

To the extent that any Holder of an Allowed Secured Claim (including Allowed DIP Claims) that has been satisfied or discharged in full pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, or any agent for such Holder, has filed or recorded publicly any Liens and/or security interests to secure such Holder’s Allowed Secured Claim, then as soon as practicable on or after the Effective Date, such Holder (or the agent for such Holder) shall take any and all steps requested by the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, or the Post-Effective Date Debtors that are necessary or desirable to record or effectuate the cancellation and/or extinguishment of such Liens and/or security interests, including the making of any applicable filings or recordings, and the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors shall be entitled to make any such filings or recordings on such Holder’s behalf.

Upon the Effective Date, or promptly thereafter, with respect to the Prepetition RCF Claims, the Prepetition 2025 Notes Claims and the Prepetition 2028 Notes Claims, all mortgages, deeds of trust, Liens, pledges, or other security interests against any property of the Non-Debtor Hospital Partners or Physician-Owned Entities shall be fully released, and all of the right, title, and interest of any holder of such mortgages, deeds of trust, Liens, pledges, or other security interests shall revert to the Non-Debtor Hospital Partners or Physician-Owned Entities and their successors and assigns, as applicable. Any holder of such mortgages, deeds of trust, Liens, pledges, or other security interests shall be authorized and directed, at the sole cost and expense of the Non-Debtor Hospital Partners or Physician-Owned Entities, to take such actions as may be reasonably requested by the Non-Debtor Hospital Partners or Physician-Owned Entities to evidence the release of such Liens and/or security interests, including the execution, delivery, and filing or recording of such releases. The presentation or filing of the Confirmation Order to or with any federal, state, provincial, or local agency, records office, or department shall constitute good and sufficient evidence of, but shall not be required to effect, the termination of such Liens.

To the extent that any Holder of Prepetition RCF Claims, the Prepetition 2025 Notes Claims and the Prepetition 2028 Notes Claims, or any agent for such Holder, has filed or recorded publicly any Liens and/or security interests against the property of the Non-Debtor Hospital Partners or Physician-Owned Entities, then as soon as practicable on or after the Effective Date, such Holder (or the agent for such Holder) shall take any and all steps requested by the Non-Debtor Hospital Partners or Physician-Owned Entities that are necessary or desirable to record or effectuate the cancellation and/or extinguishment of such Liens and/or security interests, including the making of any applicable filings or recordings, and the Non-Debtor Hospital Partners or Physician-Owned Entities shall be entitled to make any such filings or recordings on such holder’s behalf.

 

H.

Sources of Consideration for Plan Distributions.

The Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, shall fund distributions under the Prepackaged Plan with the (i) Debtors’ Cash on hand, (ii) Cash generated from operations; (iii) if the Reorganization Transaction is consummated, funds from the Consenting Investor Direct Investment, the DIP Facility, and the Consenting Investor Cash Contribution, and (iv) if the Sale Transaction is consummated, the proceeds of the Sale Transaction.

 

I.

New Common Stock.

In connection with the Reorganization Transaction, the issuance of the New Common Stock by Reorganized Parent shall be hereby authorized without the need for any further corporate action or without any further action by the holders of Claims or Interests. The Reorganized Debtors shall be authorized to issue a certain number of shares, units or equity interests (as the case may be based on how the New Common Stock is denominated and the identity of the Reorganized Debtor issuing such shares, units, or equity interests) of New Common Stock required to be issued under the Prepackaged Plan and pursuant to their New Corporate Governance Documents. On the Effective Date, the Debtors or Reorganized Debtors, as applicable, shall issue or enter into all Securities, notes, instruments, certificates, and other documents required to be issued or entered into pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan. The New Corporate Governance Documents shall be effective as of the Effective Date and, as of such date, shall be deemed to be valid, binding, and enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

31


All of the shares, units, or equity interests (as the case may be based on how the New Common Stock is denominated) of New Common Stock issued or authorized to be issued pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable. Each distribution and issuance referred to in Article VI hereof shall be governed by the terms and conditions set forth in the Prepackaged Plan applicable to such distribution or issuance and by the terms and conditions of the instruments evidencing or relating to such distribution or issuance, which terms and conditions shall bind each Entity receiving such distribution or issuance.

The Reorganized Debtors and/or Post-Effective Date Debtors (i) shall emerge from these Chapter 11 Cases as a private company on the Effective Date and the New Common Stock shall not be listed on a public stock exchange, (ii) shall not be voluntarily subjected to any reporting requirements promulgated by the SEC, and (iii) shall not be required to list the New Common Stock on a recognized U.S. or any foreign stock exchange.

To the extent the following actions have not been completed on or prior to the Effective Date, the Reorganized Debtors and/or Post-Effective Date Debtors shall (i) take all actions reasonably necessary or desirable to delist the Existing Common Stock Interests from Nasdaq and to deregister under the Exchange Act as promptly as practicable in compliance with SEC rules, (ii) file a Form 25 with the SEC to delist the Existing Common Stock Interests from Nasdaq and to deregister the Existing Common Stock Interests from Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act (unless Nasdaq has already filed a Form 25 with the SEC providing for such delisting and deregistration), (iii) file post-effective amendments to terminate all of Parent’s currently effective registration statements under the Securities Act, (iv) file a Form 15 notifying the SEC of the suspension of Parent’s duty to file reports under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, (v) take all actions reasonably necessary or desirable to delist Existing Common Stock Interests from the Toronto Stock Exchange and to cease to be a reporting issuer under Canadian securities laws, and (vi) take all actions reasonably necessary or desirable to ensure (A) that the New Common Stock and the CVRs shall not be listed on a public securities exchange and that the Reorganized Debtors shall not be required to list the New Common Stock or CVRs on a recognized securities exchange, except, in each case, as otherwise may be required pursuant to the New Corporate Governance Documents or the CVR Agreement, as applicable, and (B) that the Reorganized Debtors and/or Post-Effective Date Debtors shall not be voluntarily subjected to any reporting requirements promulgated by the SEC.

 

J.

Consenting Investor Direct Investment and Cash Contribution.

Solely in the event of a Reorganization Transaction, on the Effective Date, the Consenting Investor (or an Affiliate of the Consenting Investor) shall fund (i) the Consenting Investor Direct Investment into the Reorganized Debtors in the amount of the Consenting Investor Direct Investment Amount, and (ii) the Consenting Investor Cash Contribution. The proceeds of the Consenting Investor Direct Investment shall be used by the Reorganized Debtors solely to fund ordinary course working capital, make payments to the Reverse Dutch Election Participants on account of the Reverse Dutch Election Opportunity or deleveraging transactions. The proceeds of the Consenting Investor Cash Contribution shall be used by the Reorganized Debtors to fund Plan Distributions in accordance with Article III of this Prepackaged Plan.

On the Effective Date, the Debtors shall consummate the Reverse Dutch Election Opportunity in accordance with the terms of the Prepackaged Plan using the Reverse Dutch Election Available Proceeds.

 

K.

CVR Agreement and CVR Distribution Framework.

On the Effective Date, the Reorganized Parent and the Consenting Investor shall enter into the CVR Agreement with the CVR Agent. After the Effective Date, the CVRs shall be distributed by Reorganized Parent pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan according to the following CVR Distribution Framework:

 

  1.

No later than 14 days after the Effective Date, Reorganized Parent will mail a notice of potential right to receive one CVR per share of Existing Common Stock Interest (the “CVR Notice”) to all known registered and beneficial holders of Existing Common Stock Interests as of the Effective Date (immediately prior to the cancellation thereof) other than the Consenting Investor (such holders,

 

32


  the “Potential CVR Recipients”) and each such CVR Notice shall contain (i) information as to the process for a Potential CVR Recipient to receive their CVR (or Cash in lieu of CVR); and (ii) that if CVR Recipient Certification is not received by the CVR Submission Deadline, the Potential CVR Recipient will lose the right to obtain any interest in the CVRs (or to obtain Cash in lieu of a CVR distribution).

 

  2.

In order to obtain any interest in the CVRs, by no later than 90 days after service of the CVR Notice (“CVR Submission Deadline”), Potential CVR Recipients shall be required to return a certification and agreement (the “CVR Recipient Certification”) that will provide for, among other things (“CVR Recipient Conditions”):

 

  (a)

The Potential CVR Recipient shall certify whether or not they are an accredited investor (as defined in Rule 501 promulgated under the Securities Act) (each such accredited investor, an “Accredited Investor”);

 

  (b)

If the Potential CVR Recipient opted-out of the Third-Party Release, such Potential CVR Recipient consents to being deemed to have withdrawn such opt-out upon receipt of the CVRs (or Cash in lieu of the CVRs);

 

  (c)

The Potential CVR Recipient agrees to release (and shall be deemed to have released) any Section 510(b) Claims upon receipt of the CVRs (or Cash in lieu of the CVRs);

 

  (d)

For any beneficial holders that hold their Existing Common Stock through a registered broker or agent, a certification from such holder’s broker or agent as to the amount of shares beneficially owned by such holder as of the Effective Date (immediately prior to the cancellation thereof); and

 

  (e)

Such other information reasonably requested by the Reorganized Debtors.

 

  3.

The Reorganized Parent will distribute the CVRs; provided that Reorganized Parent, on the Effective Date, (A) shall be a privately held company whose securities are not required to be registered under the Securities Exchange Act and (B) shall cease to be a reporting issuer under Canadian securities laws, provided further that CVRs shall not be distributed to more than 1,900 beneficial holders of Existing Common Stock Interests, of which no more than 450 shall be non-Accredited Investors (“Maximum CVR Recipients”).

 

  4.

If more Potential CVR Recipients meeting the CVR Recipient Conditions than the Maximum CVR Recipients return a properly executed CVR Recipient Certification by the CVR Submission Deadline, then the Reorganized Debtors shall only distribute the CVRs pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan to the Potential CVR Recipients that hold the largest percentage of Existing Common Stock until CVRs have been distributed to the Maximum CVR Recipients. In the event that multiple Potential CVR Recipients hold the same number of shares and all such holders cannot be included due to the Maximum CVR Recipient Requirement, then the Reorganized Debtors shall include such Potential CVR Recipients in alphabetical order (based on last name or entity name) until the Maximum CVR Recipient threshold is reached.

 

  5.

For any Potential CVR Recipient meeting the CVR Recipient Requirements that would have been eligible to receive the CVRs but for the limitation on the Maximum CVR Recipients, the Reorganized Parent shall pay Cash in an amount equal to the Effective Date CVR Value to a particular holder in lieu of distribution of CVRs to such holder; provided, that if the Cash to be distributed to a particular beneficial holder in lieu of CVRs is less than the minimum distribution amount set forth in ARTICLE VI.D.3 of the Prepackaged Plan, then such holder shall not receive any additional Cash nor any rights under or interest in the CVRs. The Cash payment will be paid to the address identified by the Potential CVR Recipient on the CVR Recipient Certification. The Effective Date CVR Value will be made available to the Potential CVR Recipients as soon as practicable, provided that if the Effective Date occurs on or prior to December 31, 2023, then the Effective Date CVR Value will be made available by no later than March 15, 2024, and if the Effective Date occurs prior to December 31, 2024, then it will be provided within 120 days after the Effective Date.

 

33


  6.

For the avoidance of doubt, any Potential CVR Recipient that does not submit a CVR Recipient Certification by the CVR Submission Deadline shall not receive any interest in the CVRs or any additional Cash payment in lieu of the CVRs.

The CVR Agreement shall be duly authorized without the need for any further corporate action and without any further action by the Parent or Reorganized Parent, as applicable.

As a result of the distribution of the CVRs pursuant to the CVR Distribution Framework in accordance with the Prepackaged Plan, the CVRs shall not be listed on a public stock exchange or voluntarily subjected to any reporting requirements promulgated by the SEC or Canadian securities Laws.

In order to comply with applicable Canadian securities Laws, the Reorganized Parent intends to rely upon the exemption from prospectus registration requirements provided by Section 2.11(a) of the National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions in connection with the distribution of CVRs in accordance with the Prepackaged Plan, subject to and conditioned on the Bankruptcy Court’s approval of the Prepackaged Plan, on the basis that Prepackaged Plan constitutes a reorganization that is under a statutory procedure.

 

L.

New Notes and New RCF Exit Facility Agreement

In connection with the Reorganization Transaction, the issuance of the New Notes, the related guarantees (including the New Debt Facilities Guarantees) and security and similar agreements, and entry into the New RCF Exit Facility Agreement by the Reorganized Debtors shall be authorized without the need for any further corporate action or without any further action by the holders of Claims or Interests. The New Notes will be issued only to persons that are “qualified institutional buyers” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or “accredited investors” (as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) in reliance on the exemptions provided by section 4(a)(2) under the Securities Act, or persons that are outside of the United States and are not U.S. persons (and are not purchasing for the account of benefit of a U.S. person) within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act. Confirmation of the Prepackaged Plan shall be deemed authorization for the Debtors or the Reorganized Debtors, as applicable, to, without further notice to or order of the Bankruptcy Court, (i) execute and deliver those documents and agreements necessary or appropriate to issue the New Notes and the related guarantees and enter into the New RCF Exit Facility Agreement, and incur and pay any fees, premiums, and expenses in connection therewith, and (ii) act or take action under applicable Law, regulation, order, or rule or vote, consent, authorization, or approval of any person, subject to such modifications as the Debtors or the Reorganized Debtors, as applicable, may deem to be necessary to issue the New Notes, the related guarantees or enter into the New RCF Exit Facility Agreement.

On the Effective Date (or earlier, if provided in an order of the Bankruptcy Court), all Liens and security interests granted pursuant to, or in connection with the New Notes, the related guarantees (including the New Debt Facilities Guarantees) and New RCF Exit Facility Agreement, (i) shall be deemed to be approved and shall, without the necessity of the execution, recordation, or filing of mortgages, security agreements, control agreements, pledge agreements, financing statements, or other similar documents, be valid, binding, fully perfected, fully enforceable Liens on, and security interests in, the collateral securing the New Notes, the related guarantees(including the New Debt Facilities Guarantees) and the new RCF Exit Facility, with the priorities established in respect thereof under the New Debt Documents, applicable non-bankruptcy Law, the Prepackaged Plan, and the Confirmation Order; and (ii) shall not be enjoined or subject to discharge, impairment, release, avoidance, recharacterization, or subordination (including equitable subordination) for any purposes whatsoever and shall not constitute preferential transfers, fraudulent conveyances, or other voidable transfers under the Bankruptcy Code or any applicable non-bankruptcy Law, the Prepackaged Plan, or the Confirmation Order.

The Reorganized Debtors and the Persons granted Liens and security interests under the New Notes, the related guarantees and New RCF Exit Facility Agreement, as applicable, are authorized to make all filings and recordings and to obtain all governmental approvals and consents necessary to establish and perfect such Liens and security interests under the provisions of the applicable state, provincial, federal, or other Law (whether domestic or

 

34


foreign) that would be applicable in the absence of the Prepackaged Plan and the Confirmation Order (it being understood that perfection shall occur automatically by virtue of the entry of the Confirmation Order without the need for any filings or recordings) and will thereafter cooperate to make all other filings and recordings that otherwise would be necessary under applicable Law to give notice of such Liens and security interests to third parties.

 

M.

Corporate Action.

Upon the Effective Date, all actions contemplated under the Prepackaged Plan shall be deemed authorized and approved in all respects, including: (a) the issuance and distribution of the New Common Stock; (b) the issuance and distribution of the New Notes; (c) the offering and implementation of the Reverse Dutch Auction Opportunity; (d) implementation of the Restructuring Transactions, (e) entry into the CVR Agreement and distribution of the CVRs; (f) all other actions contemplated under the Prepackaged Plan (whether to occur before, on, or after the Effective Date); (g) adoption of the New Corporate Governance Documents; (h) the rejection, assumption, or assumption and assignment, as applicable, of Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases (as applicable); and (i) all other acts or actions contemplated or reasonably necessary or appropriate to promptly consummate the Restructuring Transactions contemplated by the Prepackaged Plan (whether to occur before, on, or after the Effective Date). All matters provided for in the Prepackaged Plan involving the corporate structure of the Debtors or the Reorganized Debtors, and any corporate, partnership, limited liability company, or other governance action required by the Debtors or the Reorganized Debtor, as applicable, in connection with the Prepackaged Plan shall be deemed to have occurred and shall be in effect, without any requirement of further action by the Security holders, members, directors, or officers of the Debtors or the Reorganized Debtors, as applicable. On or (as applicable) prior to the Effective Date, the appropriate officers of the Debtors or the Reorganized Debtors, as applicable, shall be authorized and (as applicable) directed to issue, execute, and deliver the agreements, documents, Securities, and instruments contemplated under the Prepackaged Plan (or necessary or desirable to effect the transactions contemplated under the Prepackaged Plan) in the name of and on behalf of the Reorganized Debtors, including the New Common Stock, the New Notes, the Reverse Dutch Election Opportunity, the New Corporate Governance Documents, the CVRs, the CVR Agreement, and any and all other agreements, documents, Securities, and instruments relating to the foregoing. The authorizations and approvals contemplated by this Article IV.M shall be effective notwithstanding any requirements under non-bankruptcy Law.

 

N.

New Corporate Governance Documents.

On or immediately prior to the Effective Date, the New Corporate Governance Documents shall be automatically adopted by the applicable Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable. To the extent required under the Prepackaged Plan or applicable non-bankruptcy Law, each of the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors will file its New Corporate Governance Documents with the applicable Secretaries of State and/or other applicable authorities in its respective state or country of organization if and to the extent required in accordance with the applicable Laws of the respective state or country of organization. The New Corporate Governance Documents will prohibit the issuance of non-voting equity Securities, to the extent required under section 1123(a)(6) of the Bankruptcy Code.

After the Effective Date, the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors may amend and restate their respective New Corporate Governance Documents in accordance with the terms thereof, and the Reorganized Debtors may file such amended certificates or articles of incorporation, bylaws, or such other applicable formation documents, and other constituent documents as permitted by the Laws of the respective states, provinces, or countries of incorporation and the New Corporate Governance Documents.

 

  1.

Directors and Officers of the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors.

As of the Effective Date, the terms of the current members of the board of directors of the Debtors shall expire and the existing officers of the Debtors shall be automatically removed as officers, and the New Boards and new officers of each of the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors shall be appointed. For subsequent terms, following the Effective Date, members of the New Boards and new officers of each of the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtor shall be appointed in accordance with the New Corporate Governance Documents and other constituent documents of each Reorganized Debtor or Post-Effective Date Debtor, in each case, as applicable.

 

35


Pursuant to section 1129(a)(5) of the Bankruptcy Code, to the extent known, the identity and affiliation of any Person proposed to serve on the New Boards will be disclosed in the Plan Supplement or prior to the Confirmation Hearing, as well as those Persons that will serve as officers of the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtor. Provisions regarding the removal, appointment, and replacement of members of the New Boards, to the extent applicable, will be disclosed in the New Corporate Governance Documents.

 

  2.

Effectuating Documents; Further Transactions.

On and after the Effective Date, the Reorganized Debtors and/or Post-Effective Date Debtors, and their respective officers, directors, members, or managers (as applicable), are authorized to and may issue, execute, deliver, file, or record such contracts, Securities, instruments, releases, and other agreements or documents and take such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate, implement, and further evidence the terms and conditions of the Prepackaged Plan, and the Securities issued pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan in the name of and on behalf of the Reorganized Debtors, without the need for any approvals, authorizations, or consents except for those expressly required pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan.

 

O.

Preservation of Causes of Action.

In accordance with section 1123(b) of the Bankruptcy Code, but subject to Article VIII hereof, each Reorganized Debtor or Post-Effective Date Debtor, as applicable, shall retain and may enforce all rights to commence and pursue, as appropriate, any and all Causes of Action of the Debtors, whether arising before or after the Petition Date, including any actions specifically enumerated in the Schedule of Retained Causes of Action, and the Reorganized Debtors’ and Post-Effective Debtors’ rights to commence, prosecute, or settle such Causes of Action shall be preserved notwithstanding the occurrence of the Effective Date, other than the Causes of Action released by the Debtors pursuant to the releases and exculpations contained in the Prepackaged Plan, including in Article VIII hereof, which shall be deemed released and waived by the Debtors and the Reorganized Debtors (or Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable) as of the Effective Date.

The Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, may pursue such retained Causes of Action, as appropriate, in accordance with the best interests of the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors. No Entity (other than the Released Parties) may rely on the absence of a specific reference in the Prepackaged Plan, the Plan Supplement, or the Disclosure Statement to any Cause of Action against it as any indication that the Debtors or the Reorganized Debtors (or Post-Effective Date Debtors), as applicable, will not pursue any and all available Causes of Action of the Debtors against it. The Debtors and Reorganized Debtors (or Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable) expressly reserve all rights to prosecute any and all Causes of Action against any Entity, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Prepackaged Plan, including Article VIII hereof. Unless any Causes of Action of the Debtors against an Entity are expressly waived, relinquished, exculpated, released, compromised, or settled in the Prepackaged Plan or a Final Order, the Reorganized Debtors and/or Post-Effective Date Debtors expressly reserve all Causes of Action, for later adjudication, and, therefore, no preclusion doctrine, including the doctrines of res judicata, collateral estoppel, issue preclusion, claim preclusion, estoppel (judicial, equitable, or otherwise), or laches, shall apply to such Causes of Action upon, after, or as a consequence of the Confirmation or Consummation.

The Reorganized Debtors and Post-Effective Date Debtors reserve and shall retain such Causes of Action of the Debtors notwithstanding the rejection or repudiation of any Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease during the Chapter 11 Cases or pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan. In accordance with section 1123(b)(3) of the Bankruptcy Code, any Causes of Action that a Debtor may hold against any Entity shall vest in the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Prepackaged Plan, including Article VIII hereof. The applicable Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, through their authorized agents or representatives, shall retain and may exclusively enforce any and all such Causes of Action. The Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors shall have the exclusive right, authority, and discretion to determine and to initiate, file, prosecute, enforce, abandon, settle, compromise, release, withdraw, or litigate to judgment any such Causes of Action and to decline to do any of the foregoing without the consent or approval of any third party or further notice to or action, order, or approval of the Bankruptcy Court.

 

36


P.

Certain Securities Law Matters.

The offering, issuance (or entry into), and distribution of the New Common Stock, the New Notes, the CVRs, and all other Securities entered into and/or issued in connection with the Prepackaged Plan, shall be exempt from, among other things, the registration requirements of section 5 of the Securities Act and any other applicable Law requiring registration prior to the offering, issuance, distribution, or sale of Securities to the maximum extent permitted by Law, in accordance with, and pursuant to, (i) section 1145 of the Bankruptcy Code (with respect to the New Common Stock after the Petition Date and the CVRs), (ii) section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or Regulation S under the Securities Act (with respect to the New Common Stock prior to the Petition Date and the New Notes), or (iii) any other available exemption from registration, as applicable.

In addition, the New Common Stock and CVRs issued under section 1145 of the Bankruptcy Code (1) will not be “restricted securities” as defined in rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act and (2) will be freely tradable and transferable in the United States by a recipient thereof that (i) is an entity that is not an “underwriter” as defined in section 1145(b)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code, (ii) is not an “affiliate” of the Debtors as defined in Rule 144(a)(1) under the Securities Act, (iii) has not been such an “affiliate” within 90 days of the time of the transfer, and (iv) has not acquired such securities from an “affiliate” within one year of the time of transfer, subject in each case to compliance with applicable securities Laws and any rules and regulations of the SEC or state or local securities Laws, if any, applicable at the time of any future transfer of such Securities, and subject to any restrictions in the New Corporate Governance Documents and CVR Agreement, as applicable.

The New Notes (and to the extent issuance under section 1145(a) of the Bankruptcy Code is unavailable, the New Common Stock and CVRs) will be issued without registration under the Securities Act in reliance upon the exemption set forth in section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Regulation S under the Securities Act, and similar registration exemptions under state or local securities Laws, in each case to the maximum extent permitted thereunder. Any securities issued in reliance on section 4(a)(2) and/or Regulation S under the Securities Act, will be “restricted securities” under the Securities Act and/or subject to resale restrictions and may be resold, exchanged, assigned or otherwise transferred only pursuant to registration, or an applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act and other applicable Law and subject in each case to compliance with applicable securities Laws and any rules and regulations of the SEC or state or local securities Laws, if any, applicable at the time of any future transfer of such Securities, and subject to any restrictions in the New Debt Documents, New Corporate Governance Documents and CVR Agreement, as applicable.

Neither the issuance of the New Common Stock, New Notes, or CVRs nor the Reverse Dutch Election Opportunity shall constitute an invitation or solicitation of an invitation or offer to sell or buy, any securities in contravention of any applicable Law in any jurisdiction. No action has been taken, nor will be taken, in any jurisdiction that would permit a public offering of any of the New Common Stock, New Notes, or CVRs (other than securities issued pursuant to section 1145 of the Bankruptcy Code) in any jurisdiction where such action for that purpose is required.

The ownership of the New Notes will be through the facilities of DTC. The Reorganized Debtors need not provide any further evidence other than the Prepackaged Plan or the Confirmation Order with respect to the treatment of the New Common Stock, New Notes, and CVRs under applicable securities Laws. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, no Entity (including, for the avoidance of doubt, DTC and any transfer agent) shall be entitled to require a legal opinion regarding the validity of any transaction contemplated by the Prepackaged Plan, including, for the avoidance of doubt, whether the New Common Stock, New Notes and CVRs are exempt from registration and/or eligible for DTC book-entry delivery, settlement, and depository services. DTC and any transfer agent shall be required to accept and conclusively rely upon the Prepackaged Plan and Confirmation Order in lieu of a legal opinion regarding whether the New Common Stock, New Notes and/or CVRs are exempt from registration and/or eligible for DTC book-entry delivery, settlement and depository services.

 

Q.

1146 Exemption.

To the fullest extent permitted by section 1146(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, any transfers (whether from a Debtor to a Reorganized Debtor, Post-Effective Date Debtor, or to any other Person) of property under the Prepackaged Plan or pursuant to: (1) the issuance, distribution, transfer, or exchange of any debt, equity Security, or

 

37


other interest in the Debtors, Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, including the New Common Stock, New Notes, and the CVRs; (2) the Restructuring Transactions; (3) the creation, modification, consolidation, termination, refinancing, and/or recording of any mortgage, deed of trust, or other security interest, or the securing of additional indebtedness by such or other means; (4) the making, assignment, or recording of any lease or sublease; (5) the grant of collateral as security for the Reorganized Debtors’ obligations under and in connection with the Exit Facilities; or (6) the making, delivery, or recording of any deed or other instrument of transfer under, in furtherance of, or in connection with, the Prepackaged Plan, including any deeds, bills of sale, assignments, or other instrument of transfer executed in connection with any transaction arising out of, contemplated by, or in any way related to the Prepackaged Plan, shall not be subject to any document recording tax, stamp tax, conveyance fee, intangibles or similar tax, mortgage tax, real estate transfer tax, personal property transfer tax, sales or use tax, mortgage recording tax, Uniform Commercial Code filing or recording fee, regulatory filing or recording fee, or other similar tax or governmental assessment, and upon entry of the Confirmation Order, the appropriate state or local governmental officials or agents shall forego the collection of any such tax or governmental assessment and accept for filing and recordation any of the foregoing instruments or other documents without the payment of any such tax, recordation fee, or governmental assessment. All filing or recording officers (or any other Person with authority over any of the foregoing), wherever located and by whomever appointed, shall comply with the requirements of section 1146(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, shall forego the collection of any such tax or governmental assessment, and shall accept for filing and recordation any of the foregoing instruments or other documents without the payment of any such tax or governmental assessment.

 

R.

Additional Sale Transaction Provisions.

Solely if the Sale Transaction occurs and is consummated, the following additional provisions shall be included in the Prepackaged Plan:

 

  1.

Post-Effective Date Debtors.

If the Sale Transaction is an asset sale, following the sale of certain assets of the Debtors under the Prepackaged Plan or the Sale Order(s), on and after the Effective Date, the Post-Effective Date Debtors shall continue in existence for purposes of (a) winding down the Debtors’ business and affairs as expeditiously as reasonably possible, (b) resolving Disputed Claims, (c) making distributions on account of Allowed Claims as provided hereunder, (d) funding distributions, (e) enforcing and prosecuting claims, interests, rights, and privileges under the Causes of Action on the list of Retained Causes of Action in an efficacious manner and only to the extent the benefits of such enforcement or prosecution are reasonably believed to outweigh the costs associated therewith, (f) filing appropriate tax returns, (g) complying with its continuing obligations under the Purchase Agreement(s), if any, and (h) administering the Prepackaged Plan in an efficacious manner. In such case, the Post-Effective Date Debtors shall be deemed to be substituted as the party-in-lieu of the Debtors in all matters, including (i) motions, contested matters, and adversary proceedings pending in the Bankruptcy Court, and (ii) all matters pending in any courts, tribunals, forums, or administrative proceedings outside of the Bankruptcy Court, in each case without the need or requirement for a plan administrator to file motions or substitutions of parties or counsel in each such matter.

 

  2.

Post-Effective Date Plan Administrator.

If the Sale Transaction is an asset sale and is consummated, on the Effective Date, the Post-Effective Date Plan Administrator shall be appointed with respect to each Post-Effective Date Debtor. The Post-Effective Date Plan Administrator shall act for the Post-Effective Date Debtors in the same fiduciary capacity as applicable to a Governing Body, subject to the provisions hereof (and all certificates of formation, membership agreements, and related documents shall be deemed amended by the Prepackaged Plan to permit and authorize the same) and retain and have all the rights, powers, and duties necessary to carry out their responsibilities under this Prepackaged Plan on terms which shall be disclosed in the Plan Supplement.

 

S.

Director and Officer Liability Insurance.

Notwithstanding anything in the Prepackaged Plan to the contrary, the Reorganized Debtors or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, shall be deemed to have assumed all of the Debtors’ D&O Liability Insurance Policies pursuant to section 365(a) of the Bankruptcy Code effective as of the Effective Date. Entry of the

 

38


Confirmation Order will constitute the Bankruptcy Court’s approval of the Reorganized Debtors’ or the Post-Effective Date Debtors’, as applicable, foregoing assumption of each of the unexpired D&O Liability Insurance Policies. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Prepackaged Plan, Confirmation of the Prepackaged Plan shall not discharge, impair, or otherwise modify any indemnity obligations assumed by the foregoing assumption of the D&O Liability Insurance Policies, and each such indemnity obligation will be deemed and treated as an Executory Contract that has been assumed by the Debtors under the Prepackaged Plan as to which no Proof of Claim need be filed.

In addition, after the Effective Date, none of the Reorganized Debtors or the Post-Effective Date Debtors shall terminate or otherwise reduce the coverage under any D&O Liability Insurance Policies (including any “tail policy”) in effect on or after the Petition Date, with respect to conduct occurring prior thereto, and all directors and officers of the Debtors who served in such capacity at any time prior to the Effective Date shall be entitled to the full benefits of any such policy for the full term of such policy, to the extent set forth therein, regardless of whether such directors and officers remain in such positions after the Effective Date.

 

T.

Indemnification Obligations.

Consistent with applicable Law, all indemnification provisions in place as of the Effective Date (whether in the by-laws, certificates of incorporation or formation, limited liability company agreements, other organizational documents, board resolutions, indemnification agreements, employment contracts, or otherwise) for current and former directors, officers, managers, employees, attorneys, accountants, investment bankers, and other professionals of the Debtors, as applicable, shall be reinstated and remain intact, irrevocable, and shall survive the effectiveness of the Prepackaged Plan on terms no less favorable to such current and former directors, officers, managers, employees, attorneys, accountants, investment bankers, and other professionals of the Debtors than the indemnification provisions in place prior to the Effective Date.

ARTICLE V.

TREATMENT OF EXECUTORY CONTRACTS AND UNEXPIRED LEASES

 

A.

Assumption and Rejection of Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases.

 

  1.

Reorganization Transaction.

In the event of an Reorganization Transaction, on the Effective Date, except as otherwise provided in Article V.H and elsewhere herein, all Executory Contracts or Unexpired Leases not otherwise assumed or rejected will be deemed assumed by the applicable Reorganized Debtor in accordance with the provisions and requirements of sections 365 and 1123 of the Bankruptcy Code, other than those that are: (a) identified on the Rejected Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases Schedule; (b) previously expired or terminated pursuant to their own terms; (c) have been previously assumed or rejected by the Debtors pursuant to a Final Order; (d) are the subject of a motion to reject that is pending on the Effective Date; or (e) have an ordered or requested effective date of rejection that is after the Effective Date.

 

  2.

Sale Transaction.

In the event the Sale Transaction is to occur and be consummated on the Effective Date, on the Effective Date, except as otherwise provided in Article V.H and elsewhere herein, all Executory Contracts or Unexpired Leases not otherwise assumed or rejected will be deemed rejected by the applicable or Post-Effective Date Debtor in accordance with the provisions and requirements of sections 365 and 1123 of the Bankruptcy Code, other than those that are: (a) identified on the Assumed Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases Schedule; (b) have been previously assumed by the Debtors pursuant to a Final Order; (c) are the subject of a motion to assume that Filed on or before the Confirmation Date; (d) are to be assumed by the Debtors or assumed by the Debtors and assigned to another third party, as applicable, in connection with any sale transaction, including the Sale Transaction; or (e) are a contract, instrument, release, indenture, or other agreement or document entered into in connection with the Prepackaged Plan.

 

39


  3.

General Provisions.

Entry of the Confirmation Order shall constitute an order of the Bankruptcy Court approving the assumptions, assumptions and assignments, or rejections of the Executory Contracts or Unexpired Leases as set forth in the Prepackaged Plan, the Rejected Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases Schedule (or the Assumed Executory Contract and Unexpired Leases Schedule in the case of a Sale Transaction), pursuant to sections 365(a) and 1123 of the Bankruptcy Code. Except as otherwise specifically set forth herein, assumptions or rejections of Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan are effective as of the Effective Date. Each Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease assumed pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan or by Bankruptcy Court order but not assigned to a third party before the Effective Date shall re-vest in and be fully enforceable by the applicable contracting Reorganized Debtor or Post-Effective Date Debtor in accordance with its terms, except as such terms may have been modified by the provisions of the Prepackaged Plan or any order of the Bankruptcy Court authorizing and providing for its assumption. Any motions to assume Executory Contracts or Unexpired Leases pending on the Effective Date shall be subject to approval by a Final Order on or after the Effective Date but may be withdrawn, settled, or otherwise prosecuted by the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable.

To the maximum extent permitted by Law, to the extent any provision in any Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease assumed or assumed and assigned pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan restricts or prevents, or purports to restrict or prevent, or is breached or deemed breached by, the assumption or assumption and assignment of such Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease (including any “change of control” provision), then such provision shall be deemed modified such that the transactions contemplated by the Prepackaged Plan shall not entitle the non-Debtor party thereto to terminate such Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease or to exercise any other default-related rights with respect thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Prepackaged Plan, the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, reserve the right to alter, amend, modify, or supplement the Assumed Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases Schedule and the Rejected Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases Schedule at any time up to forty-five (45) days after the Effective Date, so long as such allocation, amendment, modification, or supplement is consistent with the Restructuring Support Agreement.

 

B.

Claims Based on Rejection of Executory Contracts or Unexpired Leases.

Unless otherwise provided by a Final Order of the Bankruptcy Court, all Proofs of Claim with respect to Claims arising from the rejection of Executory Contracts or Unexpired Leases, pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan or the Confirmation Order, if any, must be Filed with the Bankruptcy Court within thirty (30) days after the later of (1) the date of entry of an order of the Bankruptcy Court (including the Confirmation Order) approving such rejection, (2) the effective date of such rejection, or (3) the Effective Date. Any Claims arising from the rejection of an Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease not Filed with the Bankruptcy Court within such time will be automatically disallowed, forever barred from assertion, and shall not be enforceable against the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, the Post-Effective Date Debtors, the Estates, or their property without the need for any objection by the Reorganized Debtors or further notice to, or action, order, or approval of the Bankruptcy Court or any other Entity, and any Claim arising out of the rejection of the Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease shall be deemed fully satisfied, released, and discharged, notwithstanding anything in the Proof of Claim to the contrary. All Allowed Claims arising from the rejection of the Debtors’ Executory Contracts or Unexpired Leases shall be classified as General Unsecured Claims and shall be treated in accordance with ARTICLE III.B.7 of this Prepackaged Plan.

 

C.

Cure of Defaults for Assumed Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases.

Any monetary amounts by which any Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease to be assumed under the Prepackaged Plan is in default shall be satisfied, under section 365(b)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code, by the Debtors, Reorganized Debtors, or Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, upon assumption thereof.

After the Petition Date and no later than seven (7) calendar days before the Confirmation Hearing, the Debtors shall serve notices of proposed assumptions to the counterparties to the Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases to be assumed reflecting the Debtors’ intention to assume the contract, and setting forth the proposed Cure amount (if any) or otherwise indicating that the Cure amount shall be asserted against the Debtors or Reorganized Debtors, as applicable, in the ordinary course of business. Each such notice shall include a description of the procedures for

 

40


resolving disputes related to the proposed assumption of applicable Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases. In the event that any Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease is to be assumed after the provision of initial notices of proposed assumptions described above, a notice of proposed assumption with respect to such Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease will be sent promptly to the counterparty thereof. If a counterparty to any Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease that the Debtors or Reorganized Debtors, as applicable, intend to assume does not receive such a notice, the proposed Cure amount for such Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease shall be deemed to be asserted against the Debtors or the Reorganized Debtors, as applicable, in the ordinary course of business.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the parties to the applicable Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease, any objection by a counterparty to an Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease to a proposed assumption or related Cure amount must be Filed, served, and actually received by counsel to the Debtors no later than the date and time specified in the notice (which shall be not less than fourteen days after such notice is served). The Debtors or the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, may reconcile and settle, with the consent of the Consenting Investor not to be unreasonably withheld, in the ordinary course of the Debtors’ business any dispute (following a timely filed objection) regarding any Cure or any other matter pertaining to assumption without any further notice to or action, order, or approval of the Bankruptcy Court.

Any counterparty to an Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease that fails to object timely to the proposed assumption or Cure amount (including any request for an additional or different cure amount) will be deemed to have assented to such assumption or Cure amount and any untimely request for an additional or different Cure amount shall be disallowed and forever barred, estopped, and enjoined from assertion, and shall not be enforceable against any Reorganized Debtor or Post-Effective Date Debtor, without the need for any objection by the applicable Reorganized Debtors or any other party in interest or any further notice to or action, order, or approval of the Bankruptcy Court.

The Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, shall pay the Cure amounts, if any, on the Effective Date or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, in the ordinary course of business, or on such other terms as the parties to such Executory Contracts or Unexpired Leases may agree; provided that if a dispute regarding assumption or Cure is unresolved as of the Effective Date, then payment of the applicable Cure amount shall occur as soon as reasonably practicable after such dispute is resolved. Any Cure shall be deemed fully satisfied, released, and discharged upon payment of the Cure.

The assumption of any Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, in connection with the Sale Transaction or Reorganization Transaction, shall result in the full release and satisfaction of any nonmonetary defaults arising from or triggered by the filing of these Chapter 11 Cases, including defaults of provisions restricting the change in control or ownership interest composition or any bankruptcy-related defaults, arising at any time prior to the effective date of assumption. Any and all Proofs of Claim based upon Executory Contracts or Unexpired Leases that have been assumed in the Chapter 11 Cases, including pursuant to the Confirmation Order, shall be deemed disallowed and expunged as of the later of (1) the date of entry of an order of the Bankruptcy Court (including the Confirmation Order) approving such assumption, (2) the effective date of such assumption, or (3) the Effective Date without the need for any objection thereto or any further notice to or action, order, or approval of the Bankruptcy Court.

 

D.

Preexisting Obligations to the Debtors Under Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases.

Rejection of any Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, in connection with the Reorganization Transaction or Sale Transaction, or otherwise shall not constitute a termination of preexisting obligations owed to the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, or Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, under such Executory Contracts or Unexpired Leases. In particular, notwithstanding any non-bankruptcy Law to the contrary, the Reorganized Debtors or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, expressly reserve and do not waive any right to receive, or any continuing obligation of a counterparty to provide, warranties or continued maintenance obligations with respect to goods previously purchased by the Debtors pursuant to rejected Executory Contracts or Unexpired Leases.

 

41


E.

Insurance Policies.

Each of the Debtors’ insurance policies and any agreements, documents, or instruments relating thereto, shall be treated as Executory Contracts hereunder. Unless otherwise provided in the Prepackaged Plan, on the Effective Date, in connection with all contemplated transactions under this Prepackaged Plan, (1) the Debtors shall be deemed to have assumed all insurance policies and any agreements, documents, and instruments relating to coverage of all insured Claims, including all D&O Liability Insurance Policies, and (2) such insurance policies and any agreements, documents, or instruments relating thereto, including all D&O Liability Insurance Policies, shall revest in the applicable Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors.

Nothing in this Prepackaged Plan, Restructuring Support Agreement, the Plan Supplement, the Disclosure Statement, the Confirmation Order, or any other Final Order (including any other provision that purports to be preemptory or supervening), (1) alters, modifies, or otherwise amends the terms and conditions of (or the coverage provided by) any of such insurance policies or (2) alters or modifies the duty, if any, that the insurers or third party administrators have to pay claims covered by such insurance policies and their right to seek payment or reimbursement from the Debtors (or the Purchaser, solely to the extent assumed and assigned to the Purchaser under the Purchase Agreement) or draw on any collateral or security therefor. For the avoidance of doubt, insurers and third-party administrators shall not need to nor be required to file or serve a cure objection or a request, application, claim, Proof of Claim, or motion for payment and shall not be subject to any claims bar date or similar deadline governing cure amounts or Claims.

 

F.

Reservation of Rights.

Nothing contained in the Prepackaged Plan, the Restructuring Support Agreement, the Purchase Agreement, or the Plan Supplement shall constitute an admission by the Debtors or any other party that any contract or lease is in fact an Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease or that any Reorganized Debtor has any liability thereunder. If there is a dispute regarding whether a contract or lease is or was executory or unexpired at the time of assumption or rejection, the Debtors or the Reorganized Debtors, as applicable, shall have forty-five (45) days following entry of a Final Order resolving such dispute to alter their treatment of such contract or lease.

 

G.

Nonoccurrence of Effective Date.

In the event that the Effective Date does not occur, the Bankruptcy Court shall retain jurisdiction with respect to any request to extend the deadline for assuming or rejecting Unexpired Leases pursuant to section 365(d)(4) of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

H.

Contracts and Leases Entered Into After the Petition Date.

Contracts and leases entered into after the Petition Date by any Debtor, including any Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases assumed by such Debtor, will be performed by the applicable Debtor, Reorganized Debtor, or Post-Effective Date Debtor in the ordinary course of their business. Accordingly, such contracts and leases (including any assumed Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases) will survive and remain unaffected by entry of the Confirmation Order.

ARTICLE VI.

PROVISIONS GOVERNING DISTRIBUTIONS

 

A.

Distributions on Account of Claims Allowed as of the Effective Date.

Except as otherwise provided herein, in a Final Order, or as otherwise agreed to by the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as the case may be, and the Holder of the applicable Allowed Claim on the first Distribution Date, the applicable Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors shall make initial distributions under the Prepackaged Plan on account of Claims Allowed on or before the Effective Date, subject to the Reorganized Debtors’ right to object to Claims; provided that (1) Allowed Administrative Claims with respect to liabilities incurred by the Debtors in the ordinary course of business during the Chapter 11 Cases or assumed

 

42


by the Debtors prior to the Effective Date shall be paid or performed in the ordinary course of business in accordance with the terms and conditions of any controlling agreements, course of dealing, course of business, or industry practice, (2) Allowed Priority Tax Claims shall be paid in accordance with Article II.D of the Prepackaged Plan, and (3) Allowed General Unsecured Claims shall be paid in accordance with Article III.B.13 of the Prepackaged Plan. To the extent any Allowed Priority Tax Claim is not due and owing on the Effective Date, such Claim shall be paid in full in Cash in accordance with the terms of any agreement between the Debtors and the Holder of such Claim or as may be due and payable under applicable non-bankruptcy Law or in the ordinary course of business.

 

B.

Disbursing Agent.

The Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, the Post-Effective Date Debtors, or the Post-Effective Date Plan Administrator, as applicable, shall have the authority to enter into agreements with one or more Disbursing Agents to facilitate the distributions required hereunder. All distributions under the Prepackaged Plan shall be made by the Disbursing Agent. The Disbursing Agent shall not be required to give any bond or surety or other security for the performance of its duties unless otherwise ordered by the Bankruptcy Court. Additionally, in the event that the Disbursing Agent is so otherwise ordered, all costs and expenses of procuring any such bond or surety shall be borne by the Reorganized Debtors or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable.

 

C.

Rights and Powers of Disbursing Agent.

 

  1.

Powers of the Disbursing Agent.

The Disbursing Agent shall be empowered to: (a) effect all actions and execute all agreements, instruments, and other documents necessary to perform its duties under the Prepackaged Plan; (b) make all distributions contemplated hereby; (c) employ professionals to represent it with respect to its responsibilities; and (d) exercise such other powers as may be vested in the Disbursing Agent by order of the Bankruptcy Court, pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, or as deemed by the Disbursing Agent to be necessary and proper to implement the provisions hereof.

 

  2.

Expenses Incurred On or After the Effective Date.

Except as otherwise ordered by the Bankruptcy Court, the amount of any reasonable fees and expenses incurred by the Disbursing Agent on or after the Effective Date (including taxes), and any reasonable compensation and expense reimbursement claims (including reasonable attorney fees and expenses), made by the Disbursing Agent shall be paid in Cash by the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors.

 

D.

Delivery of Distributions and Undeliverable or Unclaimed Distributions.

 

  1.

Record Date for Distribution.

On the Distribution Record Date, the Claims Register shall be closed and any party responsible for making distributions shall instead be authorized and entitled to recognize only those record holders listed on the Claims Register as of the close of business on the Distribution Record Date. If a Claim is transferred twenty (20) or fewer days before the Distribution Record Date, the Disbursing Agent shall make distributions to the transferee only to the extent practical and, in any event, only if the relevant transfer form contains an unconditional and explicit certification and waiver of any objection to the transfer by the transferor.

 

  2.

Delivery of Distributions in General.

Except as otherwise provided herein, the Disbursing Agent shall make distributions to holders of Allowed Claims and Allowed Interests (as applicable) as of the Distribution Record Date at the address for each such holder as indicated on the Debtors’ records as of the date of any such distribution; provided that the manner of such distributions shall be determined at the discretion of the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors.

 

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  3.

Minimum Distributions.

No fractional shares of New Common Stock shall be distributed and no Cash shall be distributed in lieu of such fractional amounts. When any distribution pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan on account of an Allowed Claim or Allowed Interest (if applicable) would otherwise result in the issuance of a number of shares of New Common Stock that is not a whole number, the actual distribution of shares of New Common Stock shall be rounded to the next lower whole number with no further payment therefor. The total number of authorized shares of New Common Stock to be distributed to the Holders of Allowed Claims hereunder shall be adjusted as necessary to account for the foregoing rounding.

Except with respect to the ordinary course payment in Cash of interest arising under the Prepetition 2025 Notes Indenture or the Prepetition 2028 Notes Indenture, none of the Reorganized Debtors, the Post-Effective Date Debtors, or the Disbursing Agent shall have any obligation to make a Cash distribution that is less than two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) to any Holder of an Allowed Claim.

 

  4.

Undeliverable Distributions and Unclaimed Property.

In the event that any distribution to any Holder of Allowed Claims or Allowed Interests (as applicable) is returned as undeliverable, no distribution to such holder shall be made unless and until the Disbursing Agent has determined the then-current address of such holder, at which time all currently-due, missed distributions shall be made to such Holder without interest. Undeliverable distributions shall remain in the possession of the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, until such time as a distribution becomes deliverable, or such distribution reverts to the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable or is cancelled pursuant to this Article VI, and shall not be supplemented with any interest, dividends, or other accruals of any kind.

Any distribution under the Prepackaged Plan that is an unclaimed distribution or remains undeliverable (as reasonably deemed unclaimed or undeliverable by the Reorganized Debtors, the Post-Effective Date Debtors, or the Disbursing Agent) for a period of ninety (90) days after distribution shall be deemed unclaimed property under section 347(b) of the Bankruptcy Code and such unclaimed distribution or undeliverable distribution shall revest in the applicable Reorganized Debtor or Post-Effective Date Debtor automatically (and without need for a further order by the Bankruptcy Court, notwithstanding any applicable federal, provincial, or estate escheat, abandoned, or unclaimed property Laws to the contrary) and, to the extent such unclaimed distribution is comprised of New Common Stock, New Notes, or CVRs, then such New Common Stock, New Notes, or CVRs shall be cancelled. Upon such revesting, the Claim of the Holder or its successors with respect to such property shall be cancelled, released, discharged, and forever barred notwithstanding any applicable federal or state escheat, abandoned, or unclaimed property Laws, or any provisions in any document governing the distribution that is an unclaimed distribution, to the contrary, and the Claim of any Holder of Claims and Interests to such property or Interest in property shall be discharged and forever barred. The Disbursing Agent shall adjust the distributions of the New Common Stock, New Notes or the CVRs to reflect any such cancellation; however, for the avoidance of doubt, additional Securities shall not be issued to other Holders of Claims due to any such cancellations.

 

  5.

Surrender of Canceled Instruments or Securities.

On the Effective Date or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, each holder of a certificate or instrument evidencing a Claim or an Interest that has been cancelled in accordance with Article IV.G hereof shall be deemed to have surrendered such certificate or instrument to the Disbursing Agent. Such surrendered certificate or instrument shall be cancelled solely with respect to the Debtors, and such cancellation shall not alter the obligations or rights of any non-Debtor third parties vis-à-vis one another with respect to such certificate or instrument, including with respect to any indenture or agreement that governs the rights of the Holder of a Claim or Interest, which shall continue in effect for purposes of allowing holders to receive distributions under the Prepackaged Plan, charging liens, priority of payment, and indemnification rights. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this paragraph shall not apply to certificates or instruments evidencing Claims that are Reinstated under the Prepackaged Plan.

 

  6.

Delivery of Distributions on Senior Secured Notes Claims.

Except as otherwise reasonably requested by the Prepetition Senior Secured Notes Trustee, all distributions to holders of Allowed Prepetition 2025 Notes Claims and Allowed Prepetition 2028 Notes Claims shall be deemed completed when made to the applicable Prepetition Senior Secured Notes Trustees. The Prepetition Senior Secured

 

44


Notes Trustee shall hold or direct such distributions for the benefit of the holders of Allowed Prepetition 2025 Notes Claims and Allowed Prepetition 2028 Notes Claims, as applicable. As soon as practicable in accordance with the requirements set forth in this Article VI, the Prepetition Senior Secured Notes Trustee shall arrange to deliver such distributions to or on behalf of its holders, subject to the Prepetition Senior Secured Notes Trustee’s charging lien. The Prepetition Senior Secured Notes Trustee may transfer or direct the transfer of such distributions directly through the facilities of DTC (whether by means of book-entry exchange, free delivery or otherwise) and will be entitled to recognize and deal for all purposes under the Plan with holders of Allowed Prepetition 2025 Notes Claims and Allowed Prepetition 2028 Notes Claims, to the extent consistent with the customary practices of DTC. If the Prepetition Senior Secured Notes Trustees are unable to make, or consents to the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, making such distributions, the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, with the Prepetition Senior Secured Notes Trustees’ cooperation, shall make such distributions to the extent practicable to do so; provided that until such distributions are made, the Prepetition Senior Secured Notes Trustees’ charging lien shall attach to the property to be distributed in the same manner as if such distributions were made through the Prepetition Senior Secured Notes Trustee. The Prepetition Senior Secured Notes Trustee shall have no duties or responsibilities relating to any form of distribution that is not DTC eligible and the Debtors or the Reorganized Debtors, as applicable, shall seek the cooperation of DTC so that any distribution on account of an Allowed Prepetition 2025 Notes Claim and/or Allowed Prepetition 2028 Notes Claim that is held in the name of, or by a nominee of, DTC, shall be made through the facilities of DTC on the Effective Date or as soon as practicable thereafter.

 

E.

Manner of Payment.

 

  1.

All distributions of the New Common Stock and New Notes to the holders of the applicable Allowed Claims under the Prepackaged Plan shall be made by the Disbursing Agent on behalf of the Debtors, or the Reorganized Debtors, as applicable.

 

  2.

The CVRs shall be distributed in accordance with the CVR Distribution Framework.

 

  3.

All distributions of Cash to the holders of the applicable Allowed Claims under the Prepackaged Plan shall be made by the Disbursing Agent on behalf of the applicable Debtor, Reorganized Debtor, or Post-Effective Date Debtor.

 

  4.

At the option of the Disbursing Agent, any Cash payment to be made hereunder may be made by check or wire transfer or as otherwise required or provided in applicable agreements.

 

F.

Compliance with Tax Requirements.

In connection with the Prepackaged Plan, to the extent applicable, the Debtors, Reorganized Debtors, the Post-Effective Date Debtors, the Disbursing Agent, and any applicable withholding agent shall comply with all tax withholding and reporting requirements imposed on them by any Governmental Unit, and all distributions made pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan shall be subject to such withholding and reporting requirements. Notwithstanding any provision in the Prepackaged Plan to the contrary, such parties shall be authorized to take all actions necessary or appropriate to comply with such withholding and reporting requirements, including liquidating a portion of the distribution to be made under the Prepackaged Plan to generate sufficient funds to pay applicable withholding taxes, withholding distributions pending receipt of information necessary to facilitate such distributions, or establishing any other mechanisms they believe are reasonable and appropriate. The Debtors, Reorganized Debtors, and Post-Effective Date Debtors reserve the right to allocate all distributions made under the Prepackaged Plan in compliance with all applicable wage garnishments, alimony, child support, and similar spousal awards, Liens, and encumbrances.

 

G.

Allocations.

Distributions in respect of Allowed Claims shall be allocated first to the principal amount of such Claims (as determined for federal income tax purposes) and then, to the extent the consideration exceeds the principal amount of the Claims, to any portion of such Claims for accrued but unpaid interest.

 

45


H.

No Postpetition Interest on Claims.

Unless otherwise specifically provided for in the Prepackaged Plan, the Confirmation Order, any other order of the Bankruptcy Court, or required by applicable bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy Law, postpetition interest shall not accrue or be paid on any prepetition Claims, and no Holder of a Claim shall be entitled to interest accruing on or after the Petition Date on such Claim.

 

I.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate.

Except as otherwise provided in a Bankruptcy Court order, as of the Effective Date, any Claim asserted in currency other than U.S. dollars shall be automatically deemed converted to the equivalent U.S. dollar value using the exchange rate for the applicable currency as published in The Wall Street Journal (National Edition), on the Effective Date.

 

J.

Setoffs and Recoupment.

Except as expressly provided in this Prepackaged Plan, each Reorganized Debtor or Post-Effective Date Debtor, as applicable, may, pursuant to section 553 of the Bankruptcy Code, set off and/or recoup against any Plan Distributions to be made on account of any Allowed Claim, any and all claims, rights, and Causes of Action that such Reorganized Debtor or Post-Effective Date Debtor, as applicable, may hold against the Holder of such Allowed Claim to the extent such setoff or recoupment is either (1) agreed in amount among the relevant Reorganized Debtor(s) or Post-Effective Date Debtor(s), as applicable, and the Holder of the Allowed Claim or (2) otherwise adjudicated by the Bankruptcy Court or another court of competent jurisdiction; provided that neither the failure to effectuate a setoff or recoupment nor the allowance of any Claim hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release by a Reorganized Debtor or Post-Effective Date Debtor, as applicable, or its successor of any and all claims, rights, and Causes of Action that such Reorganized Debtor or its successor may possess against the applicable holder. In no event shall any Holder of a Claim be entitled to recoup such Claim against any claim, right, or Cause of Action of the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, unless such holder actually has performed such recoupment and provided notice thereof in writing to the Debtors in accordance with Article XII.G hereof on or before the Effective Date, notwithstanding any indication in any Proof of Claim or otherwise that such holder asserts, has, or intends to preserve any right of recoupment.

 

K.

Claims Paid or Payable by Third Parties.

 

  1.

Claims Paid by Third Parties/Insurers.

The Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, shall reduce in full a Claim, and such Claim shall be disallowed without a Claims objection having to be Filed and without any further notice to or action, order, or approval of the Bankruptcy Court, to the extent that the Holder of such Claim receives payment in full on account of such Claim from a party that is not a Debtor, a Reorganized Debtor, or a Post-Effective Date Debtor. Subject to the last sentence of this paragraph, to the extent a Holder of a Claim receives a distribution on account of such Claim and receives payment from a party that is not a Debtor, a Reorganized Debtor, or a Post-Effective Date Debtor on account of such Claim, such holder shall, within fourteen (14) days of receipt thereof, repay or return the distribution to the applicable Reorganized Debtor or Post-Effective Date Debtor, to the extent the holder’s total recovery on account of such Claim from the third party and under the Prepackaged Plan exceeds the amount of such Claim as of the date of any such distribution under the Prepackaged Plan. The failure of such holder to timely repay or return such distribution shall result in the holder owing the applicable Reorganized Debtor or Post-Effective Date Debtor annualized interest at the Federal Judgment Rate on such amount owed for each Business Day after the fourteen (14) day grace period specified above until the amount is repaid.

 

  2.

Claims Payable by Third Parties.

No distributions under the Prepackaged Plan shall be made on account of an Allowed Claim that is payable pursuant to one of the Debtors’ insurance policies until the Holder of such Allowed Claim has exhausted all remedies with respect to such insurance policy. To the extent that one or more of the Debtors’ insurers agrees to satisfy in full or in part a Claim (if and to the extent adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction), then immediately upon such insurers’ agreement, the applicable portion of such Claim may be expunged without a Claims objection having to be Filed and without any further notice to or action, order, or approval of the Bankruptcy Court.

 

46


  3.

Applicability of Insurance Policies.

Except as otherwise provided in the Prepackaged Plan, distributions to holders of Allowed Claims shall be in accordance with the provisions of any applicable insurance policy. Nothing contained in the Prepackaged Plan shall constitute or be deemed a waiver of any Cause of Action that the Debtors or any Entity may hold against any other Entity, including insurers under any policies of insurance, nor shall anything contained herein constitute or be deemed a waiver by such insurers of any defenses, including coverage defenses, held by such insurers.

ARTICLE VII.

PROCEDURES FOR RESOLVING CONTINGENT,

UNLIQUIDATED, AND DISPUTED CLAIMS

 

A.

Disputed Claims Process.

In light of the Unimpaired status of all Allowed General Unsecured Claims under the Prepackaged Plan, there is no requirement to file a Proof of Claim (or move the Bankruptcy Court for allowance) to have a Claim Allowed for the purposes of the Prepackaged Plan, except as provided in Article V.B of the Prepackaged Plan or Article V.C with respect to a Cure amount, and the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, shall determine, adjudicate, and resolve any disputes over the validity and amounts of such Claims in the ordinary course of business as if the Chapter 11 Cases had not been commenced (and no approval or authority from the Bankruptcy Court shall be required) except that (unless expressly waived pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan) the Allowed amount of such Claims shall be subject to the limitations or maximum amounts permitted by the Bankruptcy Code, including sections 502 and 503 of the Bankruptcy Code, to the extent applicable; and provided, that the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, reserve the right to seek to set a future bar date that may require a Proof of Claim to be filed in the event that a Sale Transaction is pursued (in which case a separate order of the Bankruptcy Court will govern).

On and after the Effective Date, except as otherwise provided in this Prepackaged Plan, all Allowed Claims shall be satisfied in the ordinary course of business by the Reorganized Debtors or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable. The Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, and/or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, shall have the exclusive authority to (i) determine, without the need for notice to or action, order, or approval of the Bankruptcy Court, that a claim subject to any Proof of Claim that is Filed is Allowed and (ii) file, settle, compromise, withdraw, or litigate to judgment any objections to Claims as permitted under this Prepackaged Plan. If the Debtors, Reorganized Debtors, or Post-Effective Date Debtors dispute any Claim, such dispute shall be determined, resolved, or adjudicated, as the case may be, in the manner as if the Chapter 11 Cases had not been commenced and shall survive the Effective Date as if the Chapter 11 Cases had not been commenced; provided that the Debtors, Reorganized Debtors, or Post-Effective Date Debtors may elect, at their sole option, to object to any Claim (other than Claims expressly Allowed by this Prepackaged Plan) and to have the validity or amount of any Claim adjudicated by the Bankruptcy Court; provided further that holders of Claims may elect to resolve the validity or amount of any Claim in the Bankruptcy Court. All Proofs of Claim Filed in the Chapter 11 Cases shall be deemed objected to and Disputed without further action by the Debtors. Upon the Effective Date, all Proofs of Claim filed against the Debtors, regardless of the time of filing, and including Proofs of Claim filed after the Effective Date, shall be deemed withdrawn and expunged, except as otherwise provided herein. Notwithstanding anything in this Prepackaged Plan to the contrary, disputes regarding the amount of any Cure pursuant to section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code and Claims that the Debtors seek to have determined by the Bankruptcy Court, shall in all cases be determined by the Bankruptcy Court. Except as otherwise provided herein, all Proofs of Claim Filed after the Effective Date shall be disallowed and forever barred, estopped, and enjoined from assertion, and shall not be enforceable against any Reorganized Debtor or Post-Effective Date Debtor, as applicable, without the need for any objection by the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, or any further notice to or action, order, or approval of the Bankruptcy Court.

 

47


B.

Allowance of Claims.

After the Effective Date, except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, each of the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Debtors, as applicable, shall have and retain any and all rights and defenses such Debtor had with respect to any Claim or Interest immediately prior to the Effective Date. The Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, may affirmatively determine to deem Unimpaired Claims Allowed to the same extent such Claims would be allowed under applicable non-bankruptcy Law, without further notice or order from the Bankruptcy Court.

 

C.

Claims Administration Responsibilities.

Except as otherwise specifically provided in the Prepackaged Plan, after the Effective Date, the Reorganized Debtors or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, in consultation with the Consenting Investor, shall have the exclusive authority: (1) to File, withdraw, or litigate to judgment, objections to Claims or Interests; (2) to settle or compromise any Disputed Claim without any further notice to or action, order, or approval by the Bankruptcy Court; and (3) to administer and adjust the Claims Register to reflect any such settlements or compromises without any further notice to or action, order, or approval by the Bankruptcy Court. For the avoidance of doubt, except as otherwise provided herein, from and after the Effective Date, each Reorganized Debtor or Post-Effective Date Debtor, as applicable, shall have and retain any and all rights and defenses such Debtor had immediately prior to the Effective Date with respect to any Disputed Claim or Interest, including the Causes of Action retained pursuant to ARTICLE IV.O of the Prepackaged Plan.

Any objections to Proofs of Claims (other than Administrative Claims) shall be served and Filed (a) on or before the date that is one hundred and eighty days following the later of (i) the Effective Date and (ii) the date that a Proof of Claim is Filed or amended or a Claim is otherwise asserted or amended in writing by or on behalf of a Holder of a Claim or (b) such later date as ordered by the Bankruptcy Court.

 

D.

Estimation of Claims and Interests.

Before, on, or after the Effective Date, the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, may (but are not required to) at any time request that the Bankruptcy Court estimate any Disputed Claim or Interest that is contingent or unliquidated pursuant to section 502(c) of the Bankruptcy Code for any reason, regardless of whether any party in interest previously has objected to such Claim or Interest or whether the Bankruptcy Court has ruled on any such objection, and the Bankruptcy Court shall retain jurisdiction to estimate any such Claim or Interest, including during the litigation of any objection to any Claim or Interest or during the appeal relating to such objection. Notwithstanding any provision otherwise in the Prepackaged Plan, a Claim that has been expunged from the Claims Register, but that either is subject to appeal or has not been the subject of a Final Order, shall be deemed to be estimated at zero dollars, unless otherwise ordered by the Bankruptcy Court. In the event that the Bankruptcy Court estimates any contingent or unliquidated Claim or Interest, that estimated amount shall constitute a maximum limitation on such Claim or Interest for all purposes under the Prepackaged Plan (including for purposes of distributions), and the relevant Reorganized Debtor may elect to pursue any supplemental proceedings to object to any ultimate distribution on such Claim or Interest.

 

E.

Adjustment to Claims or Interests without Objection.

Any duplicate Claim or Interest or any Claim or Interest that has been paid, satisfied, amended, or superseded may be adjusted or expunged on the Claims Register by the Reorganized Debtors or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, without the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, having to File an application, motion, complaint, objection, or any other legal proceeding seeking to object to such Claim or Interest and without any further notice to or action, order, or approval of the Bankruptcy Court.

 

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F.

Disallowance of Claims or Interests.

Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, all Claims and Interests of any Entity from which property is sought by the Debtors under sections 542, 543, 550, or 553 of the Bankruptcy Code or that the Debtors or the Reorganized Debtors allege is a transferee of a transfer that is avoidable under sections 522(f), 522(h), 544, 545, 547, 548, 549, or 724(a) of the Bankruptcy Code shall be disallowed if: (a) the Entity, on the one hand, and the Debtors or the Reorganized Debtors, as applicable, on the other hand, agree or the Bankruptcy Court has determined by Final Order that such Entity or transferee is liable to turn over any property or monies under any of the aforementioned sections of the Bankruptcy Code; and (b) such Entity or transferee has failed to turn over such property by the date set forth in such agreement or Final Order. No payment or distribution shall be made on account of such Claim or Interest unless the transferee has paid or turned over such property.

 

G.

No Distributions Pending Allowance.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Prepackaged Plan, if any portion of a Claim or Interest is a Disputed Claim or Interest, as applicable, no payment or distribution provided hereunder shall be made on account of such Claim or Interest unless and until such Disputed Claim or Interest becomes an Allowed Claim or Interest; provided that if only the Allowed amount of an otherwise valid Claim or Interest is Disputed, such Claim or Interest shall be deemed Allowed in the amount not Disputed and payment or distribution shall be made on account of such undisputed amount.

 

H.

Distributions After Allowance.

To the extent that a Disputed Claim or Interest ultimately becomes an Allowed Claim or Interest, distributions (if any) shall be made to the Holder of such Allowed Claim or Interest in accordance with the provisions of the Prepackaged Plan. As soon as reasonably practicable after the date that the order or judgment of the Bankruptcy Court allowing any Disputed Claim or Interest becomes a Final Order, the Disbursing Agent shall provide to the Holder of such Claim or Interest the distribution (if any) to which such holder is entitled under the Prepackaged Plan as of the Effective Date, without any interest to be paid on account of such Claim or Interest.

 

I.

No Interest.

Unless otherwise specifically provided for herein or by order of the Bankruptcy Court, postpetition interest shall not accrue or be paid on Claims, and no Holder of a Claim shall be entitled to interest accruing on or after the Petition Date on any Claim or right. Additionally, and without limiting the foregoing, interest shall not accrue or be paid on any Disputed Claim with respect to the period from the Effective Date to the date a final distribution is made on account of such Disputed Claim, if and when such Disputed Claim becomes an Allowed Claim.

 

J.

Accrual of Dividends and Other Rights.

For purposes of determining the accrual of distributions or other rights after the Effective Date, the New Common Stock and New Notes shall be deemed distributed as of the Effective Date regardless of the date on which they are actually distributed; provided, however, that the relevant Reorganized Debtors shall not pay any such distributions or distribute such other rights, if any, until after distribution of the applicable New Common Stock or New Notes actually takes place.

ARTICLE VIII.

SETTLEMENT, RELEASE, INJUNCTION, AND RELATED PROVISIONS

 

A.

Discharge of Claims and Termination of Interests.

Pursuant to and to the fullest extent permitted by section 1141(d) of the Bankruptcy Code, and except as otherwise specifically provided in the Definitive Documents, the Prepackaged Plan, or in any contract, instrument, or other agreement or document created or entered into pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, the distributions, rights, and treatment that are provided in the Prepackaged Plan shall be in complete satisfaction, discharge, and release, effective as of the Effective Date, of Claims (including any Intercompany Claims resolved or compromised after the Effective Date by the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable), Interests, and Causes of Action of any nature whatsoever, including any interest accrued on Claims or Interests from and after the Petition Date, whether known or unknown, against, liabilities of, Liens on, obligations of, rights against, and interests in, the Debtors or any

 

49


of their assets or properties, regardless of whether any property shall have been distributed or retained pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan on account of such Claims and Interests, including demands, liabilities, and Causes of Action that arose before the Effective Date, any liability (including withdrawal liability) to the extent such Claims or Interests relate to services performed by employees of the Debtors prior to the Effective Date and that arise from a termination of employment, any contingent or non-contingent liability on account of representations or warranties issued on or before the Effective Date, and all debts of the kind specified in sections 502(g), 502(h), or 502(i) of the Bankruptcy Code, in each case whether or not: (1) a Proof of Claim based upon such debt or right is Filed or deemed Filed pursuant to section 501 of the Bankruptcy Code; (2) a Claim or Interest based upon such debt, right, or interest is Allowed pursuant to section 502 of the Bankruptcy Code; or (3) the Holder of such a Claim or Interest has accepted the Prepackaged Plan. The Confirmation Order shall be a judicial determination of the discharge of all Claims (other than the Reinstated Claims) and Interests (other than the Intercompany Interests that are Reinstated) subject to the occurrence of the Effective Date.

 

B.

Release of Liens.

Except as otherwise provided in the Prepackaged Plan, the Restructuring Support Agreement, the Confirmation Order, the Purchase Agreement, or in any contract, instrument, release, or other agreement or document amended or created pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, on the Effective Date and concurrently with the applicable distributions made pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan and, in the case of a Secured Claim, satisfaction in full of the portion of the Secured Claim that is Allowed as of the Effective Date, except for Other Secured Claims that the Debtors elect to Reinstate in accordance with this Prepackaged Plan, all mortgages, deeds of trust, Liens, pledges, or other security interests against any property of the Estates shall be fully released and discharged, and all of the right, title, and interest of any holder of such mortgages, deeds of trust, Liens, pledges, or other security interests shall revert to the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors and their successors and assigns. Any Holder of such Secured Claim (and the applicable agents for such Holder) shall be authorized and directed, at the sole cost and expense of the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, to release any collateral or other property of any Debtor (including any Cash Collateral and possessory collateral) held by such Holder (and the applicable agents for such Holder), and to take such actions as may be reasonably requested by the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors to evidence the release of such Liens and/or security interests, including the execution, delivery, and filing or recording of such releases. The presentation or filing of the Confirmation Order to or with any federal, state, provincial, or local agency, records office, or department shall constitute good and sufficient evidence of, but shall not be required to effect, the termination of such Liens.

To the extent that any Holder of a Secured Claim that has been satisfied or discharged in full pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, or any agent for such Holder, has filed or recorded publicly any Liens and/or security interests to secure such Holder’s Secured Claim, then as soon as practicable on or after the Effective Date, such Holder (or the agent for such Holder) shall take any and all steps requested by the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, or the Post-Effective Date Debtors that are necessary or desirable to record or effectuate the cancellation and/or extinguishment of such Liens and/or security interests, including the making of any applicable filings or recordings, and the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors shall be entitled to make any such filings or recordings on such Holder’s behalf.

 

C.

Releases by the Debtors.

Effective as of the Effective Date, pursuant to section 1123(b) of the Bankruptcy Code and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, each Released Party is conclusively, absolutely, unconditionally, irrevocably, and forever released and discharged by each and all of the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, the Post-Effective Date Debtors, and their Estates, in each case on behalf of themselves and their respective successors, assigns, and representatives, and any and all other Entities who may purport to assert any claim or Cause of Action, directly or derivatively, by, through, for, or because of the foregoing Entities, from any and all Claims, Interests, obligations, rights, suits, damages, Causes of Action, remedies, and liabilities whatsoever, including any derivative claims, asserted or assertable on behalf of any of the Debtors or their Estates, whether liquidated or unliquidated, fixed or contingent, known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen, matured or unmatured, existing or hereafter arising, in Law, equity, contract, tort, or otherwise, whether arising under federal or state statutory or common law, or any other applicable international, foreign, or domestic Law, rule,

 

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statute, regulation, treaty, right, duty, requirement, or otherwise, that the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, the Post-Effective Date Debtors, their Estates or their Affiliates, heirs, executors, administrators, successors, assigns, managers, accountants, attorneys, representatives, consultants, agents, and any other Persons claiming under or through them would have been legally entitled to assert in their own right (whether individually or collectively) or on behalf of the Holder of any Claim against, or Interest in, a Debtor or other Entity, based on or relating to (including the formulation, preparation, dissemination, negotiation, entry into, or filing of, as applicable), or in any manner arising from, in whole or in part, the Debtors (including the management, ownership, or operation thereof) or their Estates, the purchase, sale, or rescission of the purchase or sale of any Security of the Debtors or the Reorganized Debtors, the subject matter of, or the transactions or events giving rise to, any Claim or Interest that is treated in the Prepackaged Plan, the business or contractual arrangements between any Debtor and any Released Party, the Debtors’ in-or out-of-court restructuring efforts, the decision to file the Chapter 11 Cases, any intercompany transactions, the Chapter 11 Cases, the negotiation, formulation, preparation, or consummation of the Restructuring Support Agreement, the Restructuring Transactions, the Prepackaged Plan (including the Plan Supplement), the solicitation of votes on the Prepackaged Plan, the Disclosure Statement, the pursuit of Confirmation and Consummation, the Reorganization Transaction, the Sale Transaction, the DIP Facility, the DIP Documents, the administration and implementation of the Prepackaged Plan, including the issuance or distribution of Securities pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, or the distribution of property under the Prepackaged Plan or any other related agreement, but not, for the avoidance of doubt, any legal opinion effective as of the Effective Date requested by any Entity regarding any transaction, contract, instrument, document, or other agreement contemplated by the Prepackaged Plan, or upon any other act, omission, transaction, agreement, event, or other occurrence taking place on or before the Effective Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, the releases set forth above do not release any obligations arising on or after the Effective Date of any party or Entity under the Prepackaged Plan, any Restructuring Transaction, or any document, instrument, or agreement (including those set forth in the Plan Supplement) executed to implement the Prepackaged Plan as set forth in the Prepackaged Plan.

Entry of the Confirmation Order shall constitute the Bankruptcy Court’s approval, pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 9019, of the Debtor Release, which includes by reference each of the related provisions and definitions contained in the Prepackaged Plan, and further, shall constitute the Bankruptcy Court’s finding that the Debtor Release is: (1) in exchange for the good and valuable consideration provided by the Released Parties, including the Released Parties’ contributions to facilitating the Restructuring Transactions and implementing the Prepackaged Plan; (2) a good faith settlement and compromise of the Claims released by the Debtor Release; (3) in the best interests of the Debtors and all Holders of Claims and Interests; (4) fair, equitable, and reasonable; (5) given and made after due notice and opportunity for hearing; and (6) a bar to any of the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, the Post-Effective Date Debtors or the Debtors’ Estates asserting any Claim or Cause of Action of any kind whatsoever released pursuant to the Debtor Release.

 

D.

Releases by the Releasing Parties.

Effective as of the Effective Date, to the fullest extent permissible under applicable Law, each Releasing Party, in each case on behalf of itself and its respective successors, assigns, and representatives, and any and all other entities who may purport to assert any Claim, Cause of Action, directly or derivatively, by, through, for, or because of a Releasing Party, is deemed to have conclusively, absolutely, unconditionally, irrevocably, and forever released and discharged each Debtor, Reorganized Debtor, Post-Effective Date Debtor, and each other Released Party from any and all claims, interests, obligations, rights, suits, damages, Causes of Action, remedies, and liabilities whatsoever, whether liquidated or unliquidated, fixed or contingent, known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen, existing or hereafter arising, in Law, equity, contract, tort, or otherwise, whether arising under federal or state statutory or common law, or any other applicable international, foreign, or domestic Law, rule, statute, regulation, treaty, right, duty, requirement, or otherwise, including any derivative claims, asserted or assertable on behalf of any of the Debtors, their Estates or their Affiliates, heirs, executors, administrators, successors, assigns, managers, accountants, attorneys, representatives, consultants, agents, and any other Persons claiming under or through them would have been legally entitled to assert (whether individually or collectively), based on or relating to (including the formulation, preparation, dissemination, negotiation, entry into, or filing of, as applicable), or in any manner arising from, in whole or in part, the Debtors (including the management, ownership or operation thereof) or their Estates, the purchase,

 

51


sale, or rescission of the purchase or sale of any Security of the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, the subject matter of, or the transactions or events giving rise to, any Claim or Interest that is treated in the Prepackaged Plan, the business or contractual arrangements between any Debtor and any Released Party, the Debtors’ in-or out-of-court restructuring efforts, the decision to file the Chapter 11 Cases, any intercompany transactions, the Chapter 11 Cases, the negotiation, formulation, preparation, or consummation of the Restructuring Support Agreement, the Restructuring Transactions, the Prepackaged Plan (including the Plan Supplement), the solicitation of votes on the Prepackaged Plan, the Disclosure Statement, the pursuit of Confirmation and Consummation, the Reorganization Transaction, the Sale Transaction, the DIP Facility, the DIP Documents, the administration and implementation of the Prepackaged Plan, including the issuance or distribution of Securities pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, or the distribution of property under the Prepackaged Plan or any other related agreement, or upon any other act, omission, transaction, agreement, event, or other occurrence taking place on or before the Effective Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, the releases set forth above do not release any obligations arising on or after the Effective Date of any party or Entity under the Prepackaged Plan, any Restructuring Transaction, or any document, instrument, or agreement (including those set forth in the Plan Supplement) executed to implement the Prepackaged Plan as set forth in the Prepackaged Plan.

Entry of the Confirmation Order shall constitute the Bankruptcy Court’s approval, pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 9019, of the Third-Party Release, which includes by reference each of the related provisions and definitions contained in this Prepackaged Plan, and, further, shall constitute the Bankruptcy Court’s finding that the Third-Party Release is: (1) consensual; (2) essential to the confirmation of the Prepackaged Plan; (3) given in exchange for the good and valuable consideration provided by the Released Parties, including the Released Parties’ contributions to facilitating the Restructuring Transactions and implementing the Prepackaged Plan; (4) a good faith settlement and compromise of the Claims released by the Third-Party Release; (5) in the best interests of the Debtors and their Estates; (6) fair, equitable, and reasonable; (7) given and made after due notice and opportunity for hearing; and (8) a bar to any of the Releasing Parties asserting any claim or Cause of Action of any kind whatsoever released pursuant to the Third-Party Release.

 

E.

Exculpation.

Effective as of the Effective Date, to the fullest extent permissible under applicable Law and without affecting or limiting either the Debtor Release or the Third-Party Release, and except as otherwise specifically provided in the Prepackaged Plan or the Confirmation Order, no Exculpated Party shall have or incur liability for, and each Exculpated Party shall be released and exculpated from any Cause of Action or any claim arising from the Petition Date through the Effective Date related to any act or omission in connection with, relating to, or arising out of, the Chapter 11 Cases, the formulation, preparation, dissemination, negotiation, entry into, or filing of, as applicable the Chapter 11 Cases, the Restructuring Support Agreement, the Disclosure Statement, the Prepackaged Plan (including the Plan Supplement), the DIP Facility, the DIP Documents, or any Restructuring Transaction, contract, instrument, release, or other agreement or document created or entered into in connection with the Disclosure Statement or the Prepackaged Plan, the filing of the Chapter 11 Cases, the pursuit of Confirmation, the pursuit of Consummation, the Reorganization Transaction, the Sale Transaction, the administration and implementation of the Prepackaged Plan, including the issuance of Securities pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, or the distribution of property under the Prepackaged Plan or any other related agreement (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, providing any legal opinion effective as of the Effective Date requested by any Entity regarding any transaction, contract, instrument, document, or other agreement contemplated by the Prepackaged Plan), except for claims or Causes of Action related to any act or omission that is determined in a Final Order to have constituted actual fraud, willful misconduct, or gross negligence, but in all respects such Entities shall be entitled to reasonably rely upon the advice of counsel with respect to their duties and responsibilities pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan. The Exculpated Parties have, and upon Consummation of the Prepackaged Plan shall be deemed to have, participated in good faith and in compliance with the applicable Laws with regard to the solicitation of votes and distribution of consideration pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan and, therefore, are not, and on account of such distributions shall not be, liable at any time for the violation of any applicable Law, rule, or regulation governing the solicitation of acceptances or rejections of the Prepackaged Plan or such distributions made pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exculpation shall not release any obligation or liability of any Entity for any post-Effective Date obligation under the Prepackaged Plan or any document, instrument or agreement (including those set forth in the Plan Supplement) executed to implement the Prepackaged Plan.

 

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The Exculpated Parties and other parties set forth above have, and upon confirmation of the Prepackaged Plan shall be deemed to have, participated in good faith and in compliance with the applicable Laws with regard to the solicitation of votes and distribution of consideration pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan and, therefore, are not, and on account of such distributions shall not be, liable at any time for the violation of any applicable Law, rule, or regulation governing the solicitation of acceptances or rejections of the Prepackaged Plan or such distributions made pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan.

Solely with respect to the exculpation provision, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or Plan Supplement, each of the 1125(e) Exculpated Parties shall not incur liability for any Cause of Action or Claim related to any act or omission in connection with, relating to, or arising out of, in whole or in part, (a) the solicitation of acceptance or rejection of the Plan in good faith and in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code or (b) the participation, in good faith and in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, in the offer, issuance, sale, or purchase of a security, offered or sold under the Plan. No Entity or Person may commence or pursue a Claim or Cause of Action of any kind against any of the Exculpated Parties or the 1125(e) Exculpated Parties that arose or arises from, in whole or in part, a Claim or Cause of Action subject to this paragraph, without this Bankruptcy Court (i) first determining, after notice and a hearing, that such Claim or Cause of Action represents a colorable Claim for actual fraud, gross negligence, or willful misconduct against any such Exculpated Party or 1125(e) Exculpated Party and such party is not exculpated pursuant to this provision; and (ii) specifically authorizing such Entity or Person to bring such Claim or Cause of Action against such Exculpation Party or 1125(e) Exculpation Party. The Bankruptcy Court will have sole and exclusive jurisdiction to adjudicate the underlying colorable Claim or Causes of Action.

 

F.

Injunction.

Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Prepackaged Plan, or for obligations issued or required to be paid pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan or the Confirmation Order, all Entities that have held, hold, or may hold Claims or Interests that have been released, discharged, or are subject to exculpation are permanently enjoined, from and after the Effective Date, from taking any of the following actions against, as applicable, the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, the Post-Effective Date Debtors, the Exculpated Parties, or the Released Parties: (1) commencing or continuing in any manner any action or other proceeding of any kind on account of or in connection with or with respect to any such Claims or Interests; (2) enforcing, attaching, collecting, or recovering by any manner or means any judgment, award, decree, or order against such Entities on account of or in connection with or with respect to any such Claims or Interests; (3) creating, perfecting, or enforcing any encumbrance of any kind against such Entities or the property or the estates of such Entities on account of or in connection with or with respect to any such Claims or Interests; (4) asserting any right of setoff, subrogation, or recoupment of any kind against any obligation due from such Entities or against the property of such Entities on account of or in connection with or with respect to any such Claims or Interests unless such Holder has Filed a motion requesting the right to perform such setoff on or before the Effective Date, and notwithstanding an indication of a Claim or Interest or otherwise that such Holder asserts, has, or intends to preserve any right of setoff pursuant to applicable Law or otherwise; and (5) commencing or continuing in any manner any action or other proceeding of any kind on account of or in connection with or with respect to any such claims or interests released or settled pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan.

No Person or Entity may commence, continue, amend, or pursue a Claim or Cause of Action, as applicable, of any kind against the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, the Post-Effective Date Debtors, the Exculpated Parties, or the Released Parties, as applicable, that relates to or is reasonably likely to relate to any act or omission in connection with, relating to, or arising out of a Claim or Cause of Action, subject to Article VIII.C, Article VIII.D, Article VIII.E, and Article VIII.F hereof, without the Bankruptcy Court (i) first determining, after notice and a hearing, that such Claim or Cause of Action, represents a colorable Claim of any kind, and (ii) specifically authorizing such Person or Entity to bring such Claim or Cause of Action, as applicable, against any such Debtor, Reorganized Debtor, Post-Effective Date Debtor, Exculpated Party, or Released Party, as applicable. At the hearing for the Bankruptcy Court to determine whether such Claim or Cause of Action represents a colorable Claim of any kind, the Bankruptcy Court may, or shall if any Debtor, Reorganized

 

53


Debtor, Post-Effective Date Debtor, Exculpated Party, Released Party, or other party in interest requests by motion (oral motion being sufficient), direct that such Person or Entity seeking to commence or pursue such Claim or Cause of Action file a proposed complaint with the Bankruptcy Court embodying such Claim or Cause of Action, such complaint satisfying the applicable Rules of Federal Procedure, including, but not limited to, Rule 8 and Rule 9 (as applicable), which the Bankruptcy Court shall assess before making a determination.

The Bankruptcy Court will have sole and exclusive jurisdiction to adjudicate the underlying colorable Claim or Causes of Action.

 

G.

Protections Against Discriminatory Treatment.

Consistent with section 525 of the Bankruptcy Code and the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, all Entities, including Governmental Units, shall not discriminate against the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, or deny, revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew a license, permit, charter, franchise, or other similar grant to, condition such a grant to, discriminate with respect to such a grant against, the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, or another Entity with whom the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, have been associated, solely because each Debtor has been a debtor under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, has been insolvent before the commencement of the Chapter 11 Cases (or during the Chapter 11 Cases but before the Debtors are granted or denied a discharge), or has not paid a debt that is dischargeable in the Chapter 11 Cases.

 

H.

Document Retention.

On and after the Effective Date, the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, may maintain documents in accordance with their standard document retention policy, as may be altered, amended, modified, or supplemented by the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable.

 

I.

Reimbursement or Contribution.

If the Bankruptcy Court disallows a Claim for reimbursement or contribution of an Entity pursuant to section 502(e)(1)(B) of the Bankruptcy Code, then to the extent that such Claim is contingent as of the time of allowance or disallowance, such Claim shall be forever disallowed and expunged notwithstanding section 502(j) of the Bankruptcy Code, unless prior to the Confirmation Date: (1) such Claim has been adjudicated as non-contingent or (2) the relevant Holder of a Claim has Filed a non-contingent Proof of Claim on account of such Claim and a Final Order has been entered prior to the Confirmation Date determining such Claim as no longer contingent.

ARTICLE IX.

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CONSUMMATION OF THE PLAN

 

A.

Conditions Precedent to the Effective Date.

It shall be a condition to the Effective Date that the following conditions shall have been satisfied or waived pursuant to the provisions of Article IX.B hereof:

 

  (a)

the Bankruptcy Court shall have entered the Confirmation Order (which shall include final approval of the Disclosure Statement), which shall be a Final Order, in form and substance consistent in all respects with the Restructuring Support Agreement (including any consent rights thereunder) and otherwise in form and substance acceptable to the Debtors, the Consenting Investor the Required Consenting Noteholders, and reasonably acceptable to the Required Consenting RCF Lenders, and which shall:

 

  (i)

authorize the Debtors to take all actions necessary to enter into, implement, and consummate the contracts, instruments, releases, leases, indentures, and other agreements or documents created in connection with the Prepackaged Plan;

 

54


  (ii)

decree that the provisions in the Confirmation Order and the Prepackaged Plan are nonseverable and mutually dependent;

 

  (iii)

authorize the Debtors, as applicable/necessary, to: (a) implement the Restructuring Transactions, (b) distribute the New Common Stock, New Notes, and CVRs pursuant to the exemption from registration under the Securities Act provided by section 1145 of the Bankruptcy Code, section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, or Regulation S under the Securities Act, as applicable; (c) make all distributions and issuances as required under the Prepackaged Plan, including Cash, the New Common Stock, the New Notes and CVRs; and (d) enter into any agreements, transactions, and sales of property as set forth in the Plan Supplement, in each case, in a manner consistent with the terms of the Restructuring Support Agreement and subject to the consent rights set forth therein;

 

  (iv)

authorize the implementation of the Prepackaged Plan in accordance with its terms; and

 

  (v)

provide that, pursuant to section 1146 of the Bankruptcy Code, the assignment or surrender of any lease or sublease, and the delivery of any deed or other instrument or transfer order, in furtherance of, or in connection with the Prepackaged Plan, including any deeds, bills of sale, or assignments executed in connection with any disposition or transfer of assets contemplated under the Prepackaged Plan, shall not be subject to any stamp, real estate transfer, mortgage recording, or other similar tax; and

 

  (b)

the Debtors shall have obtained all authorizations, consents, regulatory approvals, rulings, or documents that are necessary to implement and effectuate the Prepackaged Plan;

 

  (c)

the final version of each of the Prepackaged Plan, the Definitive Documents, and all documents contained in any supplement to the Prepackaged Plan, including the Plan Supplement and any exhibits, schedules, amendments, modifications, or supplements thereto or other documents contained therein shall have been executed or filed, as applicable in form and substance consistent in all respects with the Restructuring Support Agreement, the Prepackaged Plan, and comply with the applicable consent rights set forth in the Restructuring Support Agreement and/or the Prepackaged Plan for such documents and shall not have been modified in a manner inconsistent with the Restructuring Support Agreement;

 

  (d)

the Restructuring Support Agreement shall not have been terminated as to the Consenting Investor, the Required Consenting Noteholders, or the Required Consenting RCF Lenders, shall be in full force and effect, and the Debtors and the other parties thereto shall be in compliance therewith;

 

  (e)

all Professional Fee Amounts that require the approval of the Bankruptcy Court shall have been paid in full or amounts sufficient to pay such fees and expenses after the Effective Date shall have been funded into the Professional Fee Account pending the approval of such fees and expenses by the Bankruptcy Court;

 

  (f)

all outstanding Restructuring Expenses and all outstanding reasonable and documented fees and expenses of the Prepetition Senior Secured Notes Trustees, including estimated fees and expenses through the Effective Date shall have been paid in full in cash;

 

  (g)

the Consenting Investor shall have provided the New Direct Investment and the Consenting Investor Cash Contribution;

 

55


  (h)

the completion and consummation of the Reverse Dutch Election Opportunity shall have occurred;

 

  (i)

the Non-Debtor Hospital Partner Entities and Physician-Owned Entities shall have executed and delivered the New Debt Facilities Non-Debtor Hospital Partner Entity Guarantees and New Debt Facilities Physician-Owned Entity Guarantees, respectively;

 

  (j)

no court of competent jurisdiction or other competent governmental or regulatory authority shall have issued a final and non-appealable order making illegal or otherwise restricting, preventing or prohibiting the consummation of the Prepackaged Plan;

 

  (k)

in the event of the Sale Transaction, the conditions to effectiveness to the Purchase Agreement(s) shall have been duly satisfied or waived;

 

  (l)

in the event of the Reorganization Transaction, the conditions to effectiveness of the Restructuring Support Agreement shall have been duly satisfied or waived and the New Common Stock will be issued in accordance with the Distribution Record Date;

 

  (m)

the Debtors shall have implemented the Restructuring Transactions and all transactions contemplated in the Prepackaged Plan in a manner consistent with the Restructuring Support Agreement (and subject to, and in accordance with, the consent rights set forth therein).

 

B.

Waiver of Conditions.

Except as otherwise specified in the Prepackaged Plan or the Restructuring Support Agreement, any one or more of the conditions to Consummation (or component thereof) set forth in this Article IX (other than entry of the Confirmation Order) may be waived by the Debtors with the prior written consent of the Consenting Investor and the Required Consenting Noteholders, and, solely with respect to those conditions set forth in clauses (i), (iii)(a), (iii)(d), (iv) of clause (a) and clauses (b), (c), (f), (i), and (l) of Article IX.A. with the reasonable consent of the Required Consenting RCF Lenders, without notice, leave, or order of the Bankruptcy Court or any formal action other than proceedings to confirm or consummate the Prepackaged Plan.

 

C.

Effect of Failure of Conditions.

If Consummation does not occur as to any Debtor, the Prepackaged Plan shall be null and void in all respects as to such Debtor and nothing contained in the Prepackaged Plan, the Disclosure Statement or Restructuring Support Agreement as to such Debtor shall: (1) constitute a waiver or release of any Claims by the Debtors, any Holders of Claims or Interests or any other Entity; (2) prejudice in any manner the rights of the Debtors, any holders of Claims or Interests, or any other Entity; or (3) constitute an admission, acknowledgment, offer, or undertaking by the Debtors, any holders of Claims or Interests, or any other Entity.

 

D.

Substantial Consummation

“Substantial Consummation” of the Prepackaged Plan, as defined in 11 U.S.C. § 1101(2), shall be deemed to occur on the Effective Date.

 

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ARTICLE X.

MODIFICATION, REVOCATION, OR WITHDRAWAL OF THE PLAN

 

A.

Modification and Amendments.

Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Prepackaged Plan and subject to the consent rights set forth in the Restructuring Support Agreement, the Debtors reserve the right to modify the Prepackaged Plan, whether such modification is material or immaterial, and seek Confirmation consistent with the Bankruptcy Code and, as appropriate, not resolicit votes on such modified Prepackaged Plan. Subject to those restrictions on modifications set forth in the Prepackaged Plan and the requirements of section 1127 of the Bankruptcy Code, Rule 3019 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, and, to the extent applicable, sections 1122, 1123, and 1125 of the Bankruptcy Code, each of the Debtors expressly reserves its respective rights to revoke or withdraw, or to alter, amend, or modify the Prepackaged Plan with respect to such Debtor, one or more times, after Confirmation, and, to the extent necessary may initiate proceedings in the Bankruptcy Court to so alter, amend, or modify the Prepackaged Plan, or remedy any defect or omission, or reconcile any inconsistencies in the Prepackaged Plan, the Disclosure Statement, or the Confirmation Order, in such matters as may be necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of the Prepackaged Plan.

 

B.

Effect of Confirmation on Modifications.

Entry of the Confirmation Order shall mean that all modifications or amendments to the Prepackaged Plan since the solicitation thereof are approved pursuant to section 1127(a) of the Bankruptcy Code and do not require additional disclosure or resolicitation under Bankruptcy Rule 3019.

 

C.

Revocation or Withdrawal of Prepackaged Plan.

To the extent permitted by the Restructuring Support Agreement and subject to the consent of the Consenting Investor and the Required Consenting Noteholders, the Debtors reserve the right to revoke or withdraw the Prepackaged Plan prior to the Confirmation Date and to File subsequent plans of reorganization. If the Debtors revoke or withdraw the Prepackaged Plan, or if Confirmation or Consummation does not occur, then: (1) the Prepackaged Plan shall be null and void in all respects; (2) any settlement or compromise embodied in the Prepackaged Plan (including the fixing or limiting to an amount certain of any Claim or Interest or Class of Claims or Interests), assumption or rejection of Executory Contracts or Unexpired Leases effected under the Prepackaged Plan, and any document or agreement executed pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, shall be deemed null and void; and (3) nothing contained in the Prepackaged Plan shall: (a) constitute a waiver or release of any Claims or Interests; (b) prejudice in any manner the rights of such Debtor or any other Entity; or (c) constitute an admission, acknowledgement, offer, or undertaking of any sort by such Debtor or any other Entity.

ARTICLE XI.

RETENTION OF JURISDICTION

Notwithstanding the entry of the Confirmation Order and the occurrence of the Effective Date, on and after the Effective Date, the Bankruptcy Court shall retain exclusive jurisdiction over all matters arising out of, or relating to, the Chapter 11 Cases and the Prepackaged Plan pursuant to sections 105(a) and 1142 of the Bankruptcy Code, and to the fullest extent permissible by 28 U.S.C. § 1334 to hear, and by 28 U.S.C. § 157 to determine, all proceedings in respect thereof, including, without limitation, for the following purposes:

 

  (a)

allow, disallow, determine, liquidate, classify, estimate, or establish the priority, secured or unsecured status, or amount of any Claim or Interest, and the resolution of any and all objections to the secured or unsecured status, priority, amount, or allowance of Claims or Interests;

 

  (b)

decide and resolve all matters related to the granting and denying, in whole or in part, any applications for allowance of compensation or reimbursement of expenses to Professionals authorized pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code or the Prepackaged Plan;

 

  (c)

resolve any matters related to: (a) the assumption, assumption and assignment, or rejection of any Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease to which a Debtor is party or with respect to which a Debtor may be liable and to hear, determine, and, if necessary, liquidate, any Claims arising therefrom, including Cures pursuant to section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code; (b) any potential contractual obligation under any Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease that is assumed; (c) the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors amending, modifying, or supplementing, after the Effective Date, pursuant to Article V hereof, any Executory Contracts or Unexpired Leases to the list of Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases to be assumed or rejected or otherwise; and (d) any dispute regarding whether a contract or lease is or was executory or expired;

 

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  (d)

to resolve disputes concerning Disputed Claims and consider the allowance, classification, priority, compromise, estimation, secured or unsecured status, amount or payment of any Claim, including any Administrative Claims, including any dispute over the application to any Claim of any limitation on its allowance set forth in sections 502 or 503 of the Bankruptcy Code or asserted under non-bankruptcy Law pursuant to section 502(b)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code;

 

  (e)

ensure that distributions to holders of Allowed Claims and Allowed Interests (as applicable) are accomplished pursuant to the provisions of the Prepackaged Plan, including with respect to (i) the New Notes pursuant to the New 2027 Notes Indenture and the New 2028 Notes Indenture, and (ii) the CVRs pursuant to the CVR Distribution Framework;

 

  (f)

adjudicate, decide, or resolve any motions, adversary proceedings, contested or litigated matters, and any other matters, and grant or deny any applications involving a Debtor that may be pending on the Effective Date;

 

  (g)

adjudicate, decide, or resolve any and all matters related to section 1141 of the Bankruptcy Code;

 

  (h)

enter and implement such orders as may be necessary to execute, implement, or consummate the provisions of the Prepackaged Plan and all contracts, instruments, releases, indentures, and other agreements or documents created or entered into in connection with the Prepackaged Plan or the Disclosure Statement, including the Restructuring Support Agreement;

 

  (i)

enter and enforce any order for the sale of property pursuant to sections 363, 1123, or 1146(a) of the Bankruptcy Code;

 

  (j)

resolve any cases, controversies, suits, disputes, or Causes of Action that may arise in connection with the Consummation, interpretation, or enforcement of the Prepackaged Plan or any Entity’s obligations incurred in connection with the Prepackaged Plan;

 

  (k)

issue injunctions, enter and implement other orders, or take such other actions as may be necessary to restrain interference by any Entity with Consummation or enforcement of the Prepackaged Plan;

 

  (l)

resolve any cases, controversies, suits, disputes, or Causes of Action with respect to the releases, injunctions, exculpations, and other provisions contained in Article VIII hereof and enter such orders as may be necessary or appropriate to implement such releases, injunctions, and other provisions;

 

  (m)

resolve any cases, controversies, suits, disputes, or Causes of Action with respect to the repayment or return of distributions and the recovery of additional amounts owed by the Holder of a Claim or Interest for amounts not timely repaid pursuant to Article VII.F hereof;

 

  (n)

enter and implement such orders as are necessary if the Confirmation Order is for any reason modified, stayed, reversed, revoked, or vacated;

 

58


  (o)

determine any other matters that may arise in connection with or relate to the Prepackaged Plan, the Plan Supplement, the Disclosure Statement, the Confirmation Order, or any contract, instrument, release, indenture, or other agreement or document created in connection with the Prepackaged Plan or the Disclosure Statement, including the Restructuring Support Agreement;

 

  (p)

enter an order concluding or closing the Chapter 11 Cases;

 

  (q)

adjudicate any and all disputes arising from or relating to distributions under the Prepackaged Plan;

 

  (r)

consider any modifications of the Prepackaged Plan in accordance with section 1127 of the Bankruptcy Code, to cure any defect or omission, or to reconcile any inconsistency in any Bankruptcy Court order, including the Confirmation Order;

 

  (s)

determine requests for the payment of Claims and Interests entitled to priority pursuant to section 507 of the Bankruptcy Code;

 

  (t)

hear and determine disputes arising in connection with the interpretation, implementation, or enforcement of the Prepackaged Plan or the Confirmation Order, including disputes arising under agreements, documents, or instruments executed in connection with the Prepackaged Plan;

 

  (u)

hear and determine matters concerning state, local, and federal taxes in accordance with sections 346, 505, and 1146 of the Bankruptcy Code;

 

  (v)

to recover all assets of the Debtors and property of the Debtors’ Estates, wherever located;

 

  (w)

hear and determine all disputes involving the existence, nature, scope, or enforcement of any exculpations, discharges, injunctions, and releases granted in the Prepackaged Plan, including under Article VIII hereof;

 

  (x)

enforce all orders previously entered by the Bankruptcy Court; and

 

  (y)

hear any other matter not inconsistent with the Bankruptcy Code.

As of the Effective Date, notwithstanding anything in this Article XI to the contrary, the New Corporate Governance Documents, the New Notes, the New Common Stock, New RCF Exit Facility, and any documents related thereto shall be governed by the jurisdictional provisions therein and the Bankruptcy Court shall not retain jurisdiction with respect thereto.

ARTICLE XII.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

A.

Immediate Binding Effect.

Subject to Article IX.A hereof and notwithstanding Bankruptcy Rules 3020(e), 6004(h), or 7062 or otherwise, upon the occurrence of the Effective Date, the terms of the Prepackaged Plan (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the documents and instruments contained in the Plan Supplement) shall be immediately effective and enforceable and deemed binding upon the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, the Post-Effective Date Debtors, any and all holders of Claims or Interests (irrespective of whether such holders of Claims or Interests have, or are deemed to have accepted the Prepackaged Plan), all Entities that are parties to or are subject to the settlements, compromises, releases, discharges, and injunctions described in the Prepackaged Plan, each Entity acquiring property under the Prepackaged Plan, and any and all non-Debtor parties to Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases with the Debtors.

 

59


B.

Additional Documents.

On or before the Effective Date, and consistent in all respects with the terms of the Restructuring Support Agreement, the Debtors may file with the Bankruptcy Court such agreements and other documents as may be necessary to effectuate and further evidence the terms and conditions of the Prepackaged Plan and the Restructuring Support Agreement. The Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, and all holders of Claims or Interests receiving distributions pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan and all other parties in interest shall, from time to time, prepare, execute, and deliver any agreements or documents and take any other actions as may be necessary or advisable to effectuate the provisions and intent of the Prepackaged Plan.

 

C.

Payment of Statutory Fees.

All fees payable pursuant to section 1930(a) of the Judicial Code shall be paid by each of the Reorganized Debtors or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, (or the Disbursing Agent on behalf of each of the Reorganized Debtors or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable) for each quarter (including any fraction thereof) until the earlier of entry of a final decree closing such Chapter 11 Cases or an order of dismissal or conversion, whichever comes first.

 

D.

Statutory Committee and Cessation of Fee and Expense Payment.

On the Confirmation Date, any statutory committee appointed in the Chapter 11 Cases shall dissolve and members thereof shall be released and discharged from all rights and duties from or related to the Chapter 11 Cases. The Reorganized Debtors or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, shall no longer be responsible for paying any fees or expenses incurred by the members of or advisors to any statutory committees after the Confirmation Date.

 

E.

Reservation of Rights.

Except as expressly set forth in the Prepackaged Plan, the Prepackaged Plan shall have no force or effect unless the Bankruptcy Court shall enter the Confirmation Order, and the Confirmation Order shall have no force or effect if the Effective Date does not occur. None of the Filing of the Prepackaged Plan, any statement or provision contained in the Prepackaged Plan, or the taking of any action by any Debtor with respect to the Prepackaged Plan, the Disclosure Statement, or the Plan Supplement shall be or shall be deemed to be an admission or waiver of any rights of any Debtor with respect to the holders of Claims or Interests prior to the Effective Date.

 

F.

Successors and Assigns.

The rights, benefits, and obligations of any Entity named or referred to in the Prepackaged Plan shall be binding on, and shall inure to the benefit of any heir, executor, administrator, successor or assign, Affiliate, officer, manager, director, agent, representative, attorney, beneficiaries, or guardian, if any, of each Entity.

 

G.

Notices.

All notices, requests, and demands to or upon the Debtors to be effective shall be in writing (including by facsimile transmission) and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, shall be deemed to have been duly given or made when actually delivered or, in the case of notice by facsimile transmission, when received and telephonically confirmed, addressed as follows:

 

60


Debtors    Counsel to the Debtors
Akumin Inc.
8300 W Sunrise Blvd.
Plantation, FL 33322
Attention: Riadh Zine
  

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

51 West 52nd Street

New York, NY 10019

Attention: Eric Lopez Schnabel and Rachel P. Stoian

schnabel.eric@dorsey.com

stoian.rachel@dorsey.com

 

and

 

Jackson Walker LLP
1401 McKinney Street, Suite 1900
Houston, Texas 77010
Attention: Matthew D. Cavenaugh and Jennifer F. Wertz

mcavenaugh@jw.com

jwertz@jw.com

Counsel to the Consenting Investor    Counsel to the Ad Hoc Noteholder Group
Sidley Austin LLP
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Anthony Grossi and Jason Hufendick
   Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
1 Bryant Park
New York, NY 10036
Attention: Michael S. Stamer and Jason Rubin
Counsel to the Consenting RCF Lenders   
King & Spalding LLP
1180 Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 1600
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Attention: Thaddeus D. Wilson and Britney Baker
  

After the Effective Date, the Reorganized Debtors or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, have the authority to send a notice to Entities that to continue to receive documents pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 2002, such Entity must file a renewed request to receive documents pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 2002. After the Effective Date, the Reorganized Debtors are authorized to limit the list of Entities receiving documents pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 2002 to those Entities who have Filed such renewed requests.

 

H.

Term of Injunctions or Stays.

Unless otherwise provided in the Prepackaged Plan or in the Confirmation Order, all injunctions or stays in effect in the Chapter 11 Cases pursuant to sections 105 or 362 of the Bankruptcy Code or any order of the Bankruptcy Court, and extant on the Confirmation Date (excluding any injunctions or stays contained in the Prepackaged Plan or the Confirmation Order) shall remain in full force and effect until the Effective Date. All injunctions or stays contained in the Prepackaged Plan or the Confirmation Order shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms.

 

I.

Entire Agreement.

Except as otherwise indicated, and without limiting the effectiveness of the Restructuring Support Agreement, the Prepackaged Plan (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the documents and instruments in the Plan Supplement) supersedes all previous and contemporaneous negotiations, promises, covenants, agreements, understandings, and representations on such subjects, all of which have become merged and integrated into the Prepackaged Plan.

 

61


J.

Plan Supplement.

All exhibits and documents included in the Plan Supplement are incorporated into and are a part of the Prepackaged Plan as if set forth in full in the Prepackaged Plan. After the exhibits and documents are Filed, copies of such exhibits and documents shall be available upon written request to the Debtors’ counsel at the address above or by downloading such exhibits and documents from the Debtors’ restructuring website at https://dm.epiq11.com/Akumin or the Bankruptcy Court’s website at www.txs.uscourts.gov/bankruptcy. To the extent any exhibit or document is inconsistent with the terms of the Prepackaged Plan, unless otherwise ordered by the Bankruptcy Court, the non-exhibit or non-document portion of the Prepackaged Plan shall control.

 

K.

Severability of Prepackaged Plan Provisions.

If, prior to Confirmation, any term or provision of the Prepackaged Plan is held by the Bankruptcy Court to be invalid, void, or unenforceable, the Bankruptcy Court shall have the power to alter and interpret such term or provision to make it valid or enforceable to the maximum extent practicable, consistent with the original purpose of the term or provision held to be invalid, void, or unenforceable, and such term or provision shall then be applicable as altered or interpreted. Notwithstanding any such holding, alteration, or interpretation, the remainder of the terms and provisions of the Prepackaged Plan will remain in full force and effect and will in no way be affected, impaired, or invalidated by such holding, alteration, or interpretation. The Confirmation Order shall constitute a judicial determination and shall provide that each term and provision of the Prepackaged Plan, as it may have been altered or interpreted in accordance with the foregoing, is: (1) valid and enforceable pursuant to its terms; (2) integral to the Prepackaged Plan and may not be deleted or modified without the Debtors’, Reorganized Debtors’, or Post-Effective Date Debtors consent, as applicable; and (3) nonseverable and mutually dependent.

 

L.

Votes Solicited in Good Faith.

Upon entry of the Confirmation Order, the Debtors will be deemed to have solicited votes on the Prepackaged Plan in good faith and in compliance with section 1125(g) of the Bankruptcy Code, and pursuant to section 1125(e) of the Bankruptcy Code, the Debtors and each of their respective Affiliates, agents, representatives, members, principals, stockholders, officers, directors, employees, advisors, and attorneys will be deemed to have participated in good faith and in compliance with the Bankruptcy Code in the offer, issuance, sale, and purchase of securities offered and sold under the Prepackaged Plan and any previous plan, and, therefore, neither any of such parties or individuals or the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors will have any liability for the violation of any applicable Law, rule, or regulation governing the solicitation of votes on the Prepackaged Plan or the offer, issuance, sale, or purchase of the Securities offered and sold under the Prepackaged Plan and any previous plan.

 

M.

Closing of Chapter 11 Cases.

The Reorganized Debtors or the Post-Effective Date Debtors, as applicable, shall, promptly after the full administration of the Chapter 11 Cases, File with the Bankruptcy Court all documents required by Bankruptcy Rule 3022 and any applicable order of the Bankruptcy Court to close the Chapter 11 Cases.

 

N.

Waiver or Estoppel.

Each Holder of a Claim or an Interest shall be deemed to have waived any right to assert any argument, including the right to argue that its Claim or Interest should be Allowed in a certain amount, in a certain priority, secured or not subordinated by virtue of an agreement made with the Debtors or their counsel, or any other Entity, if such agreement was not disclosed in the Prepackaged Plan, the Disclosure Statement, or papers Filed with the Bankruptcy Court prior to the Confirmation Date.

 

62


O.

Creditor Default

An act or omission by a Holder of a Claim or an Interest in contravention of the provisions of this Prepackaged Plan shall be deemed an event of default under this Prepackaged Plan. Upon an event of default, the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors may seek to hold the defaulting party in contempt of the Confirmation Order and shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors in remedying such default. Upon the finding of such a default by a creditor, the Bankruptcy Court may: (a) designate a party to appear, sign and/or accept the documents required under the Prepackaged Plan on behalf of the defaulting party, in accordance with Bankruptcy Rule 7070; (b) enforce the Prepackaged Plan by order of specific performance; (c) award judgment against such defaulting creditor in favor of the Reorganized Debtor or Post-Effective Date Debtor in an amount, including interest, to compensate the Reorganized Debtors or Post-Effective Date Debtors for the damages caused by such default; and (d) make such other order as may be equitable that does not materially alter the terms of the Prepackaged Plan.

 

63


Dated: October 22, 2023       AKUMIN INC.
      ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC GROUP, LLC
      ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC RESOURCES, LLC
      AFFILIATED PET SYSTEMS, L.L.C.
      AFO IMAGING, INC.
      AKUMIN FL, LLC
      AKUMIN FLORIDA HOLDINGS, LLC
      AKUMIN HEALTH ILLINOIS, LLC
      AKUMIN HOLDINGS CORP.
      AKUMIN OPERATING CORP.
      ALLIANCE IMAGING NC, LLC
      ALLIANCE ONCOLOGY OF ARIZONA, LLC
      ALLIANCE RADIOSURGERY, LLC
      DECATUR HEALTH IMAGING, L.L.C.
      DIAGNOSTIC HEALTH CENTER OF ANCHORAGE, LLC
      GREATER BOSTON MRI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP GREATER BOSTON MRI SERVICES, LLC
      IMAGING CENTER OF WEST PALM BEACH, LLC
      INMED DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES OF MA, LLC
      LCM IMAGING, INC.
      MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS, LLC
      MEDICAL OUTSOURCING SERVICES, LLC
      MID-AMERICAN IMAGING, INC.
      MONROE PET, LLC
      MUSC HEALTH CANCER CARE ORGANIZATION, LLC
      NEHE/WSIC II, LLC
      NEHE-MRI, LLC
      NEOSPINE BLOCKER CORP.
      NEW ENGLAND HEALTH ENTERPRISES BUSINESS TRUST
      NEW ENGLAND HEALTH IMAGING—HOULTON, LLC
      NEW ENGLAND MOLECULAR IMAGING LLC
      PET SCANS OF AMERICA CORP.
      PMI PARTNERS, LLC
      PREFERRED IMAGING AT CASA LINDA PLAZA, LLC PREFERRED IMAGING AT THE MEDICAL CENTER, LLC PREFERRED IMAGING HEB, LLC
      PREFERRED IMAGING OF AUSTIN, LLC
      PREFERRED IMAGING OF CORINTH, LLC
      PREFERRED IMAGING OF DENTON, LLC
      PREFERRED IMAGING OF FORT WORTH, LLC PREFERRED IMAGING OF FRISCO, LLC
      PREFERRED IMAGING OF GARLAND, LLC
      PREFERRED IMAGING OF GRAPEVINE/COLLEYVILLE, LLC
      PREFERRED IMAGING OF IRVING, LLC
      PREFERRED IMAGING OF MCKINNEY, LLC
      PREFERRED IMAGING OF MESQUITE, LLC
      PREFERRED IMAGING OF PLANO, LLC
      PREFERRED IMAGING ON PLANO PARKWAY, LLC PREFERRED OPEN MRI, LLC
      ROUND ROCK IMAGING, LLC
      SHARED P.E.T. IMAGING, LLC
      SMT HEALTH SERVICES, LLC
      SYNCMED, LLC

 

64


      THREE RIVERS HOLDING, LLC
      TIC ACQUISITION HOLDINGS, LLC
      USR HOLDINGS, LLC
      VISTA PEM PROVIDERS, LLC
      WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS MAGNETIC RESONANCE SERVICES, LLC
      WOODLAND DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING, LLC
      /s/ Riadh Zine
      Riadh Zine
      Authorized Signatory/CEO

 

65


Exhibit A

Restructuring Support Agreement

Exhibit 3.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

AKUMIN INC.

(hereinafter called the “Corporation”)

ARTICLE I

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1.1. Place of Meetings. Meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for the election of directors or for any other purpose shall be held at such time and place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated from time to time by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board”). The Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communications as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended (the “DGCL”).

Section 1.2. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting in accordance with these amended and restated bylaws of the Corporation (as amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof, these “Bylaws”) shall be held on such date and at such time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board.

Section 1.3. Special Meetings. Unless otherwise required by law or by the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation (including the terms of any certificate of designation with respect to any series of preferred stock), as amended and restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation, for any purpose or purposes, may be called only by the Board. At a special meeting of stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall be specified in the notice of meeting. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of stockholders previously called by any of them.

Section 1.4. Notice. Whenever stockholders of the Corporation are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall be given which shall state the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, written notice of any meeting shall be given either personally, by mail or by electronic transmission (if permitted under the circumstances by the DGCL) not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail with postage thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at the

 

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stockholder’s address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Corporation. If notice is given by means of electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed to be given at the times provided in the DGCL. Any stockholder may waive notice of any meeting before or after the meeting. The attendance of a stockholder at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice at such meeting, except where the stockholder attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual or special meeting of stockholders need be specified in any waiver of notice unless so required by law.

Section 1.5. Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be adjourned or recessed from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, if any, by holders of a majority of the voting power of the Corporation’s capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, though less than a quorum, or by any officer entitled to preside at or to act as secretary of such meeting, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned or recessed meeting (including an adjournment taken to address a technical failure to convene or continue a meeting using remote communication) if the time and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned or recessed meeting, are (a) announced at the meeting at which the adjournment or recess is taken, (b) displayed during the time scheduled for the meeting, on the same electronic network used to enable stockholders and proxy holders to participate in the meeting by means of remote communication or (c) set forth in the notice of meeting given in accordance with these Bylaws. At the adjourned or recessed meeting, the Corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, notice of the adjourned meeting in accordance with the requirements of Section 1.4 of these Bylaws shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If, after the adjournment, a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

Section 1.6. Quorum. Unless otherwise required by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Corporation’s capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders. Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series is required, a majority of the voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series present in person or represented by proxy shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to such vote. If a quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of stockholders, the chairperson of the meeting, any officer entitled to preside at or to act as secretary of such meeting or the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, in the manner provided in Section 1.5 of these Bylaws, until a quorum shall be present or represented. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum.

 

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Section 1.7. Voting.

(a) Matters Other Than Election of Directors. Any matter brought before any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, other than the election of directors, shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Corporation’s capital stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on such matter, voting as a single class, unless the matter is one upon which, by express provision of law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such matter. Except as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, every stockholder having the right to vote shall have one vote for each share of stock having voting power registered in such stockholder’s name on the books of the Corporation. Such votes may be cast in person or by proxy as provided in Section 1.10 of these Bylaws. The Board, in its discretion, or the officer of the Corporation presiding at a meeting of stockholders, in such officer’s discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.

(b) Election of Directors. Except as provided in Section 2.7 of these Bylaws, election of directors at all meetings of the stockholders at which directors are to be elected shall be by a plurality of the votes cast.

Section 1.8. Voting of Stock of Certain Holders. Shares of stock of the Corporation standing in the name of a deceased person, a minor, an incompetent or a debtor in a case under Title 11, United States Code, and entitled to vote may be voted by an administrator, executor, guardian, conservator, debtor-in-possession or trustee, as the case may be, either in person or by proxy, without transfer of such shares into the name of the official or other person so voting. A stockholder whose shares of stock of the Corporation are pledged shall be entitled to vote such shares, unless on the transfer records of the Corporation such stockholder has expressly empowered the pledgee to vote such shares, in which case only the pledgee, or the pledgee’s proxy, may vote such shares.

Section 1.9. Treasury Stock. Shares of stock of the Corporation belonging to the Corporation, or to another corporation a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of which are held by the Corporation, shall not be voted at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and shall not be counted in the total number of outstanding shares for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present. Nothing in this Section 1.9 shall limit the right of the Corporation to vote shares of stock of the Corporation held by it in a fiduciary capacity.

Section 1.10. Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy filed with the Secretary before or at the time of the meeting. No such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period.

Section 1.11. Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting. Any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum

 

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number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded.

Section 1.12. List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The officer of the Corporation who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make or have prepared and made, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth (10th) day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Nothing contained in this Section 1.12 shall require the Corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least ten (10) days ending on the day before the meeting date: (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation.

Section 1.13. Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting, but the Board may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.13 at the adjourned meeting.

Section 1.14. Organization and Conduct of Meetings. The Chairperson of the Board shall act as chairperson of meetings of stockholders of the Corporation (the “Chairperson of the Meeting”). The Board may designate any other director or officer of the Corporation to act as Chairperson of the Meeting in the absence of the Chairperson of the Board, and the Board may further provide for determining who shall act as Chairperson of the Meeting in the absence of the Chairperson of the Board and such designee. If the Chairperson of the Board is absent and the

 

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Board has not designated a replacement for Chairperson of the Meeting, the Vice Chairperson of the Board, if any, or in the absence of the foregoing person, the Chief Executive Officer, if any, or in the absence of the foregoing person, a Vice President of the Corporation, if any, or in the absence of the foregoing person, the Secretary, or in the absence of the foregoing person, a chairperson chosen at such meeting by the holders of a majority of the shares present or represented at such meeting, shall serve as the Chairperson of the Meeting. The Board may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the chairperson of the meeting, may include the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) the determination of when the polls shall open and close for any given matter to be voted on at the meeting; (iii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iv) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairperson of the meeting shall determine; (v) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (vi) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Except to the extent inconsistent with the rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the Chairperson of the Meeting shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess or adjourn the meeting to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such Chairperson of the Meeting, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Except to the extent determined by the Board or the Chairperson of the Meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure. The Secretary, or in the Secretary’s absence an Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of the meeting of stockholders, but if neither the Secretary nor an Assistant Secretary is present, the Chairperson of the Meeting shall appoint any person present to act as secretary of the meeting.

Section 1.15. Inspectors of Election. In advance of any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Board, by resolution, may, but need not, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. One or more other persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the Chairperson of the Meeting may, but need not, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of inspector, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability. The inspector (if any) shall have the duties prescribed by law and shall take charge of the polls and, when the vote is completed, shall make a certificate of the result of the vote taken and of such other facts as may be required by applicable law.

 

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ARTICLE II

DIRECTORS

Section 2.1. Number; Term. The Board shall consist of one or more members. Unless the Certificate of Incorporation fixes the number of directors, the number of directors shall be fixed, from time to time, exclusively by the Board. Each director shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until the director’s death, resignation, disqualification or removal.

Section 2.2. Duties and Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

Section 2.3. Meetings. The Board may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware. Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such time and at such place as may from time to time be determined by the Board. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairperson of the Board (if there be one), the Chief Executive Officer or the Board and shall be held at such place, on such date and at such time as he, she or it shall specify.

Section 2.4. Notice. Notice of any meeting of the Board stating the place, date and time of the meeting shall be given to each director by mail posted not less than five (5) days before the date of the meeting, by nationally recognized overnight courier deposited not less than two (2) days before the date of the meeting or by email, facsimile or other means of electronic communication delivered or sent not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the date and time of the meeting, or on such shorter notice as the person or persons calling such meeting may deem necessary or appropriate in the circumstances. If mailed or sent by overnight courier, such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when it is deposited in the United States mail with first class postage prepaid or deposited with the overnight courier. Notice by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be deemed given when the notice is transmitted. Any director may waive notice of any meeting before or after the meeting. The attendance of a director at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where the director attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board need be specified in any notice or waiver of notice of such meeting unless so required by law.

Section 2.5. Chairperson of the Board. The Chairperson of the Board shall be chosen from among the directors and may be the Chief Executive Officer. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Chairperson of the Board shall preside at all meetings of stockholders and of the Board. The Chairperson of the Board shall have such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Board.

Section 2.6. Organization. At each meeting of the Board, the Chairperson of the Board, or, in the Chairperson’s absence, a director chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall act as chairperson. The Secretary shall act as secretary at each meeting of the Board. In case the Secretary shall be absent from any meeting of the Board, an assistant secretary shall perform the duties of secretary at such meeting; and in the absence from any such meeting of the Secretary and all assistant secretaries, the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

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Section 2.7. Resignations and Removals of Directors. Any director of the Corporation may resign at any time, by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chairperson of the Board or the Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some other time or upon the occurrence of some other event, and, unless otherwise specified in such notice, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Subject to any limitations in any stockholder agreement or the rights of holders of any series of preferred stock or such other applicable persons with respect to the election of directors, a director may be removed from office by the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of the DGCL.

Section 2.8. Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Any newly created directorships and any vacancies on the Board shall be filled solely by the affirmative votes of a majority of the remaining members of the Board, although less than a quorum. A director so elected shall hold office until the earlier of the expiration of the term of the director whom he or she has replaced, the proper election and qualification of a successor or that director’s death, resignation, disqualification or removal.

Section 2.9. Quorum. At all meetings of the Board, a majority of directors constituting the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting of the time and place of the adjourned meeting, until a quorum shall be present. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors if any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting.

Section 2.10. Actions of the Board by Written Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all the members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.

Section 2.11. Telephonic Meetings. Members of the Board, or any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of the Board or such committee by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 2.12. Committees. The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation and, to the extent permitted by law, to have and exercise such authority as may be provided for in the resolutions creating such committee, as such resolutions may be amended from time to time. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of any such committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, and in the absence of a designation by the Board of an alternate member to replace the absent or disqualified member, the member or members thereof present at any

 

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meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any absent or disqualified member. Each committee shall keep regular minutes and report to the Board when required. A majority of any committee may determine its action and fix the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board shall otherwise provide. The Board shall have the power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of or to dissolve any such committee.

Section 2.13. Compensation. The Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors. The directors shall be paid their reasonable expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board or any committee thereof and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each such meeting and an annual retainer or salary for service as director or committee member, payable in cash or securities. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Directors who are full-time employees of the Corporation shall not receive any compensation for their service as director.

Section 2.14. Interested Directors. No contract or transaction between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association or other organization in which one or more of the Corporation’s directors or officers are directors or officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board or committee thereof that authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because any such director’s or officer’s vote is counted for such purpose if: (i) the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board or the committee, and the Board or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; (ii) the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or (iii) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the Board, a committee thereof or the stockholders. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board or of a committee that authorizes the contract or transaction.

ARTICLE III

OFFICERS

Section 3.1. General. The officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by the Board and shall be a Chief Executive Officer (or, alternatively, a President), a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board, in its discretion, may also choose a Chairperson of the Board (who must be a director), a Vice Chairperson of the Board (who must be a director), a President, a Chief Financial Officer, one or more Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers and such other officers as the Board from time to time may deem appropriate. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. The officers of the Corporation need not be stockholders of the Corporation nor, except in the case of the Chairperson of the Board or the Vice Chairperson of the Board, need such officers be directors of the Corporation.

 

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Section 3.2. Election; Term. The Board shall elect the officers of the Corporation who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board, and each officer of the Corporation shall hold office until such officer’s successor is elected and qualified, or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Any officer may be removed at any time by the Board. Any officer may resign upon notice given in writing or electronic transmission to the Chief Executive Officer (or, if none, the President) or the Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some other time or upon the occurrence of some other event. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled in the manner prescribed in this Article III.

Section 3.3. Voting Securities Owned by the Corporation. Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the Chief Executive Officer (or, if none, the President) or any other officer authorized to do so by the Board, and any such officer may, in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation may own securities and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed if present. The authority granted herein may be exercised either by such person directly or by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by such person having the authority. The Board may, by resolution, from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.

Section 3.4. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall, subject to the control of the Board, have general supervision over the business of the Corporation and shall direct the affairs and policies of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall also perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned to such officer by these Bylaws or by the Board.

Section 3.5. President. The President (if any) shall act in a general executive capacity and shall assist the Chief Executive Officer in the administration and operation of the Corporation’s business and general supervision of its policies and affairs. The President shall, in the absence of or because of the inability to act of the Chief Executive Officer or if there be none, perform all duties of the Chief Executive Officer.

Section 3.6. Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents. The Executive Vice Presidents (if any), Senior Vice Presidents (if any) and such other Vice Presidents as shall have been chosen by the Board shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the Board.

Section 3.7. Secretary. The Secretary shall give the requisite notice of meetings of stockholders and directors and shall record the proceedings of such meetings and, besides the Secretary’s powers and duties prescribed by law, shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as shall at any time be assigned to such officer by the Board.

 

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Section 3.8. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge of the funds and securities of the Corporation and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as shall at any time be assigned to such officer by the Board.

Section 3.9. Assistant Secretaries. Assistant Secretaries (if any) shall assist the Secretary in the discharge of the Secretary’s duties, shall have such powers and perform such other duties as shall at any time be assigned to them by the Board and, in the absence or disability of the Secretary, shall perform the duties of the Secretary’s office, subject to the control of the Board.

Section 3.10. Assistant Treasurers. Assistant Treasurers (if any) shall assist the Treasurer in the discharge of the Treasurer’s duties, shall have such powers and perform such other duties as shall at any time be assigned to them by the Board and, in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, shall perform the duties of the Treasurer’s office, subject to the control of the Board.

Section 3.8. Other Officers. Such other officers as the Board may choose shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board. The Board may delegate to any other officer of the Corporation the power to choose such other officers and to prescribe their respective duties and powers.

ARTICLE IV

STOCK

Section 4.1. Stock Certificates. The shares of the Corporation shall be uncertificated, provided that the Board may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be certificated shares. Every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of, the Corporation by any two authorized officers of the Corporation representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. Uncertificated shares shall be transferable only on the books of the Corporation by the holder thereof in person or by attorney upon presentment of proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to transfer in accordance with the customary procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form.

Section 4.2. Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

Section 4.3. Dividends. Subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation, dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the Corporation may be declared by the Board at any regular or special meeting of the Board. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the Corporation’s capital stock, unless otherwise provided by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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Section 4.4. Record Owners. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise required by law.

ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 5.1. Contracts. The Board may authorize any officer or officers or any agent or agents to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument or other document in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

Section 5.2. Disbursements. All checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board may from time to time designate.

Section 5.3. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed, and shall be subject to change, by the Board. Unless otherwise fixed by the Board, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the calendar year.

Section 5.4. Corporate Seal. The Corporation may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board. The Corporation may use the corporate seal by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or otherwise reproduced.

Section 5.5. Offices. The Corporation shall maintain a registered office inside the State of Delaware and may also have other offices outside or inside the State of Delaware. The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to any applicable law) outside the State of Delaware at the principal executive offices of the Corporation or at such other place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board.

Section 5.6. Conflict with Certificate of Incorporation. These Bylaws are adopted subject to the Certificate of Incorporation. Whenever these Bylaws may conflict with the Certificate of Incorporation, such conflict shall be resolved in favor of the Certificate of Incorporation.

Section 5.7. Execution in Counterpart and by Electronic Means. Subject to the DGCL, signatures on any notice, resolution, requisition, statement or other document required or permitted to be executed for the purposes of the DGCL may be obtained by means of facsimile or other electronic means or by execution of several documents of like form, each of which is executed by one or more persons, and such documents, when duly executed by all persons required or permitted, as the case may be, to do so, shall be deemed to constitute one document for the purposes of the DGCL.

 

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Section 5.8. Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given to any stockholder or director of the Corporation under the provisions of the DGCL or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual or special meeting of the stockholders or any regular or special meeting of the Board or committee thereof need be specified in any waiver of notice of such meeting unless so required by law.

Section 5.9. Forum for Certain Actions.

(a) Forum. Unless a majority of the Board, acting on behalf of the Corporation, consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum (which consent may be given at any time, including during the pendency of litigation), the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another state court located within the State of Delaware or, if no court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers or other employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws (in each case, as may be amended from time to time), (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers or other employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the State of Delaware or (v) any other action asserting an “internal corporate claim,” as defined in Section 115 of the DGCL, in all cases subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over all indispensable parties named as defendants.

(b) Personal Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of subparagraph (a) of this Section 5.8 is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce subparagraph (a) of this Section 5.8 (an “Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

(c) Enforceability. If any provision of this Section 5.8 shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person, entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Section 5.8, and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

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Section 5.10. Notice to Stockholders Sharing an Address.

Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. Any stockholder who fails to object in writing to the Corporation, within 60 days of having been given written notice by the Corporation of its intention to send the single notice permitted under this Section 5.8, shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice. This Section 5.8 shall not apply to Section 164, Section 296, Section 311, Section 312 or Section 324 of the DGCL.

Section 5.11. Notice to Person with Whom Communication is Unlawful.

Whenever notice is required to be given, under the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, to any person with whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person. Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to any such person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. In the event that the action taken by the Corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate under the DGCL, the certificate shall state, if such is the fact and if notice is required, that notice was given to all persons entitled to receive notice except such persons with whom communication is unlawful.

Section 5.12. Ratification. Any transaction, questioned in any lawsuit on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of director, officer or stockholder, non disclosure, miscomputation, or the application of improper principles or practices of accounting, may be ratified before or after judgment, by the Board or by the stockholders, and if so ratified shall have the same force and effect as if the questioned transaction had been originally duly authorized. Such ratification shall be binding upon the Corporation and its stockholders and shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned transaction.

ARTICLE VI

Indemnification

Section 6.1 General. To the extent permitted by law but subject to this Article VI, each stockholder, each director and each officer entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 6.2 (each an “Indemnitee”) will not be liable for, and will be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation against, all claims, actions, demands, losses, damages, liabilities, costs, or expenses, including attorney’s fees, court costs, and costs of investigation, and including expenses incurred in successfully enforcing this right to indemnification, actually and reasonably incurred by any such Indemnitee (collectively, “Indemnified Losses”) arising from any civil, criminal or administrative proceedings in which such Indemnitee may be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its being a stockholder, director or officer, or by reason of its involvement in the management of the Corporation’s business and affairs, whether or not it continues to be such at the time any such Indemnified Loss is paid or incurred, except to the extent that any of the foregoing is determined by a final, non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction (i) to have been caused by a willful breach of these Bylaws or the Certificate of Incorporation or the actual fraud, gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of such persons or (ii) with respect

 

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to criminal matters, that an Indemnitee had reason to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. IT IS THE EXPRESS INTENT OF CORPORATION THAT THE FOREGOING INDEMNITY SHALL BE APPLICABLE TO ANY LOSS THAT HAS RESULTED FROM OR IS ALLEGED TO HAVE RESULTED FROM THE ACTIVE OR PASSIVE OR THE SOLE, JOINT, OR CONCURRENT ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE OF THE INDEMNITEE.

Section 6.2 Determination. To the extent that the Board makes a good faith determination that any officer acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the Corporation’s best interests, did not breach his employment agreement, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful, such officer shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article VI. To the extent any officer has been successful on the merits in a proceeding in which such officer is involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of his being an officer of the Corporation, whether or not he continues to be such at the time any such Indemnified Loss is paid or incurred, and such person or officer has not breached his employment agreement or other agreement it holds with the Corporation, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold such officer harmless from all Indemnified Losses in accordance with this Article VI.

Section 6.3 Expenses. To the extent permitted by law, expenses incurred by an Indemnitee in defending any proceeding (except a proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation or brought by any stockholder against such Indemnitee), will be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding upon receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnitee to repay such amount if such Indemnitee is determined pursuant to this Article VI or adjudicated to be ineligible for indemnification, which undertaking will be an unlimited general obligation of the Indemnitee but need not be secured except as otherwise determined by the Board.

Section 6.4 Successors. The indemnification provided by this Article VI will inure to the benefit of the heirs and personal representatives of each Indemnitee.

Section 6.5 Liability Offset. The rights of indemnification provided in this Article VI are in addition to any rights to which an Indemnitee may otherwise be entitled by contract (including advancement of expenses) or as a matter of law.

AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the Board or by the stockholders of the Corporation by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

* * *

Adopted as of: ___, 2024

 

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Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

AKUMIN INC.

SENIOR SECURED NOTES DUE 2027

INDENTURE

Dated as of February 6, 2024

UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee and Collateral Agent


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  
ARTICLE 1

 

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

SECTION 1.01

   Definitions      1  

SECTION 1.02

   Other Definitions      30  

SECTION 1.03

   Divisions      31  

SECTION 1.04

   Rules of Construction      31  

SECTION 1.05

   Acts of Holders; Record Dates      32  
ARTICLE 2

 

THE NOTES

 

SECTION 2.01

   Form and Dating      33  

SECTION 2.02

   Form of Execution and Authentication      34  

SECTION 2.03

   Registrar and Paying Agent      35  

SECTION 2.04

   Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust      36  

SECTION 2.05

   Lists of Holders of the Notes      36  

SECTION 2.06

   Transfer and Exchange      36  

SECTION 2.07

   Replacement Notes      43  

SECTION 2.08

   Outstanding Notes      43  

SECTION 2.09

   Treasury Notes      44  

SECTION 2.10

   Temporary Notes      44  

SECTION 2.11

   Cancellation      44  

SECTION 2.12

   Defaulted Interest      44  

SECTION 2.13

   Interest Disclosure      45  

SECTION 2.14

   CUSIP Number      45  
ARTICLE 3

 

REDEMPTION

 

SECTION 3.01

   Notices to Trustee      45  

SECTION 3.02

   Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed      45  

SECTION 3.03

   Notice of Redemption      45  

SECTION 3.04

   Effect of Notice of Redemption      46  

SECTION 3.05

   Deposit of Redemption Price      46  

SECTION 3.06

   [Reserved]      46  

SECTION 3.07

   Optional Redemption      46  

SECTION 3.08

   Excess Proceeds Offer      47  
ARTICLE 4

 

COVENANTS

 

SECTION 4.01

   Payment of Notes      49  

SECTION 4.02

   Maintenance of Office or Agency      49  

SECTION 4.03

   Reports      50  

SECTION 4.04

   Compliance Certificate      52  

SECTION 4.05

   Taxes      52  


          Page  

SECTION 4.06

   Stay, Extension and Usury Laws      52  

SECTION 4.07

   Limitation on Restricted Payments      52  

SECTION 4.08

   Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries      56  

SECTION 4.09

   Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness      58  

SECTION 4.10

   Limitation on Asset Sales      63  

SECTION 4.11

   Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates      64  

SECTION 4.12

   Limitation on Liens      66  

SECTION 4.13

   Limitation on Use of Proceeds of Stonepeak Direct Investment.      67  

SECTION 4.14

   Director Designation Right.      67  

SECTION 4.15

   Additional Subsidiary Guarantees      67  

SECTION 4.16

   Organizational Existence      68  

SECTION 4.17

   Change of Control      68  

SECTION 4.18

   Suspension of Covenants      69  

SECTION 4.19

   After-acquired Collateral      70  

SECTION 4.20

   Further Assurances      70  

SECTION 4.21

   Additional Amounts      70  

SECTION 4.22

   Post-Closing Covenant      72  
ARTICLE 5

 

SUCCESSORS

 

SECTION 5.01

   Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets      72  

SECTION 5.02

   Successor Corporation Substituted      73  
ARTICLE 6

 

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

SECTION 6.01

   Events of Default      73  

SECTION 6.02

   Acceleration      75  

SECTION 6.03

   Other Remedies      76  

SECTION 6.04

   Waiver of Past Defaults      76  

SECTION 6.05

   Control by Majority      76  

SECTION 6.06

   Limitation on Suits      76  

SECTION 6.07

   Rights of Holders of Notes To Receive Payment      77  

SECTION 6.08

   Collection Suit by Trustee      77  

SECTION 6.09

   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      77  

SECTION 6.10

   Priorities      77  

SECTION 6.11

   Undertaking for Costs      78  
ARTICLE 7

 

TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 7.01

   Duties of Trustee      78  

SECTION 7.02

   Rights of Trustee      79  

SECTION 7.03

   Individual Rights of Trustee      80  

SECTION 7.04

   Trustee’s Disclaimer      80  

SECTION 7.05

   Notice of Defaults      80  

SECTION 7.06

   Limitation on Duty in Respect of Collateral      80  

SECTION 7.07

   Compensation and Indemnity      81  

SECTION 7.08

   Replacement of Trustee      81  

SECTION 7.09

   Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.      82  

SECTION 7.10

   Eligibility; Disqualification      82  

SECTION 7.11

   Collateral Documents; Intercreditor Agreements      83  

 

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          Page  
ARTICLE 8

 

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

 

SECTION 8.01

   Termination of the Issuer’s Obligations      83  

SECTION 8.02

   Option To Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      83  

SECTION 8.03

   Legal Defeasance and Covenant Discharge      84  

SECTION 8.04

   Covenant Defeasance      84  

SECTION 8.05

   Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance      84  

SECTION 8.06

   Deposited Money and Government Securities To Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions      85  

SECTION 8.07

   Repayment to Issuer      86  

SECTION 8.08

   Reinstatement      86  
ARTICLE 9

 

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

 

SECTION 9.01

   Without Consent of Holders of Notes      86  

SECTION 9.02

   With Consent of Holders of Notes      87  

SECTION 9.03

   [Reserved]      89  

SECTION 9.04

   Revocation and Effect of Consents      89  

SECTION 9.05

   Notation on or Exchange of Notes      89  

SECTION 9.06

   Trustee, Collateral Agent To Sign Amendments, Etc.      89  
ARTICLE 10

 

GUARANTEES

 

SECTION 10.01

   Guarantee      89  

SECTION 10.02

   Execution and Delivery of Guarantees      90  

SECTION 10.03

   Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets of Guarantors      91  

SECTION 10.04

   Successor Corporation Substituted      91  

SECTION 10.05

   Releases from Guarantees      91  
ARTICLE 11

 

COLLATERAL

 

SECTION 11.01

   Collateral Documents      92  

SECTION 11.02

   Release of Collateral      93  

SECTION 11.03

   Suits to Protect the Collateral      94  

SECTION 11.04

   Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Collateral Documents      94  

SECTION 11.05

   Purchaser Protected      94  

SECTION 11.06

   Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee      95  

SECTION 11.07

   Collateral Agent      95  
ARTICLE 12

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 12.01

   [Reserved]      100  

SECTION 12.02

   Notices      100  

SECTION 12.03

   [Reserved]      101  

SECTION 12.04

   Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent      101  

 

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          Page  

SECTION 12.05

   Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion      102  

SECTION 12.06

   Rules by Trustee and Agents      102  

SECTION 12.07

   No Personal Liability of Directors, Owners, Employees, Incorporators and Stockholders      102  

SECTION 12.08

   Governing Law      102  

SECTION 12.09

   No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements      102  

SECTION 12.10

   Successors      102  

SECTION 12.11

   Severability      103  

SECTION 12.12

   Counterpart Originals      103  

SECTION 12.13

   Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.      103  

SECTION 12.14

   Force Majeure      103  

SECTION 12.15

   Waiver of Jury Trial      103  

SECTION 12.16

   Certain Tax Matters Related to the Trustee      104  

SECTION 12.17

   Submission to Jurisdiction      104  

SECTION 12.18

   Intercreditor Agreements      104  

EXHIBITS

 

EXHIBIT A    FORM OF NOTE
EXHIBIT B    [RESERVED]
EXHIBIT C    FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
EXHIBIT D    FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
EXHIBIT E    FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR

 

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INDENTURE dated as of February 6, 2024 by and among Akumin Inc. (the “Issuer”), a Delaware corporation, the Guarantors (as hereinafter defined) and UMB Bank, National Association, as trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”) and notes collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”).

The Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Issuer’s Senior Secured Notes due 2027.

RECITALS

The Issuer and the Guarantors have duly authorized the execution and delivery hereof to provide for the issuance of the Notes and the Guarantees.

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

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed as follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes.

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.01 Definitions.

144A Global Note” means a global note substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.

2028 Senior Notes” means new senior secured notes due 2028 in an aggregate principal amount of $354,583,000 issued by Issuer on February 6, 2024 and governed by the 2028 Notes Indenture.

2028 Senior Notes Collateral Agent” means UMB Bank, National Association, as notes collateral agent under the 2028 Senior Notes Documents.

2028 Senior Notes Documents” means the indenture governing the 2028 Senior Notes, the 2028 Senior Notes (including additional 2028 Senior Notes issued under the 2028 Senior Notes Indenture), the guarantees by the guarantors of the 2028 Senior Notes, the collateral documents for the 2028 Senior Notes, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if applicable.

2028 Senior Notes Indenture” means the Indenture governing the 2028 Senior Notes.

2028 Senior Notes Obligations” means all Obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors under the 2028 Senior Notes Documents.

2028 Senior Notes Trustees” means UMB Bank, National Association, as trustee under the 2028 Senior Notes Documents.

Acquired Debt” means, with respect to any specified Person, Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person merges with or into or becomes a Subsidiary of such specified Person or is a Subsidiary of such other Person at the time of such merger or acquisition, or Indebtedness incurred by such Person in connection with the acquisition of assets.

 


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.

Agent” means the Collateral Agent, any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar.

Applicable Authorized Representative” means (i) prior to the Applicable Authorized Agent Change Date, the Credit Agreement Administrative Agent and (ii) on and following the Applicable Authorized Agent Change Date, the Major Non-Controlling Authorized Representative (as defined in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement).

Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary that apply to such transfer or exchange.

Asset Acquisition” means (i) an Investment by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer in any other Person pursuant to which such Person shall become a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, or shall be merged, consolidated, arranged or amalgamated with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, or (ii) the acquisition by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer of the assets of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or comprise any division or line of business of such Person.

Asset Sale” means any sale, issuance, conveyance, transfer, lease, assignment or other disposition by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Person other than the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (including by means of a merger, amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation or through the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Preferred Equity Interests of Restricted Subsidiaries issued in compliance with Section 4.09 and other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares or interests required to be held by foreign nationals or third parties to the extent required by applicable law) (collectively, for purposes of this definition, a “transfer”)), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of any assets of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than sales of inventory and other transfers of assets in the ordinary course of business). For purposes of this definition, the term “Asset Sale” shall not include:

(a) transfers of cash or Cash Equivalents, Marketable Securities and Investment Grade Securities;

(b) transfers of assets of the Issuer (including Equity Interests) that are governed by, and made in accordance with, the first paragraph of Section 5.01;

(c) Permitted Investments and Restricted Payments not prohibited under Section 4.07;

(d) the creation of or realization on any Lien not prohibited under this Indenture;

(e) transfers of damaged, worn-out or obsolete equipment or assets that, in the Issuer’s reasonable judgment, are no longer used or useful in the business of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(f) sales or grants of licenses or sublicenses to use the patents, trade secrets, know-how and other intellectual property, or abandonment thereof, and licenses, leases or subleases of other assets, of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent not materially interfering with the business of Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(g) the lease, assignment, license, sublease or sublicense of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

 

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(h) any transfer or series of related transfers that, but for this clause, would be Asset Sales, if the aggregate Fair Market Value of the assets transferred in such transaction or series of related transactions does not exceed the greater of $15.0 million and 20.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis), in the aggregate during the term of this Indenture;

(i) any sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other assets or securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(j) the sale, transfer or other disposition of Hedging Obligations incurred in accordance with this Indenture;

(k) sales of assets received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries upon the foreclosure on a Lien;

(l) the sale of any property in a sale-leaseback transaction within six months of the acquisition of such property;

(m) (i) any loss or destruction of or damage to any property or asset or receipt of insurance proceeds in connection therewith or (ii) any institution of a proceeding for, or actual condemnation, seizure or taking by exercise of the power of eminent domain or otherwise of such property or asset, or confiscation of such property or asset or the requisition of the use of such property or asset or settlement in lieu of the foregoing;

(n) sales, transfers or other dispositions to Professional Services Affiliates in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices pursuant to Management Services Agreements;

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

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

(q) the lease, assignment, license, sublease or sublicense of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

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

(s) (i) dispositions of property to the extent that such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property that is promptly purchased and (ii) dispositions of property to the extent that the proceeds of such disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property (which replacement property is actually promptly purchased);

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

(u) the sale of non-voting Preferred Equity Interests in a Restricted Subsidiary to a Strategic Investor in the ordinary course of business and for a bona fide business purpose; and

 

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

Authorized Representative” means, at any time, (i) in the case of any Credit Agreement Obligations or the Credit Agreement Secured Parties, the Credit Agreement Administrative Agent, (ii) in the case of the Notes Obligations or the Notes Secured Parties, the Trustee, (iii) in the case of the 2028 Senior Notes Obligations, the 2028 Senior Notes Trustee and (iv) in the case of any Series of Future First Lien Obligations or Future First Lien Secured Parties that become subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement after the Issue Date, the authorized representative named for such Series in the applicable joinder to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 U.S.C., as now or hereinafter in effect, or any successor thereto.

Bankruptcy Law” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Board of Directors” means:

(1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or, except in the context of the definition of “Change of Control,” a duly authorized committee thereof;

(2) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors or other governing body of the general partner of the partnership; and

(3) with respect to any other Person, the board of directors or managers or any other governing body of such Person serving a similar function.

Broker-Dealer” means any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York, the state in which the Corporate Trust Office is located or place of payment are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

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

Capital Lease Obligations” means, as to any Person, the obligations of such Person under a lease that are required to be classified and accounted for as capital lease obligations under GAAP and, for purposes of this definition, the amount of such obligations at the time any determination thereof is to be made shall be the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be so required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

Capital Markets Indebtedness” means Indebtedness under or in respect of one or more credit agreements, indentures or debt facilities, in each case with banks, investment banks, insurance companies, mutual funds or other lenders or institutional investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, notes or debt securities.

Capital Stock” means any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents, however designated, of corporate stock or partnership or membership interests, whether common or preferred.

Cash Equivalents” means:

 

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(a) United States dollars, Canadian dollars, Euros or any national currency of any participating member state of the European Union or such local currencies held by the Issuer and its Subsidiaries from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(b) Government Securities having maturities of not more than 12 months from the date of acquisition;

(c) 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 in excess of $500.0 million;

(d) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (b) and (c) entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (c) above;

(e) commercial paper issued by any issuer bearing at least a “2” rating for any short-term rating provided by Moody’s or S&P and maturing within two hundred seventy (270) days of the date of acquisition;

(f) variable or fixed rate notes issued by any issuer rated at least AA by S&P (or the equivalent thereof) or at least Aa2 by Moody’s (or the equivalent thereof) and maturing within one (1) year of the date of acquisition; and

(g) money market funds or programs (x) offered by any commercial or investment bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (a) through (f) of this definition, (y) offered by any other nationally recognized financial institution (i) at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (a) through (f), (ii) are rated AAA and (iii) the fund is at least $4 billion or (z) registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that are administered by reputable financial institutions having capital and surplus of at least $500.0 million and the portfolios of which are limited to investments of the character described in the foregoing subclauses hereof.

CFC” means a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Internal Revenue Code.

CFC Holdco” means any Domestic Subsidiary with no material assets other than the Capital Stock of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs.

Change of Control” means:

(1) the Issuer becomes aware of (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Issue Date), other than Stonepeak, that is or becomes directly or indirectly the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Issue Date) of more than 50% of the total voting power of all classes of Capital Stock of the Issuer then outstanding and entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors (“Voting Stock”) of the Issuer; provided, that any transaction in which the Issuer becomes a subsidiary of another person will not constitute a Change of Control unless more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of such person is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Issue Date) other than Stonepeak; or

 

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(2) the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to a person (as defined in clause (1) above) other than the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or Stonepeak.

Notwithstanding the preceding or any provision of Section 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, (i) a person or group (as defined in clause (1) above) shall not be deemed to beneficially own Voting Stock subject to a stock or asset purchase agreement, merger agreement, option agreement, warrant agreement or similar agreement (or voting or option or similar agreement related thereto) until the consummation of the acquisition of the Voting Stock in connection with the transactions contemplated by such agreement and (ii) a person or group will not be deemed to beneficially own the Voting Stock of another Person as a result of its ownership of Voting Stock or other securities of such other Person’s parent entity (or related contractual rights) unless it owns 50% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock entitled to vote for the election of the board of directors of such parent entity having a majority of the aggregate votes on the board of directors (or similar body) of such parent entity.

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

Collateral” means all property and assets in which Liens are, or are purported to be, granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents.

Collateral Agent” means UMB Bank, National Association, in its capacity as notes collateral agent, until a successor replaces UMB Bank, National Association in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving as notes collateral agent under this Indenture.

Collateral Documents” means the Pledge and Security Agreement and any other documents executed and delivered in connection with the attachment or perfection of security interests to secure the Notes Obligations.

Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Consolidated EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period (i) plus, to the extent deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, and without duplication:

(a) provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital;

(b) Consolidated Interest Expense;

(c) Consolidated Non-Cash Charges of such Person for such period;

(d) any extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual losses or expenses, including, without limitation, (i) salary, benefit and other direct savings resulting from workforce reductions by such Person implemented during such period, (ii) severance or relocation costs or expenses and fees and restructuring costs of such Person during such period, (iii) costs and expenses incurred after the date of this Indenture related to employment of terminated employees incurred by such Person during such period, (iv) costs or charges (other than Consolidated Non-Cash Charges) incurred in connection with any Equity Offering, Permitted Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness permitted under this Indenture, including a refinancing thereof, and including any such costs and charges incurred in connection with the Transactions, (v) losses realized in connection with any business disposition or any disposition of assets outside the ordinary course of business or the disposition of securities and (vi) costs, expenses or losses arising out of, or related to, the ransomware incident that occurred on October 11, 2023, in each case without regard to any limitations of Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K;

(e) [reserved];

 

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(f) any proceeds from business interruption insurance received by such Person during such period, to the extent the associated losses arising out of the event that resulted in the payment of such business interruption insurance proceeds were included in computing Consolidated Net Income;

(g) [reserved];

(h) adjustments contained in any due diligence quality of earnings report from time to time prepared with respect to the target of an acquisition or Investment by a nationally recognized accounting firm;

(i) the amount of “run-rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, operating improvements and cost synergies related to mergers and other business combinations, acquisitions, divestures, restructurings, cost savings initiatives and other similar initiatives consummated prior to or after the Issue Date projected by the Issuer in good faith as a result of actions either taken or are expected to be taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (in each case, in the good faith determination of the Issuer) within 24 months after a merger or other business combination, acquisition, divestiture, restructuring, cost savings initiative or other initiative (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions and cost synergies had been realized on the first day of the Measurement Period and as if such cost savings, operating expense reductions and cost synergies were realized during the entirety of the Measurement Period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during the Measurement Period from such actions; provided, that (x) no cost savings, operating expense reductions and cost synergies shall be added pursuant to this clause (i) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges otherwise added to Consolidated EBITDA, whether through a pro forma adjustment or otherwise, for the Measurement Period; (y) for purposes of this clause (i), “run-rate” means the full recurring benefit for a period that is associated with any action either taken or expected to be taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (in each case, in the good faith determination of the Issuer) and (z) the aggregate amount of “run-rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, operating improvements and cost synergies pursuant to this clause (i), together with any Pro Forma Cost Savings, shall not in the aggregate exceed 25% of Consolidated EBITDA during any Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such adjustments);

(j) unrealized or realized foreign exchange losses resulting from the impact of foreign currency changes;

(k) any costs or expenses incurred by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan, stock option plan, phantom equity plan, profits interests or any other management, employee benefit or other compensatory plan or agreement (and any successor plans or arrangements thereto), employment, termination or severance agreement, or any stock subscription or equityholder agreement, and any costs or expenses in connection with the roll-over, acceleration or payout of Capital Stock held by management, to the extent that such costs or expenses are non-cash or otherwise funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Issuer or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer; and

(l) any other non-cash charges, write-downs, expenses, losses or items reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period from the impact of acquisition method accounting adjustment and any non-cash write-up, write-down or write-off with respect to re-valuing assets and liabilities in connection with any Investment or any effects of adjustments resulting from the application of purchase accounting, purchase price accounting (including any step-up in inventory and loss of profit on the acquired inventory) (provided that if any such non-cash charge, write-down, expense, loss or item represents an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, (A) the Issuer may elect not to add back such non-cash charge, expense or loss in the current period and (B) to the extent the Issuer elects to add back such non-cash charge, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA when paid);

 

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(ii) minus, to the extent not excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, (x) non-cash gain or income of such Person for such period (except to the extent representing an accrual for future cash receipts or a reversal of a reserve that, when established, was not eligible to be a Consolidated Non-Cash Charge) and (y) any extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or income and without regard to any limitations of Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Consolidated EBITDA shall not include the Consolidated Net Income of, or any addbacks or adjustments related to, (x) the Minority Interest Allocation of any Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary, or (y) any Minority Investment other than to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the Issuer or a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary from such Minority Investment (and in such case, a pro rata portion (based on the amount of such dividends or distributions) of addbacks or adjustments may be made under this definition of Consolidated EBITDA).

Consolidated First Lien Indebtedness Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (1) the Total First Lien Debt as of such date of determination (on a consolidated basis) minus unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of determination (on a consolidated basis) (excluding any unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents from the proceeds of an incurrence of Indebtedness on such date) to (2) Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the period of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available, with such pro forma and other adjustments to each of Total First Lien Debt and Consolidated EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma and other adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.”

Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person, the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA of such Person during the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters (the “Measurement Period”) ending prior to the date of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for which internal financial statements are available (the “Transaction Date”) to Consolidated Fixed Charges of such Person for the Measurement Period. In addition to and without limitation of the foregoing, for purposes of this definition, “Consolidated EBITDA.” “Consolidated First Lien Indebtedness Leverage Ratio,” “Consolidated Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio,” “Consolidated Leverage Ratio” and “Consolidated Fixed Charges” shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis for the period of such calculation to:

(A) the incurrence or repayment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (and the application of the proceeds thereof) giving rise to the need to make such calculation and any incurrence or repayment of other Indebtedness (and the application of the proceeds thereof), occurring during the Measurement Period or at any time subsequent to the last day of the Measurement Period and on or prior to the Transaction Date, as if such incurrence or repayment, as the case may be (and the application of the proceeds thereof), occurred on the first day of the Measurement Period; and

(B) (x) any Asset Sales or other dispositions, discontinued operations or Asset Acquisitions or Investments (including, without limitation, any Asset Acquisition giving rise to the need to make such calculation as a result of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including any Person who becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the Asset Acquisition) incurring, assuming or otherwise being liable for Indebtedness or Acquired Debt and also including any Consolidated EBITDA attributable to the assets which are the subject of the Asset Acquisition, Investment or Asset Sale or other disposition during the Measurement Period) and (y) operational changes that the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries have both determined to make and have made, in each case, occurring during the Measurement Period or at any time subsequent to the last day of the Measurement Period and on or prior to the Transaction Date, as if such Asset Sale or other disposition, discontinued operations or Asset Acquisition or Investment (including the incurrence, assumption or liability for any such Indebtedness or Acquired Debt) or operational change had occurred on the first day of the Measurement Period, in each case giving effect to any Pro Forma Cost Savings resulting from any Asset Sale or other disposition, discontinued operations or Asset Acquisition, Investment or operational change.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any pro forma event, the pro forma calculations will be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer.

 

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Furthermore, in calculating “Consolidated Fixed Charges” for purposes of determining the denominator (but not the numerator) of this “Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”:

(1) interest on outstanding Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis as of the Transaction Date and which will continue to be so determined thereafter shall be deemed to have accrued at a fixed rate per annum equal to the rate of interest on such Indebtedness in effect on the Transaction Date; and

(2) notwithstanding clause (1) above, interest on Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis, to the extent such interest is covered by agreements relating to Hedging Obligations, shall be deemed to accrue at the rate per annum resulting after giving effect to the operation of such agreements.

For purposes of calculating the pro forma Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio with respect to the issuance of Preferred Equity Interests, any required dividends or other distributions on account of such Preferred Equity Interests shall be deemed to be Consolidated Fixed Charges of such Person during the applicable Measurement Period.

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

(1) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period; plus

(2) the amount of all dividend payments on any series of Disqualified Stock of such Person or such Person’s Restricted Subsidiaries or Preferred Equity Interest of such Person or such Person’s Restricted Subsidiaries (other than (x) dividends paid in Qualified Capital Stock and (y) dividends paid by a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person to such Person or to a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person) paid, accrued or scheduled to be paid or accrued during such period; minus

(3) the consolidated interest income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether received or accrued, to the extent such income was included in determining Consolidated Net Income.

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, consolidated interest expense of such Person for such period, whether paid or accrued, including amortization of original issue discount, non-cash interest payments (but excluding any non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement in mark-to-market valuation of any Hedging obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP) and the interest component of Capital Lease Obligations, on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP, but excluding amortization or write-off of deferred financing fees and expensing of any other financing fees, and the non-cash portion of interest expense resulting from the reduction in the carrying value under purchase accounting of outstanding Indebtedness; provided that, for purposes of calculating consolidated interest expense, no effect will be given to the discount and/or premium resulting from accounting for derivatives in accordance with GAAP as a result of the terms of the Indebtedness to which such consolidated interest expense applies; provided, further, that with respect to the calculation of the consolidated interest expense of the Issuer, (the interest expense of Unrestricted Subsidiaries and any Person that is not a Subsidiary shall be excluded.

Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (i) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness for borrowed money (which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any related Liens thereto), Indebtedness evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or drawn letters of credit and Purchase Money Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis, to the extent required to be recorded on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP minus unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of determination (on a consolidated basis) (excluding any unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents from the proceeds of an incurrence of Indebtedness on such date), to (ii) the Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the period of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements prepared on a consolidated basis are available, with such pro forma and other adjustments to each of Indebtedness and Consolidated EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma and other adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.”

 

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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, determined in accordance with GAAP, and without reduction for any dividends on Preferred Equity Interests; provided, however, that:

(a) the Net Income of any Person that is not a Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the referent Person, in the case of a gain, or to the extent of any contributions or other payments by the referent Person, in the case of a loss;

(b) the Net Income of any Person that is an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the referent Person;

(c) solely for purposes of Section 4.07, the Net Income of any Subsidiary of such Person that is not a Guarantor shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or bylaws or any other agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or government regulation to which it is subject; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of such Person will be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or converted to cash) by any such Subsidiary to such Person in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein;

(d) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles shall be excluded;

(e) any income (loss) (x) from the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments, (y) from sales or dispositions of assets (other than in the ordinary course of business), or (z) that is extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual (without regard to any limitations of Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K), in each case, shall be excluded;

(f) any unrealized or realized gains or losses in respect of any Hedging Obligations or any ineffectiveness recognized in earnings related to hedge transactions or the fair value of changes therein recognized in earnings for derivatives that do not qualify as hedge transactions shall be excluded;

(g) any non-cash compensation expense recorded from grants and periodic remeasurements of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights shall be excluded;

(h) any non-cash impairment charge or asset write-off, in each case, pursuant to GAAP, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP shall be excluded;

(i) any fees, expenses and other charges in connection with the Transactions or any acquisition, investment, asset disposition, issuance or repayment of debt, issuance of Equity Interests, refinancing transaction or amendment or other modification of any debt instrument shall be excluded;

(j) gains and losses resulting solely from fluctuations in foreign currencies shall be excluded;

(k) (i) the Net Income (loss) attributable to any Restricted Subsidiary that constitutes a Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary shall be included but shall exclude the Minority Interest Allocation attributable to that Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) any Minority Investment attributable to any Restricted Subsidiary shall be included only to the extent of the amounts of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the referent Person;

 

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(l) any gain (or loss) (a) in respect of facilities no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries, abandoned, closed, disposed or discontinued operations, (b) on disposal, abandonment or discontinuance of disposed, abandoned, closed or discontinued operations, and (c) attributable to asset dispositions, abandonments, sales or other dispositions of any asset (including pursuant to any Sale and Leaseback Transaction) or the designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary other than in the ordinary course of business shall be excluded.

Consolidated Non-Cash Charges” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate depreciation, amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period), impairment, compensation, rent, other non-cash expenses and write-offs and write-downs of assets (including non-cash charges, losses or expenses attributable to the movement in the mark-to-market valuation of Hedging Obligations or in connection with the early extinguishment of Hedging Obligations) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries reducing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP, but excluding any such charge which consists of or requires an accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges for any future period.

Consolidated Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (1) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness for borrowed money (which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any related Liens thereto), Indebtedness evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or drawn letters of credit and Purchase Money Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date (determined on a consolidated basis), in each case, which are secured by a Lien on the assets or property of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, minus unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of determination (on a consolidated basis) (excluding any unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents from the proceeds of an incurrence of Indebtedness on such date) to (2) Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the period of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available, with such pro forma and other adjustments to Indebtedness and Consolidated EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma and other adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.”

continuing” means, with respect to any Default or Event of Default, that such Default or Event of Default has not been cured or waived.

Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee and Collateral Agent” means the principal office of the Trustee and Collateral Agent at which at any time this Indenture shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 100 William Street, Suite 1850, New York, NY 10038 Attn: Corporate Trust, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee or any successor Collateral Agent (or such other address as such successor Trustee or successor Collateral Agent may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer).

Credit Agreement” means that certain credit agreement, to be dated as of February 6, 2024, by and among the Issuer, as borrower, certain subsidiaries of the Issuer as guarantors, certain lenders party thereto from time to time, PNC Bank, National Association, as successor to BBVA USA, as administrative agent (and any successor thereto, in each case, the “Credit Agreement Administrative Agent”) and collateral agent (and any successor thereto, in each case, the “Credit Agreement Collateral Agent”), and the other parties party thereto, together with the related documents thereto (including, without limitation, any guarantee agreements and security documents), as such agreement or facility may be amended (including any amendment and restatement thereof), supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreement exchanging, extending the maturity of, refinancing, renewing, replacing, substituting or otherwise restructuring, whether in the bank or debt capital markets, including securities (or combination thereof), all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or facility or any successor or replacement agreement or facility or indenture.

 

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Credit Agreement Administrative Agent” has the meaning provided in the term “Credit Agreement”.

Credit Agreement Collateral Agent” has the meaning provided in the term “Credit Agreement”.

Credit Agreement Documents” means the collective reference to the Credit Agreement, any notes issued pursuant thereto and the guarantees thereof, and the collateral documents relating thereto, and any other documents, certificates, instruments or agreements executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Issuer or any Guarantor for the benefit of the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent or any Credit Agreement Secured Party in connection therewith that specifically identifies itself as a “Credit Document,” a “Loan Document” or similar term, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, refunded, replaced, restructured, repaid, refinanced or otherwise modified, in whole or in part, from time to time.

Credit Agreement Obligations” means (i) all Obligations under the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Agreement Documents and (ii) all hedging obligations and cash management obligations that are secured by liens on the Collateral pursuant to the Credit Agreement Documents.

Credit Agreement Secured Parties” means the Credit Agreement Administrative Agent, the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent and the holders from time to time of Credit Agreement Obligations.

Credit Facilities” means one or more credit agreements, indentures or debt facilities to which the Issuer and/or one or more of the Guarantors is party from time to time (including without limitation the Credit Agreement), in each case with banks, investment banks, insurance companies, mutual funds or other lenders or institutional investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, debt securities, banker’s acceptances, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case as such agreements or facilities may be amended (including any amendment and restatement thereof), supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreement exchanging, extending the maturity of, refinancing, renewing, replacing, substituting or otherwise restructuring, whether in the bank or debt capital markets (or combination thereof) all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or facility or any successor or replacement agreement or facility.

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.

Definitive Note” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

Depositary” means DTC and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to an applicable provision hereof.

Designated Non-cash Consideration” means the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, from a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer, less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale, redemption, repurchase of, or collection or payment on, such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

Designated Preferred Stock” means Preferred Equity Interests of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock), that is issued for cash (other than to any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries or an employee stock plan or trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, on the date of issuance thereof, the cash proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in Section 4.07(a)(3).

 

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Discharge” means, with respect to any Collateral and any Series of First Lien Obligations, the date on which such Series of Liens Obligations is no longer secured by such Collateral in accordance with the terms of the documentation governing such Series of First Lien Obligations.

Disqualified Stock” means any Capital Stock which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date on which the Notes mature; provided, however, that any such Capital Stock may require the issuer of such Capital Stock to make an offer to purchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of certain events if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that such an offer may not be satisfied and the purchase of such Capital Stock may not be consummated until the 91st day after the purchase of the Notes as required by Section 4.17.

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

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

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

Eligible Institution” means a commercial banking institution that has combined capital and surplus of not less than $500.0 million or its equivalent in foreign currency, whose debt is rated by at least two nationally recognized statistical rating organizations in one of each such organization’s four highest generic rating categories at the time as of which any investment or rollover therein is made.

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). For the avoidance of doubt, a debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, any combination of cash and Capital Stock based on the value of such Capital Stock will satisfy the exclusion set forth in the parenthetical to the preceding sentence.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (and any successor statute) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Excluded Property” means:

(a) vehicles or other assets covered by a certificate of title or ownership;

(b) any interest in real property (whether fee or leasehold or otherwise);

(c) commercial tort claims with a value of less than $5.0 million (with such value determined by the Issuer in good faith);

(d) those assets as to which the Issuer and the Credit Agreement Administrative Agent shall reasonably determine in writing that the costs of obtaining such security interest are excessive in relation to the value of the security to be afforded thereby; provided that the Collateral Agent shall have received written notice of such determination and if such assets have a fair market value (as determined by the Issuer) in excess of $7.5 million, such assets do not secure (or purport to secure) any other First Lien Obligations or any Junior Lien Obligations;

(e) assets if the granting or perfecting of a security interest in such assets in favor of the Collateral Agent would violate any applicable law (other than to the extent that any such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction or other similar applicable law in any jurisdiction) or principles of equity;

 

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(f) any right, title or interest in any instrument, permit, lease, intangible, general intangible (other than Equity Interests), license, contract or agreement to the extent, but only to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein to secure the Notes Obligations would, under the terms of such instrument, permit, lease, intangible, general intangible (other than Equity Interests), license, contract or agreement, result in a breach of the terms of, or constitute a default under, or result in the abandonment, termination, invalidation or unenforceability of, or require the consent of any Person other than the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, which has not been obtained under such instrument, permit, lease, intangible, general intangible, license, contract or agreement (other than to the extent that any such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction or any other applicable law (including, without limitation, Title 11 of the United States Code) or other similar applicable law in any jurisdiction or principles of equity);

(g) any Capital Stock acquired after the Issue Date (other than Capital Stock in a Subsidiary (including Professional Services Affiliates) issued or acquired after such Person became a Subsidiary) in accordance with this Indenture if, and to the extent that, and for so long as, in the case of this clause (g), (i) such Capital Stock constitutes less than 50% of all applicable Capital Stock of such Person, and the Person or Persons holding the remainder of such Capital Stock are not Affiliates of the Issuer to the extent and for so long as a grant of a security interest therein to secure the Notes Obligations would be prohibited by the organizational documents of such Person, (ii) the granting or perfecting of a security interest in such assets in favor of the Collateral Agent would violate applicable law or a contractual obligation binding on such Capital Stock and (iii) with respect to such contractual obligations (other than contractual obligations in connection with limited liability company agreements, stockholders’ agreements and other joint venture agreements), such obligation existed at the time of the acquisition of such Capital Stock and was not created or made binding on such Capital Stock in contemplation of or in connection with the acquisition of such Person;

(h) any Property purchased with the proceeds of Purchase Money Indebtedness or that is subject to a capital lease and/or synthetic leases and/or Indebtedness in respect of sale and leaseback transactions, in each case, incurred in accordance with Section 4.09, if the contract or other agreement in which the Indebtedness and/or Liens related thereto is granted (or the documentation providing for such obligation) prohibits or requires the consent of any person other than the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries as a condition to the creation of any other security interest on such Property;

(i) any Capital Stock of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(j) any assets of any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary or any property that is located outside of the United States to the extent a Lien thereon cannot be perfected by the filing of UCC financing statements or delivery of original promissory notes or stock certificates (solely to the extent otherwise required by the Notes Documents);

(k) the “Excluded Accounts” as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement;

(l) any intent-to use Trademark applications prior to the filing of a “Statement of Use”, “Amendment to Allege Use” or similar filing with regard thereto, to the extent and solely during the period, in which the grant of a security interest therein may impair the validity or enforceability of any Trademark that may issue from such intent to use Trademark application under applicable law; and

(m) “margin stock” (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB);

provided, however, that Excluded Property shall not include (x) any Capital Stock of any Professional Services Affiliate and any agreements described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the definition of “PC Entity Requirements” or (y) any proceeds, substitutions or replacements of any Excluded Property referred to in clauses (a) through (m) (unless such Proceeds, substitutions or replacements would constitute Excluded Property referred to in clauses (a) through (m)).

 

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In addition, control agreements shall not be required with respect to deposit accounts, securities accounts, or uncertificated securities.

Excluded Subsidiary” means (a) any Immaterial Subsidiary, (b) any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (c) any Subsidiary of the Issuer designated as an “Excluded Subsidiary” on the Issue Date, (d) any non-wholly owned Subsidiary, (e) any Subsidiary designated as an “Excluded Subsidiary” after the Issue Date by a written notice to the Trustee; provided that, any such designation pursuant to this clause (e) shall constitute an Investment permitted hereunder, (f) any captive insurance subsidiaries or not-for-profit subsidiaries, (g) any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary, (h) any Subsidiary that is prohibited by applicable Law, regulation or by any Contractual Obligation existing on the Issue Date or on the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary (as long as such Contractual Obligation was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary) from becoming a Guarantor or that would require a governmental (including regulatory) or third-party consent, approval, license or authorization that has not been obtained in order to become a Guarantor, (i) any Subsidiary to the extent that the burden or cost (including any adverse tax consequences) of obtaining a guaranty therefrom is excessive in relation to the benefit afforded thereby (as reasonably determined by the Trustee and the Issuer), (j) any Subsidiary that is (x) a CFC Holdco or (y) a Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC; provided that this clause (j) shall not apply to any Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as of the Issue Date and (k) any Receivables Subsidiary (as defined in the Credit Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date).

Existing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness (other than the Notes, the Guarantees and the Credit Agreement) of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries in existence on the Issue Date.

Fair Market Value” means the value (which, for the avoidance of doubt, will take into account any liabilities associated with related assets) that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated willing seller in an arm’s-length transaction not involving distress or compulsion of either party, determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Issuer (unless otherwise provided in this Indenture).

First Lien Documents” means (i) the Credit Agreement Documents, (ii) the Notes Documents, (iii) the 2028 Senior Notes Documents, and (iv) all Future First Lien Documents.

First Lien Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness for borrowed money (which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any related Liens thereto) secured by a Lien on any assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary ranking pari passu with the Liens securing the Notes Obligations.

First Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuer, the other Grantors (as defined therein) from time to time party thereto, PNC, National Association as successor to BBVA USA, as Credit Agreement Collateral Agent (as defined therein), PNC, National Association as successor to BBVA USA, as Authorized Representative for the Credit Agreement Secured Parties (each as defined therein), UMB Bank, National Association, as Notes Collateral Agent (as defined therein), and UMB Bank, National Association, as Authorized Representative for the Notes Secured Parties (each as defined therein) (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time).

First Lien Obligations” means (i) the Credit Agreement Obligations, (ii) the Notes Obligations, (iii) the 2028 Senior Notes Obligations and (iv) any Series of Future First Lien Obligations.

First Lien Secured Parties” means (i) the Credit Agreement Secured Parties, (ii) the Notes Secured Parties, (iii) the 2028 Senior Notes Secured Parties and (iv) any Future First Lien Secured Parties.

Foreign Currency Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person pursuant to any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer against fluctuations in currency values.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof, or the District of Columbia.

 

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Future First Lien Documents” means, with respect to any Future First Lien Obligations, the notes, indentures, credit agreements, security documents, intercreditor agreements and other operative agreements evidencing or governing such Indebtedness and Liens securing such Indebtedness.

Future First Lien Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Issuer and/or the Guarantors that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral and ranks equally in right of payment and Lien priority to the Notes as permitted hereunder (other than Credit Agreement Obligations, the 2028 Senior Notes Obligations and Notes Obligations); provided that (i) an authorized representative of the holders of such Indebtedness shall be a party to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or shall have executed a joinder to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (ii) the Issuer shall designate such Indebtedness as “Additional Pari Passu Obligations” under the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Future First Lien Obligations” means Obligations in respect of Future First Lien Indebtedness (other than Obligations with respect to additional Notes issued hereunder, which shall constitute Notes Obligations).

Future First Lien Secured Parties” means holders of any Future First Lien Obligations and any trustee, authorized representative or agent of such Future First Lien Obligations.

GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession of the United States, as in effect from time to time.

Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.01(b) hereof, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

Global Notes” means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto issued in accordance with Section 2.01 or 2.06 hereof.

Government Securities” means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed or insured by, the United States or any agency or instrumentality of the foregoing for the payment of which guarantee or obligations the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged.

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, without limitation, letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness.

Guarantee” means a guarantee by a Guarantor of the Notes.

Guarantors” means all of the Issuer’s direct and indirect Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiaries (including the Issuer’s Professional Services Affiliates) other than any Excluded Subsidiaries.

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person pursuant to any arrangement with any other Person, whereby, directly or indirectly, such Person is entitled to receive from time to time periodic payments calculated by applying either floating or a fixed rate of interest on a stated notional amount in exchange for periodic payments made by such other Person calculated by applying a fixed or a floating rate of interest on the same notional amount and shall include, without limitation, interest rate swaps, caps, floors, collars and similar agreements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates.

Holder” means, with respect to any Note, the Person in whose name such Note is registered with the Registrar.

 

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Immaterial Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Issuer designated as such in writing by the Issuer that had assets representing 2.5% or less of the Issuer’s and its Subsidiaries’ consolidated total assets (as shown on the most recent balance sheet required to be delivered hereunder), and generated less than 2.5% of the Issuer’s and its Subsidiaries’ total revenues for the four quarters ending on, the last day of the most recently ended Measurement Period; provided that, if all Subsidiaries that are individually “Immaterial Subsidiaries” have aggregate total assets that would represent 5.0% or more of the Issuer’s and its Subsidiaries’ consolidated total assets on such last day or generated 5.0% or more of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries’ total revenues for such four fiscal quarters, then such number of Subsidiaries of the Issuer as are necessary shall no longer be deemed Excluded Subsidiaries so that Subsidiaries that are “Immaterial Subsidiaries” have in the aggregate Total Assets that represent less than 5.0% of the Issuer’s and its Subsidiaries’ consolidated total assets and less than 5.0% of the Issuer’s and its Subsidiaries’ total revenues as of such last day or for such four quarters, as the case may be (it being understood that any such determination with respect to revenues and assets shall be made on a pro forma basis).

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of borrowed money (which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any related Liens thereto) or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, but excluding, in any case, any undrawn letters of credit), Purchase Money Indebtedness or representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property (including pursuant to capital leases) or representing any Hedging Obligations or Foreign Currency Obligations, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable, if and to the extent any of the foregoing (other than Hedging Obligations or Foreign Currency Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, and also includes, to the extent not otherwise included, the amount of all obligations of such Person with respect to any Disqualified Stock or, with respect to any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, the liquidation preference with respect to, any Preferred Equity Interests (but excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends) as well as the guarantee of items that would be included within this definition.

Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

Independent” means with respect to any member of the Board of Directors, any such member who satisfies the definition of “Independent Director” pursuant to the rules of The New York Stock Exchange.

Independent Financial Advisor” means a Person or entity which, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of the Issuer, is independent and otherwise qualified to perform the task for which it is to be engaged.

Indirect Participant” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.

Initial Notes” means the $436,222,000 in aggregate principal amount of Senior Secured Notes due 2027 of the Issuer issued under this Indenture on the Issue Date.

Institutional Accredited Investor” means an institution that is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act.

Investment Grade” designates a rating of BBB- or higher by S&P or Baa3 or higher by Moody’s or the equivalent of such ratings by S&P or Moody’s. In the event that the Issuer shall select any other Rating Agency, the equivalent of such ratings by such Rating Agency shall be used.

Investment Grade Securities” means:

(a) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality of the foregoing (other than Cash Equivalents) and in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

 

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(b) securities that have a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s or BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act;

(c) Investments in any fund that invests at least 95% of its assets in Investments of the type described in clauses (a) and (b) which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment and/or distribution; and

(d) corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States customarily utilized for high quality Investments and in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition.

Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions, purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities and all other items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP (excluding accounts receivable, deposits and prepaid expenses in the ordinary course of business, endorsements for collection or deposits arising in the ordinary course of business, guarantees and intercompany notes permitted by Section 4.09, and commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business). For purposes of Section 4.07, the sale of Equity Interests of a Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary following which such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary shall be deemed to be an Investment by the Issuer in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Equity Interests of such Person held by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately following such sale.

Issue Date” means February 6, 2024 (the date of the first issuance of Notes under this Indenture).

Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Junior Lien Obligations”.

Junior Lien Obligations” means any Obligations that are secured by a Lien that is junior in priority to the Liens securing the Notes Obligations and is subject to a customary (as reasonably determined by the Issuer as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent) junior priority intercreditor agreement among the Credit Agreement Administrative Agent, the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the authorized agents of any holders of Future First Lien Obligations, and the authorized agent for any holders of Junior Lien Obligations (such intercreditor agreement, a “Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement”).

Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, hypothecation, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded, registered, published or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any lease in the nature thereof).

Limited Condition Transaction” means any (a) acquisition or other Investment, including by way of purchase, merger, amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation or similar transaction, by the Issuer or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries, with respect to which the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary have entered into an agreement or is otherwise contractually committed to consummate and the consummation of which is not expressly conditioned upon the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing, and/or (b) the making of any irrevocable Restricted Payment.

Management Services Agreements” means an agreement, however styled, between (a) the Issuer or a Guarantor, on the one hand, and (b) a PC Entity, on the other hand, pursuant to which the Issuer or a Guarantor provides management services or similar services to such PC Entity. All references to Management Services Agreements shall also include all such related documents necessary to ensure that each relationship with each PC Entity meets the PC Entity Requirements.

 

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Marketable Securities” means (a) Government Securities; (b) any certificate of deposit maturing not more than 365 days after the date of acquisition issued by, or time deposit of, an Eligible Institution; (c) commercial paper maturing not more than 365 days after the date of acquisition issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Issuer) with a rating by at least two nationally recognized statistical rating organizations in one of each such organization’s four highest generic rating categories at the time as of which any investment therein is made, issued or offered by an Eligible Institution; (d) any bankers’ acceptances or money market deposit accounts issued or offered by an Eligible Institution; and (e) any fund investing exclusively in investments of the types described in clauses (a) through (d) above.

Minority Interest Allocation” means, with respect to any measurement hereunder related to any Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary, the portion of such amount that is allocable (based on the percentage of Equity Interests held in such Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary and any non-pro rata distribution on such Equity Interests received) to Persons other than the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Minority Investment” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity which is not a Subsidiary of such Person but of which any shares of securities or other interests are at the time beneficially owned, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Minority Investment” or to “Minority Investments” shall refer to a Minority Investment or Minority Investments of the Issuer.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP.

Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, in respect of any Asset Sale, net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions) and any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (estimated reasonably and in good faith by the Issuer and after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness (other than First Lien Obligations and Junior Lien Obligations) secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale, any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets and any reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such Asset Sale and retained by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries after such Asset Sale, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters, or against any indemnification obligations associated with such Asset Sale. Net Proceeds shall exclude any non-cash proceeds received from any Asset Sale, but shall include such proceeds when and as converted by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to cash.

Non-Controlling Authorized Representative” means any Authorized Representative that is not the Applicable Authorized Representative at such time.

Non-U.S. Person” means a Person who is not a U.S. Person.

Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means any Person regarding which the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer owns less than 100% of the Equity Interests and which Person is consolidated with the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries under GAAP.

Notes” means the Initial Notes and any other notes issued after the Issue Date in accordance with the fourth paragraph of Section 2.02 hereof treated as a single class of securities.

 

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Notes Documents” means the Notes (including additional Notes issued under this Indenture), the Guarantees, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if applicable, and this Indenture.

Notes Obligations” means all Obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors under the Notes Documents.

Notes Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Holders, together with their respective successors and assigns.

Obligations” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, expenses (including any interest, fees or expenses that accrue following the commencement of any insolvency or liquidation proceeding, whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, Controller, Secretary or any Vice President of such Person, or any other officer designated by the Board of Directors.

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuer by two Officers of such Person or of such Person’s partner or managing member, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, treasurer or principal accounting officer of such Person or of such Person’s partner or managing member, that meets the requirements of Section 12.05.

Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion, in form satisfactory to the Trustee or Collateral Agent, as applicable, from legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer, that meets the requirements of Section 12.05 and may be subject to certain qualifications and assumptions that are consistent with similar opinions delivered to the agent or trustee for other Indebtedness of the Issuer, including as to matters of governing law.

Participant” means, with respect to the Depositary, a Person who has an account with the Depositary.

PC Entity” means any Person (other than a natural Person), including any professional corporation, professional association, limited liability company or limited partnership, providing medical, healthcare or related professional services, to the extent any applicable requirement of law provides that the ownership of such Person shall be limited to appropriately licensed professionals (natural persons or professional corporations or similar entities which are wholly-owned by natural persons) who are duly licensed or otherwise legally authorized to render the specific professional services for which the Person is organized.

PC Entity Requirements” means (i) an executed management services agreement with the Issuer or a Guarantor, which terms shall include, but not be limited to, customary term and termination provisions, prohibitions on assignment by the PC Entity with no restrictions on assignment by the Issuer or any Guarantor, purchase provisions allowing the Issuer or a Guarantor (or other nominee designated by the Issuer or a Guarantor) to buy all assets of the PC Entity at a nominal price and a requirement that the PC Entity enter into cash management arrangements with the Issuer or a Guarantor providing such Issuer or Guarantor full dominion over such cash in a customary manner, including customary cash sweep agreements of cash to the Issuer or a Guarantor, (ii) customary stock transfer restriction agreements and (iii) customary non-compete and non-solicit agreements with the primary physician employees and physician owners of the PC Entity responsible for providing all or substantially all of such PC Entity’s professional services, including the Issuer, which non-compete and non-solicit agreements shall be in force during the term of each such party’s relationship with the PC Entity and for a customary period following termination of such Person’s relationship with the PC Entity for any reason.

Permitted Asset Swap” means the concurrent purchase and sale or exchange of assets used or useful in a Similar Business or a combination of such assets and cash, Cash Equivalents between the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided that (i) any cash or Cash Equivalents received in excess of the

 

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value of any cash or Cash Equivalents sold or exchanged must be applied in accordance with Section 4.10 and (ii) the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary receives assets or a combination of assets and cash or Cash Equivalents in an amount equal to or greater than the assets of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary sold or exchanged in such Permitted Asset Swap.

Permitted Business” means the businesses of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries conducted (or proposed to be conducted) on the Issue Date and any business reasonably related, ancillary or complimentary thereto and any reasonable extension or evolution of any of the foregoing.

Permitted Investments” means:

(a) Investments in the Issuer or in a Restricted Subsidiary, including the purchase of any Preferred Equity Interests issued to a Strategic Investor so long as such purchase complies with the first paragraph of Section 4.11;

(b) Investments in Cash Equivalents, Marketable Securities and Investment Grade Securities;

(c) any guarantee of obligations of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary permitted by Section 4.9;

(d) Investments by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries in a Person if, as a result of such Investment, (i) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) such Person is merged, consolidated or arranged or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(e) Investments received in settlement of debts and owing to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in satisfaction of judgments, in a foreclosure of a Lien or as payment on a claim made in connection with any bankruptcy, liquidation, receivership or other insolvency proceeding;

(f) any Investment existing on, or made pursuant to binding commitments or publicly announced but unconsummated transactions existing on, the Issue Date and any Investment consisting of an extension, modification, renewal, replacement, refunding or refinancing of any Investment existing on, or made pursuant to a binding commitment existing on, the Issue Date; provided that the amount of any such Investment may be increased (i) as required by the terms of such Investment as in existence on the Issue Date or (ii) as otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

(g) Investments in any Person to the extent such Investment represents the non-cash portion of the consideration received for an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.10 or for an asset disposition that does not constitute an Asset Sale;

(h) loans or advances or other similar transactions with customers, distributors, clients, developers, suppliers, promoters, managers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case, in the ordinary course of business, regardless of frequency;

(i) other Investments in an amount not to exceed the greater of $20.0 million and 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis) (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value) at any one time outstanding for all Investments made after the Issue Date; provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause is made in any Person that is not the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such person becomes the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (a) or (d) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

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(j) any Investment solely in exchange for, or made with the proceeds of, the issuance of the Issuer’s Qualified Capital Stock;

(k) any Investment in connection with Hedging Obligations and Foreign Currency Obligations otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

(l) any contribution of any Investment in a joint venture or partnership that is not a Restricted Subsidiary to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary in exchange for an Investment in the Person to whom such contribution is made in an equivalent value;

(m) any Investment in any joint venture engaged in a Permitted Business, including without limitation by contribution of assets of any Restricted Subsidiary, not to exceed the greater of $15.0 million and 20.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis) outstanding at any time for Investments made after the Issue Date (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause is made in any Person that is not the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such person becomes the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (a) or (d) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause for so long as such person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(n) any Investment acquired after the Issue Date as a result of the acquisition by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of another Person, including by way of a merger, amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation with or into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a transaction that is not prohibited by this Indenture after the Issue Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

(o) any Investment consisting of deposits, prepayments and other credits to suppliers or landlords made in the ordinary course of business;

(p) guaranties made in the ordinary course of business of obligations owed to landlords, suppliers, customers and licensees of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(q) loans and advances to officers, directors and employees for (i) business-related travel expenses, moving and relocation expenses and other similar expenses, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business and (ii) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $7.5 million at any one time outstanding;

(r) any Investment consisting of the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons in the ordinary course of business;

(s) any Investment consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses of intellectual property or leases, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(t) any Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (t) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $15.0 million and 20.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis) (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause is made in any Person that is not the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such person becomes the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (a) or (d) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause for so long as such person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

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

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

(w) other Investments if after giving effect to such Investment, (x) no Default or Event of Default under Section 6.01(a), Section 6.01(b) or Section 6.01(h) has occurred or is continuing and (y) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Issuer on a pro forma basis is equal to or less than 4.00 to 1.00.

In the event a Permitted Investment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories described in clauses (a) through (w) above, the Issuer will be entitled to divide or classify (or later, divide, classify or reclassify in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such Permitted Investment (or portion thereof) in any matter than complies with this definition.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries may be made under clause (t) above. No other categories described above or in Section 4.07 may be used to make Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

Permitted Liens” means:

(a) Liens securing the Notes issued on the Issue Date and any PIK Interest Additional Notes and Liens securing any Guarantee thereof;

(b) Liens securing (x) Indebtedness under any Credit Facility (and related Hedging Obligations and cash management obligations to the extent such Liens arise under the definitive documentation governing such Indebtedness and the incurrence of such obligations is not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture) permitted by Section 4.09(b)(2) and (y) other Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09(a) and Section 4.09(b)(4); provided that (i) in the case of any such Indebtedness described in subclause (y), after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the application of proceeds therefrom, the granting of such Liens and any other related transactions, the Consolidated First Lien Indebtedness Leverage Ratio does not exceed 5.00 to 1.00 as of the last day of the most recent quarter for which internal financial statements are available on the date such Indebtedness is incurred and (ii) any such Indebtedness described in this clause (b) (other than Indebtedness incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors pursuant to the second proviso of Section 4.09(a) and Section 4.09(b)(4)) shall be (1) secured solely by Liens on the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Notes Obligations and (2) subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if any);

(c) Liens securing (i) Hedging Obligations and Foreign Currency Obligations permitted to be incurred under Section 4.09 and (ii) cash management obligations not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture;

(d) Liens securing Purchase Money Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09(b)(6); provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries other than the assets so acquired, constructed, installed or improved, products and proceeds thereof and insurance proceeds with respect thereto;

 

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(e) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged into, amalgamated, arranged or consolidated with the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that such Liens were not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such merger, amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation and do not apply to any assets other than the assets of the Person acquired in such merger, amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation;

(f) Liens on property of an Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time that it is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”; provided that such Liens were not incurred in connection with, or contemplation of, such designation;

(g) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition thereof by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer; provided that such Liens were not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition and do not extend to any assets of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries other than the property so acquired, constructed, installed or improved, products and proceeds thereof and insurance proceeds with respect thereto;

(h) Liens to secure the performance of statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds or performance bonds, or landlords’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, suppliers’, materialmen’s or other like Liens, in any case incurred in the ordinary course of business and with respect to amounts not yet delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate process of law, if a reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as is required by GAAP is made therefor;

(i) Liens existing on the Issue Date (including Liens on Collateral securing the 2028 Senior Notes outstanding on the Issue Date and other than such Liens existing pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) of this definition);

(j) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as shall be required in conformity with GAAP is made therefor;

(k) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09(b)(10); provided that (i) such Liens shall not extend to assets other than the assets that secure such Indebtedness being refinanced and (ii) such Liens have a Lien priority equal to or junior to (but not senior to) the Liens securing such Indebtedness being refinanced;

(l) Liens (other than Liens created or imposed under ERISA) incurred or deposits made by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, bids, leases, government contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money (which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any related Liens thereto);

(m) easements, rights-of-way, covenants, restrictions (including zoning restrictions), minor defects or irregularities in title and other similar charges or encumbrances not, in any material respect, impairing the use of the encumbered property for its intended purposes;

(n) licenses, sublicenses, leases or subleases granted to others not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(o) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods and Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements that constitute Cash Equivalents;

(p) normal and customary rights of setoff upon deposits of cash in favor of banks or other depository institutions;

 

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(q) Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code;

(r) filings made by factoring companies on accounts receivable sold by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary to such companies in the ordinary course of business;

(s) Liens on Property of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor securing Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary incurred in accordance with Section 4.09;

(t) Liens in favor of the Issuer or any Guarantor;

(u) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to commercial letters of credit which solely encumber goods and/or documents of title and other property relating to such letters of credit and products and proceeds thereof;

(v) extensions, renewals or refundings of any Liens referred to in clause (e), (g) or (i) above; provided that any such extension, renewal or refunding does not extend to any assets or secure any Indebtedness not securing or secured by the Liens being extended, renewed or refinanced;

(w) other Liens securing Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be outstanding having an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the greater of $25.0 million and 33.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis) in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding; provided that Liens pursuant to this clause (w) shall rank pari passu or junior to the Liens on Collateral securing the Notes Obligations or shall be secured by assets of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Collateral;

(x) Liens incurred to secure any treasury management arrangement;

(y) Liens on Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(z) Liens on Collateral securing any Junior Lien Obligations with respect to Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture; provided that after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the application of proceeds therefrom, the granting of such Liens and any other related transactions, the Consolidated Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio does not exceed 5.50 to 1.00 as of the last day of the most recent quarter for which internal financial statements are available on the date such Indebtedness is incurred;

(aa) Liens in connection with attachments or judgments (including judgment or appeal bonds) that do not result in an Event of Default under Section 6.01(g);

(bb) licenses, sublicenses, leases or subleases granted to others not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Issuer and its consolidated Subsidiaries;

(cc) pledges and deposits and other Liens securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to the Issuer or any Subsidiary;

(dd) Liens on Capital Stock in joint ventures securing obligations of such joint venture, to the extent required by the terms of the organizational documents or material contracts of such joint venture; and

 

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(ee) Liens securing insurance premiums financing arrangements; provided that such Liens are limited to the applicable unearned insurance premiums;

provided, that the aggregate amount of Liens securing First Lien Indebtedness incurred after the Issue Date, other than with respect to the PIK Interest Additional Notes, shall not exceed $100.0 million and such Liens and related Indebtedness shall only be incurred by the Issuer and the Guarantors.

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited partnership, general partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, unlimited liability company, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, bank trust company, land trust, business trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity whether legal or not.

PIK Interest” means the increase in the principal amount of the outstanding Notes by 2.000% per annum by issuing additional notes under the Indenture having the same terms as the outstanding Notes.

PIK Interest Additional Notes” means the additional notes that may be issued as PIK Interest.

Pledge and Security Agreement” means the Pledge and Security Agreement, to be dated as of February 6, 2024, by and among the Guarantors, as grantors, and the Collateral Agent, as amended, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time.

Preferred Equity Interest” in any Person, means an Equity Interest of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the payment of dividends or distributions, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Person, over Equity Interests of any other class in such Person.

Private Placement Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.01(c) hereof to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions hereof.

Proceeds” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Pledge and Security Agreement.

Professional Services Affiliate” means any PC Entity that (i) has entered into a Management Services Agreement with the Issuer or one of the Guarantors and (ii) is Controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Issuer.

Pro Forma Cost Savings” means, with respect to any Measurement Period, the reduction in net costs and expenses and related adjustments that:

(i) were directly attributable to an acquisition, merger, consolidation or disposition that occurred during the Measurement Period or subsequent to the Measurement Period and on or prior to the date of determination and calculated on a basis that is consistent with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act, or

(ii) were actually implemented by the business that was the subject of any such acquisition, merger, consolidation or disposition or by any related business of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary with which such business is proposed to be or is being or has been integrated within 24 months after the date of the acquisition, merger, consolidation, disposition or operational change and prior to the date of determination that are supportable and quantifiable by the underlying accounting records of any such business, or

(iii) relate to the business that is the subject of any such acquisition, merger, consolidation or disposition of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary with which such business is proposed to be or is being or has been integrated and that are probable in the reasonable judgment of the Issuer based upon specifically identifiable actions to be taken within 24 months of the date of the acquisition, merger, consolidation or disposition,

in each case regardless of whether such reductions and related adjustments could then be reflected in pro forma financial statements in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy related thereto, as if all such reductions and related adjustments had been effected as of the beginning of such period. Pro Forma Cost Savings as of any date of determination, together with any addbacks to Consolidated EBITDA included pursuant to clause (i) of the definition thereof, shall not in the aggregate exceed 25% of Consolidated EBITDA during the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such adjustments).

 

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Property” means an interest of any kind in any property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, and whether tangible or intangible.

Purchase Money Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) incurred (within 365 days of such purchase) to finance or refinance the purchase (including in the case of Capital Lease Obligations the lease), construction, installation or improvement of any assets used or useful in a Permitted Business (whether through the direct purchase of assets or through the purchase of Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets); provided that the amount of Indebtedness thereunder does not exceed 100% of the purchase cost of such assets and costs incurred in such construction, installation or improvement.

QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

Qualified Capital Stock” means any Capital Stock of the Issuer that is not Disqualified Stock.

Rating Agencies” means:

(a) S&P;

(b) Moody’s; or

(c) if S&P or Moody’s or both shall not make a rating of the Notes publicly available, a nationally recognized securities rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Issuer, which shall be substituted for S&P or Moody’s or both, as the case may be.

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

Regulation S Global Note” means a Global Note bearing the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in an initial denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes initially sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.

Reorganization Transactions” means the reorganization transactions effectuated pursuant to the Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Akumin Inc. and its Debtor Affiliates Docket No. 21 (as amended, modified, or supplemented from time to time), as confirmed by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas on November 30, 2023 Docket No. 272.

Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee or Collateral Agent, means any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or Collateral Agent (or any successor group of the Trustee or Collateral Agent) or any other officer of the Trustee or Collateral Agent customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Restricted Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

Restricted Global Note” means a Global Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

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

Restricted Period” means the relevant 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S.

 

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Restricted Subsidiary” or “Restricted Subsidiaries” means any Subsidiary, other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries. For the avoidance of doubt, a Professional Services Affiliate that has not been designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer.

Reverse Dutch Election Available Proceeds” means $60,000,000 in the aggregate to be made available by the Issuer or/or the Restricted Subsidiaries upon receipt of the Stonepeak Direct Investment to fund cash payments pursuant to a reverse Dutch election process.

Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

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

Rule 903” means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.

Rule 904” means Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act.

S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, and its subsidiaries, or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Security Agreement” means the Security Agreement, dated as of February 6, 2024, by and among the Issuer and the Guarantors, as grantors, and the Collateral Agent, as amended, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time.

Series” means (a) with respect to the First Lien Secured Parties, each of the (i) Credit Agreement Secured Parties (in their capacities as such), (ii) Notes Secured Parties (in their capacities as such) and (iii) Future First Lien Secured Parties that become subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement after the Issue Date that are represented by a common representative (in its capacity as such for such Future First Lien Secured Parties) and (b) with respect to any First Lien Obligations, each of the (i) Credit Agreement Obligations, (ii) the Notes Obligations and (iii) the Future First Lien Obligations incurred pursuant to any applicable agreement, which, pursuant to any joinder agreement, are to be represented under the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement by a common representative (in its capacity as such for such Future First Lien Obligations).

Significant Subsidiary” means any 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.

Stonepeak” means Stonepeak Magnet Holdings LP and any investment funds advised, managed or controlled by Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners and, in each case (whether individually or as a group), Affiliates of any of the foregoing.

Stonepeak Direct Investment” means $130,000,000 of cash equity contributions made by Stonepeak to the Issuer on the Issue Date.

Strategic Investor” means physicians, hospitals, health systems, other healthcare providers, other healthcare companies and other similar strategic joint venture partners.

Subordinated Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Guarantees, as the case may be.

Subsidiary” or “Subsidiaries” means, with respect to any Person, (a) a Professional Services Affiliate of such Person or (b) any corporation, limited liability company, association or other business 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 owned or controlled,

 

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directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof or any Person that is a consolidated subsidiary of the Issuer under GAAP and, at the Issuer’s option, designated as a “Subsidiary” in a certificate to the Trustee by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer. Unless otherwise specified, “Subsidiary” refers to a Subsidiary of the Issuer.

Total First Lien Debt” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of (i) First Lien Indebtedness of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) secured Purchase Money Obligations of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (iii) Indebtedness for borrowed money (which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any related Liens thereto) or Indebtedness evidenced by bank notes, debentures or similar instruments or drawn letters of credit secured by assets of the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiaries that are either (x) not Collateral or (y) secured by Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Note Obligations, in each case, outstanding on such date of determination, determined on a consolidated basis.

Trademark” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Pledge and Security Agreement.

Transactions” means the Reorganization Transactions and the issuance of the Initial Notes on the Issue Date.

Treasury Rate” means, at the time of computation, the weekly average for each business day during the most recent week that has ended at least two business days prior to the redemption date of the yield to maturity of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (or, if such statistical release is not so published or available or the relevant information no longer available thereon, any publicly available source of similar market data selected by the Issuer in good faith) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to November 1, 2022; provided, however, that if the period from the redemption date to November 1, 2022 is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the redemption date to November 1, 2022 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used.

Trustee” means UMB Bank, National Association, in its capacity as trustee, until a successor replaces UMB Bank, National Association in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code (or any similar or equivalent jurisdiction) as in effect in any applicable jurisdiction from time to time.

Unrestricted Definitive Note” means one or more Definitive Notes that do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

Unrestricted Global Note” means a permanent Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary, representing Notes that do not bear the Private Placement Legend.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” or “Unrestricted Subsidiaries” means (A) any Subsidiary designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in a resolution of the Issuer’s Board of Directors in accordance with the instructions set forth below; and (B) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Issuer’s Board of Directors may designate any Subsidiary (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary so long as:

(a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligation (contingent or otherwise) thereof, immediately after such designation, (i) is guaranteed by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (ii) is recourse to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to satisfaction thereof;

 

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(b) except as otherwise permitted by this Indenture (including by Section 4.11), neither the Issuer nor any other Restricted Subsidiary has any contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding with such Subsidiary, written or oral, other than on terms no less favorable to the Issuer or such other Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not the Issuer’s Affiliates;

(c) neither the Issuer nor any other Subsidiary (other than another Unrestricted Subsidiary) has any obligation (i) to subscribe for additional shares of Capital Stock of such Subsidiary or other equity interests therein; or (ii) to maintain or preserve such Subsidiary’s financial condition or to cause such Subsidiary to achieve certain levels of operating results; and

(d) at the time such Subsidiary is designated, it may not own or hold (directly or indirectly) any rights in any Intellectual Property that is material to the operation of the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

If at any time after the Issue Date the Issuer designates an additional Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the Issuer shall be deemed to have made a Restricted Investment in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer’s Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution of the Issuer’s Board of Directors and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee) of such Subsidiary. An Unrestricted Subsidiary may be designated as a Restricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary if, in each case, at the time of such designation or redesignation after giving pro forma effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing.

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

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (a) the total of the product obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment by (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

“Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary.

SECTION 1.02 Other Definitions.

 

Term

  

Defined in Section

“Affiliate Transaction”

   4.11

“Change of Control Offer”

   4.17

“Change of Control Payment”

   4.17

“Change of Control Payment Date”

   4.17

“Collateral Document Order”

   12.07(r)

“Covenant Defeasance”

   8.04

“Covenant Suspension Event”

   4.18(a)

“Dividend Restricted Payments”

   4.07(a)

“Event of Default”

   6.01

“Equity Purchase Restricted Payments”

   4.07(b)

“Excess Proceeds”

   4.10

“Excess Proceeds Offer”

   4.10(d)

“incur”

   4.09(a)

 

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Term

  

Defined in Section

“Issuer”

   Preamble

“Legal Defeasance”

   8.03

“Measurement Period”

   “Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”

“Noteholder Appointed Director”

   4.14(a)

“Noteholder Designation Right Termination Event”

   4.14(a)

“Offer Amount”

   3.08(b)

“Offer Period”

   3.08(b)

“Paying Agent”

   2.03

“Payment Default”

   6.01(e)

“Purchase Date”

   3.08(b)

“Refinancing Indebtedness”

   4.09(b)

“Registrar”

   2.03

“Restricted Payments”

   4.07(a)(iv)

“Reversion Date”

   4.18(c)

“Suspended Covenants”

   4.18(a)

“Suspension Period”

   4.18(b)

“Transaction Date”

   “Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”

SECTION 1.03 Divisions.

For all purposes under this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holder of its Equity Interests at such time.

SECTION 1.04 Rules of Construction.

Unless the context otherwise requires,

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

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

(3) “or” is not exclusive and “including” means “including without limitation”;

(4) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;

(5) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

(6) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor sections or rules adopted by the Commission from time to time;

(7) When calculating the availability under any basket or ratio under this Indenture, in each case in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Equity Interests and the use of proceeds thereof, the incurrence of any Lien or the making of any Investment or any Restricted Payments), the date of determination of such basket or ratio and of any Default or Event of Default may, at the Issuer’s option, be the date the definitive agreement(s) for such Limited Condition Transaction is

 

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entered into. Any such ratio or basket shall be calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Equity Interests and the use of proceeds thereof, the incurrence of any Lien or the making of any Investment or any Restricted Payments) as if they had been consummated at the beginning of the applicable period for purposes of determining the ability to consummate any such Limited Condition Transaction; provided that if the Issuer elects to make such determination as of the date of such definitive agreement(s), then (x) the Issuer shall be deemed to be in compliance with such ratios or baskets solely for purposes of determining whether the Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Equity Interests and the use of proceeds thereof, the incurrence of any Lien or the making of any Investment or any Restricted Payments), is permitted under the applicable covenants, and (y) such ratios or baskets shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction or related transactions; provided, further, that if the Issuer elects to have such determinations occur at the time of entry into such definitive agreement(s), any such transactions (including any incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock and the use of proceeds thereof, the incurrence of any Lien or the making of any Investment or any Restricted Payments) shall be deemed to have occurred on the date the definitive agreement(s) is entered into and shall be deemed outstanding thereafter for purposes of calculating any ratios or baskets under this Indenture after the date of such definitive agreement(s) and before the consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, unless such definitive agreement(s) is terminated or such Limited Condition Transaction or incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Equity Interests, Restricted Payment, Investment or incurrence of Liens or such other transaction to which pro forma effect is being given does not occur;

(8) For purposes of calculating any ratio-based basket, with respect to any revolving Indebtedness incurred under such ratio-based basket, the Issuer may elect (which election may not be changed with respect to such Indebtedness), at any time, to either (x) give pro forma effect to the incurrence of the entire committed amount of such Indebtedness, in which case such committed amount may thereafter be borrowed or reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, without further compliance with any ratio-based component of any provision of this Indenture, or (y) give pro forma effect to the incurrence of the actual amount drawn under such revolving Indebtedness, in which case, the ability to incur the amounts committed to under such Indebtedness will be subject to such ratio-based basket (to the extent being incurred pursuant to such ratio) at the time of each such Incurrence. To the extent clause (x) of the immediately preceding sentence is elected, such revolving Indebtedness shall be deemed to be incurred (and the fully committed amount of Indebtedness as outstanding) at all times thereafter for purposes of testing any ratio-based baskets, regardless of whether such Indebtedness is outstanding, until such commitments have been permanently terminated in full; and

(9) Notwithstanding anything herein the contrary, unless the Issuer elects otherwise, if, on any date, the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any transaction or series of related transactions (A) utilizes a ratio-based basket under a covenant and (B) utilizes a non-ratio-based basket under the same covenant, then the applicable ratio-based basket under such covenant will be calculated on such date with respect to any usage under the applicable ratio-based basket under such covenant without giving effect to the usage under such non-ratio based basket under the same such covenant made in connection with such transaction or series of related transactions.

SECTION 1.05 Acts of Holders; Record Dates.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders shall be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent (if applicable) and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Issuer. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose hereof and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Issuer, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.05.

 

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

(c) The Issuer may fix any date as the record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, or to vote on any action, authorized or permitted to be given or take by Holders. If not set by the Issuer prior to the first solicitation of a Holder made by any Person in respect of any such action, or, in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, the record date for any such action or vote shall be the 30th day (or, if later, the date of the most recent list of Holders required to be provided pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof) prior to such first solicitation or vote, as the case may be. With regard to any record date, only the Holders on such date (or their duly designated proxies) shall be entitled to give or take, or vote on, the relevant action.

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

SECTION 2.01 Form and Dating.

(a) The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, the terms of which are incorporated in and made a part hereof. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements approved as to form by the Issuer, and required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Issuer is subject or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be issuable only in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

(b) The Notes shall initially be issued in the form of one or more Global Notes and DTC, its nominees, and their respective successors, shall act as the Depositary with respect thereto. Each Global Note shall (i) be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Note or the nominee of such Depositary, (ii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions, and (iii) shall bear a legend (the “Global Note Legend”) in substantially the following form:

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. THIS NOTE IS NOT EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

 

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(c) Except as permitted by Section 2.06(g) hereof, any Note not registered under the Securities Act shall bear the following legend (the “Private Placement Legend”) on the face thereof:

THE NOTES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION AS SET FORTH BELOW. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”)), OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“REGULATION S”), (2) AGREES TO OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH NOTE PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE HOLDING PERIOD THEN IMPOSED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION) ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION PURSUANT TO REGULATION S IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903 OR RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTION THAT IS AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR,” AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION AND THAT DELIVERS A SIGNED CERTIFICATE (A FORM OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ISSUER OR THE TRUSTEE) TO THE TRUSTEE CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF THE SECURITY OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE ISSUER’S OR THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM.

(d) Each Note that has more than a de minimis amount of original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS NOTE HAS BEEN ISSUED WITH “ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 1272 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED). UPON WRITTEN REQUEST (ADDRESSED TO GENERAL COUNSEL AT 8300 W SUNRISE BLVD PLANTATION, FL 33322), THE ISSUER WILL PROMPTLY MAKE AVAILABLE TO ANY HOLDER OF THIS NOTE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: (1) THE ISSUE PRICE AND ISSUE DATE OF THE NOTE; (2) THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT ON THE NOTE; AND (3) THE YIELD TO MATURITY OF THE NOTE.

SECTION 2.02 Form of Execution and Authentication.

An Officer shall sign the Notes for the Issuer by manual, electronic or facsimile signature.

If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.

 

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A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee. The signature of the Trustee shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture. All notes shall be dated the date of their authentication.

The Trustee shall authenticate (i) Initial Notes for original issue on the Issue Date in an aggregate principal amount of $436,222,000 and (ii) subject to compliance with Section 4.09 hereof, one or more series of Notes for original issue after the Issue Date (such Notes to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A) in an unlimited amount, in each case upon written order of the Issuer in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, which Officers’ Certificate shall, in the case of any issuance pursuant to clause (ii) above, certify that such issuance is in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof. In addition, each such Officers’ Certificate shall specify the amount of Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the Notes are to be authenticated, whether the securities are to be Initial Notes or Notes issued under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence and the aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding on the date of authentication, and shall further specify the amount of such Notes to be issued as Global Notes or Definitive Notes and shall direct the Trustee to authenticate such Notes in accordance with the terms of this Indenture. Such Notes shall initially be in the form of one or more Global Notes, which (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, the Notes to be issued, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee and (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction. All Notes issued under this Indenture shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class and no series of Notes will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter; provided, however, that no additional Notes will be issued with the same CUSIP or ISIN as the Initial Notes unless the Issuer intends to treat such additional Notes and the Initial Notes as fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

In authenticating Notes other than the Initial Notes, the Trustee shall receive, and, subject to Section 7.01, shall be fully protected in relying upon:

 

  (a)

an executed supplemental indenture, if any;

 

  (b)

an Officers’ Certificate delivered in accordance with Section 12.04; and

 

  (c)

an Opinion of Counsel delivered in accordance with Section 12.04 and which shall state:

 

  (1)

that the form of such Notes has been established by a supplemental indenture or by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors in accordance with Sections 2.01 and 2.02 and in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

  (2)

that the terms of such Notes have been established in accordance with Section 2.01 and in conformity with the other provisions of this Indenture; and

 

  (3)

that such Notes, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Issuer in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate Notes. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer.

SECTION 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent.

The Issuer shall maintain (i) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (including any co-registrar, the “Registrar”) and (ii) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and

 

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exchange. The Issuer may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Issuer may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar without prior notice to any Holder of a Note. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing and the Trustee shall notify the Holders of the Notes of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. The Issuer may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar. The Issuer shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Agent not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions hereof that relate to such Agent. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any such Agent.

The Issuer initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent in connection with the Notes.

SECTION 2.04 Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust.

The Issuer shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of, premium, and interest on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee in writing of any Default by the Issuer in making any such payment. While any such Default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by such Paying Agent to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuer) shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee. If the Issuer acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Section 6.01(i) or Section 6.01(j), the Trustee shall automatically become the Paying Agent.

SECTION 2.05 Lists of Holders of the Notes.

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders of the Notes. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee at least seven Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders of the Notes, including the aggregate principal amount of the Notes held by each thereof.

SECTION 2.06 Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. Global Notes will be exchanged by the Issuer for Definitive Notes, subject to any applicable laws, if (i) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee notice from the Depositary that (A) the Depositary is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary for the Global Notes or (B) the Depositary is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, the Issuer fails to appoint a successor Depositary within 90 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary, (ii) the Issuer in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee or (iii) upon request of the Trustee (acting at the written direction of Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes) or Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes if there shall have occurred and be continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes; provided that in no event shall any temporary Note that is a Global Note issued pursuant to Regulation S be exchanged by the Issuer for Definitive Notes prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificate identified by the Issuer and its counsel to be required pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act. In any such case, the Issuer will notify the Trustee in writing that, upon surrender by the Participants and Indirect Participants of their interests in such Global Note, certificated Notes will be issued to each Person that such Participants, Indirect Participants and the Depositary jointly identify as being the beneficial owner of the related Notes. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06. However, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in paragraph (b) or (c) below.

 

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(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes shall be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth in this Indenture to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with the applicable subparagraphs below.

(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided, however, that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, no transfer of beneficial interests in a Regulation S Global Note may be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person unless permitted by applicable law and made in compliance with subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) below. Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this subparagraph (i) unless specifically stated above.

(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to subparagraph (i) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase or, (B) (1) if Definitive Notes are at such time permitted to be issued pursuant to this Indenture, a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to paragraph (h) below.

(iii) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of subparagraph (ii) above and the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof; and

(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof.

(iv) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of subparagraph (ii) above, and the Registrar receives the following:

 

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(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit D hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a) thereof, or

(B) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the applicable certifications in item (4) thereof;

and, in each such case set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B), if the Issuer or the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained in this Indenture and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an authentication order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) above.

Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.

(c) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.

(i) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes for Restricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit D hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(a) thereof;

(B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

(D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;

 

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(E) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in clauses (B) through (D) above, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3)(c) thereof, as applicable; or

(F) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof,

the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to paragraph (h) below, and the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the certificate a Restricted Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Restricted Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this paragraph (c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Restricted Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Restricted Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this subparagraph (i) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes for Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only if the Registrar receives the following:

 

  A.

if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note that does not bear the Private Placement Legend, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit D hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(b) thereof; or

 

  B.

if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note that does not bear the Private Placement Legend, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the applicable certifications in item (4) thereof,

and, in each such case set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B), if the Issuer or the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained in this Indenture and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (A) or (B) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an authentication order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) above.

Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes for Unrestricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in subparagraph (b)(ii) above, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to paragraph (h) below, and the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the certificate a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this subparagraph (c)(iii) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this subparagraph (c)(iii) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

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(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.

Transfer and Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes. If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

 

  A.

if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit D hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;

 

  B.

if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

 

  C.

if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; or

 

  D.

if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in clauses (B) through (C) above, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3)(c) thereof, as applicable,

the Trustee shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the appropriate Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (B) above, the 144A Global Note, and in the case of clause (C) above, the Regulation S Global Note.

Transfer and Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if the Registrar receives the following:

 

  A.

if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit D hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or

 

  B.

if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the applicable certifications in item (4) thereof;

and, in each such case set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B), if the Issuer or the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained in this Indenture and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this subparagraph (d)(ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.

 

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Transfer and Exchange of Unrestricted Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Unrestricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee shall cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes.

If any such exchange or transfer from an Unrestricted Definitive Note or a Restricted Definitive Note, as the case may be, to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (ii)(A), (ii)(B) or (iii) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an authentication order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Unrestricted Definitive Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes, as the case may be, so transferred.

(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this paragraph (e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this paragraph (e).

(i) Transfer of Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and

(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including, if the Issuer or the Registrar so requests, a certification or Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act.

(ii) Transfer and Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes for Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit D hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(d) thereof; or

(B) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the applicable certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

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and, in each such case set forth in subparagraph (A) and (B), if the Issuer or the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained in this Indenture and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

(iii) Transfer of Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

(f) [Reserved].

(g) Legends. The following legends shall appear on the faces of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions hereof.

(i) Private Placement Legend.

Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note (other than an Unrestricted Global Note) and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the Private Placement Legend.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(iv), (c)(ii), (c)(iii), (d)(ii), (d)(iii), (e)(ii) or (e)(iii) of this Section 2.06 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

(ii) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note shall bear the Global Note Legend.

(h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon the Issuer’s order.

(ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.02, 2.10, 3.08 and 9.05 hereof).

(iii) The Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

 

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(iv) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Issuer, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits hereof, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

(v) Neither the Issuer nor the Registrar shall be required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business on a Business Day 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection or (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

(vi) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Issuer may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Issuer shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(vii) The Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.

(viii) All certifications, Officers’ Certificates, and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.

(ix) Neither the Trustee nor Registrar shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Notes (including any transfers between or among Depositary Participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture.

(x) [Reserved].

(xi) [Reserved].

(xii) Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

SECTION 2.07 Replacement Notes.

If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, or the Issuer and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee, upon the written order of the Issuer signed by two Officers of the Issuer, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s requirements for replacements of Notes are met. If required by the Trustee or the Issuer, the Holder must supply an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuer to protect the Issuer, the Trustee, any Agent or any authenticating agent from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Issuer and the Trustee may charge for their expenses in replacing a Note.

Every replacement Note is a joint and several obligation of the Issuer.

SECTION 2.08 Outstanding Notes.

The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section 2.08 as not outstanding.

 

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If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Issuer receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser.

If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, it shall cease to be outstanding and interest on it shall cease to accrue.

Subject to Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer, a Subsidiary of the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer holds the Note.

SECTION 2.09 Treasury Notes.

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, or designation pursuant to Section 4.14, Notes owned by the Issuer, any Subsidiary of the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes which a Responsible Officer knows to be so owned shall be so considered. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Notes that are to be acquired by the Issuer, any Subsidiary of the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer pursuant to an exchange offer, tender offer or other agreement shall not be deemed to be owned by the Issuer, a Subsidiary of the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer until legal title to such Notes passes to the Issuer, such Subsidiary or such Affiliate, as the case may be.

SECTION 2.10 Temporary Notes.

Until Definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuer may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have variations that the Issuer and the Trustee consider appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuer shall prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of the written order of the Issuer signed by two Officers of the Issuer, shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes. Until such exchange, temporary Notes shall be entitled to the same rights, benefits and privileges as Definitive Notes.

SECTION 2.11 Cancellation.

The Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of all canceled Notes in its customary manner, unless the Issuer, by written order signed by two Officers of the Issuer, directs canceled Notes to be returned to it. The Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has redeemed or paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. All canceled Notes held by the Trustee shall be disposed of and confirmation of their disposal delivered to the Issuer upon its request therefor, unless by a written order, signed by two Officers of the Issuer, the Issuer shall direct that canceled Notes be returned to it.

SECTION 2.12 Defaulted Interest.

If the Issuer defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders of the Notes on a subsequent special record date, which date shall be at the earliest practicable date but in all events at least five Business Days prior to the payment date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes. The Issuer shall fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Issuer (or the Trustee, in the name of and at the expense of the Issuer and upon the written request of the Issuer) shall send to Holders of the Notes a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

 

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SECTION 2.13 [Reserved].

SECTION 2.14 CUSIP Number.

The Issuer in issuing the Notes may use a “CUSIP” number and, if it does so, the Trustee shall use the CUSIP number in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number printed in the notice or on the Notes and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuer shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP number.

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION

SECTION 3.01 Notices to Trustee.

If the Issuer elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least 5, but no more than 10, Business Days (unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee) before the notice of redemption is delivered to Holders, an Officers’ Certificate of the Issuer setting forth (i) the redemption date, (ii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iii) the redemption price. If the Issuer is required to make the redemption pursuant to Section 3.08 hereof, it shall furnish the Trustee, at least five but not more than ten Business Days before the applicable purchase date, an Officers’ Certificate of the Issuer setting forth (i) the purchase date, (ii) the principal amount of Notes offered to be purchased and (iii) the purchase price.

SECTION 3.02 Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed.

(a) If less than all the Notes are to be redeemed at any time in accordance with Section 3.07(a) and (c) hereof, then the Notes shall be selected by lot, except that Global Notes shall be selected subject to the applicable rules of the Depository. In the event of partial redemption by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 15 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption.

(b) The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of them selected shall be in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions hereof that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

SECTION 3.03 Notice of Redemption.

Subject to the provisions of Section 3.08 hereof, at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Issuer shall transmit a notice of redemption to each Holder (with a copy to the Trustee) whose Notes are to be redeemed to such Holder’s registered address.

The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state

(i) the redemption date;

(ii) the redemption price;

(iii) if any Note is being redeemed in part only, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed;

 

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(iv) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

(v) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

(vi) that, unless the Issuer defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

(vii) the paragraph of the Notes and/or section hereof pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and

(viii) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.

At the Issuer’s written request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuer’s name and at the Issuer’s expense; provided that the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least 10 days (unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the date the Issuer wishes to have the notice given, an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

SECTION 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption.

Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price.

SECTION 3.05 Deposit of Redemption Price.

On or prior to 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on any redemption date, the Issuer shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuer any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Issuer in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, all Notes to be redeemed.

On and after the redemption date, if the Issuer does not default in the payment of the redemption price, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption. If a Note is redeemed on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Issuer to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes.

SECTION 3.06 [Reserved].

SECTION 3.07 Optional Redemption.

(a) The Notes shall be subject to redemption at the option of the Issuer, in whole or in part, upon not less than 10 days’ or more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of record of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive payments of interest on the related interest payment date), if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on November 1 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2023

     104.000

2024 and thereafter

     102.250

 

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(b) In connection with any redemption of Notes described in clause (a) above, such redemption may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including any related Equity Offering, issuance of Indebtedness or other transaction. If such redemption or notice is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Issuer’s discretion, such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded, or the redemption date may be delayed or extended, in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any tender offer for the Notes, including a Change of Control Offer, if holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in such tender offer or Change of Control Offer and the Issuer, or any third party making such tender offer or Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Issuer, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such holders, the Issuer or such third party will have the right upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase date, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to the price offered to each other holder (excluding any early tender or incentive fee) in such tender offer or Change of Control Offer plus, to the extent not included in the tender offer payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to, but excluding, the date of such redemption.

(d) Tax Redemption. If (a) the Issuer or any Guarantor becomes or will become obligated to pay Additional Amounts with respect to any Notes or any Guarantee (as described under Section 4.21) as a result of (1) any change in, or amendment to, the laws, treaties (including protocols), regulations or rulings of a Relevant Tax Jurisdiction, which change or amendment is first publicly announced and becomes effective after the Issue Date (or, if the Relevant Tax Jurisdiction did not become a Relevant Tax Jurisdiction until a later date, after such later date) or (2) any change in the official interpretation or application of the laws, treaties (including protocols), regulations or rulings of a Relevant Tax Jurisdiction (including by virtue of a holding, judgment or order by a court of competent jurisdiction or a change in published administrative practice), which change is first publicly announced and becomes effective after the Issue Date (or, if the Relevant Tax Jurisdiction did not become a Relevant Tax Jurisdiction until a later date, after such later date), and (b) such obligation cannot be avoided by the Issuer’s taking reasonable measures available to the Issuer or any Guarantor (provided that changing the jurisdiction of the Issuer or any Guarantor is not a reasonable measure for this purpose), the Issuer may at its option, having given not less than 30 days’ notice to the holders of such Notes (which notice shall be irrevocable), redeem all, but not a portion of, the Notes at any time a price equal to their principal amount plus interest accrued to, but excluding, the date of redemption (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), provided that no such notice of redemption shall be given earlier than 60 days prior to the earliest date on which the Issuer or any Guarantor would be obliged to pay such Additional Amounts were a payment in respect of the Notes then due); and provided further that in the case of a Guarantor, no redemption shall be permitted under this Section 3.07(d) if the Issuer or any other Guarantor can make payments on the Notes without the obligation to pay Additional Amounts. Prior to the publication or, where relevant, mailing of any notice of redemption pursuant to this paragraph, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee (i) a certificate of an officer of the Issuer stating that the requirements described in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 3.07(d) are satisfied, and (ii) an opinion of an independent counsel of recognized standing to the effect that the Issuer or any Guarantor has or will become obliged to pay such Additional Amounts as a result of a change or amendment described in clause (a) of this Section 3.07(d). The Trustee shall accept, and will be entitled to rely on, such certificate and opinion of counsel as sufficient evidence of the existence and satisfaction of the conditions described in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 3.07(d), and upon such acceptance by the Trustee the Issuer will be entitled to give notice of redemption hereunder and such notice of redemption will be conclusive and binding on the holders of the Notes.

SECTION 3.08 Excess Proceeds Offer.

(a) In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10, the Issuer shall be required to commence an Excess Proceeds Offer, it shall follow the procedures specified below.

 

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(b) The Excess Proceeds Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Offer Period”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “Purchase Date”), the Issuer shall purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and First Lien Obligations that may be purchased with such Excess Proceeds (which maximum principal amount of Notes and First Lien Obligations shall be the “Offer Amount”) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered in response to the Excess Proceeds Offer.

(c) To the extent the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary is required under the terms of any First Lien Obligations, the Issuer shall make an offer to the holders of such First Lien Obligations on a pro rata basis with the holders of the Notes, with such proceeds. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other First Lien Obligations surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of such Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased on by lot, and, in the case of Global Notes, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary. To the extent that the principal amount of Notes tendered pursuant to an Excess Proceeds Offer is less than the amount of such Excess Proceeds and such other First Lien Obligations, the Issuer may use any remaining Excess Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture.

(d) If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest shall be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Excess Proceeds Offer.

(e) Upon the commencement of any Excess Proceeds Offer, the Issuer shall send, by first class mail or electronically, a notice to each of the Holders of the Notes, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Excess Proceeds Offer. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Excess Proceeds Offer, shall state:

(i) that the Excess Proceeds Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.08 and the length of time the Excess Proceeds Offer shall remain open;

(ii) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;

(iii) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrue interest;

(iv) that, unless the Issuer defaults in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Excess Proceeds Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Purchase Date;

(v) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Excess Proceeds Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed, to the Issuer, a Depositary, if appointed by the Issuer, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days before the Purchase Date;

(vi) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Issuer, Depositary or Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is unconditionally withdrawing his election to have the Note purchased; and

(vii) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders and other First Lien Obligations tendered by the holders thereof exceeds the Offer Amount, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis, by lot, and, in the case of Global Notes, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Issuer so that only Notes in minimum denominations of $2,000, or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, shall be purchased).

 

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(f) On or before the Purchase Date, the Issuer shall, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Excess Proceeds Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes or portion thereof tendered, and deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Issuer in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.08. The Issuer, Depositary or Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly (but in any case not later than five days after the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Note tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Issuer for purchase, and the Issuer shall promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note, to such Holder equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. In addition, the Issuer shall take any and all other actions required by the agreements governing any other First Lien Obligations. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Issuer to the Holder thereof. The Issuer shall publicly announce the results of the Excess Proceeds Offer on the Purchase Date.

(g) The Issuer shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rules) and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to an Excess Proceeds Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuer’s compliance with such laws and regulations shall not in and of itself be deemed to have caused a breach of its obligations under this Indenture.

(h) Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.08 or Section 4.10, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.08 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.02 and 3.05 hereof.

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

SECTION 4.01 Payment of Notes.

(a) The Issuer shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Issuer, holds as of 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by or on behalf of the Issuer in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, and interest then due. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

(b) The Issuer shall pay interest (including post-petition or post-filing interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; the Issuer shall pay interest (including post-petition interest or post-filing in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

SECTION 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

(a) The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an Affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee; provided that the Corporate Trust Office shall not be a place for service of legal process on the Issuer.

(b) The Issuer may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligation to maintain an office or agency for such purposes. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

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(c) The Issuer hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof.

SECTION 4.03 Reports.

(a) So long as the notes are outstanding, the Issuer shall furnish to the holders of the Notes and the Trustee:

(i) (x) all annual and quarterly financial statements substantially in forms that would be required to be contained in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on Forms 10-K and 10-Q (or successor forms) of the Issuer, if the Issuer were required to file such forms, plus a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and (y) with respect to the annual financial statements only, a report on the annual financial statements by the Issuer’s independent registered public accounting firm;

(ii) within 10 Business Days after the occurrence of an event required to be therein reported, such other information containing substantially the same information that would be required to be contained in filings with the SEC on Form 8-K under Items 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 2.01 (which, with respect to acquisitions, shall be only with respect to acquisitions that are “significant” pursuant to clauses (1) and (2) of the definition of “Significant Subsidiary” under Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X), 2.05, 2.06, 4.01, 4.02, 5.01 and 5.02(b) (only with respect to the principal executive officer, president, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and principal operating officer) and (c) (other than with respect to information otherwise required or contemplated by Item 402 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC) as in effect on the Issue Date if the Issuer were required to file such reports; provided, however, that no such current report will be required to include as an exhibit, or to include a summary of the terms of, any employment or compensatory arrangement agreement, plan or understanding between the Issuer (or any of its Subsidiaries) and any director, manager or executive officer, of the Issuer (or any of its Subsidiaries); provided, however, that (i) in no event shall such information or reports be required to comply with Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC or contain separate consolidating financial information with respect to, or separate financial statements or information for, the Issuer, the Guarantors, other Subsidiaries the shares of which are pledged to secure the Notes or any Guarantee, any Related Corporation or any other affiliate of the Issuer that would be required under (a) Section 3-09 of Regulation S-X, (b) Section 3-10 of Regulation S-X or (c) Section 3-16 of Regulation S-X, respectively, promulgated by the SEC, (ii) in no event shall such information or reports be required to comply with Regulation G under the Exchange Act or Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC with respect to any non-GAAP financial measures contained therein;

(iii) no such information or reports referenced under clause (ii) above shall be required to be furnished if the Issuer determines in its good faith judgment that such event is not material to the holders of the notes or the business, assets, operations or financial position of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and

(iv) in no event shall information or reports referenced in clause (ii) above be required to include, as an exhibit, copies of any agreements, financial statements or other items that would be required to be filed as exhibits to a current report on Form 8-K except for (x) agreements evidencing material Indebtedness and (y) historical and pro forma financial statements to the extent reasonably available.

(b) All such annual information and reports shall be furnished within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year to which they relate (or 120 days in the case of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023), and all such quarterly information and reports shall be furnished within 45 days after the end of the fiscal quarter to which they relate (or 60 days in the case of the fiscal quarters ending March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024) and in each case subject to any extension, tolling or other relief that would be available to the Issuer under applicable United States securities laws and regulations at such time; provided that the Issuer shall furnish within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, preliminary unaudited consolidated financial results (the “2023 Preliminary Unaudited Results”) with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 consisting of balance sheets, statements of operations and statements of cash flows and other line-items as reasonably determined by the Company.

 

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(c) Except as provided in Section 4.03(f), the Issuer will make available such information and reports (as well as the details regarding the conference calls described below and recordings of such calls) to any holder of notes and, upon request, to any beneficial owner of the notes, in each case by posting such information and reports on its website, on Intralinks or any comparable password-protected online data system which will require a confidentiality acknowledgment, and will make such information and reports readily available to any holder of notes, any bona fide prospective investor in the notes (which prospective investors shall be limited to “qualified institutional buyers” within the meaning of Rule 144A of the Securities Act or non-U.S. persons that certify their status as such to the reasonable satisfaction of the Issuer), any securities analyst (to the extent providing analysis of investment in the notes) or any market maker in the notes who agrees to treat such information and reports as confidential or accesses such information and reports on Intralinks or any comparable password-protected online data system which will require a confidentiality acknowledgment; provided that the Issuer shall post such information and reports thereon and make readily available any password or other login information to any such holder of notes, bona fide prospective investor, securities analyst or market maker.

(d) The Issuer will hold a quarterly conference call for all holders of notes, bona fide prospective investors in the notes, securities analysts and market makers in the notes (each to the extent set forth in Section 4.03(c) and subject to such confidentiality obligations set forth therein) to discuss such financial information (including a customary Q&A session) no later than 10 Business Days after distribution of such financial information (which obligation, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be satisfied by the Issuer’s regular earnings calls); provided that the Issuer shall hold a conference call to provide a business update with respect to the 2023 Preliminary Unaudited Results of the Issuer to discuss such financial information as well as liquidity, expected capital expenditures, capital structure, governance structure and management team (including a customary Q&A session) for all holders of notes, bona fide prospective investors in the notes, securities analysts and market makers in the notes (each to the extent set forth in Section 4.03(c) and subject to such confidentiality obligations set forth therein) within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

(e) In addition, to the extent not satisfied by the foregoing, the Issuer shall furnish to holders of the notes any prospective investors, upon their request, any information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act so long as the notes remain outstanding.

(f) Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Issuer will be deemed to have furnished the financial statements and other information referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 4.03(a) if the Issuer has filed reports on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (“SEDAR”) or any successor system or with the SEC via the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (“EDGAR”) filing system or any successor system thereto; provided that if the Issuer has filed such reports on SEDAR or EDGAR, in order to comply with clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 4.03(a), the Issuer need only file such reports as would be required of it pursuant to applicable United States laws that apply to the Issuer’s public reporting requirements at such time and nothing more.

(g) Delivery of such reports, information and documents pursuant to this Section 4.03 to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such reports, information or documents shall not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s compliance with any of their covenants under this Indenture or the Notes (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officers’ Certificate). Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be obligated to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, the Issuer’s compliance with the covenants in this Indenture with respect to the furnishing or posting of such reports, information and documents filed with the SEC or EDGAR or on a website or any online data system under this Indenture, or participate in any conference calls.

 

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SECTION 4.04 Compliance Certificate.

The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year an Officers’ Certificate of the Issuer stating that a review of the activities of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Issuer and Guarantors have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their obligations under this Indenture and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge each such entity has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof, including, without limitation, a default in the performance or breach of Section 4.07, Section 4.09, Section 4.10 or Section 4.17 hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action each is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).

SECTION 4.05 Taxes.

The Issuer shall pay, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except as contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

SECTION 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

The Issuer covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance hereof; and the Issuer (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

SECTION 4.07 Limitation on Restricted Payments.

(a) Neither the Issuer nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may, directly or indirectly:

(i) pay any dividend or make any distribution on account of any Equity Interests of the Issuer other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer (such payments or distributions, “Dividend Restricted Payments”);

(ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value any of the Issuer’s Equity Interests (such purchase, redemption or acquisition, “Equity Purchase Restricted Payments”) or any Subordinated Indebtedness, other than (i) Subordinated Indebtedness within one year of the stated maturity date thereof and (ii) any such Equity Interests or Subordinated Indebtedness owned by the Issuer or by any Restricted Subsidiary;

(iii) pay any dividend or make any distribution on account of any Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, other than:

(A) to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary; or

(B) to all holders of any class or series of Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary on a pro rata basis; or

(iv) make any Restricted Investment.

 

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(all such prohibited payments and actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”), unless at the time of such Restricted Payment:

(1) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

(2) after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted Payment and any related transactions, the Issuer is able to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness in compliance with Section 4.09(a); and

(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate of all other Restricted Payments made after the Issue Date, is less than the sum of:

(A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer for the period (taken as one accounting period) from January 1, 2024 to the end of the Issuer’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income shall be a deficit, minus 100% of such aggregate deficit); plus

(B) an amount equal to the sum of (x) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the Fair Market Value of any property or assets received by the Issuer from the issue or sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer (other than Equity Interests sold to any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries), following the Issue Date and (y) the aggregate amount by which Indebtedness (other than any Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Subsidiary) incurred by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary on or subsequent to the Issue Date is reduced on the Issuer’s balance sheet upon the conversion or exchange into Qualified Capital Stock (less the amount of any cash, or the Fair Market Value of assets, distributed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary upon such conversion or exchange or expended pursuant to clause (b)(11) below); plus

(C) if any Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated by the Issuer as a Restricted Subsidiary, an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the net Investment by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in such Subsidiary at the time of such designation; provided, however, that the foregoing amount shall not exceed the amount of Restricted Investments made by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in any such Unrestricted Subsidiary following the Issue Date which reduced the amount available for Restricted Payments pursuant to this clause (3) less amounts received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from such Unrestricted Subsidiary that increased the amount available for Restricted Payments pursuant to clause (D) below; plus

(D) 100% of any cash dividends and other cash distributions and the Fair Market Value of property or assets other than cash received by the Issuer and the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries from an Unrestricted Subsidiary since the Issue Date to the extent not included in Consolidated EBITDA and 100% of the net proceeds received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the sale of any Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the foregoing amount shall not exceed the amount of Restricted Investments made by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in any such Unrestricted Subsidiary following the Issue Date which reduced the amount available for Restricted Payments pursuant to this clause (3); plus

(E) to the extent not included in clauses (A) through (D) above, an amount equal to the net reduction in Restricted Investments of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Issue Date resulting from payments in cash of interest on Indebtedness, dividends or repayment of loans or advances, or other transfers of property, in each case, to the Issuer or to a Restricted Subsidiary or from the net cash proceeds from the sale, conveyance, liquidation or other disposition of any such Restricted Investment; plus

(F) $20.0 million;

provided, that (x) for the avoidance of doubt, the conversion of any Indebtedness into Qualified Capital Stock as part of the Reorganization Transactions shall not increase the amounts available under this clause (3) and (y) the amount of Dividend Restricted Payments and Equity Purchase Restricted Payments made utilizing the amounts available under clause (3)(F), when aggregated with the amount of Dividend Restricted Payments and Equity Purchase Restricted Payments made utilizing the amounts available under Section 4.07(b)(13), shall not exceed $10.0 million.

 

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(b) The foregoing provisions shall not prohibit the following (provided that with respect to clauses (9), (10) and (12) below, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing both before and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment):

(1) the payment of any dividend or distribution or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof or the giving of a redemption notice related thereto, if at the date of declaration or notice such payment, dividend, distribution or redemption would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

(2) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of (x) any Equity Interests of the Issuer in exchange for, or out of the net proceeds of the issue or sale within 60 days of, Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer (other than Equity Interests issued or sold to any Subsidiary) or (y) Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (a) in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the issuance and sale within 60 days of, Qualified Capital Stock, (b) in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the incurrence within 60 days of, Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under clause (10) of Section 4.09(b) or other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section 4.09 or (c) with the Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale or upon a Change of Control, in each case, to the extent required by the agreement governing such Subordinated Indebtedness but only if the Issuer shall have previously applied such Net Proceeds to make an Excess Proceeds Offer or made a Change of Control Offer, as the case may be, in accordance with Sections 4.10 and 4.17 and purchased all Notes validly tendered pursuant to the relevant offer prior to redeeming or repurchasing such Subordinated Indebtedness;

(3) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or shares of Preferred Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary issued in accordance with Section 4.09;

(4) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants or upon the vesting of restricted stock units if such Equity Interests represent the exercise price of such options or warrants or represent withholding taxes due upon such exercise or vesting;

(5) [reserved];

(6) the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer held by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, advisor or consultant of the Issuer or of any Subsidiary of the Issuer (or any such Person’s estates or heirs) pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement; provided that the aggregate amounts paid under this clause (6) do not exceed the greater of (x) $7.5 million and (y) 10.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis) in any calendar year, with unused amounts in any calendar year carried over and available for use in any succeeding 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 Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer to any future, present or former employee, director, officer, consultant or advisor of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries that occurred after the Issue Date, to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Capital Stock have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of clause (iii) of the preceding paragraph; plus

(B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date; less

 

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(C) the amount of any Restricted Payments made in previous calendar years pursuant to clauses (A) and (B) of this clause;

provided that the Issuer may elect to apply all or any portion of the aggregate increase contemplated by subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (6) in any fiscal year; provided, further, that (i) cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from any future, present or former employee, director, officer, consultant or advisor of the Issuer or Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Capital Stock of the Issuer and (ii) the repurchase of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the exercise of options, warrants or similar instruments if such Capital Stock represents all or a portion of the exercise price thereof and payments, in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares of such Capital Stock or withholding to pay other taxes payable in connection therewith, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 4.07 or any other provision of this Indenture;

(7) payments or distributions by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable law in connection with any merger or acquisition consummated on or after the Issue Date and not prohibited by this Indenture;

(8) purchases, redemptions or acquisitions of fractional shares of Equity Interests arising out of stock dividends, splits or combinations or business combinations;

(9) the payment by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any amounts pursuant to the voluntary cases under Title 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas and a joint prepackaged plan of reorganization of the Issuer and certain of its Affiliates;

(10) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date; provided, however, that (a) the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such Designated Preferred Stock is issued, after giving effect to such issuance (and the payment of dividends or distributions) on a pro forma basis, would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00 and (b) the aggregate amount of dividends declared and paid pursuant to this clause (10) does not exceed the net cash proceeds actually received by the Issuer from any such sale of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date;

(11) any Restricted Payment if after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Issuer on a pro forma basis is equal to or less than 3.75 to 1.00;

(12) to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, payments to counterparties under Hedging Obligations or other hedge, swap or option agreements entered into in connection with the issuance of convertible debt or upon the exercise thereof; and

(13) other Restricted Payments in an amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $20.0 million and (y) 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis); provided, that the amount of Dividend Restricted Payments and Equity Purchase Restricted Payments made utilizing the amounts available under this Section 4.07(b)(13), when aggregated with the amount of Dividend Restricted Payments and Equity Purchase Restricted Payments made utilizing the amounts available under Section 4.07(a)(3)(F) above, shall not exceed $10.0 million.

(c) Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 4.07(a) and clause (1) of Section 4.07(b) and, to the extent made with the proceeds of the issuance of Qualified Capital Stock, Investments made pursuant to clause (j) of the definition of “Permitted Investments,” shall be included as Restricted Payments in any computation made pursuant to clause (3) of Section 4.07(a). Restricted Payments made pursuant to clauses (2) through (11) and (13) of Section 4.07(b) shall not be included as Restricted Payments in any computation made pursuant to clause (3) of Section 4.07(a).

 

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If the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary makes a Restricted Investment and the Person in which such Investment was made subsequently becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, to the extent such Investment resulted in a reduction in the amounts calculated under clause (3) of Section 4.07(a) or under any other provision of this Section 4.07, (which was not subsequently reversed), then such amount shall be increased by the amount of such reduction.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.07, in the event that a Restricted Payment (or portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories described in the clauses above, or is permitted pursuant to Section 4.07(a), the Issuer shall be entitled to divide or classify (or later divide, classify or reclassify in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such Restricted Payment (or portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 4.07.

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

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

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not transfer any Intellectual Property that is material to the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Unrestricted Subsidiary by way of sale, Investment, designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, disposition or otherwise.

SECTION 4.08 Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.

The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

(a) pay dividends or make any other distribution to the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b) make loans or advances to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(c) transfer any of the Issuer’s properties or assets to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(i) Existing Indebtedness and existing agreements as in effect on the Issue Date;

(ii) applicable law or regulation;

(iii) any instrument governing Acquired Debt and any other agreement or instrument of an acquired Person or any of its Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness or other agreement or instrument was incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

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(iv) by reason of customary non-assignment provisions in leases entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(v) Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Refinancing Indebtedness are no more restrictive than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced;

(vi) this Indenture, the Notes and the Collateral Documents or the Issuer’s other Indebtedness ranking pari passu with the Notes; provided that except as set forth in clause (vii) below such restrictions are no more restrictive taken as a whole than those imposed by this Indenture, the Notes and the Collateral Documents;

(vii) any Indebtedness; provided that the restrictions therein (i) are not materially more restrictive than the agreements governing such Indebtedness as in effect on the Issue Date or (ii) will not affect the Issuer’s ability to make principal or interest payments on the Notes (as determined by the Issuer in good faith);

(viii) customary non-assignment provisions in contracts, leases, sub-leases and licenses entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(ix) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary or any of its assets in compliance with the terms of this Indenture that restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending such sale or other disposition;

(x) provisions limiting the disposition or distribution of assets or property (including cash) in joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, sale-leaseback agreements, stock sale agreements and other similar agreements (including agreements entered into in connection with a Restricted Investment), and customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to the Equity Interests or Indebtedness of such joint venture, which limitation is applicable only to the assets that are the subject of such agreements;

(xi) Liens not prohibited under Section 4.12;

(xii) any agreement for the sale of any Subsidiary or its assets that restricts distributions by that Subsidiary (or sale of such Subsidiary’s Equity Interests) pending its sale; provided that during the entire period in which such encumbrance or restriction is effective, such sale (together with any other sales pending) would be permitted under the terms of this Indenture;

(xiii) secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred by this Indenture that limits the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

(xiv) Purchase Money Indebtedness that imposes restrictions of the type described in clause (c) above on the property so acquired;

(xv) any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (i) through (xiv) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the Issuer’s good faith judgment, not materially more restrictive as a whole with respect to such encumbrances and restrictions than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing;

 

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(xvi) Indebtedness or other agreements, including, without limitation, agreements described in clause (x) of this paragraph, of any non-Guarantor Subsidiary which imposes restrictions solely on such non-Guarantor Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries; or

(xvii) any restriction on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers, licensors or lessors or required by insurance, surety or bonding companies, in each case under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business.

SECTION 4.09 Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness.

(a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to (collectively, “incur”) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any Preferred Equity Interests; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer and any Restricted Subsidiary may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) and any Guarantor may issue Preferred Equity Interests, if, after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness or the issuance of such Preferred Equity Interests and the application of the net proceeds thereof on a pro forma basis, the Issuer’s Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would have been at least 2.0 to 1.0; provided that Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that are not Guarantors may not incur Indebtedness or issue any Preferred Equity Interests pursuant to this paragraph if, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or issuance (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), the aggregate amount of outstanding Indebtedness or Preferred Equity Interests of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that are not Guarantors at any one time outstanding incurred pursuant to the foregoing proviso and pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(4)(a) below, together with the amount of any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(10) below, exceeds the greater of (x) $20.0 million or (y) 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis).

(b) The foregoing limitation shall not apply to any of the following incurrences of Indebtedness:

(1) Indebtedness represented by the Notes and the Guarantees issued on the Issue Date, any PIK Interest Additional Notes issued from time to time to pay PIK Interest in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and any increase in the principal amount of the Notes from time to time to pay PIK Interest in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, and any Guarantees with respect to the foregoing;

(2) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor under any Credit Facility, including letters of credit or banker’s acceptances issued or created thereunder, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the sum of (a) the greater of (i) $75 million and (ii) 100.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis) and (b) an amount of First Lien Indebtedness that would not cause the Consolidated First Lien Indebtedness Leverage Ratio (calculated after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the application of proceeds therefrom, the granting of such Liens and any other related transactions) to be greater than 5.00 to 1.00 as of the last day of the most recent quarter for which internal financial statements are available on the date such Indebtedness is incurred, plus the amount of any accrued interest and any premiums payable and reasonable fees, expenses, commissions and costs in connection with the exchange, extension, refinancing, renewal, replacement, substitution or refunding of any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (2);

(3) (x) unsecured Indebtedness among the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (y) Preferred Equity Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary held by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if such Preferred Equity Interests are issued by a Guarantor, such Preferred Equity Interests are held by the Issuer or a Guarantor;

(4) (a) Indebtedness of the Issuer and any Restricted Subsidiary incurred to finance an Asset Acquisition or (b) Acquired Debt of a Person incurred prior to the date upon which such Person was acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (and not created in contemplation of such acquisition); provided that) after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness or Acquired Debt on a pro forma basis, the Issuer’s Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio either (A) would have been at least 2.0 to 1.0 or (B) would have been greater than immediately prior to such acquisition provided, further, that all

 

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Indebtedness incurred, issued or assumed pursuant to subclause (4)(a) and pursuant to the proviso in Section 4.09(a), together with the amount of any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred pursuant to clause (10) below, by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors or the Issuer shall not exceed an amount equal to the greater of (x) $20.0 million or (y) 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

(5) Existing Indebtedness (including the 2028 Senior Notes outstanding on the Issue Date and other than Indebtedness incurred under clause (1) or (2) above);

(6) Indebtedness consisting of Purchase Money Indebtedness in an aggregate amount (when aggregated with the amount of Refinancing Indebtedness outstanding under clause (10) below in respect of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (6)) not to exceed an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding equal to the greater of (x) $25.0 million or (y) 30.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

(7) Hedging Obligations of the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries covering Indebtedness of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Hedging Obligations are entered into for bona fide hedging activities, including the issuance of convertible debt, and not for speculative purposes;

(8) Foreign Currency Obligations of the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries entered into to manage exposure of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries to fluctuations in currency values and not for speculative purposes;

(9) the incurrence by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, workers’ compensation claims, self-insurance obligations, bankers’ acceptances, guarantees, performance, surety, statutory, appeal, completion, export or import, indemnities, customs, revenue bonds or similar instruments in the ordinary course of business, including guarantees or obligations with respect thereto (in each case other than for an obligation for money borrowed);

(10) the incurrence by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness issued in exchange for, or the proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, substitute or refund in whole or in part, Indebtedness referred to in clause (a) of this Section 4.09 or in clause (1), (4), (5) or (6) or this clause (10) or in clause (11), (14), (15) or (20) below (“Refinancing Indebtedness”); provided, however, that:

(A) the principal amount of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not exceed the principal amount and accrued interest of the Indebtedness so exchanged, extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, substituted or refunded and any premiums payable and reasonable fees, expenses, commissions and costs in connection therewith;

(B) the Refinancing Indebtedness shall have a final maturity equal to or later than, and a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than, the earlier of (i) 91 days after the final maturity date of the Notes and (ii) the final maturity and Weighted Average Life to Maturity, respectively, of the Indebtedness being exchanged, extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, substituted or refunded;

(C) the Refinancing Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and the Guarantees, if at all, on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being exchanged, extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, substituted or refunded; and

(D) if the Indebtedness to be exchanged, refinanced, renewed, replaced, substituted or refunded was the obligation of the Issuer or Guarantor, such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be incurred by any of the Restricted Subsidiaries other than a Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary that was an obligor under the Indebtedness so refinanced;

 

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(11) additional Indebtedness of the Issuer and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding an amount, taken together with the amount of any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof outstanding pursuant to clause (10) above, equal to the greater of (x) $25.0 million or (y) 33.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

(12) the guarantee by the Issuer or any Guarantor of Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 4.09 and the guarantee by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor of any Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor;

(13) the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock;

(14) the incurrence by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries of guarantees in respect of obligations of joint ventures and, in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a joint venture, the incurrence of Indebtedness; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (14), taken together with the amount of any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof outstanding pursuant to clause (10), shall not exceed at any one time outstanding an amount equal to the greater of (x) $20.0 million and (y) 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

(15) Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed, taken together with the amount of any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof outstanding pursuant to clause (10) above, the greater of (x) $20.0 million and (y) 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

(16) the incurrence by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn against insufficient funds;

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

(18) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums in an amount not to exceed the annual premiums in respect thereof or (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(19) Indebtedness arising in connection with endorsement of instruments for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(20) unsecured Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate outstanding principal amount which, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause and then outstanding, will not exceed 100% of the net cash proceeds received by the Issuer from the issuance or sale (other than to a Subsidiary, a Minority Investment, a Professional Services Affiliate or a Strategic Investor) of its Equity Interests or otherwise contributed to the equity (in each case, other than through the issuance of Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) of the Issuer, in each case, subsequent to the Issue Date (together with the amount of any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof outstanding pursuant to clause (10) above; provided, however, that (i) any such net cash proceeds that are so received or contributed shall not increase the amount available for making Restricted Payments to the extent the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries incur Indebtedness in reliance thereon and (ii) any net cash proceeds that are so received or contributed shall be excluded for purposes of incurring Indebtedness pursuant to this clause to the extent such net cash proceeds or cash have been applied to make Restricted Payments;

(21) Indebtedness the proceeds of which are applied to defease or discharge the Notes pursuant to Article 8;

(22) Preferred Equity Interests of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any Restricted Subsidiary that holds such Preferred Equity Interests of another Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Preferred Equity Interests (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of Preferred Equity Interests not permitted by this clause (22);

(23) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of (a) workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits, property, casualty or liability insurance, self-insurance obligations, customer guarantees, performance, indemnity, surety, judgment, bid, appeal, advance payment (including progress premiums), customs, value added or other tax or other guarantees or other similar bonds, instruments or obligations, completion guarantees and warranties or relating to liabilities, obligations or guarantees incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; (b) customer deposits and advance payments (including progress premiums) received from customers for goods or services purchased in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; (c) letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, discounted bills of exchange, discounting or factoring of receivables or payables for credit management purposes, warehouse receipts, guarantees or other similar instruments or obligations issued or entered into, or relating to liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(24) Indebtedness in respect of unsecured promissory notes issued to a Strategic Investor in connection with repurchases, redemptions or other acquisition of Preferred Equity Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary owned by a Strategic Investor;

(25) non-voting Preferred Equity Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to a Strategic Investor in the ordinary course of business for bona fide business purposes; provided that after giving pro forma effect to the issuance of such Preferred Equity Interests the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available, is not less than 2.00 to 1.00; and

(26) (a) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Professional Services Affiliate incurred in the ordinary course of business pursuant to or in connection with Management Services Agreement, (b) Guarantees by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or any other obligation or liability of a Professional Services Affiliate incurred in the ordinary course of business pursuant to or in connection with Management Services Agreement, (c) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary arising by reason of any Lien granted by or applicable to such Person or its assets securing Indebtedness of a Professional Services Affiliate incurred in the ordinary course of business pursuant to or in connection with Management Services Agreement, and (d) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of letters of credit, banker’s acceptances or other similar instruments or obligations issued for the benefit of, or relating to liabilities or obligations incurred on behalf of, a Professional Services Affiliate, incurred in the ordinary course of business pursuant to or in connection with Management Services Agreement.

 

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(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, (1) the outstanding principal amount of any item of Indebtedness shall be counted only once, and any obligation arising under any guarantee, Lien, letter of credit or similar instrument supporting such Indebtedness incurred in compliance with this Section 4.09 shall be disregarded, and (2) if an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories described in clauses (b)(1) through (26) above or is permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) and also meets the criteria of one or more of the categories described in clauses (1) through (26) of Section 4.09(b), the Issuer shall, in its sole discretion, classify such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09 and may from time to time reclassify such item of Indebtedness in any manner in which such item could be incurred at the time of such reclassification; provided that Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement on the Issue Date (and any Indebtedness secured by a Lien that refinances such Indebtedness) shall be deemed to be outstanding under clause (b)(2) above and may not be reclassified.

(d) Accrual of interest or dividends on Preferred Equity Interests, the accretion of original issue discount and the payment of interest or dividends on Preferred Equity Interests in the form of additional Indebtedness or Preferred Equity Interests of the same class shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09. Any increase in the amount of Indebtedness solely by reason of currency fluctuations shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09. A change in GAAP that results in an obligation existing at the time of such change, not previously classified as Indebtedness, becoming Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09.

(e) The amount of indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be (1) the accreted value thereof, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount, (2) the principal amount thereof, in the case of any other Indebtedness, (3) in the case of the guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person, the maximum liability to which the specified Person may be subject upon the occurrence of the contingency giving rise to the obligation and (4) in the case of Indebtedness of others guaranteed by means of a Lien on any asset of the specified Person, the lesser of (A) the Fair Market Value of such asset on the date on which Indebtedness is required to be determined pursuant to this Indenture and (B) the amount of the Indebtedness so secured.

(f) 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 by the Issuer based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term Indebtedness, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit Indebtedness; 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-dominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-dominated 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. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.09, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Issuer may incur pursuant to this Section 4.9 shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies. The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, (1) if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated by the Issuer based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such Refinancing Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing and (2) shall be deemed to be outstanding only when the proceeds thereof are not applied to effect such refinancing (and to pay any fees, expenses, commissions and costs in connection therewith) substantially concurrently.

(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.09, in the case of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness initially incurred in reliance on one or more of clauses (1) through (26) of Section 4.07(b) measured by reference to a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA at the time of incurrence, if such refinancing would cause the percentage of Consolidated EBITDA restriction to be exceeded if calculated based on the percentage of Consolidated EBITDA on the date of such refinancing, such percentage of Consolidated EBITDA restriction shall not be deemed to be exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced, plus accrued and unpaid interest, dividends, premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs, underwriting discounts, fees, costs and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) in connection with such refinancing.

 

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(h) For the avoidance of doubt, unsecured Indebtedness shall not be treated as subordinated or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured.

(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors shall not be permitted to incur any Indebtedness for borrowed money (which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any related Liens thereto) pursuant to this Section 4.09.

SECTION 4.10 Limitation on Asset Sales.

(a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, consummate any Asset Sale unless:

(1) the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of contractually agreeing to such Asset Sale) of the assets included in such Asset Sale); and

(2) other than with respect to Permitted Asset Swaps, at least 75% of the total consideration in such Asset Sale consists of cash or Cash Equivalents or Marketable Securities.

For purposes of clause (2), the following shall be deemed to be cash:

(a) the amount (without duplication) of any Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Indebtedness) of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary that is expressly assumed by the transferee in such Asset Sale and with respect to which the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is unconditionally released by the holder of such Indebtedness,

(b) the amount of any obligations or securities received from such transferee that are within 180 days converted by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary to cash (to the extent of the cash actually so received),

(c) Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Asset Sale, to the extent that the Issuer and each other Restricted Subsidiary are released from any Guarantee of payment of such Indebtedness in connection with such Asset Sale; and

(d) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (c), not to exceed the greater of $7.5 million and 10.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis), 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.

(b) If the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary engages in an Asset Sale, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary shall apply all or any of the Net Proceeds therefrom to:

(1) at the Issuer’s election, either (x) repay First Lien Obligations (and in the case of any such repayment under any revolving credit facility, effect a permanent reduction in the availability under such revolving credit facility) or (y) repay, redeem or purchase the Notes; provided that if the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary repays First Lien Obligations (other than the Notes) pursuant to clause (b)(i)(x) of this Section 4.10, the Issuer shall apply a pro rata amount to (i) equally and ratably reduce the Notes Obligations in accordance with the procedures set forth under Section 3.07 and/or (ii) make an Excess Proceeds Offer; or

(2) (A) invest all or any part of the Net Proceeds thereof in capital expenditures or the purchase of assets to be used by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in a Permitted Business, (B) acquire Equity Interests in a Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary or in a Person engaged primarily in a Permitted Business that shall become a Restricted Subsidiary immediately upon the consummation of such acquisition or (C) a combination of (A) and (B).

 

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(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 4.10, (i) to the extent that any of or all the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale received or deemed to be received by a Foreign Subsidiary (a “Foreign Disposition”) is (x) prohibited or delayed by applicable local law or (y) restricted by applicable organizational documents, an amount equal to the portion of such Net Proceeds so affected will not be required to be applied in compliance with this Section 4.10 so long, but only so long, as the applicable local law or organizational documents will not permit repatriation to the United States (the Issuer hereby agreeing to use reasonable efforts (as determined in the Issuer’s reasonable business judgment) to otherwise cause the applicable Foreign Subsidiary to within one year following the date on which the respective payment would otherwise have been required, promptly take all actions reasonably required by the applicable local law or applicable organizational impediments to permit such repatriation), and if within one year following the date on which the respective payment would otherwise have been required, such repatriation of any of such affected Net Proceeds is permitted under the applicable local law or applicable organizational impediment, an amount equal to such Net Proceeds will be promptly (and in any event not later than five Business Days after such repatriation could be made) applied (net of additional Taxes payable or reserved against as a result thereof) (whether or not repatriation actually occurs) in compliance with this Section 4.10 and (ii) to the extent that the Issuer has determined in good faith that repatriation of any of or all the Net Proceeds of any Foreign Disposition would have an material adverse Tax consequence (which for the avoidance of doubt, includes, but is not limited to, any prepayment out of such Net Proceeds whereby doing so the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective affiliates and/or equity owners would incur a Tax liability, including a Tax dividend, deemed dividend pursuant to Code Section 956 or a withholding Tax), an amount equal to the Net Proceeds so affected will not be required to be applied in compliance with this Section 4.10. The non-application of any prepayment amounts as a consequence of the foregoing provisions will not, for the avoidance of doubt, constitute a Default or an Event of Default.

(d) Any Net Proceeds from any Asset Sale that are not applied or invested (or committed pursuant to a written agreement to be applied) as provided in the preceding paragraph within 365 days after the receipt thereof and, in the case of any amount committed to a reinvestment, which are not actually so applied within 180 days following such 365 day period shall constitute “Excess Proceeds” and shall be applied pursuant to Section 4.10(d) hereof. Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary may temporarily reduce revolving indebtedness under a Credit Facility, if any, or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture.

(e) When the cumulative amount of Excess Proceeds that have not been applied in accordance with this Section 4.10 exceeds $20.0 million, the Issuer shall make an offer to all Holders of the Notes (an “Excess Proceeds Offer”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased out of such Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 102.25% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest to the date fixed for the closing of such offer in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.08 hereof. Upon completion of an Excess Proceeds Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

SECTION 4.11 Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates.

The Issuer shall not and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of the Issuer’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into any contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate (including any Unrestricted Subsidiary and Minority Investment) in any one or a series of transactions involving aggregate payments in excess of $5.0 million (or in the case of a Minority Investment, in excess of $2.5 million) (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”), unless:

(a) the terms of such Affiliate Transaction taken as a whole are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that could be obtained in a comparable transaction at the time of such transaction or the execution of the agreement providing for such transaction in arm’s length dealings with a Person who is not such an Affiliate; and

 

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(b) in the event such Affiliate Transaction involves an aggregate value in excess of the greater of $7.5 million and 10% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended measurement period calculated on a pro forma basis), the terms of such transaction have been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Issuer;

Any Affiliate Transaction shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements set forth in clause (b) above if such Affiliate Transaction is approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Issuer, if any.

provided, however, that the following shall, in each case, not be deemed Affiliate Transactions:

(i) the entry into employment agreements and the adoption of compensation or benefit plans for the benefit of, or the payment of compensation to, directors and management of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, salaries, fees, bonuses, equity and incentive arrangements and payments);

(ii) indemnification or similar arrangements for officers, directors, employees or agents of the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to charter, bylaw, statutory or contractual provisions;

(iii) transactions between or among the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(iv) Restricted Payments not prohibited by Section 4.07 and Permitted Investments;

(v) any transactions between the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries and any Affiliate of the Issuer the Equity Interests of which Affiliate are owned solely by the Issuer or one of the Restricted Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and by Persons who are not Affiliates of the Issuer or Restricted Subsidiaries, on the other hand;

(vi) the payment of compensation, fees, costs and expenses to, and indemnities (including under insurance policies) and reimbursements, employment and severance arrangements, and employee benefit and pension expenses provided on behalf of, or for the benefit of, future, current or former employees, directors, officers, managers, contractors, consultants, distributors or advisors of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (whether directly or indirectly);

(vii) any agreements or arrangements in effect on the Issue Date and any modifications, extensions or renewals thereof that are not disadvantageous to the holders of Notes in the Issuer’s reasonable determination in any material respect;

(viii) so long as they comply with clause (a) above, transactions with customers, clients, lessors, landlords, suppliers, contractors or purchasers or sellers of goods or services that are Affiliates, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture;

(ix) [reserved];

(x) transactions with Persons who are Affiliates of the Issuer solely as a result of the Issuer’s or a Restricted Subsidiary’s Investment in such Person;

(xi) sales of Equity Interests to Affiliates of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture and the granting of registration and other customary rights in connection therewith;

(xii) transactions with an Affiliate where the only consideration paid is Equity Interests of the Issuer other than Disqualified Stock;

 

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(xiii) transactions in which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, deliver to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of this covenant;

(xiv) transactions with joint ventures or Unrestricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(xv) transactions between the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person, a director of which is also a director of the Issuer; provided, however, that such director abstains from voting as a director on any matter involving such other Person;

(xvi) any transition services arrangement, supply arrangement or similar arrangement entered into in connection with or in contemplation of the disposition of assets or Capital Stock in any Restricted Subsidiary permitted under Section 4.10 or entered into with any Business Successor, in each case, that the Issuer determines in good faith is either fair to the Issuer or otherwise on customary terms for such type of arrangements in connection with similar transactions;

(xvii) transactions entered into by an Unrestricted Subsidiary with an Affiliate prior to the day such Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary (and not entered into in contemplation of such redesignation) as described in the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiaries” and pledges of Capital Stock of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(xviii) (i) any lease entered into between the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, as lessee, and any Affiliate of the Issuer, as lessor and (ii) any operational services arrangement entered into between the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Affiliate of the Issuer, in each case, which is approved as being no worse than a transaction on an arm’s length basis by the reasonable determination of the Issuer; and

(xix) intellectual property licenses and research and development agreements in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice.

SECTION 4.12 Limitation on Liens.

(a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur or assume any Lien (each, an “Initial Lien”) on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired, or on any income or profits therefrom or assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom, other than (i) Permitted Liens and (ii) with respect to Liens on assets not constituting Collateral, any such Lien securing Indebtedness if the Notes are secured equally and ratably thereby (or, if such Indebtedness secured by Liens on assets not constituting Collateral is subordinated to the Notes, the Notes are secured on a priority basis with respect to such Indebtedness).

(b) Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 4.12(a) shall provide by its terms that such Lien shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of the Initial Lien.

(c) With respect to any Lien securing Indebtedness that was permitted to secure such Indebtedness at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, such Lien shall also be permitted to secure any Increased Amount of such Indebtedness. The “Increased Amount” of any Indebtedness shall mean any increase in the amount of such Indebtedness in connection with any accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, accretion of original issue discount or liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies or increases in the value of property securing Indebtedness.

 

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SECTION 4.13 Limitation on Use of Proceeds of Stonepeak Direct Investment.

The Issuer shall not and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to use the proceeds from the Stonepeak Direct Investment other than (i) as Reverse Dutch Election Available Proceeds, (ii) to fund ordinary course working capital, (iii) to engage in additional buybacks of debt of the Issuer or (iv) for acquisitions where the Consolidated Leverage Ratio immediately after giving effect thereto is lower than the Consolidated Leverage Ratio immediately prior to giving effect thereto.

SECTION 4.14 Director Designation Right.

(a) At any time after November 1, 2025, for so long as the Notes remain outstanding, the holders of the beneficial interests in more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including, without limitation, Additional Notes) shall have the right to designate one Person to become an additional member of the Board of Directors (the “Noteholder Appointed Director”) by providing reasonable evidence of their holdings and notifying the Issuer of such designation; provided that the Noteholder Appointed Director must, in the reasonable judgment of the Board of Directors, be Independent; provided further that the Noteholder Appointed Director shall be automatically re-appointed upon the expiration of such director’s term if the Notes remain outstanding at such time; provided further that at such time as there are no outstanding Notes (the “Noteholder Designation Right Termination Event”), such Noteholder Appointed Director shall automatically be removed from the Board of Directors.

(b) Prior to a Noteholder Designation Right Termination Event, the Noteholder Appointed Director may be removed or replaced (i) by the holders of more than 50% of the then outstanding Notes at any time for any reason or (ii) in the manner allowed by law and the certification of incorporation of the Issuer and the bylaws of the Issuer; and any vacancy occurring by reason of the death, disability, resignation, removal or other cessation of a person serving as a Noteholder Appointed Director shall be filled by a vote of the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and subject delivery of written notice to the Board of Directors.

(c) Within five (5) Business Days of the designation of the Noteholder Appointed Director, the Issuer shall take such action as may be required under applicable law to cause the election of the Noteholder Appointed Director designated pursuant to this Section 4.14 to the Board of Directors, including nominating such individual to be elected as the Noteholder Appointed Director as provided herein, increasing the size of the Board of Directors and appointing the Noteholder Appointed Director to the Board of Directors and facilitating the removal of the Noteholder Appointed Director who is to be removed in accordance with the terms hereof.

SECTION 4.15 Additional Subsidiary Guarantees.

Upon the formation or acquisition of any new Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Professional Services Affiliates) by the Issuer or any Guarantor that is not an Excluded Subsidiary, then in each case such Restricted Subsidiary shall (i) execute and deliver to the Trustee and Collateral Agent a supplemental indenture in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture on the terms set forth in this Indenture, (ii) execute and deliver to the Trustee and Collateral Agent joinders or supplements, as applicable, to the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (and, if applicable, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement), together with any other filings and agreements (subject to customary extension periods) required by the Collateral Documents to create or perfect the security interests of the Collateral Agent for its benefit and for the benefit of the Trustee and the holders of the Notes in the Collateral of such Restricted Subsidiary and (iii) deliver to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel certifying that such supplemental indenture and joinders or supplements to the Collateral Documents and First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (and, if applicable, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement) have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Restricted Subsidiary and constitute legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary. Thereafter, such Restricted Subsidiary shall be a Guarantor for all purposes of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (and, if applicable, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement).

 

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SECTION 4.16 Organizational Existence.

Subject to Article 5 hereof and the proviso to this Section 4.16, the Issuer shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (i) its existence as a corporation and, subject to Section 4.10 hereof, the corporate, limited liability company, partnership or other existence of any Significant Subsidiary, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary and (ii) subject to Section 4.10 hereof, the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Issuer and its Significant Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any Significant Subsidiary if the Board of Directors of the Issuer shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

SECTION 4.17 Change of Control.

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Issuer shall make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder of Notes to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of such Holder’s Notes at a purchase price equal to 103.25% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of repurchase (subject to the rights of Holders of record of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive payments of interest on the related interest payment date) (in either case, the “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Issuer shall send or otherwise deliver a notice to each Holder electronically in accordance with the procedures of the depository or by first-class mail with a copy to the Trustee stating:

(1) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.17;

(2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no earlier than 30 days and not later than 60 days after the date such notice is sent (the “Change of Control Payment Date”);

(3) that any Notes not tendered shall continue to accrue interest in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

(4) that, unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest on the Change of Control Payment Date;

(5) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the paying agent receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a notice sent electronically in accordance with the procedures of the depository or by first-class mail setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is unconditionally withdrawing its election to have such Notes purchased;

(6) that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion must be equal to $2,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof; and

(7) any other information material to such Holder’s decision to tender Notes.

The Issuer shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes required in the event of a Change of Control. The Issuer shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon 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 this Indenture applicable to Change of Control Offer made by the Issuer. The Issuer’s obligations in respect of a Change of Control Offer can be modified with the consent of Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding at any time prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control. 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 making of the Change of Control Offer.

 

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SECTION 4.18 Suspension of Covenants.

(a) During any period of time after the Issue Date that (i) the Notes are rated Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies and (ii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being collectively referred to as a “Covenant Suspension Event”), the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be subject to the following Sections of this Indenture (the “Suspended Covenants”):

(1) Section 4.07;

(2) Section 4.09;

(3) Section 4.10;

(4) clause (d) of the first paragraph of Section 5.01;

(5) Section 4.11;

(6) Section 4.08; and

(7) Section 4.15.

(b) At such time as Sections 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11 and clause (d) of the first paragraph of Section 5.01 are suspended (a “Suspension Period”), the Issuer shall no longer be permitted to designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

(c) In the event that the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants for any period of time as a result of the foregoing, and on any subsequent date (the “Reversion Date”) one or both of the Rating Agencies withdraw their Investment Grade rating or downgrade the rating assigned to the Notes below Investment Grade, then the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants with respect to future events.

(d) On each Reversion Date, all Indebtedness incurred during the Suspension Period prior to such Reversion Date shall be deemed to be Existing Indebtedness. For purposes of calculating the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under clause (3) of Section 4.07(a), calculations under such section shall be made as though such section had been in effect during the entire period of time after the Issue Date (including the Suspension Period). Restricted Payments made during the Suspension Period not otherwise permitted pursuant to any of clauses (2) through (12) under Section 4.07(b) shall reduce the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under clause (3) of such Section 4.07(a); provided that the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments on the Reversion Date shall not be reduced to below zero solely as a result of such Restricted Payments. For purposes of Section 4.10(d), on the Reversion Date, the unutilized amount of Net Proceeds shall be reset to zero. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither (a) the continued existence, after the Reversion Date, of facts and circumstances or obligations that were incurred or otherwise came into existence during a Suspension Period nor (b) the performance of any such obligations, shall constitute a breach of any covenant set forth herein or cause a Default or Event of Default thereunder; provided that (1) the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries did not incur or otherwise cause such facts and circumstances or obligations to exist in anticipation of a withdrawal or downgrade by the applicable Rating Agency below an Investment Grade rating and (2) the Issuer reasonably believed that such incurrence or actions would not result in such withdrawal or downgrade. On each Reversion Date, the Issuer shall be required to comply with the provisions under Section 4.15 as if such provisions were in effect at all times during the Suspension Period.

 

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The Issuer shall provide an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee indicating the occurrence of any Covenant Suspension Event, Suspension Period or Reversion Date. The Trustee shall have no obligation to monitor the ratings of the Notes, independently determine or verify if such events have occurred or notify the holders of Notes of any Covenant Suspension Event, Suspension Period or Reversion Date. The Trustee may provide a copy of such Officers’ Certificate to any Holder of Notes upon request.

SECTION 4.19 After-acquired Collateral.

From and after the Issue Date, if the Issuer or any Guarantor creates any additional security interest upon any Property that would constitute Collateral to secure any First Lien Obligations, the Issuer and each of the Guarantors shall grant a first-priority perfected security interest (subject to Permitted Liens) upon any such Collateral, as security for the Notes Obligations, subject to the limitations and exceptions set forth in the Collateral Documents.

SECTION 4.20 Further Assurances.

As set forth in the Collateral Documents and this Indenture, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall, at their expense, duly execute and deliver, or cause to be duly executed and delivered, such further agreements, documents, instruments, financing and continuation statements (or equivalent statements) and amendments thereto and do or cause to be done such further acts as may be necessary or proper or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to evidence, perfect, maintain and enforce the security interests and the priority thereof in the Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties, and to otherwise effectuate the provisions or purposes of this Indenture and the Collateral Documents.

SECTION 4.21 Additional Amounts.

All payments in respect of the Notes or any Guarantee by or on behalf of the Issuer, any Guarantor, or any successor thereto (each, a “Payor”) shall be made free and clear of, and without withholding or deduction for, or on account of, any present or future taxes, levies, duties, imposts, assessments or other governmental charges, including any interest, additions to tax and penalties related thereto (collectively, “Taxes”), unless such withholding or deduction is required by applicable law. If any Payor, or any other applicable withholding agent, is required to withhold or deduct any amount in respect of any payment made in respect of the Notes or any Guarantee with respect to any Tax imposed by or on behalf of any jurisdiction in which any Payor is, at any time, organized, resident or doing business for tax purposes, or any jurisdiction from or through which any Payor or any paying agent (on behalf of any Payor) makes any payments on the Notes or any Guarantee, or, in each case, any governmental authority or political subdivision thereof or therein having the power to tax (each, a “Relevant Tax Jurisdiction”), the Payor will, subject to the exceptions and limitations set forth below, pay such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as are necessary so that the net payment received by a beneficial owner of the Notes (including any Additional Amounts), after withholding or deduction for any Taxes of any Relevant Tax Jurisdiction (including in respect of any Additional Amounts) will equal the amount such beneficial owner would have received in respect of such payment had no such withholding or deduction been required. A Payor’s obligation to pay Additional Amounts shall not apply:

(a) to any Taxes that are imposed by reason of the holder (or the beneficial owner for whose benefit such holder holds such Note), or a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder of the holder if the holder is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation, or a person holding a power over an estate or trust administered by a fiduciary holder, being considered as:

 

  i.

being or having been engaged in a trade or business in the Relevant Tax Jurisdiction or having or having had a permanent establishment in the Relevant Tax Jurisdiction; or

 

  ii.

having any other current or former connection with the Relevant Tax Jurisdiction (other than a connection arising solely as a result of the acquisition, ownership or disposition of the Notes or a beneficial interest therein, the receipt of any payment in respect of a Note or any Guarantee or the enforcement of any rights hereunder or thereunder), including being or having been a citizen or resident of the Relevant Tax Jurisdiction;

 

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(b) to any Taxes that are imposed or withheld because the holder or beneficial owner failed to accurately comply with a request from a Payor to meet certification, identification or information or other reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence or identity of the holder or beneficial owner of the Notes or otherwise establish any available exemption from or reduction in the rate of deduction or withholding of, such Taxes (if such holder or beneficial owner is legally eligible to satisfy such requirements, exemptions or reductions), in each case, if compliance with such action is required as a precondition to exemption from, or reduction in, such Tax by a Relevant Tax Jurisdiction;

(c) to any Taxes that are imposed other than by withholding or deduction by a Payor or other applicable withholding agent in respect of a payment with respect to the Notes or any Guarantee;

(d) to any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, wealth or similar Taxes;

(e) to any Taxes that are imposed as a result of the presentation of a Note for payment (where presentation is required) more than 30 days after the relevant amount is first made available for payment to the holder (except to the extent that the holder would have been entitled to Additional Amounts had the Note been presented on the last day of such 30-day period);

(f) [reserved];

(g) to any Tax imposed pursuant to current Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to current Section 1471(b) of the Code (or any amended or successor version described above), or any intergovernmental agreements, treaties, conventions or similar agreements (and any related laws, regulations or administrative guidance) implementing the foregoing;

(h) to any Taxes that are imposed on or with respect to any payment by or on behalf of the Issuer or any Guarantor to the holder if such holder is a fiduciary, partnership, limited liability company or person other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment to the extent that, had the sole beneficial owner of such Note been the holder and had such Taxes been imposed on the sole beneficial owner, no Additional Amounts in respect of such Taxes would have been payable as a result of clauses (a)-(g) or (i) of this Section 4.21; or

(i) to any combination of the above items (the foregoing Taxes described in clauses (a)-(i), “Excluded Taxes”).

At least 30 calendar days prior to each date on which any payment under or with respect to the Notes or any Guarantee is due and payable, if a Payor will be obligated to pay Additional Amounts with respect to such payment (unless such obligation to pay Additional Amounts arises after the 35th day prior to the date on which such payment is due and payable, in which case it will be promptly thereafter), the Payor will deliver to the Trustee a certificate of an officer of the Issuer stating that such Additional Amounts will be payable and the amounts so payable and will set forth such other information necessary to enable the Trustee (or the applicable paying agent) to pay such Additional Amounts to holders on the payment date.

The applicable Payor, if it is the applicable withholding agent, will make any required withholding or deduction and remit the full amount deducted or withheld to the Relevant Tax Jurisdiction in accordance with applicable law. The Issuer will provide the Trustees (and, upon request, any holders or beneficial owners of the Notes) with official receipts or other documentation evidencing the payment of the Taxes with respect to which Additional Amounts are paid.

 

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The Issuer and the Guarantors will pay and indemnify each holder of Notes for any present or future stamp, court, issue, registration or documentary Taxes or any other excise, property or similar Taxes that are levied by any Relevant Tax Jurisdiction from the execution, delivery, enforcement or registration of the Notes (other than in respect of a transfer of a Note, to someone other than the Issuer or its Affiliates, that occurs after the sale of such Note to an investor pursuant to the offering of the Notes), the Guarantees, this Indenture or any other document or instrument in relation thereof, or the receipt of any payments with respect to the Notes or any Guarantee (limited, solely in the case of Taxes attributable to the receipt of any payments with respect thereto, to any such Taxes levied by a Relevant Tax Jurisdiction that are not excluded under clauses (a), (b) and (d) through (h) or any combination thereof).

Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned in any context: the payment of principal, redemption prices or purchase prices in connection with a redemption or purchase of Notes, interest, or any other amount payable with respect to any of the Notes or any Guarantee, such reference shall be deemed to include payment of Additional Amounts as described under this Section 4.21 to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof.

The obligations described under this Section 4.21 will survive any termination, defeasance or discharge of this Indenture, and any transfer by a holder or beneficial owner of its Notes and will apply mutatis mutandis to any successor Person, to any Payor and to any jurisdiction in which such successor is organized or is otherwise resident or doing business for tax purposes or any jurisdiction from or through which payment is made by such successor or its respective agents.

SECTION 4.22 Post-Closing Covenant.

The Issuer shall (x) complete the tasks set forth on Schedule 7.18(2) of the Credit Agreement, in each case within the time limits specified on such schedule (in each case, as may be extended by the Credit Agreement Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion) and (y) no later than thirty (30) days after the Issue Date (or such later date as the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, in its reasonable discretion, shall agree to under Schedule 7.18(1) to the Credit Agreement), deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Notes Collateral Agent endorsements to each of the Issuer’s property and liability insurance policies naming the Notes Collateral Agent as loss payee and additional insured in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under a corresponding provision of the Credit Agreement and, in each case, the parties hereto acknowledge that for all purposes of this Indenture and the Collateral Documents, any such actions shall not be required to be satisfied until such times as required under Section 7.18 of the Credit Agreement.

ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

SECTION 5.01 Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets.

The Issuer shall not consolidate, amalgamate, participate in an arrangement with or merge with or into (whether or not the Issuer is the surviving entity), 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, another Person unless:

(a) the Issuer is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement or merger (if other than the Issuer ) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof;

(b) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement or merger (if other than the Issuer) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made assumes all the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes, this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (and, if applicable, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement) pursuant to a supplemental indenture and joinders or supplements, as applicable, to the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (and, if applicable, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement), in each case, in form reasonably acceptable to the Trustee and Collateral Agent;

 

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

(d) the Issuer or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement or merger (if other than the Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made (i) will have a Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio immediately after the transaction (but prior to any purchase accounting adjustments or accrual of deferred tax liabilities resulting from the transaction) not less than the Issuer’s Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio immediately preceding the transaction or (ii) would, at the time of such transaction after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.09(a).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to Sections 10.03 and 10.04, any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate, amalgamate with, participate in an arrangement with or merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary.

Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (c) and (d), this Article 5 shall not apply to a merger or amalgamation of the Issuer with a Restricted Subsidiary solely for the purpose of reorganizing the Issuer in another jurisdiction of the United States or any State thereof or the District of Columbia so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiary is not increased thereby.

SECTION 5.02 Successor Person Substituted.

Upon any consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement or merger, or any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor Person formed by such consolidation, merger, amalgamation or arrangement into or with which the Issuer is consolidated, amalgamated, arranged or merged, to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions hereof referring to the Issuer shall refer instead to the successor Person and not to the Issuer), and may exercise every right and power of, the Issuer under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person has been named as the Issuer herein. When a successor Person assumes all the obligations of the Issuer under the Notes and this Indenture pursuant to this Article 5, the applicable predecessor shall be released from the obligations so assumed.

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 6.01 Events of Default.

Each of the following constitutes an “Event of Default”:

(a) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest or additional interest, if any, on the Notes;

(b) default in payment when due of principal of or premium on the Notes at maturity, upon repurchase, redemption or otherwise;

(c) failure to comply for 30 days after notice with any obligations under the provisions described under Sections 3.08 (other than a failure to purchase Notes duly tendered to the Issuer for repurchase pursuant to a Change of Control Offer or an Excess Proceeds Offer), 4.10, 4.17 and 5.01;

(d) subject to the second paragraph of Section 6.02, default under any other provision of this Indenture, the Notes or the Collateral Documents, which default remains uncured for 60 days after notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount then outstanding of the Notes;

 

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(e) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed (or commitments in respect of Indebtedness for borrowed money, in each case, which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any related Liens thereto) by the Issuer and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Issuer and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries), which default is caused by a failure to pay the principal of such Indebtedness at the final stated maturity thereof within the grace period provided in such Indebtedness (a “Payment Default”), and the principal amount of any such Indebtedness (including the principal amount of commitments in respect of such Indebtedness), together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness (including the principal amount of commitments in respect of such Indebtedness) under which there has been a Payment Default, aggregates $25.0 million or more;

(f) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed (or commitments in respect of Indebtedness for borrowed money, in each case, which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any related Liens thereto) by the Issuer and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries), which default results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness (or termination of related commitments) prior to its express maturity not rescinded or cured within 30 days after such acceleration (or termination of related commitments), and the principal amount of any such Indebtedness (including the principal amount of commitments in respect of such Indebtedness), together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness (including the principal amount of commitments in respect of such Indebtedness) under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated (or commitments terminated) and remains undischarged after such 30 day period, aggregates $25.0 million or more;

(g) failure by the Issuer and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments (other than any judgment as to which a reputable insurance company has accepted full liability) aggregating $25.0 million or more, which judgments are not stayed within 60 days after their entry;

(h) any Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) shall be held in a judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect, or any Guarantor that qualifies as a Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor that qualifies as a Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under its Guarantee;

(i) the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of the Issuer pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law (i) commences a voluntary case or proceeding under Bankruptcy Law; (ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding under Bankruptcy Law; (iii) consents to the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, receiver and manager, monitor or interim receiver of it or for all or substantially all of its property; or (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;

(j) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that: (i) is for relief against the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of the Issuer in an involuntary case or proceeding; (ii) appoints a custodian, trustee, receiver, receiver and manager, monitor or interim receiver of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of the Issuer or for all or substantially all of the property of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of the Issuer; or (iii) orders the liquidation of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days; and

 

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(k) any Collateral Document after delivery thereof shall for any reason cease (or shall be asserted in writing by the Issuer or any Guarantor to cease) to create a valid and perfected first-priority Lien to the extent required by the Collateral Documents (subject to no other Liens other than Permitted Liens) on Collateral that is (i) purported to be covered thereby and (ii) comprises Property which, when taken together with all Property as to which such a Lien has so ceased to be effective, has a fair market value in excess of $25.0 million (other than (x) in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Documents or (y) except to the extent that any such cessation of the Liens results from the failure of the administrative agent under the Credit Facilities or the Applicable Authorized Representative, as the case may be, in each case, as bailee for the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, to maintain possession of certificates actually delivered to it representing securities pledged under the Collateral Documents).

However, a Default under Section 6.01(c) or Section 6.01(g) will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes notify the Issuer of the Default and, with respect to Section 6.01(c) or Section 6.01(g), the Issuer does not cure such Default within the time specified in Section 6.01(c) or Section 6.01(g) after the occurrence of such Default; provided that a notice of Default may not be given with respect to any action taken, and reported publicly or to holders, more than two years prior to such notice of Default.

Any failure to perform, or breach of, any covenant or agreement pursuant to Section 4.03 shall not be a Default or an Event of Default until the 121st day after the Issuer has received the notice referred to in clause (d) of Section 6.01 (at which point, unless cured or waived, such failure to perform or breach shall constitute an Event of Default). A failure to perform, or breach of any covenant or agreement pursuant to Section 4.03, shall automatically cease to be outstanding and shall be deemed to be cured at such time as the Issuer furnishes or files the applicable information or report.

SECTION 6.02 Acceleration.

If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee (at the written direction of the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount then outstanding of the Notes), by notice to the Issuer, or the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount then outstanding of the Notes, by written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee, may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default specified in paragraph (i) or (j) of Section 6.01 hereof with respect to the Issuer, all outstanding Notes shall become and shall be immediately due and payable without further action or notice. Holders of the Notes may not enforce this Indenture or the Notes except as provided in this Indenture.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing in this Article VI, it is understood and agreed that if the Notes are accelerated as a result of an Event of Default (including an acceleration upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Issuer or any Guarantor under Bankruptcy Law or upon the occurrence of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 6.01(i) or (j)), the Notes that become due and payable shall include the applicable optional redemption premium as of such date set forth in Section 3.07(a), which shall become immediately due and payable by the Issuer and the Guarantors and shall constitute part of the Obligations as if the Notes were being optionally redeemed as of such date, in view of the impracticability and extreme difficulty of ascertaining actual damages and by mutual agreement of the parties as to a reasonable calculation of each Holder’s lost profits and actual damages as a result thereof. The optional redemption premiums shall also be automatically and immediately due and payable if the Notes are satisfied or released by foreclosure (whether by power of judicial proceeding or otherwise), deed in lieu of foreclosure or by any other means. The optional redemption premiums payable pursuant to this Indenture shall be presumed to be the liquidated damages sustained by each Holder as the result of the early repayment or prepayment of the Notes (and not unmatured interest or a penalty) and each of the Issuer and the Guarantors agrees that it is reasonable under the circumstances currently existing. EACH OF THE ISSUER AND THE GUARANTORS EXPRESSLY WAIVE (TO THE FULLEST EXTENT THEY MAY LAWFULLY DO SO) THE PROVISIONS OF ANY PRESENT OR FUTURE STATUTE OR LAW THAT PROHIBITS OR MAY PROHIBIT THE COLLECTION OF THE OPTIONAL REDEMPTION PREMIUMS, INCLUDING PAYMENT OF THE PREMIUM AT MATURITY, IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH ACCELERATION. Each of the Issuer and the other Guarantors expressly agree (to the fullest extent they may lawfully do so) that: (A) the optional redemption premiums are individually and collectively reasonable and the

 

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product of an arm’s length transaction between sophisticated business people, ably represented by counsel; (B) the optional redemption premiums shall each be payable notwithstanding the then prevailing market rates at the time payment or redemption is made; (C) there has been a course of conduct between Holders, the Issuer and the Guarantors giving specific consideration in this transaction for such agreement to pay the optional redemption premiums; and (D) the Issuer and the other Guarantors shall be estopped hereafter from claiming differently than as agreed to in this paragraph. Each of the Issuer and the Guarantors expressly acknowledge that its agreement to pay or guarantee the payment of the optional redemption premiums to the Holders as herein described are individually and collectively a material inducement to Holders to make available (or be deemed to make available) the Notes.

SECTION 6.03 Other Remedies.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes and this Indenture and, subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent may pursue any available remedy under the Collateral Documents.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

SECTION 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults.

Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the Trustee, may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under this Indenture, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, or interest on, the Notes. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose hereof; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 6.05 Control by Majority.

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, either the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with the law or this Indenture that the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve the Trustee or the Collateral Agent in personal liability.

SECTION 6.06 Limitation on Suits.

A Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes only if:

(a) the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;

(b) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(c) such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

(d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of indemnity; and

 

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(e) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Note.

SECTION 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes To Receive Payment.

Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of the Holder of the Note.

SECTION 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee.

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer for the whole amount of principal of, premium, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

SECTION 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer (or any other obligor upon the Notes), the Issuer’s creditors or the Issuer’s property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder of a Note to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders of the Notes, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties which the Holders of the Notes may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of a Note any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder of a Note thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of a Note in any such proceeding.

SECTION 6.10 Priorities.

Subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if the Trustee or the Collateral Agent collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:

First: to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, their respective agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and the costs and expenses of collection;

 

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Second: to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, and interest, respectively; and

Third: to the Issuer or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct in writing.

SECTION 6.11 Undertaking for Costs.

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes pursuant to this Article 6.

ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

SECTION 7.01 Duties of Trustee.

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent Person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.

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

(i) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions hereof and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(ii) in the absence of willful misconduct on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements hereof. The Trustee shall be under no duty to make any investigation as to any statement contained in any such instance, but may accept the same as conclusive evidence of the truth and accuracy of such statement or the correctness of such opinions. However, in the case of certificates or opinions specifically required by any provision hereof to be furnished to it, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform on their face to the requirements hereof but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein.

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;

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

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof.

 

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(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to this Section 7.01.

(e) No provision hereof shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holders of Notes, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense.

(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

SECTION 7.02 Rights of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document (whether in original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document;

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both (in each case, in accordance with Section 12.04). The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care;

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Issuer shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Issuer;

(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

(g) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture;

(h) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder;

(i) The Trustee may request that the Issuer deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture; and

(j) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

 

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(k) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate (including any Officers’ Certificate), statement, instrument, opinion (including any Opinion of Counsel), notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.

SECTION 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee.

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee. Any Paying Agent or Registrar may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.

SECTION 7.04 Trustees Disclaimer.

(a) The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy hereof or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuer or upon the Issuer’s direction under any provision hereof, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

(b) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuer, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Issuer.

SECTION 7.05 Notice of Defaults.

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.02(g), the Trustee shall mail or otherwise deliver to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.

SECTION 7.06 Limitation on Duty in Respect of Collateral.

Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody thereof, neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall have any duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or bailee or as to preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto. Neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall be responsible for filing any financing or continuation statements or recording any documents or instruments in any public office at any time or times or otherwise perfecting or maintaining the perfection of any security interest in the Collateral. Each of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care with respect to the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, accords its own property and neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall be liable or responsible for any loss or diminution in the value of any of the Collateral, by reason of the act or omission of any carrier, forwarding agency or other agent or bailee selected by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent in accordance with Section 7.02(c) or Section 11.07(b), as applicable.

The Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall not be responsible (i) for the existence, genuineness or value of any of the Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Liens in any of the Collateral, whether impaired by operation of law or by reason of any action or omission to act on its part hereunder, except to the extent such action or omission constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee and

 

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the Collateral Agent, (ii) for the validity or sufficiency of the Collateral or any agreement or assignment contained therein, (iii) for the validity of the title of the Issuer to the Collateral, or (iv) for insuring the Collateral or for the payment of taxes, charges, assessments or Liens upon the Collateral or otherwise as to the maintenance of the Collateral, in each case, except with respect to stock certificates, stock powers or other possessory collateral delivered to the Collateral Agent to the extent required under the Collateral Documents. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall have no duty to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms of this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if any) or the Collateral Documents by the Issuer, any Guarantor, or the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall have any responsibility for the preparation, filing or recording of any instrument, document or financing statement or for the perfection or maintenance of any security interest created hereunder.

SECTION 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity.

The Issuer shall pay to the Trustee and Collateral Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its acceptance hereof and services hereunder. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall reimburse the Trustee and Collateral Agent promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s and Collateral Agent’s agents and counsel.

The Issuer shall indemnify each of the Trustee and Collateral Agent and their respective agents, employees, officers, stockholders and directors for, and hold them harmless against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture (including any other Note Document) including enforcement of this Section 7.07, except any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense as shall be determined to have been caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in an enforceable judgement. Each of the Trustee and Collateral Agent shall notify the Issuer promptly of any claim of which a Responsible Officer has received written notice for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee and Collateral Agent to so notify the Issuer shall not relieve the Issuer of its obligations hereunder. The Issuer shall defend the claim and the Trustee and Collateral Agent shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee and Collateral Agent may have separate counsel and the Issuer shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required to pay such fees and expenses if the Issuer assumes such defense unless there is a conflict of interest between the Issuer and the Trustee in connection with such defense as determined by Trustee in consultation with counsel. The Issuer need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

The obligations of the Issuer under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge hereof or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.

To secure the Issuer’s payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge hereof.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or (j) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

SECTION 7.08 Replacement of Trustee.

A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08.

The Trustee may resign in writing at any time upon 30 days written notice and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Issuer. The Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Issuer with 30 days prior notice. The Issuer may remove the Trustee if upon 30 days written notice:

 

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(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;

(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent person, within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law, or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

(c) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuer.

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Issuer or the Holders of Notes of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition at the expense of the Issuer any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

If the Trustee after written request by any Holder of a Note who has been a Holder of a Note for at least six months fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof, such Holder of a Note may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders of the Notes. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

If a Trustee resigns or is removed all fees and expenses of the Trustee incurred in the administration of the trust or in the performance of the duties hereunder shall be immediately due and payable to the Trustee.

SECTION 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

SECTION 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification.

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, shall be subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

 

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SECTION 7.11 Collateral Documents; Intercreditor Agreements.

By their acceptance of the Notes, the Holders hereby authorize and direct the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, to execute and deliver the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement in respect of permitted Junior Lien Obligations and any other Collateral Documents in which the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, is named as a party, including any Collateral Documents executed after the Issue Date. It is hereby expressly acknowledged and agreed that, in doing so, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are (a) expressly authorized to make the representations attributed to Holders in any such agreements and (b) not responsible for the terms or contents of such agreements, or for the validity or enforceability thereof, or the sufficiency thereof for any purpose. Whether or not so expressly stated therein, in entering into, or taking (or forbearing from) any action under, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any other Collateral Documents, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent each shall have all of the rights, immunities, indemnities, privileges and other protections granted to it under this Indenture and the Collateral Documents (in addition to those that may be granted to it under the terms of such other agreement or agreements).

ARTICLE 8

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

SECTION 8.01 Termination of the Issuers Obligations.

(a) The Issuer may terminate its Obligations as to all outstanding Notes and the Liens on Collateral securing the Notes shall be released, except those obligations referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section 8.01, when

(1) either:

(a) all the Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuer and thereafter repaid to the Issuer or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(b) all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or, within one year will become due and payable or subject to redemption as set forth in Section 3.07 and the Issuer has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, and interest on the Notes to the date of deposit together with irrevocable instructions from the Issuer directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(2) the Issuer has paid all other sums payable under this Indenture by the Issuer; and

(3) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent under this Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge hereof have been complied with; provided, however, that such counsel may rely, as to matters of fact, on a certificate or certificates of Officers of the Issuer.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Section 8.01, the Issuer’s obligations in Sections 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 7.07, 7.08, 8.07 and 8.08 hereof, and the rights, powers, trust, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, and the Issuer’s obligations in connection therewith, shall survive until the Notes are no longer outstanding pursuant to Section 2.08 hereof. After the Notes are no longer outstanding, the Issuer’s obligations in Sections 7.07, 7.08, 8.07 and 8.08 hereof shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

SECTION 8.02 Option To Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Issuer may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, at any time, with respect to the Notes, elect to have either Section 8.03 or 8.04 hereof applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.

 

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SECTION 8.03 Legal Defeasance and Covenant Discharge.

Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.02 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuer shall be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes, each Guarantor’s obligation shall be discharged with respect to its Guarantee and the Liens on the Collateral securing the outstanding Notes shall be automatically terminated and released on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Legal Defeasance means that the Issuer shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.06 hereof and the other Sections hereof referred to in clauses (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following, which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, and interest on the Notes when such payments are due, or on the redemption date, as the case may be; (b) the Issuer’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Sections 2.05, 2.07, 2.08, 2.10, 2.11 and 4.02 hereof; (c) the rights, powers, trust, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent hereunder, and the Issuer’s obligations in connection therewith; and (d) this Section 8.03. Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Issuer may exercise its option under this Section 8.03 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.04 hereof with respect to the Notes.

SECTION 8.04 Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.02 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.04, the Issuer shall be released from its obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 3.08, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15 (other than existence of the Issuer (subject to Section 5.01), 4.16, 4.18, 4.19, 5.1 (except clauses (a) and (b)) and 10.03 hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes and the Liens on Collateral securing the outstanding Notes shall be automatically terminated and released on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for GAAP). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Issuer may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01(c) hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder hereof and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.02 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.04, Sections 6.01(c) through 6.01(g) shall not constitute Events of Default.

SECTION 8.05 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.03 or Section 8.04 hereof to the outstanding Notes:

(a) the Issuer shall have irrevocably deposited with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable U.S. government obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, and interest on the outstanding Notes on the stated maturity or on the applicable optional redemption date, as the case may be;

(b) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States confirming that (A) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in each case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the beneficial owners 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 in the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

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(c) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that the beneficial owners of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(d) [reserved];

(e) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

(f) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

(g) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit made by the Issuer pursuant to its election under Section 8.03 and 8.04 hereof was not made by the Issuer with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Notes over any of its other creditors or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any of its other creditors or others; and

(h) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance under Section 8.03 hereof or the Covenant Defeasance under Section 8.04 hereof (as the case may be) have been complied with as contemplated by this Section 8.05.

SECTION 8.06 Deposited Money and Government Securities To Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to Section 8.07 hereof, all money and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.06, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.05 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuer acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Issuer shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.05 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

Anything in this Article 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuer from time to time upon the request of the Issuer any money or Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.05 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.05(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

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SECTION 8.07 Repayment to Issuer.

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuer on their request or (if then held by the Issuer) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as a general creditor, look only to the Issuer for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuer as trustees thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Issuer cause to be published once, in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuer.

SECTION 8.08 Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States Dollars or Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.03 or 8.04 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.03 or 8.04 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.03 or 8.04 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Issuer makes any payment of principal of, premium, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

SECTION 9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes.

Notwithstanding Section 9.02 hereof, the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee and the Collateral Agent (as applicable) may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees or amend or supplement any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any amended or supplemental indenture or any amendment or supplement to the Notes, the Guarantees, any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement without the consent of any Holder of a Note:

(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency (as determined by the Issuer in good faith);

(b) to provide for uncertificated Notes or Guarantees in addition to or in place of certificated Notes or Guarantees (provided that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated Notes are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code);

(c) to provide for the assumption of the obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor to the Holders of the Notes in the case of a merger, amalgamation, arrangement, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer or such Guarantor, pursuant to Article 5 or Article 10 hereof;

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

(e) to provide for the issuance of additional Notes in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Indenture;

(f) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of an appointment of a successor trustee or a successor collateral agent;

(g) to comply with the rules of any applicable securities depository;

 

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(h) to add Guarantees with respect to the Notes;

(i) to add Collateral with respect to the Notes and the Guarantees;

(j) to release Collateral from any Liens securing the Notes and the Guarantees when permitted or required by the Collateral Documents, this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement;

(k) to enter into any intercreditor agreement having substantially similar terms with respect to the holders of Notes as those set forth in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, or any joinder thereto or to enter into any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement in connection with the incurrence of any Future First Lien Obligations or Junior Lien Obligations not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture; or

(l) with respect to the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, as provided in the relevant Collateral Document or First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Upon the request of the Issuer accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee and upon receipt by the Trustee and Collateral Agent of the documents described in Sections 7.02, 9.06 and 12.04 hereof, the Trustee and Collateral Agent shall join with the Issuer and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and shall make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained, but neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture or any amendment or supplement to the Notes, the Guarantees, any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement which affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

SECTION 9.02 With Consent of Holders of Notes.

The Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee and/or Collateral Agent (as applicable) may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any amended or supplemental indenture or any amendment or supplement to the Notes, the Guarantees, any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with an exchange offer or tender offer for the Notes), and any existing Default and its consequences or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes, any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with an exchange offer or tender offer for the Notes). Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

(a) reduce the aggregate principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

(b) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes (other than as provided in clause (h) below);

(c) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note;

(d) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, or interest on the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

(e) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes;

 

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(f) make any change in the provisions hereof relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of or interest on the Notes;

(g) waive a redemption payment or mandatory redemption with respect to any Note (other than as provided in clause (h) below);

(h) amend, change or modify in any material respect the obligation of the Issuer to make and consummate a Change of Control Offer in the event of a Change of Control after such Change of Control has occurred;

(i) release all or substantially all of the Guarantees of the Guarantors other than in accordance with Article 10;

(j) make any change in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions;

(k) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to the Notes or the Guarantees; or

(l) subordinate the payment of the Notes or Guarantees to any other obligation of the Issuers or the Guarantors (other than as permitted by Section 11.02).

Upon the request of the Issuer accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate, and upon the filing with the Trustee of consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Sections 7.02, 9.06 and 12.04 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Issuer and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture or amended or supplemental indenture or any amendment or supplement to the Notes, the Guarantees, any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement unless such amended or supplemental indenture or amendment or supplement to the Notes, the Guarantees, any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture or such amendment or supplement to the Notes, the Guarantees, any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Issuer to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amendment, supplement or waiver. Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Issuer with any provision of this Indenture or of the Notes.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of holders of at least 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, no amendment or waiver may (i) release all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Liens securing the Notes Obligations created by the Collateral Documents or (ii) change or alter the priority of the Liens securing the Notes Obligations created by the Collateral Documents in any manner adverse to the holders of the Notes (other than as permitted by Section 11.02) or (iii) make any change in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or in the provisions of this Indenture or any Collateral Document dealing with the application of proceeds of the Collateral that would materially adversely affect the Holders or alter the priority of the security interests in the Collateral.

 

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SECTION 9.03 [Reserved].

SECTION 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents.

Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder of a Note.

The Issuer may fix a record date for determining which Holders of the Notes must consent to such amendment, supplement or waiver. If the Issuer fixes a record date, the record date shall be fixed at (i) the later of 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders of Notes furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof or (ii) such other date as the Issuer shall designate.

SECTION 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Issuer in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

SECTION 9.06 Trustee, Collateral Agent To Sign Amendments, Etc..

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any amendment, supplement or waiver permitted by this Article or the modification thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, each of the Trustee and Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall receive, and shall by fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate stating that the execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee and Collateral Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such amendment, supplement or waiver which affects, as the case may be, the Trustee’s or Collateral Agent’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture, the Collateral Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or otherwise.

ARTICLE 10

GUARANTEES

SECTION 10.01 Guarantee.

Subject to this Article 10, each of the Guarantors, jointly and severally, hereby unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and their respective successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the Obligations of the Issuer hereunder or thereunder, that:

(a) the principal of, premium, and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other Obligations of the Issuer to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and

 

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(b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other Obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, each of the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will be obligated to pay the same immediately.

Each of the Guarantors, jointly and severally, hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of a Note with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor.

Each of the Guarantors, jointly and severally, hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Obligations guaranteed hereby. If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise, or any custodian, Trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Issuer or any Guarantor, to return to the Issuer or any Guarantor any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

Each of the Guarantors, jointly and severally, agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any Obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all Obligations guaranteed hereby. Each of the Guarantors, jointly and severally, further agrees that, as between such Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Obligations as provided in Article 6, such Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by each Guarantor for the purpose of this Guarantee unless subsequently rescinded as set forth therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any Guarantee would constitute or result in a violation of any applicable fraudulent conveyance or similar law of any relevant jurisdiction, the liability of the applicable Guarantor under its Guarantee shall be reduced to the maximum amount permissible under such fraudulent conveyance or similar law.

The Guarantors hereby agree as among themselves that each Guarantor that makes a payment or distribution under a Guarantee shall be entitled upon payment in full of all guaranteed obligations under this Indenture to a contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment hereunder based on the respective net worth of all the Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP. The preceding sentence shall in no way affect the rights of the Holders of Notes, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent to the benefits hereof, the Notes, the Guarantees or the Collateral Documents.

Nothing contained in this Section 10.01 or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees shall impair, as between any Guarantor and the Holder of any Note, the obligation of such Guarantor, which is unconditional and absolute, to pay to the Holder thereof the principal of, premium, and interest on such Notes in accordance with their terms and the terms of the Guarantee and this Indenture, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or the Holder of any Note from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law or hereunder or thereunder upon the occurrence of an Event of Default.

SECTION 10.02 Execution and Delivery of Guarantees.

To evidence its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by any of its Officers (or, with respect to any Guarantor that provides a Guarantee after the Issue Date, as set forth in Section 4.15). The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantees set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

 

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SECTION 10.03 Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets of Guarantors.

Subject to Section 10.05 hereof, a Guarantor may not, and the Issuer shall not cause or permit any Guarantor to, consolidate, amalgamate, participate in an arrangement with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving entity), 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, another Person other than the Issuer or another Guarantor (in each case other than in accordance with Section 4.10) unless:

(a) such Guarantor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement or merger (if other than the Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

(b) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than the Guarantor) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made assumes all the obligations of the Guarantor under this Indenture, the Notes, the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (and, if applicable, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement) pursuant to a supplemental indenture and joinders or supplements, as applicable, to the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (and, if applicable, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement), in each case, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent; and

(c) immediately after such transaction, no Event of Default exists.

Nothing contained in this Indenture shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Issuer or another Guarantor that is a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or shall prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Issuer or another Guarantor that is a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer. Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 hereof, nothing contained in this Indenture shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Issuer or another Guarantor that is a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or shall prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Issuer or another Guarantor that is a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer.

SECTION 10.04 Successor Person Substituted.

Upon any consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, merger, sale or conveyance described in paragraphs (a) through (c) of Section 10.03 hereof, and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of any Guarantee previously signed by the Guarantor and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions hereof to be performed by the Guarantor, such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor. Such successor Person thereupon may cause to be signed any or all of the Guarantees to be issuable hereunder by such Guarantor and delivered to the Trustee. All the Guarantees so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution of such Guarantee by such Guarantor. When a successor Person assumes all the obligations of the Issuer under the Notes and this Indenture pursuant to Article 5 hereof, the applicable predecessor shall be released from the obligations so assumed.

SECTION 10.05 Releases from Guarantees.

A Guarantor shall be released and relieved of its obligations under its Guarantee upon:

(1) in connection with any direct or indirect sale, conveyance or other disposition of all the Capital Stock of such Guarantor (including any such sale, conveyance or other disposition after which such Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary and excluding any sale, conveyance or other disposition of the Capital Stock of a Professional Services Affiliate to another Person if such Professional Services Affiliate remains a Restricted Subsidiary) or of all or substantially all of the assets and property of such Guarantor, if such sale or disposition is made in compliance with Section 4.10;

 

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(2) such Guarantor is liquidated in accordance with the provisions hereof;

(3) the Issuer designates any such Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with the terms of this Indenture;

(4) with respect to any Guarantor, if such Guarantor becomes an Excluded Subsidiary in compliance with the terms of this Indenture (and subject to the immediately succeeding paragraph); or

(5) upon the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance with Section 8.01 or upon any Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

For the avoidance of doubt, no Guarantee of a Guarantor shall be released as a result of the issuance or sale of Preferred Equity Interests in a Restricted Subsidiary to a Strategic Investor. In addition, in the event any Guarantor becomes an Excluded Subsidiary because it is no longer a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, such Guarantor shall not be released of its obligations under its Guarantee except pursuant to a transaction with a non-Affiliate for bona fide business purposes and the purpose of which was not to evade the Guarantee requirements.

Upon delivery by the Issuer to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent of an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that all the conditions precedent to such sale or other disposition have been complied with or that such Guarantor has been released from its obligations under its Guarantee in accordance with any other provision of this Section 10.05, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall execute any documents pursuant to written direction of the Issuer in order to evidence the release of any such Guarantor from its obligations under its Guarantee. Any such Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article 10.

ARTICLE 11

COLLATERAL

SECTION 11.01 Collateral Documents.

The due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, and interest on the Notes when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an interest payment date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium, and interest on the Notes and performance of all other Notes Obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors to the Holders of the Notes or the Trustee and/or Collateral Agent (as applicable), according to the terms of this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees, shall be secured as provided in the Collateral Documents, which the Issuer and the Guarantors entered into on the Issue Date and which define the terms of the Liens that secure the Notes Obligations, subject to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

The Trustee, the Issuer and the Guarantors hereby acknowledge and agree that the Collateral Agent holds the Collateral for the benefit of the Holders, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and pursuant to the terms of the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement. Each Holder, by accepting a Note, consents and agrees to the terms of the Collateral Documents (including the provisions providing for the possession, use, release and foreclosure of Collateral) and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, each as may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms and the terms of this Indenture, and authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent and/or the Trustee, as applicable, to enter into the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement on the Issue Date, and, at any time after the Issue Date, if applicable, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement in respect of permitted Junior Lien Obligations, and any amendments, supplements, and/or joinders to the foregoing to which it is a party, at any time after the Issue Date, if applicable, and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith.

 

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The Issuer shall deliver to the Collateral Agent copies of all documents required to be filed pursuant to the Collateral Documents, and shall do or cause to be done all such acts and things as may be necessary, proper, or as may be required by the Collateral Documents, to assure and confirm to the Collateral Agent the security interest in the Collateral contemplated hereby, by the Collateral Documents or any part thereof, as from time to time constituted, so as to render the same available for the security and benefit of this Indenture and of the Notes secured hereby, according to the intent and purposes herein expressed. On or following the Issue Date and subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall execute any and all further documents, financing statements (including continuation statements and amendments to financing statements), agreements and instruments, make all filings (including filings of financing statements under the UCC and continuation statements and amendments to such financing statements that may be necessary to continue the effectiveness of such financing statements), and take all further action that may be required under applicable law in order to grant, preserve, maintain, protect and perfect (or continue the perfection of) the validity and priority of the Liens and security interests created or intended to be created by the Collateral Documents in the Collateral, subject to Permitted Liens.

SECTION 11.02 Release of Collateral.

The Liens on the Collateral owned by any Guarantor shall be automatically released when such Guarantor’s Guarantee is released in accordance with the terms of this Indenture. In addition, the Liens securing the Notes and the Guarantees shall be released automatically:

(i) in whole, upon payment in full of all principal, interest and the other Notes Obligations or upon the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance with Section 8.01 or upon any Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance;

(ii) in whole or in part, with the consent of the requisite holders of Notes in accordance with Section 9.02;

(iii) in part, as to any Property constituting Collateral that is disposed of to a Person other than the Issuer or a Guarantor (other than dispositions of the equity interests of Professional Services Affiliates or of property or assets of Professional Services Affiliates to other Professional Services Affiliates or owners of the equity interest of Professional Services Affiliates) in a transaction permitted pursuant to Section 4.10 and not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture, the Collateral Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement;

(iv) with respect to any Collateral that becomes Excluded Property, upon such Collateral becoming Excluded Property pursuant to a transaction or circumstance not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture;

(v) with respect to Collateral that is Capital Stock, upon the dissolution or liquidation of the issuer of such Capital Stock in a transaction that is not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture; and

(vi) in accordance with the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

The Collateral Agent shall, upon request of the Issuer or any Guarantor, subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Collateral Agent under any Note Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted hereunder in respect of Purchase Money Indebtedness or Indebtedness in respect of sale and leaseback transactions, capital leases and synthetic leases.

The Collateral Agent shall, without recourse, representation or warranty, execute documents reasonably requested by the Issuer or the Guarantors to evidence the release of the Collateral or subordination of Lien as set forth above in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, at the expense of the Issuer and the Guarantors, upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate of the Issuer certifying that such release of Collateral or subordination of

 

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Lien is in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and that all conditions precedent relating to the release of Collateral or subordination of Lien have been satisfied. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any such release or subordination undertaken in reliance upon any such Officers’ Certificate, and notwithstanding any term hereof or in any Collateral Document or any other Notes Document to the contrary, the Collateral Agent shall not be under any obligation to release or subordinate any such Lien and security interest, or execute and deliver any such instrument of release, satisfaction, discharge or termination, unless and until it receives such Officers’ Certificate.

For the avoidance of doubt, no Liens on Collateral shall be released as a result of the issuance or sale of Preferred Equity Interests in a Restricted Subsidiary to a Strategic Investor.

SECTION 11.03 Suits to Protect the Collateral.

Subject to the provisions of Article 7, the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee may or may direct the Collateral Agent, in each case on behalf of the Holders of the Notes, to take all actions it determines necessary or appropriate in order to:

(a) enforce any of the terms of the Collateral Documents; and

(b) collect and receive any and all amounts payable in respect of the Obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors hereunder.

Subject to the provisions of the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall have the power to institute and to maintain such suits and proceedings as the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may deem expedient to prevent any impairment of the Collateral by any acts which may be unlawful or in violation of any of the Collateral Documents or this Indenture, and such suits and proceedings as the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may deem expedient to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the Holders in the Collateral. Nothing in this Section 11.03 shall be considered to impose any such duty or obligation to act on the part of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent.

SECTION 11.04 Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Collateral Documents.

Subject to the provisions of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of the Holders distributed under the Collateral Documents, and to make further distributions of such funds to the Holders according to the provisions of this Indenture.

Upon the full and final payment and performance of all Notes Obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors under this Indenture and the Notes or upon Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance with Section 8.01 hereof, the Trustee will, at the request of the Issuer, deliver a certificate to the Collateral Agent stating that such Notes Obligations have been paid in full, and instruct the Collateral Agent to release the Liens pursuant to this Indenture and the Collateral Documents.

SECTION 11.05 Purchaser Protected.

In no event shall any purchaser in good faith of any property purported to be released hereunder or under any Collateral Document be bound to ascertain the authority of the Collateral Agent or the Trustee to execute the applicable release or to inquire as to the satisfaction of any conditions required by the provisions hereof for the exercise of such authority or to see to the application of any consideration given by such purchaser or other transferee; nor shall any purchaser or other transferee of any property or rights permitted by this Article 11 to be sold be under any obligation to ascertain or inquire into the authority of the Issuer or the applicable Guarantor to make any such sale or other transfer.

 

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SECTION 11.06 Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee.

In case the Collateral shall be in the possession of a receiver, interim receiver or trustee, lawfully appointed, the powers conferred in this Article 11 upon the Issuer or a Guarantor with respect to the release, sale or other disposition of such property may be exercised by such receiver, interim receiver or trustee, and an instrument signed by such receiver, interim receiver or trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of any similar instrument of the Issuer or a Guarantor or of any Officer or Officers thereof required by the provisions of this Article 11; and if the Trustee or the Collateral Agent shall be in the possession of the Collateral under any provision of this Indenture, then such powers may be exercised by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent.

SECTION 11.07 Collateral Agent.

(a) Each of the Holders by acceptance of the Notes hereby designates and appoints the Collateral Agent as its agent under this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and each of the Holders by acceptance of the Notes and the Trustee hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent to take such action on their behalf under the provisions of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Collateral Agent by the terms of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and consents and agrees to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and each Collateral Document, as the same may be in effect or may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with their respective terms. The Collateral Agent accepts such appointment and agrees to act as such on the express conditions contained in this Section 11.07. Each Holder agrees that any action taken by the Collateral Agent in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and the Collateral Documents, and the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any rights or remedies set forth herein and therein shall be authorized and binding upon all Holders. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, the duties of the Collateral Agent shall be ministerial and administrative in nature, and the Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Notes Documents to which the Collateral Agent is a party, nor shall the Collateral Agent have or be deemed to have any trust or other fiduciary relationship with the Trustee, any Holder, the Issuer or any Guarantor, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or otherwise exist, against the Collateral Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” in this Indenture with reference to the Collateral Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

(b) The Collateral Agent may perform any of its duties under this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, by or through receivers, agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel of its selection concerning all matters pertaining to such duties, and shall be entitled to act upon, and shall be fully protected in taking action in reliance upon any advice or opinion given by such counsel. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any receiver, agent, employee or attorney-in-fact that it selects as long as such selection was made in good faith and with due care.

(c) The Collateral Agent shall not (i) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it under or in connection with this Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct) or under or in connection with any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or the transactions contemplated thereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct), or (ii) be responsible in any manner to any of the Trustee or any Holder for any recital, statement, representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by the Issuer or any other Guarantor or Affiliate of any Guarantor, or any Officer thereof, contained in this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Collateral Agent under or in connection with, this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor

 

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Agreement, if any, or for any failure of the Issuer, any Guarantor or any other party to this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. The Collateral Agent shall not be under any obligation to the Trustee or any Holder to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or to inspect the properties, books, or records of the Issuer, any Guarantor or any of their Affiliates.

(d) The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, certification, telephone message, statement, or other communication, document or conversation (including those by telephone or e-mail) believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent, or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including, without limitation, counsel to the Issuer or any Guarantor), independent accountants and other experts and advisors selected by the Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, or other paper or document. The Collateral Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, unless it shall first receive such written direction or consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes and, it shall be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Holders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Collateral Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, in accordance with a request, direction, instruction or consent of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all of the Holders.

(e) The Collateral Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any default or Event of Default, unless a Responsible Officer of the Collateral Agent shall have received written notice from the Trustee or the Issuer referring to this Indenture, describing such Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” The Collateral Agent shall take such action with respect to such Event of Default as may be requested in accordance with, and subject to the provisions of, Article 6 by the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (subject to this Section 11.07 and the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement).

(f) The Collateral Agent may resign at any time upon 30 days’ advance written notice to the Trustee and the Issuer, such resignation to be effective upon the acceptance of a successor agent to its appointment as Collateral Agent. If the Collateral Agent resigns under this Indenture, the Issuer shall appoint a successor collateral agent. If no successor collateral agent is appointed prior to the intended effective date of the resignation of the Collateral Agent (as stated in the notice of resignation), the Collateral Agent may appoint, at the direction of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, a successor collateral agent, subject to the consent of the Issuer (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld and which shall not be required during a continuing Event of Default). If no successor collateral agent is appointed and consented to by the Issuer pursuant to the preceding sentence within thirty (30) days after the intended effective date of resignation (as stated in the notice of resignation) the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor collateral agent hereunder, such successor collateral agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Collateral Agent, and the term “Collateral Agent” shall mean such successor collateral agent, and the retiring Collateral Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Collateral Agent shall be terminated. After the retiring Collateral Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Section 11.07 (and Section 7.07 hereof) shall continue to inure to its benefit and the retiring Collateral Agent shall not by reason of such resignation be deemed to be released from liability as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Collateral Agent under this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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(g) UMB Bank, National Association shall initially act as Collateral Agent and shall be authorized to appoint co-Collateral Agents as necessary in its sole discretion. Except as otherwise explicitly provided herein or in the Collateral Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its respective officers, directors, employees or agents shall be liable to Issuer, any Guarantor or any Notes Secured Party for failure to demand, collect or realize upon any of the Collateral or for any delay in doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any other Person or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the Collateral or any part thereof. The Collateral Agent shall be accountable only for amounts that it actually receives as a result of the exercise of such powers, and neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

(h) By their acceptance of a Note hereunder, the Collateral Agent is authorized and directed by the Holders to (i) enter into the Collateral Documents to which it is party, whether executed on or after the Issue Date, (ii) enter into the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement on the Issue Date, (iii) enter into the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, after the Issue Date, (iv) make the representations of the Holders set forth in the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, (v) bind the Holders on the terms as set forth in the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, (vi) perform and observe its obligations under the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any; and (vii) release any Collateral in accordance with Section 11.02.

(i) If at any time or times the Trustee shall receive (i) by payment, foreclosure, set-off or otherwise, any proceeds of Collateral or any payments with respect to the Obligations arising under, or relating to, this Indenture, except for any such proceeds or payments received by the Trustee from the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, or (ii) payments from the Collateral Agent in excess of the amount required to be paid to the Trustee pursuant to Article 6, the Trustee shall promptly turn the same over to the Collateral Agent, in kind, and with such endorsements as may be required to negotiate the same to the Collateral Agent such proceeds to be applied by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if any).

(j) The Collateral Agent is each Holder’s agent for the purpose of perfecting the Holders’ security interest in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC, can be perfected only by possession. Should the Trustee obtain possession of any such Collateral, upon request from the Issuer, the Trustee shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof and promptly shall deliver such Collateral to the Collateral Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Collateral Agent’s instructions.

(k) The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to the Trustee or any of the Holders to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned by the Issuer, any Guarantor or is cared for, protected, or insured or has been encumbered, or that the Collateral Agent’s Liens have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected, maintained or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or to determine whether all or the Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s property constituting Collateral intended to be subject to the Lien and security interest of the Collateral Documents has been properly and completely listed or delivered, as the case may be, or the genuineness, validity, marketability or sufficiency thereof or title thereto, or to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under any duty of care, disclosure, or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of the rights, authorities, and powers granted or available to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Indenture, any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, other than pursuant to the instructions of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes or as otherwise provided in the Collateral Documents. Neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall have a duty or obligation to monitor the condition, financial or otherwise, of the Issuer or any Guarantor.

(l) If the Issuer or any Guarantor (i) incurs any obligations in respect of First Lien Obligations or Junior Lien Obligations at any time when no applicable intercreditor agreement is in effect or at any time when Indebtedness constituting First Lien Obligations or Junior Lien Obligations entitled to the benefit of an existing First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement is concurrently retired, and (ii) delivers to the Collateral Agent an Officers’ Certificate so stating and requesting the Collateral Agent to enter into an intercreditor agreement (on substantially the same terms as the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or, in the case of the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, in customary market form (as reasonably determined by the Issuer as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent)) in favor of a designated agent or

 

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representative for the holders of the First Lien Obligations or Junior Lien Obligations so incurred, the Collateral Agent shall (and is hereby authorized and directed to) enter into such intercreditor agreement (at the sole expense and cost of the Issuer, including reasonable legal fees and expenses of the Collateral Agent), bind the Holders on the terms set forth therein and perform and observe its obligations thereunder.

(m) No provision of this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or any Collateral Document shall require the Collateral Agent or the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or thereunder or to take or omit to take any action hereunder or thereunder or take any action at the request or direction of Holders unless it shall have received indemnity satisfactory to the Collateral Agent against potential costs and liabilities incurred by the Collateral Agent relating thereto.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or the Collateral Documents, in the event the Collateral Agent is entitled or required to commence an action to foreclose or otherwise exercise its remedies to acquire control or possession of the Collateral, the Collateral Agent shall not be required to commence any such action or exercise any remedy or to inspect or conduct any studies of any property under the mortgages or take any such other action if the Collateral Agent has determined that the Collateral Agent may incur personal liability as a result of the presence at, or release on or from, the Collateral or such property, of any hazardous substances in an amount and in a form all satisfactory to the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion, protecting the Collateral Agent from all such liability. The Collateral Agent shall at any time be entitled to cease taking any action described in this clause (m) if it no longer reasonably deems any indemnity, security or undertaking from the Issuer or the Holders to be sufficient.

(n) The Collateral Agent (i) shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in connection with this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and the Collateral Documents or instrument referred to herein or therein, except to the extent that any of the foregoing are found by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from its own gross negligence or willful misconduct, (ii) shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Collateral Agent may agree in writing with the Issuer (and money held in trust by the Collateral Agent need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law) and (iii) may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel. The grant of permissive rights or powers to the Collateral Agent shall not be construed to impose duties to act.

(o) The Collateral Agent does not assume any responsibility for any failure or delay in performance or any breach by the Issuer or any other Guarantor under this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and the Collateral Documents. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible to the Holders or any other Person for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties contained in this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or in any certificate, report, statement, or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Collateral Agent under or in connection with, this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or any Collateral Document; the execution, validity, genuineness, effectiveness or enforceability of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and any Collateral Documents of any other party thereto. The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation to any Holder or any other Person to ascertain or inquire into the existence of any Default or Event of Default, the observance or performance by any obligor of any terms of this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and the Collateral Documents, or the satisfaction of any conditions precedent contained in this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and any Collateral Documents. The Collateral Agent shall not be required to initiate or conduct any litigation or collection or other proceeding under this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and the Collateral Documents unless expressly set forth hereunder or thereunder or as directed by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes. The Collateral Agent shall have the right at any time to seek instructions from the Holders with respect to the administration of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any.

 

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(p) The parties hereto and the Holders hereby agree and acknowledge that neither the Collateral Agent shall not assume, be responsible for or otherwise be obligated for any liabilities, claims, causes of action, suits, losses, allegations, requests, demands, penalties, fines, settlements, damages (including foreseeable and unforeseeable), judgments, expenses and costs (including but not limited to, any remediation, corrective action, response, removal or remedial action, or investigation, operations and maintenance or monitoring costs, for personal injury or property damages, real or personal) of any kind whatsoever, pursuant to any environmental law as a result of this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, the Collateral Documents or any actions taken pursuant hereto or thereto. Further, the parties hereto and the Holders hereby agree and acknowledge that in the exercise of its rights under this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and the Collateral Documents, the Collateral Agent may hold or obtain indicia of ownership primarily to protect the security interest of the Collateral Agent in the Collateral and that any such actions taken by the Collateral Agent shall not be construed as or otherwise constitute any participation in the management of such Collateral, as those terms are defined in Section 101(20)(E) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et seq., as amended.

(q) Upon the receipt by the Collateral Agent of a written request of the Issuer signed by an Officer containing the statements required herein (a “Collateral Document Order”) and the Opinion of Counsel and Officers’ Certificate required by this Section, the Collateral Agent shall execute and enter into, and if satisfactory in form to the Collateral Agent, shall execute and enter into, without the further consent of any Holder or the Trustee, any Collateral Document or amendment or supplement thereto to be executed after the Issue Date. Such Collateral Document Order shall (i) state that it is being delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to, and is a Collateral Document Order referred to in, this Section 11.07(r), and (ii) instruct the Collateral Agent to execute and enter into such Collateral Document. Any such execution of a Collateral Document shall be at the direction and expense of the Issuer, upon delivery to the Collateral Agent of an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent to the execution and delivery of the Collateral Document have been satisfied and the entry into such Collateral Document(s) is otherwise permitted by the terms of this Indenture. The Holders, by their acceptance of the Notes, hereby authorize and direct the Collateral Agent to execute such Collateral Documents.

(r) Subject to the provisions of the applicable Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, each Holder, by acceptance of the Notes, agrees that the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and the Collateral Documents to which it is a party and all agreements, documents and instruments incidental thereto, and act in accordance with the terms thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, except as expressly set forth herein, in the Collateral Documents, in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall have no discretion under this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or the Collateral Documents and shall not be required to make or give any determination, consent, approval, request or direction without the written direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

(s) After the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee may direct the Collateral Agent in connection with any action required or permitted by this Indenture, the Collateral Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any.

(t) The Collateral Agent is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of itself, the Trustee and the Holders distributed under the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and to the extent not prohibited under the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, for turnover to the Trustee to make further distributions of such funds to itself, the Trustee and the Holders in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.10 and the other provisions of this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

(u) In each case that the Collateral Agent may or is required hereunder or under any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, to take any action (an “Action”), including, without limitation, to make any determination, to give consents, to exercise rights, powers or remedies, to release or sell Collateral or otherwise to act hereunder or under any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, the Collateral Agent may seek direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. The Collateral

 

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Agent shall not be liable with respect to any Action taken or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with the direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. If the Collateral Agent shall request direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes with respect to any Action, the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such Action unless and until the Collateral Agent shall have received direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, and the Collateral Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining.

(v) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, in any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, in no event shall the Collateral Agent or the Trustee be responsible for, or have any duty or obligation with respect to, the recording, filing, registering, perfection, protection or maintenance of the security interests or Liens intended to be created by this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any (including, without limitation, the filing or continuation of any UCC financing, financing change or continuation statements or similar documents or instruments), nor shall the Collateral Agent or the Trustee be responsible for, and neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee makes any representation regarding, the validity, effectiveness or priority of any of the Collateral Documents or the security interests or Liens intended to be created thereby.

(w) Before the Collateral Agent acts or refrains from acting in each case at the request or direction of the Issuer or the Guarantors, or in connection with any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, it may require an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which shall conform to the provisions of this Section 11.07 and Section 12.04 hereof. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate or opinion.

(x) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein but subject to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall act pursuant to the instructions of the Note Secured Parties as provided in this Indenture solely with respect to the Collateral Documents.

(y) If any Collateral Agent consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business (including this transaction) to, another Person, the successor Person without any further act shall be the successor of such Collateral Agent.

ARTICLE 12

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 12.01 [Reserved].

SECTION 12.02 Notices.

Any notice or communication by the Issuer, any Guarantor, the Trustee or Collateral Agent to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, next-day air courier or facsimile:

If to the Issuer or any Guarantor, to it care of:

Akumin Inc.

8300 W Sunrise Blvd

Plantation, FL 33322

Facsimile No.: (954) 678-4489

Attention: General Counsel

If to the Trustee or Collateral Agent:

 

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UMB Bank, National Association

100 William Street, Suite 1850

New York, NY 10038

Attn: Corporate Trust

The Issuer, any Guarantor, the Trustee or Collateral Agent, by notice to the other, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders of Notes) shall be deemed to have been duly given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, if mailed; one Business Day after being timely delivered to a next-day air courier; and when transmission is confirmed, if sent by facsimile.

Any notice or communication to a Holder of a Note shall be mailed by first class mail to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder of a Note or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders of Notes.

If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

If the Issuer mails a notice or communication to Holders of Notes, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

Any notice or communication delivered or to be delivered to a Holder of Global Notes shall be delivered in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and shall be sufficiently given to it if so delivered within the time prescribed.

Each of the Trustee and Collateral Agent agree to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail, pdf, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods, provided, however, that the Trustee and Collateral Agent shall have received an incumbency certificate listing persons designated to give such instructions or directions and containing specimen signatures of such designated persons, which such incumbency certificate shall be amended and replaced whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Issuer elects to give the Trustee and Collateral Agent e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee and Collateral Agent in their discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s and Collateral Agent’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. Neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s or Collateral Agent’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Issuer agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee and Collateral Agent, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee or Collateral Agent acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk or interception and misuse by third parties.

SECTION 12.03 [Reserved].

SECTION 12.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

Upon any request or application by the Issuer to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent to take any action under this Indenture (other than the application for authentication of the Initial Notes), the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee:

(a) an Officers’ Certificate in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

 

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(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

SECTION 12.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture, if applicable; shall include:

(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied (and, in the case of an Opinion of Counsel, may be limited to reliance on an Officers’ Certificate as to matters of fact); and

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

SECTION 12.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents.

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders of Notes. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

SECTION 12.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Owners, Employees, Incorporators and Stockholders.

No director, owner, officer, employee, member, partner, manager, incorporator or stockholder of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their Affiliates, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their Affiliates under the Notes, the Guarantees, this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if applicable, or any Collateral Document or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

SECTION 12.08 Governing Law.

THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE GUARANTEES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

SECTION 12.09 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Issuer or any of its respective Subsidiaries. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

SECTION 12.10 Successors.

All agreements of the Issuer and the Guarantors in this Indenture and the Notes and the Guarantees shall bind the successors of the Issuer and the Guarantors, respectively. All agreements of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent in this Indenture shall bind its respective successor.

 

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SECTION 12.11 Severability.

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

SECTION 12.12 Counterpart Originals.

This Indenture may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart (including a counterpart executed by electronic signature) of a signature page of this Indenture by telecopy or other electronic imaging means shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Indenture. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Indenture or any document to be signed in connection with this Indenture shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means. All notices, approvals, consents, requests and any communications hereunder must be in writing (provided that any such communication sent to the Trustee hereunder must be in the form of a document that is signed manually or by way of a digital signature provided by DocuSign, AdobeSign or such other digital signature provider as specified in writing to the Trustee by the authorized representative of the Issuer. The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based recordkeeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code. The Issuer agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of using digital signatures and electronic methods to submit communications to Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

SECTION 12.13 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and headings of the Articles and Sections hereof have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

SECTION 12.14 Force Majeure.

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

SECTION 12.15 Waiver of Jury Trial.

EACH OF THE ISSUER, THE GUARANTORS, THE HOLDERS BY THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE NOTES, AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

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SECTION 12.16 Certain Tax Matters Related to the Trustee.

In order to comply with applicable tax laws, rules and regulations (inclusive of directives, guidelines and interpretations promulgated by competent authorities) in effect from time to time (“Applicable Law”), the Issuer agrees (i) to provide to UMB Bank, National Association sufficient information about holders or other applicable parties and/or transactions (including any modification to the terms of such transactions) so UMB Bank, National Association can determine whether it has tax related obligations under Applicable Law, (ii) that UMB Bank, National Association shall be entitled to make any withholding or deduction from payments under this Indenture to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Law for which UMB Bank, National Association shall not have any liability, and (iii) to hold harmless UMB Bank, National Association for any losses it may suffer due to the actions it takes to comply with such Applicable Law. The terms of this section shall survive the termination of this Indenture.

SECTION 12.17 Submission to Jurisdiction.

The Issuer and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any New York State court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York or any federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York in respect of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture, the Guarantees and the Notes, and irrevocably accepts for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts. The Issuer hereby appoints CT Corporation at 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10004, or, if otherwise, its principal place of business in the City of New York from time to time, as its agent for service of process, and agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by hand delivery or registered mail upon such agent shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court.

SECTION 12.18 Intercreditor Agreements.

Reference is made to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if applicable). Each Holder, by its acceptance of a Note, (a) consents to the priority of Liens and payments provided for in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, (b) agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (c) authorizes and instructs the Collateral Agent and the Trustee to enter into the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as the Collateral Agent and as representative on behalf of such Holder, including without limitation, making the representations of the Holders contained therein, and including any amendments, restatements or supplements thereto providing for, inter alia, substantially the same rights, priorities and obligations referred to in the applicable intercreditor agreement and covering any other matters incidental thereto.

[Signatures on following pages]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

AKUMIN Inc.,
as Issuer
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC GROUP, LLC
ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC RESOURCES, LLC
AFFILIATED PET SYSTEMS, L.L.C.
AFO IMAGING, INC.
AKUMIN FL, LLC
AKUMIN FLORIDA HOLDINGS, LLC
AKUMIN HEALTH ILLINOIS, LLC
AKUMIN HOLDINGS CORP.
AKUMIN IMAGING TEXAS, LLC
AKUMIN OPERATING CORP.
ALLIANCE HEALTHCARE SERVICES, INC.
ALLIANCE IMAGING NC, LLC
ALLIANCE ONCOLOGY OF ALABAMA, LLC
ALLIANCE ONCOLOGY OF ARIZONA, LLC
ALLIANCE ONCOLOGY, LLC
ALLIANCE RADIOSURGERY, LLC
DECATUR HEALTH IMAGING, L.L.C.
DELAWARE OPEN MRI RADIOLOGY ASSOCIATES, LLC
DIAGNOSTIC HEALTH CENTER OF ANCHORAGE, LLC
ELITE IMAGING, LLC
ELITE RADIOLOGY OF GEORGIA, LLC
GREATER BOSTON MRI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
GREATER BOSTON MRI SERVICES, LLC
IMAGING CENTER OF WEST PALM BEACH LLC
INMED DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES OF MA, LLC
JEANES RADIOLOGY ASSOCIATES, LLC
LCM IMAGING, INC.
LEBANON DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING, LLC
MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS, LLC
MEDICAL OUTSOURCING SERVICES, LLC
MID-AMERICAN IMAGING INC.
MONROE PET, LLC
MUSC HEALTH CANCER CARE ORGANIZATION, LLC
NEHE/WSIC II, LLC
NEHE-MRI, LLC
NEOSPINE BLOCKER CORP.
NEW ENGLAND HEALTH ENTERPRISES BUSINESS TRUST
NEW ENGLAND HEALTH ENTERPRISES, INC.
NEW ENGLAND HEALTH IMAGING—HOULTON, LLC

[Akumin – Signature Page to Indenture]


NEW ENGLAND MOLECULAR IMAGING LLC
PCI MAUI HOLDINGS, INC.
PET SCANS OF AMERICA CORP.
PMI PARTNERS, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING AT CASA LINDA PLAZA, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING AT THE MEDICAL CENTER, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING HEB, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING OF AUSTIN, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING OF CORINTH, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING OF DENTON, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING OF FORT WORTH, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING OF FRISCO, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING OF GARLAND, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING OF GRAPEVINE/COLLEYVILLE, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING OF IRVING, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING OF MCKINNEY, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING OF MESQUITE, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING OF PLANO, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING ON PLANO PARKWAY, LLC
PREFERRED OPEN MRI, LLC
RITTENHOUSE IMAGING CENTER, LLC
ROSE RADIOLOGY CENTERS, LLC.
ROUND ROCK IMAGING, LLC
SHARED P.E.T. IMAGING, LLC.
SMT HEALTH SERVICES, LLC
SYNCMED, LLC
THAIHOT INVESTMENT COMPANY US LIMITED
THREE RIVERS HOLDING, LLC
TIC ACQUISITION HOLDINGS, LLC
U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF AUSTIN, LLC
U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF CHICAGO, LLC
U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF COLUMBUS, LLC
U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF ILLINOIS, LLC
U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF PHILADELPHIA, LLC
U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF RENO, LLC
U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF RUSH-CHICAGO, LLC
U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF TULSA, LLC
U.S. RADIOSURGERY, LLC
USR HOLDINGS, LLC
VISTA PEM PROVIDERS, LLC
WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS MAGNETIC RESONANCE SERVICES, LLC
WILKES-BARRE IMAGING, L.L.C.
WOODLAND DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING, LLC

 

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

[Akumin – Signature Page to Indenture]


UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee and Collateral Agent
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

[Akumin – Signature Page to Indenture]


EXHIBIT A

[Face of Note]

 

 

Senior Secured Note due 2027

Cert. No. [__]

CUSIP No. [144A: 01021X AB6/ Reg S: U0098A AB3]

Akumin Inc.

promises to pay to [_________]

or its registered assigns

102.25% of the principal sum of ______________

Dollars on August 1, 2027

Interest Payment Dates: May 1 and November 1, commencing May 1, 2024.

Record Dates: April 15 and October 15 (whether or not a Business Day).

 

A-1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated:

 

AKUMIN Inc.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

Dated:

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

UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as Trustee

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory


(Back of Note)

Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture (as defined below) unless otherwise indicated.

(1) Interest. Akumin Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”) promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate and in the manner specified below. Interest will accrue (i) from the period between February 6, 2024 and November 1, 2025, in cash at 8.000% per annum, and (ii) after November 1, 2025, at the election of the Issuer, (A) in cash at a rate of 9.000% (“Full Cash Interest”), or (B) at a rate of 8.000% per annum in cash (“Partial Cash Interest”) and 2.000% per annum by increasing the principal amount of the outstanding Notes (“PIK Interest”) by issuing additional notes under the indenture having the same terms as the Notes offered hereby (such increased principal amount of Notes, “PIK Interest Additional Notes”). The interest payable on the First Interest Payment Date shall equal an amount equal to the sum of (a) the amount of interest calculated in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence and (b) a pro rata portion of $8,057,989.72 based on the principal amount of this Note and the aggregate principal amount of all of the Initial Notes. If the Issuer pays a portion of the interest on the Notes as Partial Cash Interest and pays a portion as PIK Interest, such Partial Cash Interest and PIK Interest shall be paid to holders of the Notes pro rata in accordance with their interests. Interest will be payable semi-annually in cash, or after November 1, 2025, in cash or in a combination of Partial Cash Interest and PIK interest, on each May 1 and November 1, commencing May 1, 2024 (the “First Interest Payment Date”), or if any such day is not a Business Day on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “Interest Payment Date”) to Holders of record of the Notes at the close of business on the immediately preceding April 15 and October 15, whether or not a Business Day. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Interest shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of original issuance. To the extent lawful, the Issuer shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate of the then applicable interest rate on the Notes; it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

For all interest periods commencing after November 1, 2025, the Issuer must elect the form(s) of interest payment by delivering a written notice to the Trustee prior to the commencement of the relevant interest period, which notice shall state the total amount of interest to be paid as Full Cash Interest or Partial Cash Interest on such interest payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid as PIK Interest. Trustee shall make such notice available to holders of the Notes. In the absence of such an election for any interest period, interest on the Note shall be payable after November 1, 2025 according to the election for the immediately preceding interest period or, in the case of the first interest period, as 9.000% per annum as Full Cash Interest.

(2) Method of Payment. The Issuer shall pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the record date next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date. The Issuer will pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. The Notes will be payable both as to principal and interest at the office or agency of the Issuer maintained for such purpose or, at the option of the Issuer, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders of Notes at their respective addresses set forth in the register of Holders of Notes. Unless otherwise designated by the Issuer, the Issuer’s office or agency will be the office of the Trustee maintained for such purpose.

(3) Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, the Trustee will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuer may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar without prior notice to any Holder of a Note. The Issuer may act in any such capacity.

(4) Indenture. The Issuer issued the Notes under an Indenture, dated as of February 6, 2024 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, the Guarantors, and UMB Bank, National Association, as trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”) and as notes collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”). This is one of an issue of Notes of the Issuer issued, or to be issued, under the Indenture. The Issuer shall be entitled to issue additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Indenture. All Notes issued under the Indenture shall be treated as a single class of Notes under the Indenture. The terms of the Indenture shall govern any inconsistencies between the Indenture and the Notes. The Notes are senior secured obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors, secured by a first-priority security interest in the Collateral.


(5) Optional Redemption.

(a) The Notes will be subject to redemption at the option of the Issuer, in whole or in part, upon not less than 10 days’ or more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of record of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive payments of interest on the related interest payment date), if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on November 1 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2023

     104.000

2024 and thereafter

     102.250

(b) In connection with any redemption of Notes described in clause (a) above, such redemption may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including any related Equity Offering, issuance of Indebtedness or other transaction. If such redemption or notice is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Issuer’s discretion, such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded, or the redemption date may be delayed or extended, in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any tender offer for the Notes, including a Change of Control Offer, if holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in such tender offer or Change of Control Offer and the Issuer, or any third party making such tender offer or Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Issuer, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such holders, the Issuer or such third party will have the right upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase date, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to the price offered to each other holder (excluding any early tender or incentive fee) in such tender offer or Change of Control Offer plus, to the extent not included in the tender offer payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to, but excluding, the date of such redemption.

(d) Tax Redemption. If (a) the Issuer or any Guarantor becomes or will become obligated to pay Additional Amounts with respect to any Notes or any Guarantee (as described in Section 4.21 of the Indenture) as a result of (1) any change in, or amendment to, the laws, treaties (including protocols), regulations or rulings of a Relevant Tax Jurisdiction, which change or amendment is first publicly announced and becomes effective after the Issue Date (or, if the Relevant Tax Jurisdiction did not become a Relevant Tax Jurisdiction until a later date, after such later date) or (2) any change in the official interpretation or application of the laws, treaties (including protocols), regulations or rulings of a Relevant Tax Jurisdiction (including by virtue of a holding, judgment or order by a court of competent jurisdiction or a change in published administrative practice), which change is first publicly announced and becomes effective after the Issue Date (or, if the Relevant Tax Jurisdiction did not become a Relevant Tax Jurisdiction until a later date, after such later date), and (b) such obligation cannot be avoided by the Issuer’s taking reasonable measures available to the Issuer or any Guarantor (provided that changing the jurisdiction of the Issuer or any Guarantor is not a reasonable measure for this purpose), the Issuer may at its option, having given not less than 30 days’ notice to the holders of such Notes (which notice shall be irrevocable), redeem all, but not a portion of, the Notes at any time a price equal to their principal amount plus interest accrued to, but excluding, the date of redemption (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), provided that no such notice of redemption shall be given earlier than 60 days prior to the earliest date on which the Issuer or any Guarantor would be obliged to pay such Additional Amounts were a payment in respect of the Notes then due); and provided further that in the case of a Guarantor, no redemption shall be permitted under this section if the Issuer or any other Guarantor can make payments on the Notes without the obligation to pay Additional Amounts. Prior to the publication or, where relevant, mailing of any notice of redemption pursuant to this paragraph, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee (i) a certificate of an officer of the Issuer stating that the requirements described in clause (a) above is satisfied, and (ii) an opinion of an independent counsel of recognized standing to the effect that the Issuer or any Guarantor has or will become obliged to pay such Additional Amounts as a result of a change or amendment described in clause (a) above. The Trustee shall accept, and will be entitled to rely on, such certificate and opinion of counsel as sufficient evidence of the existence and satisfaction of the conditions described in clause (a) above, and upon such acceptance by the Trustee the Issuer will be entitled to give notice of redemption hereunder and such notice of redemption will be conclusive and binding on the holders of the Notes.

 

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(6) Repurchase at Option of Holder. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Issuer shall make an offer to each Holder of Notes to repurchase on the Change of Control Payment Date all or any part of such Holder’s Notes (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) at a purchase price equal to 103.25% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date). Holders of Notes that are subject to an offer to purchase will receive a Change of Control Offer from the Issuer prior to any related Change of Control Payment Date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “Option of Holder To Elect Purchase” appearing below.

When the cumulative amount of Excess Proceeds that have not been applied in accordance with Section 4.10 of the Indenture exceeds $20.0 million, the Issuer shall make an offer to all Holders of the Notes (an “Excess Proceeds Offer”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased out of such Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 102.25% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest to the date fixed for the closing of such offer in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. To the extent the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary is required under the terms of other First Lien Obligations of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary (other than Subordinated Indebtedness), the Issuer shall also make a pro rata offer to the holders of such First Lien Obligations (including the Notes) with such proceeds. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other First Lien Obligations surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of such Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis by lot, and, in the case of global notes, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary. To the extent that the principal amount of Notes tendered pursuant to an Excess Proceeds Offer is less than the amount of such Excess Proceeds, the Issuer may use any remaining Excess Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by the Indenture. Upon completion of an Excess Proceeds Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero. Holders of Notes that are subject to an offer to purchase will receive an Excess Proceeds Offer from the Issuer prior to any related Purchase Date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “Option of Holder To Elect Purchase” appearing below.

(7) Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption shall be transmitted at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address (with a copy to the Trustee). Notes may be redeemed in part but only in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 that are equal to or in excess of $2,000 (or if a Payment of PIK Interest has been made, in minimum denominations of $1.00 and integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof), unless all of the Notes held by a Holder of Notes are to be redeemed. On and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of them called for redemption unless the Issuer fails to redeem such Notes or such portions thereof.

(8) Suspension of Covenants. During any period of time after the Issue Date that (i) the Notes are rated Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies and (ii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the Indenture, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to Sections 4.07 (Limitation on Restricted Payments), 4.09 (Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness), 4.10 (Limitation on Asset Sales), clause (d) of the first paragraph of Section 5.01 (Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets), 4.11 (Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates), 4.08 (Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries) and 4.15 (Additional Subsidiary Guarantors).

(9) Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder of a Note, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. Neither the Issuer nor the Registrar is required to exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption. Also, it need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

 

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(10) Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment to the Trustee for registration of the transfer of this Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Issuer may deem and treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as its absolute owner for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, premium, and interest on this Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not this Note is overdue, and neither the Trustee, any Agent nor the Issuer shall be affected by notice to the contrary. The registered Holder of a Note shall be treated as its owner for all purposes.

(11) Amendments, Supplement and Waivers. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Guarantees or any amended or supplemental indenture may be amended or supplemented with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with an exchange offer or tender offer for the Notes), and any existing Default and its consequences or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with an exchange offer or tender offer for the Notes). Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder of Notes) (a) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver; (b) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes (other than as provided in clause (h) below); (c) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note; (d) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, or interest on the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration); (e) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes; (f) make any change in the provisions of the Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of or interest on the Notes; (g) waive a redemption payment or mandatory redemption with respect to any Note (other than as provided in clause (h) below); (h) amend, change or modify in any material respect the obligation of the Issuer to make and consummate a Change of Control Offer in the event of a Change of Control after such Change of Control has occurred; (i) release all or substantially all of the Guarantees of the Guarantors other than in accordance with Article 10 of the Indenture; (j) make any change in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions; (k) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to the Notes or the Guarantees; or (l) subordinate the payment of the Notes or Guarantees to any other obligation of the Issuers or the Guarantors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Collateral Documents or any amended or supplemental indenture may be amended or supplemented: to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency (as determined by the Issuer in good faith); to provide for uncertificated Notes or Guarantees in addition to or in place of certificated Notes or Guarantees; to provide for the assumption of the obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor to the Holders of the Notes in the case of a merger, amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation pursuant to Article 5 or Article 10 of the Indenture; to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the rights under the Indenture of any Holder of the Notes in any material respect; to provide for the issuance of additional Notes in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Indenture; to evidence and provide for the acceptance of an appointment of a successor Trustee; to comply with the rules of any applicable securities depository; to add Guarantees with respect to the Notes; to release Collateral from the Liens securing the Notes and the Guarantees when permitted or required by the Collateral Documents, the Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement; to enter into any intercreditor agreement having substantially similar terms with respect to the holders of the Notes as those set forth in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, or any joinder thereto, or to enter into any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement in connection with the incurrence of any Future First Lien Obligations or Junior Lien Obligations not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture; or with respect to the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, as provided in the relevant Collateral Document or First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of holders of at least 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, no amendment or waiver may (i) release all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Liens securing the Notes Obligations created by the Collateral Documents, (ii) change or alter the priority of the Liens securing the Notes Obligations created by the Collateral Documents in any manner adverse to the holders of the Notes, or (iii) make any change in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or in the provisions of the Indenture or any Collateral Document dealing with the application of proceeds of the Collateral that would materially adversely affect the Holders or alter the priority of the security interests in the Collateral.

 

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(12) Defaults and Remedies. Each of the following constitutes an Event of Default:

(a) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest or additional interest, if any, on the Notes;

(b) default in payment when due of principal of or premium, on the Notes at maturity, upon repurchase, redemption or otherwise;

(c) failure to comply for 30 days after notice with any obligations under the provisions described under Sections 3.08 (other than a failure to purchase Notes duly tendered to the Issuer for repurchase pursuant to a Change of Control Offer or an Excess Proceeds Offer), 4.10, 4.17 and 5.01 of the Indenture;

(d) subject to Section 6.04 of the Indenture, default under any other provision of the Indenture or the Notes, which default remains uncured for 60 days after notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount then outstanding of the Notes;

(e) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed (or commitments in respect of Indebtedness for borrowed money (in each case, which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any related Liens thereto) by the Issuer and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Issuer and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries), which default is caused by a failure to pay the principal of such Indebtedness at the final stated maturity thereof within the grace period provided in such Indebtedness (a “Payment Default”), and the principal amount of any such Indebtedness (including the principal amount of commitments in respect of such Indebtedness), together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness (including the principal amount of commitments in respect of such Indebtedness) under which there has been a Payment Default, aggregates $25.0 million or more;

(f) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed (or commitments in respect of Indebtedness for borrowed money (in each case, which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any related Liens thereto) by the Issuer and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), which default results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness (or termination of related commitments) prior to its express maturity not rescinded or cured within 30 days after such acceleration (or termination of related commitments), and the principal amount of any such Indebtedness (including the principal amount of commitments in respect of such Indebtedness), together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness (including the principal amount of commitments in respect of such Indebtedness) under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated (or commitments terminated) and remains undischarged after such 30 day period, aggregates $25.0 million or more;

(g) failure by the Issuer and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments (other than any judgment as to which a reputable insurance company has accepted full liability) aggregating $25.0 million or more, which judgments are not stayed within 60 days after their entry;

(h) any Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) shall be held in a judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect, or any Guarantor that qualifies as a Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), or any person acting on behalf of any Guarantor that qualifies as a Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under its Guarantee;

 

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(i) the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law (i) commences a voluntary case or proceeding under Bankruptcy Law; (ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding under Bankruptcy Law; (iii) consents to the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, receiver and manager, monitor or interim receiver of it or for all or substantially all of its property; or (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; and

(j) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that: (i) is for relief against the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of the Issuer in an involuntary case or proceeding; (ii) appoints a custodian, trustee, receiver, receiver and manager, monitor or interim receiver of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of the Issuer or for all or substantially all of the property of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of the Issuer; or (iii) orders the liquidation of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days.

(k) any Collateral Document after delivery thereof shall for any reason cease (or shall be asserted in writing by the Issuer or any Guarantor to cease) to create a valid and perfected first-priority Lien to the extent required by the Collateral Documents (subject to no other Liens other than Permitted Liens) on Collateral that is (i) purported to be covered thereby and (ii) comprises Property which, when taken together with all Property as to which such a Lien has so ceased to be effective, has a fair market value in excess of $25.0 million (other than (x) in accordance with the terms of the Indenture or the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Documents or (y) except to the extent that any such cessation of the Liens results from the failure of the administrative agent under the Credit Facilities or the Applicable Authorized Representative, as the case may be, in each case, as bailee for the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, to maintain possession of certificates actually delivered to it representing securities pledged under the Collateral Documents).

If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, by notice to the Issuer, or the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount then outstanding of the Notes, by written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee, may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default specified in paragraph (i) or (j) of Section 6.01 of the Indenture, all outstanding Notes shall become and shall be immediately due and payable without further action or notice. Holders of the Notes may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in such Holders’ interest.

However, a Default under Section 6.01(c), Section 6.01(d) or Section 6.01(g) of the Indenture will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes notify the Issuer of the Default and, with respect to Section 6.01(c) or Section 6.01(g) of the Indenture, the Issuer does not cure such Default within the time specified in Section 6.01(c) or Section 6.01(g) of the Indenture after the occurrence of such Default; provided that a notice of Default may not be given with respect to any action taken, and reported publicly or to holders, more than two years prior to such notice of Default.

Any failure to perform under, or breach of, Section 4.03 of the Indenture shall not be a Default or an Event of Default until the 121st day after the Issuer has received the notice referred to in clause (d) of Section 6.01 of the Indenture (at which point, unless cured or waived, such failure to perform or breach shall constitute an Event of Default). Any failure to perform, or breach of any covenant or agreement pursuant to Section 4.03 of the Indenture, shall automatically cease to be outstanding and shall be deemed to be cured at such time as the Issuer furnishes or files the applicable information or report.

 

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The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all the Holders rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal, interest or premium that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, by written notice to the Trustee, may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest or premium on, or principal of, the Notes.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing in Article VI of the Indenture or this paragraph (12), it is understood and agreed that if the Notes are accelerated as a result of an Event of Default (including an acceleration upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Issuer or any Guarantor under Bankruptcy Law or upon the occurrence of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 6.01(i) or (j) of the Indenture), the Notes that become due and payable shall include the applicable optional redemption premium as of such date set forth in Section 3.07(a) of the Indenture, which shall become immediately due and payable by the Issuer and the Guarantors and shall constitute part of the Obligations as if the Notes were being optionally redeemed as of such date, in view of the impracticability and extreme difficulty of ascertaining actual damages and by mutual agreement of the parties as to a reasonable calculation of each Holder’s lost profits and actual damages as a result thereof. The optional redemption premiums shall also be automatically and immediately due and payable if the Notes are satisfied or released by foreclosure (whether by power of judicial proceeding or otherwise), deed in lieu of foreclosure or by any other means. The optional redemption premiums payable pursuant to this Indenture shall be presumed to be the liquidated damages sustained by each Holder as the result of the early repayment or prepayment of the Notes (and not unmatured interest or a penalty) and each of the Issuer and the Guarantors agrees that it is reasonable under the circumstances currently existing. EACH OF THE ISSUER AND THE GUARANTORS EXPRESSLY WAIVE (TO THE FULLEST EXTENT THEY MAY LAWFULLY DO SO) THE PROVISIONS OF ANY PRESENT OR FUTURE STATUTE OR LAW THAT PROHIBITS OR MAY PROHIBIT THE COLLECTION OF THE OPTIONAL REDEMPTION PREMIUMS, INCLUDING PAYMENT OF THE PREMIUM AT MATURITY, IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH ACCELERATION. Each of the Issuer and the other Guarantors expressly agree (to the fullest extent they may lawfully do so) that: (A) the optional redemption premiums are individually and collectively reasonable and the product of an arm’s length transaction between sophisticated business people, ably represented by counsel; (B) the optional redemption premiums shall each be payable notwithstanding the then prevailing market rates at the time payment or redemption is made; (C) there has been a course of conduct between Holders, the Issuer and the Guarantors giving specific consideration in this transaction for such agreement to pay the optional redemption premiums; and (D) the Issuer and the other Guarantors shall be estopped hereafter from claiming differently than as agreed to in this paragraph. Each of the Issuer and the Guarantors expressly acknowledge that its agreement to pay or guarantee the payment of the optional redemption premiums to the Holders as herein described are individually and collectively a material inducement to Holders to make available (or be deemed to make available) the Notes.

The Issuer is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture.

(13) Trustee Dealings with Issuer. The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledges of the Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer with the same rights if would have had if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the Commission for permission to continue as Trustee (if any of the Notes are registered pursuant to the Securities Act), or resign.

(14) No Personal Liability of Directors, Owners, Employees, Incorporators and Stockholders. No director, owner, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their Affiliates, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their Affiliates under this Note, 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 of the Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

(15) Guarantees. Payment of principal and interest (including interest on overdue principal and overdue interest, if lawful) is unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by each of the Guarantors.

 

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(16) Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

(17) Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of a Note or an assignee, such as TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

(18) CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Note Identification Procedures, the Issuer has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders of Notes. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed herein.

The Issuer will furnish to any Holder of a Note upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:

Akumin Inc.

8300 W Sunrise Blvd

Plantation, FL 33322

Facsimile No.: (954) 678-4489

Attention: General Counsel

 

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ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to

 

 

(Insert assignee’s Soc. Sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and Zip code)

and irrevocably appoint ______________ as agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.

 

 

Date:  

 

 

Your Signature:  

 

  (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee.


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have all or any part of this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.10 (Excess Proceeds Offer) or Section 4.17 (Change of Control) of the Indenture, check the appropriate box:

☐ Section 4.10     ☐ Section 4.17

If you want to have only part of the Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.17 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

$

 

Date:  

 

 

Your Signature:  

 

  (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee.


[ATTACHMENT FOR GLOBAL NOTES]

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN GLOBAL NOTE

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

 

Amount of

Decrease in

Principal Amount

of this Global Note

 

Amount of Increase

Principal Amount

of this Global Note

  

Principal Amount

of this Global Note
following such

Decrease (or

Increase)

  

Signature of

Authorized Officer

of Trustee or

Note Custodian


EXHIBIT B

[RESERVED]

 

B-1


EXHIBIT C

[FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER]

Akumin Inc.

8300 W Sunrise Blvd

Plantation, FL 33322

Facsimile No.: (954) 678-4489

Attention: General Counsel

UMB Bank, National Association

100 William Street, Suite 1850

New York, NY 10038

Attn: Corporate Trust

Re: Senior Secured Notes due 2027

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of February 6, 2024 (the “Indenture”), among Akumin Inc., as Issuer (the “Issuer”), the Guarantors named therein and UMB Bank, National Association, as trustee and notes collateral agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

______________ (the “Transferor”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $ ____ in such Note[s] or interests (the “Transfer”), to __________ (the “Transferee”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

 

1.    ☐     Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note or a Definitive Note Pursuant to Rule 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believed and believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
2.    ☐     Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note or a Definitive Note pursuant to Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a Person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person. Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

C-1


3.    ☐     Check and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in a Definitive Note pursuant to any provision of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

 

   (a)     ☐     such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;
         or
   (b)     ☐     such Transfer is being effected to the Issuer or a subsidiary thereof.
   (c)     ☐     such Transfer is being effected to an Institutional Accredited Investor and pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904, and the Transferor hereby further certifies that it has not engaged in any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act and the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note or Restricted Definitive Notes and the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is supported by (1) a certificate executed by the Transferee in the form of Exhibit E to the Indenture and (2) an Opinion of Counsel provided by the Transferor or the Transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification), to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
4.    ☐     Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note.
   (a)     ☐     Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Rule 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
   (b)     ☐     Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Regulation S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

C-2


   (c)     ☐     Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Other Exemption. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuer.

 

 

  [Insert Name of Transferor]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated:            

 

C-3


ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

1.   The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:
     [CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]
  (a)       a beneficial interest in the:
     (i)    ☐ 144A Global Note (CUSIP [ ]), or
     (ii)    ☐ Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP [ ]), or
  (b)       a Restricted Definitive Note.
2.   After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:
     [CHECK ONE]
  (c)       a beneficial interest in the:
     (i)    ☐ 144A Global Note (CUSIP [ ]), or
     (ii)    ☐ Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP [ ]), or
     (iii)    ☐ Unrestricted Global Note CUSIP [ ], or
  (d)       a Restricted Definitive Note; or
  (e)       an Unrestricted Definitive Note,
  in accordance with the terms of the Indenture

.

 

C-4


EXHIBIT D

[FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE]

Akumin Inc.

8300 W Sunrise Blvd

Plantation, FL 33322

Facsimile No.: (954) 678-4489

Attention: General Counsel

UMB Bank, National Association

100 William Street, Suite 1850

New York, NY 10038

Attn: Corporate Trust

Re: Senior Secured Notes due 2027

(CUSIP [ ])

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of February 6, 2024 (the “Indenture”), among Akumin Inc., as Issuer (the “Issuer”), the Guarantors named therein and UMB Bank, National Association, as trustee and notes collateral agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

_______________ (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $________ in such Note[s] or interests (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

1. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Unrestricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note.

(a) ☐ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(b) ☐ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(c) ☐ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

D-1


(d) ☐ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes for Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes.

(a) ☐ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Restricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

(b) ☐ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] _ 144A Global Note, _ Regulation S Global Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuer.

 

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated: ____________________

 

D-2


EXHIBIT E

[FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM

ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR]

Akumin Inc.

8300 W Sunrise Blvd

Plantation, FL 33322

Facsimile No.: (954) 678-4489

Attention: General Counsel

UMB Bank, National Association

100 William Street, Suite 1850

New York, NY 10038

Attn: Corporate Trust

Re: Senior Secured Notes due 2027

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of February 6, 2024 (the “Indenture”), among Akumin Inc., as Issuer (the “Issuer”), the Guarantors named therein and UMB Bank, National Association, as trustee and notes collateral agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

In connection with our proposed purchase of $_______ aggregate principal amount of:

 

  (a)

☐ a beneficial interest in a Global Note, or

 

  (b)

☐ a Definitive Note,

we confirm that:

1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes or any interest therein is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes or any interest therein except in compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

2. We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes and any interest therein may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter stated, that if we should sell the Notes or any interest therein, prior to the expiration of the holding period applicable to sales of the Notes under Rule 144 of the Securities Act, we will do so only (A) to the Issuer or any subsidiary thereof, (B) in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined therein), (C) to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes (or has furnished on its behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to you and to the Issuer a signed letter substantially in the form of this letter and an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act, (D) outside the United States in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (F) in accordance with another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act (and based upon an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Issuer) or (G) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any person purchasing the definitive Note or beneficial interest in a Global Note from us in a transaction meeting the requirements of clauses (A) through (F) of this paragraph a notice advising such purchaser that resales thereof are restricted as stated herein.

 

E-1


3. We understand that, on any proposed resale of the Notes or beneficial interest therein, we will be required to furnish to you and the Issuer such certifications, legal opinions and other information as you and the Issuer may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies with the foregoing restrictions. We further understand that the Notes purchased by us will bear a legend to the foregoing effect.

4. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

5. We are acquiring the Notes or beneficial interest therein purchased by us for our own account or for one or more accounts (each of which is an institutional “accredited investor”) as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion.

You and the Issuer are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.

 

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated: ____________________

 

E-2

Exhibit 10.2

Execution Version

 

AKUMIN INC.

AND

UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee and Collateral Agent

8.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2028

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of February 6, 2024

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE 1

 

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

Section 1.01

 

Definitions

     1  

Section 1.02

 

Other Definitions

     32  

Section 1.03

 

Divisions

     32  

Section 1.04

 

Rules of Construction

     32  

Section 1.05

 

Acts of Holders; Record Dates

     34  
ARTICLE 2

 

THE NOTES

 

Section 2.01

 

Form and Dating

     34  

Section 2.02

 

Form of Execution and Authentication

     36  

Section 2.03

 

Registrar and Paying Agent

     37  

Section 2.04

 

Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust

     37  

Section 2.05

 

Lists of Holders of the Notes

     37  

Section 2.06

 

Transfer and Exchange

     37  

Section 2.07

 

Replacement Notes

     45  

Section 2.08

 

Outstanding Notes

     45  

Section 2.09

 

Treasury Notes

     45  

Section 2.10

 

Temporary Notes

     45  

Section 2.11

 

Cancellation

     45  

Section 2.12

 

Defaulted Interest

     46  

Section 2.13

 

[Reserved]

     46  

Section 2.14

 

CUSIP Number

     46  
ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION

 

Section 3.01

 

Notices to Trustee

     46  

Section 3.02

 

Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed

     46  

Section 3.03

 

Notice of Redemption

     47  

Section 3.04

 

Effect of Notice of Redemption

     47  

Section 3.05

 

Deposit of Redemption Price

     47  

Section 3.06

 

[Reserved]

     48  

Section 3.07

 

Optional Redemption

     48  

Section 3.08

 

[Reserved]

     49  

Section 3.09

 

[Reserved]

     49  

Section 3.10

 

Excess Proceeds Offer

     49  
ARTICLE 4

 

COVENANTS

 

Section 4.01

 

Payment of Notes

     51  

Section 4.02

 

Maintenance of Office or Agency

     51  

Section 4.03

 

Reports

     51  

Section 4.04

 

Compliance Certificate

     53  

Section 4.05

 

Taxes

     53  

Section 4.06

 

Stay, Extension and Usury Laws

     54  

Section 4.07

 

Limitation on Restricted Payments

     54  


Section 4.08

 

Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries

     58  

Section 4.09

 

Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness

     59  

Section 4.10

 

Limitation on Asset Sales

     64  

Section 4.11

 

Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates

     66  

Section 4.12

 

Limitation on Liens

     68  

Section 4.13

 

Additional Subsidiary Guarantees

     68  

Section 4.14

 

Organizational Existence

     69  

Section 4.15

 

Change of Control

     69  

Section 4.16

 

Suspension of Covenants

     70  

Section 4.17

 

After-acquired Collateral

     71  

Section 4.18

 

Further Assurances

     71  

Section 4.19

 

Additional Amounts

     71  

Section 4.20

 

[Reserved]

     73  

Section 4.21

 

Limitation on Use of Proceeds of Stonepeak Direct Investment

     73  

Section 4.22

 

Post-Closing Covenant

     73  
ARTICLE 5

 

SUCCESSORS

 

Section 5.01

 

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

     73  

Section 5.02

 

Successor Corporation Substituted

     74  
ARTICLE 6

 

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.01

 

Events of Default

     74  

Section 6.02

 

Acceleration

     76  

Section 6.03

 

Other Remedies

     76  

Section 6.04

 

Waiver of Past Defaults

     77  

Section 6.05

 

Control by Majority

     77  

Section 6.06

 

Limitation on Suits

     77  

Section 6.07

 

Rights of Holders of Notes To Receive Payment

     77  

Section 6.08

 

Collection Suit by Trustee

     77  

Section 6.09

 

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     78  

Section 6.10

 

Priorities

     78  

Section 6.11

 

Undertaking for Costs

     78  
ARTICLE 7

 

TRUSTEE

 

Section 7.01

 

Duties of Trustee

     79  

Section 7.02

 

Rights of Trustee

     79  

Section 7.03

 

Individual Rights of Trustee

     80  

Section 7.04

 

Trustee’s Disclaimer

     80  

Section 7.05

 

Notice of Defaults

     81  

Section 7.06

 

Limitation on Duty in Respect of Collateral

     81  

Section 7.07

 

Compensation and Indemnity

     81  

Section 7.08

 

Replacement of Trustee

     82  

Section 7.09

 

Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.

     83  

Section 7.10

 

Eligibility; Disqualification

     83  

Section 7.11

 

Collateral Documents; Intercreditor Agreements

     83  


ARTICLE 8

 

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

 

Section 8.01

 

Termination of the Issuer’s Obligations

     84  

Section 8.02

 

Option To Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

     84  

Section 8.03

 

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Discharge

     84  

Section 8.04

 

Covenant Defeasance

     85  

Section 8.05

 

Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance

     85  

Section 8.06

 

Deposited Money and Government Securities To Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions

     86  

Section 8.07

 

Repayment to Issuer

     86  

Section 8.08

 

Reinstatement

     87  
ARTICLE 9

 

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

 

Section 9.01

 

Without Consent of Holders of Notes

     87  

Section 9.02

 

With Consent of Holders of Notes

     88  

Section 9.03

 

[Reserved]

     89  

Section 9.04

 

Revocation and Effect of Consents

     89  

Section 9.05

 

Notation on or Exchange of Notes

     90  

Section 9.06

 

Trustee, Collateral Agent To Sign Amendments, Etc.

     90  
ARTICLE 10

 

GUARANTEES

 

Section 10.01

 

Guarantee

     90  

Section 10.02

 

Execution and Delivery of Guarantees

     91  

Section 10.03

 

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets of Guarantors

     91  

Section 10.04

 

Successor Corporation Substituted

     92  

Section 10.05

 

Releases from Guarantees

     92  
ARTICLE 11

 

COLLATERAL

 

Section 11.01

 

Collateral Documents

     93  

Section 11.02

 

Release of Collateral

     94  

Section 11.03

 

Suits to Protect the Collateral

     94  

Section 11.04

 

Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Collateral Documents

     95  

Section 11.05

 

Purchaser Protected

     95  

Section 11.06

 

Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee

     95  

Section 11.07

 

Collateral Agent

     95  
ARTICLE 12

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 12.01

 

[Reserved]

     101  

Section 12.02

 

Notices

     101  

Section 12.03

 

[Reserved]

     102  

Section 12.04

 

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

     102  

Section 12.05

 

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

     102  


Section 12.06

 

Rules by Trustee and Agents

     103  

Section 12.07

 

No Personal Liability of Directors, Owners, Employees, Incorporators and Stockholders

     103  

Section 12.08

 

Governing Law

     103  

Section 12.09

 

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

     103  

Section 12.10

 

Successors

     103  

Section 12.11

 

Severability

     103  

Section 12.12

 

Counterpart Originals

     103  

Section 12.13

 

Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

     104  

Section 12.14

 

Force Majeure

     104  

Section 12.15

 

Waiver of Jury Trial

     104  

Section 12.16

 

Certain Tax Matters Related to the Trustee

     104  

Section 12.17

 

Submission to Jurisdiction

     105  

Section 12.18

 

Intercreditor Agreements

     105  

EXHIBITS

 

EXHIBIT A    FORM OF NOTE
EXHIBIT B    [RESERVED]
EXHIBIT C    FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
EXHIBIT D    FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
EXHIBIT E    FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR


INDENTURE, dated as of February 6, 2024, by and among Akumin Inc. (the “Issuer”), a Delaware corporation, the Guarantors (as hereinafter defined) and UMB Bank, National Association, as trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”) and notes collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”).

The Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as hereinafter defined) of the Issuer’s 8.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2028.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Issuer and Guarantors (as hereinafter defined) has duly authorized the execution and delivery hereof to provide for the issuance of the Notes and the Guarantees; and

WHEREAS, all things necessary (i) to make the Notes, when executed by the Issuer and authenticated and delivered hereunder and duly issued by the Issuer and delivered hereunder, the valid and binding obligations of the Issuer, (ii) to make the Guarantees when executed by the Guarantors and delivered hereunder the valid and binding obligations of the Guarantors, and (iii) to make this Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement of the Issuer and Guarantors, all in accordance with their respective terms, have been done.

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed as follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes.

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.01 Definitions.

144A Global Note” means a global note substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.

2027 Senior Notes” means new senior secured notes due 2027 in an aggregate principal amount of $436,222,000 issued by the Issuer on the Issue Date and governed by the 2027 Senior Notes Indenture.

2027 Senior Notes Collateral Agent” means UMB Bank, National Association, as notes collateral agent under the 2027 Senior Notes Documents.

2027 Senior Notes Documents” means the 2027 Senior Notes Indenture, the 2027 Senior Notes (including additional 2027 Senior Notes issued under the 2027 Senior Notes Indenture), the guarantees by the guarantors of the 2027 Senior Notes, the collateral documents for the 2027 Senior Notes, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if applicable.

2027 Senior Notes Indenture” means the Indenture governing the 2027 Senior Notes.

2027 Senior Notes Obligations” means all Obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors under the 2027 Senior Notes Documents.

2027 Senior Notes Trustee” means UMB Bank, National Association, as trustee under the 2027 Senior Notes Documents.

Acquired Debt” means, with respect to any specified Person, Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person merges with or into or becomes a Subsidiary of such specified Person or is a Subsidiary of such other Person at the time of such merger or acquisition, or Indebtedness incurred by such Person in connection with the acquisition of assets.


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.

Agent” means the Collateral Agent, any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar.

Applicable Authorized Representative” means (i) prior to the Applicable Authorized Agent Change Date, the Credit Agreement Administrative Agent and (ii) on and following the Applicable Authorized Agent Change Date, the Major Non-Controlling Authorized Representative (as defined in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement).

Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary that apply to such transfer or exchange.

Asset Acquisition” means (i) an Investment by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer in any other Person pursuant to which such Person shall become a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, or shall be merged, consolidated, arranged or amalgamated with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, or (ii) the acquisition by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer of the assets of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or comprise any division or line of business of such Person.

Asset Sale” means any sale, issuance, conveyance, transfer, lease, assignment or other disposition by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Person other than the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (including by means of a merger, amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation or through the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Preferred Equity Interests of Restricted Subsidiaries issued in compliance with Section 4.09 and other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares or interests required to be held by foreign nationals or third parties to the extent required by applicable law) (collectively, for purposes of this definition, a “transfer”)), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of any assets of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than sales of inventory and other transfers of assets in the ordinary course of business). For purposes of this definition, the term “Asset Sale” shall not include:

(a) transfers of cash or Cash Equivalents, Marketable Securities and Investment Grade Securities;

(b) transfers of assets of the Issuer (including Equity Interests) that are governed by, and made in accordance with, the first paragraph of Section 5.01;

(c) Permitted Investments and Restricted Payments not prohibited under Section 4.07;

(d) the creation of or realization on any Lien not prohibited under this Indenture;

(e) transfers of damaged, worn-out or obsolete equipment or assets that, in the Issuer’s reasonable judgment, are no longer used or useful in the business of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(f) sales or grants of licenses or sublicenses to use the patents, trade secrets, know-how and other intellectual property, or abandonment thereof, and licenses, leases or subleases of other assets, of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent not materially interfering with the business of Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(g) the lease, assignment, license, sublease or sublicense of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(h) any transfer or series of related transfers that, but for this clause, would be Asset Sales, if the aggregate Fair Market Value of the assets transferred in such transaction or series of related transactions does not exceed the greater of $40.0 million and 20.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis), in the aggregate during the term of this Indenture;

(i) any sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other assets or securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(j) the sale, transfer or other disposition of Hedging Obligations incurred in accordance with this Indenture;

(k) sales of assets received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries upon the foreclosure on a Lien;

(l) the sale of any property in a sale-leaseback transaction within six months of the acquisition of such property;

(m) (i) any loss or destruction of or damage to any property or asset or receipt of insurance proceeds in connection therewith or (ii) any institution of a proceeding for, or actual condemnation, seizure or taking by exercise of the power of eminent domain or otherwise of such property or asset, or confiscation of such property or asset or the requisition of the use of such property or asset or settlement in lieu of the foregoing;

(n) sales, transfers or other dispositions to Professional Services Affiliates in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices pursuant to Management Services Agreements;

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

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

(q) the lease, assignment, license, sublease or sublicense of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

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

(s) (i) dispositions of property to the extent that such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property that is promptly purchased and (ii) dispositions of property to the extent that the proceeds of such disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property (which replacement property is actually promptly purchased);

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

 

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(u) the sale of non-voting Preferred Equity Interests in a Restricted Subsidiary to a Strategic Investor in the ordinary course of business and for a bona fide business purpose;

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

(w) any sale, contribution, transfer, assignment or other disposition of Receivables Assets, or participations therein to a Receivables Subsidiary, in connection with any Receivables Facility.

Authorized Representative” means, at any time, (i) in the case of any Credit Agreement Obligations or the Credit Agreement Secured Parties, the Credit Agreement Administrative Agent, (ii) in the case of the Notes Obligations or the Notes Secured Parties, the Trustee, (iii) in the case of the 2027 Senior Notes Obligations, the 2027 Senior Notes Collateral Agent and (iv) in the case of any Series of Future First Lien Obligations or Future First Lien Secured Parties that become subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement after the Issue Date, the authorized representative named for such Series in the applicable joinder to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 U.S.C., as now or hereinafter in effect, or any successor thereto.

Bankruptcy Law” means the Bankruptcy Code or any similar federal, state, provincial or foreign law for the relief of debtors and any other applicable federal, state or provincial corporate statute relating to the compromise or arrangement of indebtedness.

Board of Directors” means:

(1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or, except in the context of the definition of “Change of Control,” a duly authorized committee thereof;

(2) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors or other governing body of the general partner of the partnership; and

(3) with respect to any other Person, the board of directors or managers or any other governing body of such Person serving a similar function.

Broker-Dealer” means any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York, the state in which the Corporate Trust Office is located or place of payment are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

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

Capital Lease Obligations” means, as to any Person, the obligations of such Person under a lease that are required to be classified and accounted for as capital lease obligations under GAAP and, for purposes of this definition, the amount of such obligations at the time any determination thereof is to be made shall be the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be so required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

Capital Markets Indebtedness” means Indebtedness under or in respect of one or more credit agreements, indentures or debt facilities, in each case with banks, investment banks, insurance companies, mutual funds or other lenders or institutional investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, notes or debt securities.

 

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Capital Stock” means any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents, however designated, of corporate stock or partnership or membership interests, whether common or preferred.

Cash Equivalents” means:

(a) United States dollars, Canadian dollars, Euros or any national currency of any participating member state of the European Union or such local currencies held by the Issuer and its Subsidiaries from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(b) Government Securities having maturities of not more than twelve (12) months from the date of acquisition;

(c) 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 in excess of $500.0 million;

(d) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (b) and (c) entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (c) above;

(e) commercial paper issued by any issuer bearing at least a “2” rating for any short-term rating provided by Moody’s or S&P and maturing within two hundred seventy (270) days of the date of acquisition;

(f) variable or fixed rate notes issued by any issuer rated at least AA by S&P (or the equivalent thereof) or at least Aa2 by Moody’s (or the equivalent thereof) and maturing within one (1) year of the date of acquisition; and

(g) money market funds or programs (x) offered by any commercial or investment bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (a) through (f) of this definition, (y) offered by any other nationally recognized financial institution (i) at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (a) through (f), (ii) are rated AAA and (iii) the fund is at least $4 billion or (z) registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that are administered by reputable financial institutions having capital and surplus of at least $500.0 million and the portfolios of which are limited to investments of the character described in the foregoing subclauses hereof.

CFC” means a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Internal Revenue Code.

CFC Holdco” means any Domestic Subsidiary with no material assets other than the Capital Stock of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs.

Change of Control” means:

(1) the Issuer becomes aware of (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Issue Date), other than Stonepeak, that is or becomes directly or indirectly the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Issue Date) of more than 50% of the total voting power of all classes of Capital Stock of the Issuer then outstanding and entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors (“Voting Stock”) of the Issuer; provided, that any transaction in which the Issuer becomes a subsidiary of another person will not constitute a Change of Control unless more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of such person is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Issue Date) other than Stonepeak; or

 

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(2) the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to a person (as defined in clause (1) above) other than the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or Stonepeak.

Notwithstanding the preceding or any provision of Section 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, (i) a person or group (as defined in clause (1) above) shall not be deemed to beneficially own Voting Stock subject to a stock or asset purchase agreement, merger agreement, option agreement, warrant agreement or similar agreement (or voting or option or similar agreement related thereto) until the consummation of the acquisition of the Voting Stock in connection with the transactions contemplated by such agreement and (ii) a person or group will not be deemed to beneficially own the Voting Stock of another Person as a result of its ownership of Voting Stock or other securities of such other Person’s parent entity (or related contractual rights) unless it owns 50% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock entitled to vote for the election of the board of directors of such parent entity having a majority of the aggregate votes on the board of directors (or similar body) of such parent entity.

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

Collateral” means all property and assets in which Liens are, or are purported to be, granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents.

Collateral Agent” means UMB Bank, National Association, in its capacity as notes collateral agent, until a successor replaces UMB Bank, National Association in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving as notes collateral agent under this Indenture.

Collateral Documents” means the Pledge and Security Agreement and any other documents executed and delivered in connection with the attachment or perfection of security interests to secure the Notes Obligations.

Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Consolidated EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period (i) plus, to the extent deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, and without duplication:

(a) provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital;

(b) Consolidated Interest Expense;

(c) Consolidated Non-Cash Charges of such Person for such period;

(d) any extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual losses or expenses, including, without limitation, (i) salary, benefit and other direct savings resulting from workforce reductions by such Person implemented during such period, (ii) severance or relocation costs or expenses and fees and restructuring costs of such Person during such period, (iii) costs and expenses incurred after the date of this Indenture related to employment of terminated employees incurred by such Person during such period, (iv) costs or charges (other than Consolidated Non-Cash Charges) incurred in connection with any Equity Offering, Permitted Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness permitted under this Indenture, including a refinancing thereof, and including any such costs and charges incurred in connection with the Transactions, (v) losses realized in connection with any business disposition or any disposition of assets outside the ordinary course of business or the disposition of securities and (vi) costs, expenses or losses arising out of, or related to, the ransomware incident that occurred on October 11, 2023, in each case without regard to any limitations of Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K, in each case without regard to any limitations of Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K;

 

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(e) [reserved];

(f) any proceeds from business interruption insurance received by such Person during such period, to the extent the associated losses arising out of the event that resulted in the payment of such business interruption insurance proceeds were included in computing Consolidated Net Income;

(g) the amount of loss or discount on sale of Receivables Assets and related assets in connection with a Receivables Facility;

(h) the adjustments contained in any due diligence quality of earnings report from time to time prepared with respect to the target of an acquisition or Investment by a nationally recognized accounting firm;

(i) the amount of “run-rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, operating improvements and cost synergies related to mergers and other business combinations, acquisitions, divestures, restructurings, cost savings initiatives and other similar initiatives consummated prior to or after the Issue Date projected by the Issuer in good faith as a result of actions either taken or are expected to be taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (in each case, in the good faith determination of the Issuer) within 24 months after a merger or other business combination, acquisition, divestiture, restructuring, cost savings initiative or other initiative (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions and cost synergies had been realized on the first day of the Measurement Period and as if such cost savings, operating expense reductions and cost synergies were realized during the entirety of the Measurement Period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during the Measurement Period from such actions; provided, that (x) no cost savings, operating expense reductions and cost synergies shall be added pursuant to this clause (i) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges otherwise added to Consolidated EBITDA, whether through a pro forma adjustment or otherwise, for the Measurement Period; (y) for purposes of this clause (i), “run-rate” means the full recurring benefit for a period that is associated with any action either taken or expected to be taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (in each case, in the good faith determination of the Issuer) and (z) the aggregate amount of “run-rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, operating improvements and cost synergies pursuant to this clause (i), together with any Pro Forma Cost Savings, shall not in the aggregate exceed 25% of Consolidated EBITDA during any Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such adjustments);

(j) unrealized or realized foreign exchange losses resulting from the impact of foreign currency changes;

(k) any costs or expenses incurred by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan, stock option plan, phantom equity plan, profits interests or any other management, employee benefit or other compensatory plan or agreement (and any successor plans or arrangements thereto), employment, termination or severance agreement, or any stock subscription or equityholder agreement, and any costs or expenses in connection with the roll-over, acceleration or payout of Capital Stock held by management, to the extent that such costs or expenses are non-cash or otherwise funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Issuer or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer; and

(l) any other non-cash charges, write-downs, expenses, losses or items reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period from the impact of acquisition method accounting adjustment and any non-cash write-up, write-down or write-off with respect to re-valuing assets and liabilities in connection with any Investment or any effects of adjustments resulting from the application of purchase accounting, purchase price accounting (including any step-up in inventory and loss of profit on the acquired inventory) (provided that if any such non-cash charge, write-down, expense, loss or item represents an

 

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accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, (A) the Issuer may elect not to add back such non-cash charge, expense or loss in the current period and (B) to the extent the Issuer elects to add back such non-cash charge, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA when paid);

(ii) minus, to the extent not excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, (x) non-cash gain or income of such Person for such period (except to the extent representing an accrual for future cash receipts or a reversal of a reserve that, when established, was not eligible to be a Consolidated Non-Cash Charge), (y) any extraordinary, non- recurring or unusual gains or income and without regard to any limitations of Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K and (z) the amount of gain on sale of Receivables Assets and related assets in connection with a Receivables Facility.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Consolidated EBITDA shall not include the Consolidated Net Income of, or any addbacks or adjustments related to, (x) the Minority Interest Allocation of any Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary, or (y) any Minority Investment other than to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the Issuer or a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary from such Minority Investment (and in such case, a pro rata portion (based on the amount of such dividends or distributions) of addbacks or adjustments may be made under this definition of Consolidated EBITDA).

Consolidated First Lien Indebtedness Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (1) the Total First Lien Debt as of such date of determination (on a consolidated basis) (provided that any Indebtedness of a Receivables Subsidiary under a Receivables Facility shall not be included in this clause (1)) minus unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of determination (on a consolidated basis) (excluding (x) any unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents from the proceeds of an incurrence of Indebtedness on such date and (y) any cash and Cash Equivalents of a Receivables Subsidiary) to (2) Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the period of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available, with such pro forma and other adjustments to each of Total First Lien Debt and Consolidated EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma and other adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.”

Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person, the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA of such Person during the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters (the “Measurement Period”) ending prior to the date of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for which internal financial statements are available (the “Transaction Date”) to Consolidated Fixed Charges of such Person for the Measurement Period. In addition to and without limitation of the foregoing, for purposes of this definition, “Consolidated EBITDA.” “Consolidated First Lien Indebtedness Leverage Ratio,” “Consolidated Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio,” “Consolidated Leverage Ratio” and “Consolidated Fixed Charges” shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis for the period of such calculation to:

(A) the incurrence or repayment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (and the application of the proceeds thereof) giving rise to the need to make such calculation and any incurrence or repayment of other Indebtedness (and the application of the proceeds thereof), occurring during the Measurement Period or at any time subsequent to the last day of the Measurement Period and on or prior to the Transaction Date, as if such incurrence or repayment, as the case may be (and the application of the proceeds thereof), occurred on the first day of the Measurement Period; and

(B) (x) any Asset Sales or other dispositions, discontinued operations or Asset Acquisitions or Investments (including, without limitation, any Asset Acquisition giving rise to the need to make such calculation as a result of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including any Person who becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the Asset Acquisition) incurring, assuming or otherwise being liable for Indebtedness or Acquired Debt and also including any Consolidated EBITDA attributable to the assets which are the subject of the Asset Acquisition, Investment or Asset Sale or other disposition during the Measurement Period) and (y) operational changes that the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries have both determined to make and have made, in each case, occurring during the Measurement Period or at any time subsequent to the last day of the Measurement Period and on or prior to the Transaction Date, as if such Asset Sale or other disposition, discontinued operations or Asset Acquisition or Investment (including the incurrence, assumption or liability for any such Indebtedness or Acquired Debt) or operational change had occurred on the first day of the Measurement Period, in each case giving effect to any Pro Forma Cost Savings resulting from any Asset Sale or other disposition, discontinued operations or Asset Acquisition, Investment or operational change.

 

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For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any pro forma event, the pro forma calculations will be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer.

Furthermore, in calculating “Consolidated Fixed Charges” for purposes of determining the denominator (but not the numerator) of this “Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”:

(1) interest on outstanding Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis as of the Transaction Date and which will continue to be so determined thereafter shall be deemed to have accrued at a fixed rate per annum equal to the rate of interest on such Indebtedness in effect on the Transaction Date; and

(2) notwithstanding clause (1) above, interest on Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis, to the extent such interest is covered by agreements relating to Hedging Obligations, shall be deemed to accrue at the rate per annum resulting after giving effect to the operation of such agreements.

For purposes of calculating the pro forma Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio with respect to the issuance of Preferred Equity Interests, any required dividends or other distributions on account of such Preferred Equity Interests shall be deemed to be Consolidated Fixed Charges of such Person during the applicable Measurement Period.

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

(1) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period; plus

(2) the amount of all dividend payments on any series of Disqualified Stock of such Person or such Person’s Restricted Subsidiaries or Preferred Equity Interest of such Person or such Person’s Restricted Subsidiaries (other than (x) dividends paid in Qualified Capital Stock and (y) dividends paid by a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person to such Person or to a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person) paid, accrued or scheduled to be paid or accrued during such period; minus

(3) the consolidated interest income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether received or accrued, to the extent such income was included in determining Consolidated Net Income.

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, consolidated interest expense of such Person for such period, whether paid or accrued, including amortization of original issue discount, non-cash interest payments (but excluding any non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement in mark-to-market valuation of any Hedging obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP) and the interest component of Capital Lease Obligations, on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP, but excluding amortization or write-off of deferred financing fees and expensing of any other financing fees, and the non-cash portion of interest expense resulting from the reduction in the carrying value under purchase accounting of outstanding Indebtedness; provided that, for purposes of calculating consolidated interest expense, no effect will be given to the discount and/or premium resulting from accounting for derivatives in accordance with GAAP as a result of the terms of the Indebtedness to which such consolidated interest expense applies; provided, further, that with respect to the calculation of the consolidated interest expense of the Issuer, (A) commissions, discounts, yield, and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Receivables Facility and (B) the interest expense of Unrestricted Subsidiaries and any Person that is not a Subsidiary shall, in each case, be excluded.

 

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Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (i) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness for borrowed money (which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any related Liens thereto), Indebtedness evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or drawn letters of credit and Purchase Money Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis, to the extent required to be recorded on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP (provided that any Indebtedness of a Receivables Subsidiary under a Receivables Facility shall not be included in this clause (i)) minus unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of determination (on a consolidated basis) (excluding (x) any unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents from the proceeds of an incurrence of Indebtedness on such date and (y) any cash and Cash Equivalents of a Receivables Subsidiary), to (ii) the Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the period of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements prepared on a consolidated basis are available, with such pro forma and other adjustments to each of Indebtedness and Consolidated EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma and other adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.”

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, determined in accordance with GAAP, and without reduction for any dividends on Preferred Equity Interests; provided, however, that:

(a) the Net Income of any Person that is not a Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions

paid in cash to the referent Person, in the case of a gain, or to the extent of any contributions or other payments by the referent Person, in the case of a loss;

(b) the Net Income of any Person that is an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the referent Person;

(c) solely for purposes of Section 4.07, the Net Income of any Subsidiary of such Person that is not a Guarantor shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or bylaws or any other agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or government regulation to which it is subject; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of such Person will be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or converted to cash) by any such Subsidiary to such Person in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein;

(d) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles shall be excluded;

(e) any income (loss) (x) from the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments, (y) from sales or dispositions of assets (other than in the ordinary course of business), or (z) that is extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual (without regard to any limitations of Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K), in each case, shall be excluded;

(f) any unrealized or realized gains or losses in respect of any Hedging Obligations or any ineffectiveness recognized in earnings related to hedge transactions or the fair value of changes therein recognized in earnings for derivatives that do not qualify as hedge transactions shall be excluded;

(g) any non-cash compensation expense recorded from grants and periodic remeasurements of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights shall be excluded;

(h) any non-cash impairment charge or asset write-off, in each case, pursuant to GAAP, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP shall be excluded;

(i) any fees, expenses and other charges in connection with the Transactions or any acquisition, investment, asset disposition, issuance or repayment of debt, issuance of Equity Interests, refinancing transaction or amendment or other modification of any debt instrument shall be excluded;

 

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(j) gains and losses resulting solely from fluctuations in foreign currencies shall be excluded;

(k) (i) the Net Income (loss) attributable to any Restricted Subsidiary that constitutes a Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary shall be included but shall exclude the Minority Interest Allocation attributable to that Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) any Minority Investment attributable to any Restricted Subsidiary shall be included only to the extent of the amounts of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the referent Person;

(l) any gain (or loss) (a) in respect of facilities no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries, abandoned, closed, disposed or discontinued operations, (b) on disposal, abandonment or discontinuance of disposed, abandoned, closed or discontinued operations, and (c) attributable to asset dispositions, abandonments, sales or other dispositions of any asset (including pursuant to any Sale and Leaseback Transaction) or the designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary other than in the ordinary course of business shall be excluded.

Consolidated Non-Cash Charges” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate depreciation, amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period), impairment, compensation, rent, other non-cash expenses and write-offs and write-downs of assets (including non-cash charges, losses or expenses attributable to the movement in the mark-to-market valuation of Hedging Obligations or in connection with the early extinguishment of Hedging Obligations) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries reducing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP, but excluding any such charge which consists of or requires an accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges for any future period.

Consolidated Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (1) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Indebtedness evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or drawn letters of credit and Purchase Money Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date (determined on a consolidated basis), in each case, which are secured by a Lien on the assets or property of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (provided that any Indebtedness of a Receivables Subsidiary under a Receivables Facility shall not be included in this clause (1)), minus unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of determination (on a consolidated basis) (excluding (x) any unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents from the proceeds of an incurrence of Indebtedness on such date and (y) any cash and Cash Equivalents of a Receivables Subsidiary) to (2) Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the period of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available, with such pro forma and other adjustments to Indebtedness and Consolidated EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma and other adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.”

continuing” means, with respect to any Default or Event of Default, that such Default or Event of Default has not been cured or waived.

Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

Corporate Trust Office” means the designated corporate trust office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which at the date hereof is located at 100 William Street, Suite 1850, New York, New York 10038, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer, or the designated corporate trust office of any successor trustee (or such other address as such successor trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer).

 

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Credit Agreement” means that certain credit agreement, dated as of February 6, 2024, by and among the Issuer, as borrower, certain subsidiaries of the Issuer as guarantors, certain lenders party thereto from time to time, PNC Bank, National Association, as successor to BBVA USA, as administrative agent (and any successor thereto, in each case, the “Credit Agreement Administrative Agent”) and collateral agent (and any successor thereto, in each case, the “Credit Agreement Collateral Agent”), and the other parties party thereto, together with the related documents thereto (including, without limitation, any guarantee agreements and security documents), as such agreement or facility may be amended (including any amendment and restatement thereof), supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreement exchanging, extending the maturity of, refinancing, renewing, replacing, substituting or otherwise restructuring, whether in the bank or debt capital markets, including securities (or combination thereof), all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or facility or any successor or replacement agreement or facility or indenture.

Credit Agreement Administrative Agent” has the meaning provided in the term “Credit Agreement.”

Credit Agreement Collateral Agent” has the meaning provided in the term “Credit Agreement.”

Credit Agreement Documents” means the collective reference to the Credit Agreement, any notes issued pursuant thereto and the guarantees thereof, and the collateral documents relating thereto, and any other documents, certificates, instruments or agreements executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Issuer or any Guarantor for the benefit of the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent or any Credit Agreement Secured Party in connection therewith that specifically identifies itself as a “Credit Document,” a “Loan Document” or similar term, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, refunded, replaced, restructured, repaid, refinanced or otherwise modified, in whole or in part, from time to time.

Credit Agreement Obligations” means (i) all Obligations under the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Agreement Documents and (ii) all hedging obligations and cash management obligations that are secured by liens on the Collateral pursuant to the Credit Agreement Documents.

Credit Agreement Secured Parties” means the Credit Agreement Administrative Agent, the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent and the holders from time to time of Credit Agreement Obligations.

Credit Facilities” means one or more credit agreements, indentures or debt facilities to which the Issuer and/or one or more of the Guarantors is party from time to time (including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement), in each case with banks, investment banks, insurance companies, mutual funds or other lenders or institutional investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, debt securities, banker’s acceptances, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case as such agreements or facilities may be amended (including any amendment and restatement thereof), supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreement exchanging, extending the maturity of, refinancing, renewing, replacing, substituting or otherwise restructuring, whether in the bank or debt capital markets (or combination thereof) all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or facility or any successor or replacement agreement or facility.

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.

Definitive Note” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

Depositary” means DTC and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to an applicable provision hereof.

 

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Designated Non-cash Consideration” means the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, from a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer, less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale, redemption, repurchase of, or collection or payment on, such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

Designated Preferred Stock” means Preferred Equity Interests of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock), that is issued for cash (other than to any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries or an employee stock plan or trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, on the date of issuance thereof, the cash proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in Section 4.07(a)(3).

Discharge” means, with respect to any Collateral and any Series of First Lien Obligations, the date on which such Series of Liens Obligations is no longer secured by such Collateral in accordance with the terms of the documentation governing such Series of First Lien Obligations.

Disqualified Stock” means any Capital Stock which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date on which the Notes mature; provided, however, that any such Capital Stock may require the issuer of such Capital Stock to make an offer to purchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of certain events if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that such an offer may not be satisfied and the purchase of such Capital Stock may not be consummated until the 91st day after the purchase of the Notes as required by Section 4.15.

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

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

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

Eligible Institution” means a commercial banking institution that has combined capital and surplus of not less than $500.0 million or its equivalent in foreign currency, whose debt is rated by at least two nationally recognized statistical rating organizations in one of each such organization’s four highest generic rating categories at the time as of which any investment or rollover therein is made.

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). For the avoidance of doubt, a debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, any combination of cash and Capital Stock based on the value of such Capital Stock will satisfy the exclusion set forth in the parenthetical to the preceding sentence.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (and any successor statute) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Excluded Property” means:

(a) vehicles or other assets covered by a certificate of title or ownership;

(b) any interest in real property (whether fee or leasehold or otherwise);

(c) commercial tort claims with a value of less than $5.0 million (with such value determined by the Issuer in good faith);

 

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(d) those assets as to which the Issuer and the Credit Agreement Administrative Agent shall reasonably determine in writing that the costs of obtaining such security interest are excessive in relation to the value of the security to be afforded thereby; provided that the Collateral Agent shall have received written notice of such determination and if such assets have a fair market value (as determined by the Issuer) in excess of $7.5 million, such assets do not secure (or purport to secure) any other First Lien Obligations or any Junior Lien Obligations;

(e) assets if the granting or perfecting of a security interest in such assets in favor of the Collateral Agent would violate any applicable law (other than to the extent that any such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction or other similar applicable law in any jurisdiction) or principles of equity;

(f) any right, title or interest in any instrument, permit, lease, intangible, general intangible (other than Equity Interests), license, contract or agreement to the extent, but only to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein to secure the Notes Obligations would, under the terms of such instrument,

permit, lease, intangible, general intangible (other than Equity Interests), license, contract or agreement, result in a breach of the terms of, or constitute a default under, or result in the abandonment, termination, invalidation or unenforceability of, or require the consent of any Person other than the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, which has not been obtained under such instrument, permit, lease, intangible, general intangible, license, contract or agreement (other than to the extent that any such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction or any other applicable law (including, without limitation, Title 11 of the United States Code) or other similar applicable law in any jurisdiction or principles of equity);

(g) any Capital Stock acquired after the Issue Date (other than Capital Stock in a Subsidiary (including Professional Services Affiliates) issued or acquired after such Person became a Subsidiary) in accordance with this Indenture if, and to the extent that, and for so long as, in the case of this clause (g), (i) such Capital Stock constitutes less than 50% of all applicable Capital Stock of such Person, and the Person or Persons holding the remainder of such Capital Stock are not Affiliates of the Issuer to the extent and for so long as a grant of a security interest therein to secure the Notes Obligations would be prohibited by the organizational documents of such Person, (ii) the granting or perfecting of a security interest in such assets in favor of the Collateral Agent would violate applicable law or a contractual obligation binding on such Capital Stock and (iii) with respect to such contractual obligations (other than contractual obligations in connection with limited liability company agreements, stockholders’ agreements and other joint venture agreements), such obligation existed at the time of the acquisition of such Capital Stock and was not created or made binding on such Capital Stock in contemplation of or in connection with the acquisition of such Person;

(h) any Property purchased with the proceeds of Purchase Money Indebtedness or that is subject to a capital lease and/or synthetic leases and/or Indebtedness in respect of sale and leaseback transactions, in each case, incurred in accordance with Section 4.09, if the contract or other agreement in which the Indebtedness and/or Liens related thereto is granted (or the documentation providing for such obligation) prohibits or requires the consent of any person other than the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries as a condition to the creation of any other security interest on such Property;

(i) any Capital Stock of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(j) any Capital Stock of Receivables Subsidiaries;

(k) any assets of any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary or any property that is located outside of the United States to the extent a Lien thereon cannot be perfected by the filing of UCC financing statements or delivery of original promissory notes or stock certificates (solely to the extent otherwise required by the Notes Documents);

 

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(l) the “Excluded Accounts” as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement;

(m) any intent-to use Trademark applications prior to the filing of a “Statement of Use,” “Amendment to Allege Use” or similar filing with regard thereto, to the extent and solely during the period, in which the grant of a security interest therein may impair the validity or enforceability of any Trademark that may issue from such intent to use Trademark application under applicable law; and

(n) “margin stock” (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB);

provided, however, that Excluded Property shall not include (x) any Capital Stock of any Professional Services Affiliate and any agreements described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the definition of “PC Entity Requirements” or (y) any proceeds, substitutions or replacements of any Excluded Property referred to in clauses (a) through (n) (unless such Proceeds, substitutions or replacements would constitute Excluded Property referred to in clauses (a) through (n)).

In addition, control agreements shall not be required with respect to deposit accounts, securities accounts, or uncertificated securities.

Excluded Subsidiary” means (a) any Immaterial Subsidiary, (b) any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (c) any Subsidiary of the Issuer designated as an “Excluded Subsidiary” on the Issue Date, (d) any non-wholly owned Subsidiary, (e) any Subsidiary designated as an “Excluded Subsidiary” after the Issue Date by a written notice to the Trustee; provided that, any such designation pursuant to this clause (e) shall constitute an Investment permitted hereunder, (f) any captive insurance subsidiaries or not-for-profit subsidiaries, (g) any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary, (h) any Subsidiary that is prohibited by applicable Law, regulation or by any Contractual Obligation existing on the Issue Date or on the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary (as long as such Contractual Obligation was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary) from becoming a Guarantor or that would require a governmental (including regulatory) or third-party consent, approval, license or authorization that has not been obtained in order to become a Guarantor, (i) any Subsidiary to the extent that the burden or cost (including any adverse tax consequences) of obtaining a guaranty therefrom is excessive in relation to the benefit afforded thereby (as reasonably determined by the Trustee and the Issuer), (j) any Subsidiary that is (x) a CFC Holdco or (y) a Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC; provided that this clause (j) shall not apply to any Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as of the Issue Date and (k) any Receivables Subsidiary.

Existing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness (other than the Notes, the Guarantees and the Credit Agreement) of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries in existence on the Issue Date.

Fair Market Value” means the value (which, for the avoidance of doubt, will take into account any liabilities associated with related assets) that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated willing seller in an arm’s-length transaction not involving distress or compulsion of either party, determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Issuer (unless otherwise provided in this Indenture).

First Lien Documents” means (i) the Credit Agreement Documents, (ii) the Notes Documents, (iii) the 2027 Senior Notes Documents and (iv) all Future First Lien Documents.

First Lien Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness for borrowed money (which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any related Liens thereto) secured by a Lien on any assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary ranking pari passu with the Liens securing the Notes Obligations.

First Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuer, the other Grantors (as defined therein) from time to time party thereto, PNC, National Association, as successor to BBVA USA, as Credit Agreement Collateral Agent (as defined therein), PNC, National Association, as successor to BBVA USA, as Authorized Representative for the Credit Agreement Secured Parties (each as defined therein), UMB Bank, National Association, as Notes Collateral Agent (as defined therein), and UMB Bank, National Association, as Authorized Representative for the Notes Secured Parties (each as defined therein) (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time).

 

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First Lien Obligations” means (i) the Credit Agreement Obligations, (ii) the Notes Obligations, (iii) the 2027 Senior Notes Obligations and (iv) any Series of Future First Lien Obligations.

First Lien Secured Parties” means (i) the Credit Agreement Secured Parties, (ii) the Notes Secured Parties, (iii) the 2027 Senior Notes Secured Parties and (iv) any Future First Lien Secured Parties.

Foreign Currency Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person pursuant to any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer against fluctuations in currency values.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof, or the District of Columbia.

Future First Lien Documents” means, with respect to any Future First Lien Obligations, the notes, indentures, credit agreements, security documents, intercreditor agreements and other operative agreements evidencing or governing such Indebtedness and Liens securing such Indebtedness.

Future First Lien Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Issuer and/or the Guarantors that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral and ranks equally in right of payment and Lien priority to the Notes as permitted hereunder (other than Credit Agreement Obligations, 2027 Senior Notes Obligations and Notes Obligations); provided that (i) an authorized representative of the holders of such Indebtedness shall be a party to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or shall have executed a joinder to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (ii) the Issuer shall designate such Indebtedness as “Additional Pari Passu Obligations” under the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Future First Lien Obligations” means Obligations in respect of Future First Lien Indebtedness (other than Obligations with respect to additional Notes issued hereunder, which shall constitute Notes Obligations).

Future First Lien Secured Parties” means holders of any Future First Lien Obligations and any trustee, authorized representative or agent of such Future First Lien Obligations.

GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession of the United States, as in effect from time to time.

Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.01(b) hereof, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

Global Notes” means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto issued in accordance with Section 2.01 or 2.06 hereof.

Government Securities” means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed or insured by, the United States or any agency or instrumentality of the foregoing for the payment of which guarantee or obligations the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged.

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, without limitation, letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness.

Guarantee” means a guarantee by a Guarantor of the Notes.

 

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Guarantors” means all of the Issuer’s direct and indirect Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiaries (including the Issuer’s Professional Services Affiliates) other than any Excluded Subsidiaries.

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person pursuant to any arrangement with any other Person, whereby, directly or indirectly, such Person is entitled to receive from time to time periodic payments calculated by applying either floating or a fixed rate of interest on a stated notional amount in exchange for periodic payments made by such other Person calculated by applying a fixed or a floating rate of interest on the same notional amount and shall include, without limitation, interest rate swaps, caps, floors, collars and similar agreements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates.

Holder” means, with respect to any Note, the Person in whose name such Note is registered with the Registrar.

Immaterial Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Issuer designated as such in writing by the Issuer that had assets representing 2.5% or less of the Issuer’s and its Subsidiaries’ consolidated total assets (as shown on the most recent balance sheet required to be delivered hereunder), and generated less than 2.5% of the Issuer’s and its Subsidiaries’ total revenues for the four quarters ending on, the last day of the most recently ended Measurement Period; provided that, if all Subsidiaries that are individually “Immaterial Subsidiaries” have aggregate total assets that would represent 5.0% or more of the Issuer’s and its Subsidiaries’ consolidated total assets on such last day or generated 5.0% or more of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries’ total revenues for such four fiscal quarters, then such number of Subsidiaries of the Issuer as are necessary shall no longer be deemed Excluded Subsidiaries so that Subsidiaries that are “Immaterial Subsidiaries” have in the aggregate Total Assets that represent less than 5.0% of the Issuer’s and its Subsidiaries’ consolidated total assets and less than 5.0% of the Issuer’s and its Subsidiaries’ total revenues as of such last day or for such four quarters, as the case may be (it being understood that any such determination with respect to revenues and assets shall be made on a pro forma basis).

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of borrowed money (which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any related Liens thereto) or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, but excluding, in any case, any undrawn letters of credit), Purchase Money Indebtedness or representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property (including pursuant to capital leases) or representing any Hedging Obligations or Foreign Currency Obligations, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable, if and to the extent any of the foregoing (other than Hedging Obligations or Foreign Currency Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, and also includes, to the extent not otherwise included, the amount of all obligations of such Person with respect to any Disqualified Stock or, with respect to any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, the liquidation preference with respect to, any Preferred Equity Interests (but excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends) as well as the guarantee of items that would be included within this definition.

Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

Independent Financial Advisor” means a Person or entity which, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of the Issuer, is independent and otherwise qualified to perform the task for which it is to be engaged.

Indirect Participant” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.

Initial Notes” means the $354,583,000 in aggregate principal amount of 8.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 of the Issuer issued under this Indenture on the Issue Date.

Institutional Accredited Investor” means an institution that is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act.

 

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Investment Grade” designates a rating of BBB- or higher by S&P or Baa3 or higher by Moody’s or the equivalent of such ratings by S&P or Moody’s. In the event that the Issuer shall select any other Rating Agency, the equivalent of such ratings by such Rating Agency shall be used.

Investment Grade Securities” means:

(a) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality of the foregoing (other than Cash Equivalents) and in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

(b) securities that have a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s or BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act;

(c) Investments in any fund that invests at least 95% of its assets in Investments of the type described in clauses (a) and (b) which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment and/or distribution; and

(d) corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States customarily utilized for high quality Investments and in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition.

Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions, purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities and all other items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP (excluding accounts receivable, deposits and prepaid expenses in the ordinary course of business, endorsements for collection or deposits arising in the ordinary course of business, guarantees and intercompany notes permitted by Section 4.09, and commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business). For purposes of Section 4.07, the sale of Equity Interests of a Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary following which such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary shall be deemed to be an Investment by the Issuer in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Equity Interests of such Person held by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately following such sale.

Issue Date” means February 6, 2024 (the date of the first issuance of Notes under this Indenture).

Issuer” has the meaning provided in the preamble hereto.

Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Junior Lien Obligations.”

Junior Lien Obligations” means any Obligations that are secured by a Lien that is junior in priority to the Liens securing the Notes Obligations and is subject to a customary (as reasonably determined by the Issuer as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent) junior priority intercreditor agreement among the Credit Agreement Administrative Agent, the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the authorized agents of any holders of Future First Lien Obligations, and the authorized agent for any holders of Junior Lien Obligations (such intercreditor agreement, a “Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement”).

Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, hypothecation, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded, registered, published or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any lease in the nature thereof).

 

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Limited Condition Transaction” means any (a) acquisition or other Investment, including by way of purchase, merger, amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation or similar transaction, by the Issuer or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries, with respect to which the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary have entered into an agreement or is otherwise contractually committed to consummate and the consummation of which is not expressly conditioned upon the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing, and/or (b) the making of any irrevocable Restricted Payment.

Management Services Agreements” means an agreement, however styled, between (a) the Issuer or a Guarantor, on the one hand, and (b) a PC Entity, on the other hand, pursuant to which the Issuer or a Guarantor provides management services or similar services to such PC Entity. All references to Management Services Agreements shall also include all such related documents necessary to ensure that each relationship with each PC Entity meets the PC Entity Requirements.

Make Whole Amount” means, with respect to any Note at any redemption date, as determined by the Issuer, the greater of (i) 1.0% of the principal amount of such Note and (ii) the excess, if any, of (A) an amount equal to the present value of (1) the redemption price of such Note at August 1, 2024 plus (2) the remaining scheduled interest payments on the Notes to be redeemed (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date) to August 1, 2024 (other than interest accrued to the redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, over (B) the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed. The Trustee shall have no obligation to calculate or verify the calculation of the Make Whole Amount.

Marketable Securities” means (a) Government Securities; (b) any certificate of deposit maturing not more than 365 days after the date of acquisition issued by, or time deposit of, an Eligible Institution; (c) commercial paper maturing not more than 365 days after the date of acquisition issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Issuer) with a rating by at least two nationally recognized statistical rating organizations in one of each such organization’s four highest generic rating categories at the time as of which any investment therein is made, issued or offered by an Eligible Institution; (d) any bankers’ acceptances or money market deposit accounts issued or offered by an Eligible Institution; and (e) any fund investing exclusively in investments of the types described in clauses (a) through (d) above.

Measurement Period” has the meaning provided in the term “Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.”

Minority Interest Allocation” means, with respect to any measurement hereunder related to any Non- Wholly Owned Subsidiary, the portion of such amount that is allocable (based on the percentage of Equity Interests held in such Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary and any non-pro rata distribution on such Equity Interests received) to Persons other than the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Minority Investment” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity which is not a Subsidiary of such Person but of which any shares of securities or other interests are at the time beneficially owned, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Minority Investment” or to “Minority Investments” shall refer to a Minority Investment or Minority Investments of the Issuer.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP.

Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, in respect of any Asset Sale, net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions) and any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (estimated reasonably and in good faith by the Issuer and after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing

 

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arrangements), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness (other than First Lien Obligations and Junior Lien Obligations) secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale, any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets and any reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such Asset Sale and retained by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries after such Asset Sale, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters, or against any indemnification obligations associated with such Asset Sale. Net Proceeds shall exclude any non-cash proceeds received from any Asset Sale, but shall include such proceeds when and as converted by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to cash.

Non-Controlling Authorized Representative” means any Authorized Representative that is not the Applicable Authorized Representative at such time.

Non-U.S. Person” means a Person who is not a U.S. Person.

Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means any Person regarding which the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer owns less than 100% of the Equity Interests and which Person is consolidated with the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries under GAAP.

Notes” means the Initial Notes and any other notes issued after the Issue Date in accordance with the fourth paragraph of Section 2.02 hereof treated as a single class of securities.

Notes Documents” means the Notes (including additional Notes issued under this Indenture), the Guarantees, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if applicable, and this Indenture.

Notes Obligations” means all Obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors under the Notes Documents.

Notes Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Holders, together with their respective successors and assigns.

Obligations” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, expenses (including any interest, fees or expenses that accrue following the commencement of any insolvency or liquidation proceeding, whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, Controller, Secretary or any Vice President of such Person, or any other officer designated by the Board of Directors.

OfficersCertificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuer by two Officers of such Person or of such Person’s partner or managing member, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, treasurer or principal accounting officer of such Person or of such Person’s partner or managing member, that meets the requirements of Section 12.05.

Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion, in form satisfactory to the Trustee or Collateral Agent, as applicable, from legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer, that meets the requirements of Section 12.05 and may be subject to certain qualifications and assumptions that are consistent with similar opinions delivered to the agent or trustee for other Indebtedness of the Issuer, including as to matters of governing law.

Participant” means, with respect to the Depositary, a Person who has an account with the Depositary.

 

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PC Entity” means any Person (other than a natural Person), including any professional corporation, professional association, limited liability company or limited partnership, providing medical, healthcare or related professional services, to the extent any applicable requirement of law provides that the ownership of such Person shall be limited to appropriately licensed professionals (natural persons or professional corporations or similar entities which are wholly-owned by natural persons) who are duly licensed or otherwise legally authorized to render the specific professional services for which the Person is organized.

PC Entity Requirements” means (i) an executed management services agreement with the Issuer or a Guarantor, which terms shall include, but not be limited to, customary term and termination provisions, prohibitions on assignment by the PC Entity with no restrictions on assignment by the Issuer or any Guarantor, purchase provisions allowing the Issuer or a Guarantor (or other nominee designated by the Issuer or a Guarantor) to buy all assets of the PC Entity at a nominal price and a requirement that the PC Entity enter into cash management arrangements with the Issuer or a Guarantor providing such Issuer or Guarantor full dominion over such cash in a customary manner, including customary cash sweep agreements of cash to the Issuer or a Guarantor, (ii) customary stock transfer restriction agreements and (iii) customary non-compete and non-solicit agreements with the primary physician employees and physician owners of the PC Entity responsible for providing all or substantially all of such PC Entity’s professional services, including the Issuer, which non-compete and non-solicit agreements shall be in force during the term of each such party’s relationship with the PC Entity and for a customary period following termination of such Person’s relationship with the PC Entity for any reason.

Permitted Asset Swap” means the concurrent purchase and sale or exchange of assets used or useful in a Similar Business or a combination of such assets and cash, Cash Equivalents between the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided that (i) any cash or Cash Equivalents received in excess of the value of any cash or Cash Equivalents sold or exchanged must be applied in accordance with Section 4.10 and (ii) the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary receives assets or a combination of assets and cash or Cash Equivalents in an amount equal to or greater than the assets of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary sold or exchanged in such Permitted Asset Swap.

Permitted Business” means the businesses of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries conducted (or proposed to be conducted) on the Issue Date and any business reasonably related, ancillary or complimentary thereto and any reasonable extension or evolution of any of the foregoing.

Permitted Investments” means:

(a) Investments in the Issuer or in a Restricted Subsidiary, including the purchase of any Preferred Equity Interests issued to a Strategic Investor so long as such purchase complies with the first paragraph of Section 4.11;

(b) Investments in Cash Equivalents, Marketable Securities and Investment Grade Securities;

(c) any guarantee of obligations of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary permitted by Section 4.09;

(d) Investments by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries in a Person if, as a result of such Investment, (i) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) such Person is merged, consolidated or arranged or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(e) Investments received in settlement of debts and owing to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in satisfaction of judgments, in a foreclosure of a Lien or as payment on a claim made in connection with any bankruptcy, liquidation, receivership or other insolvency proceeding;

(f) any Investment existing on, or made pursuant to binding commitments or publicly announced but unconsummated transactions existing on, the Issue Date and any Investment consisting of an extension, modification, renewal, replacement, refunding or refinancing of any Investment existing on, or made pursuant to a binding commitment existing on, the Issue Date; provided that the amount of any such Investment may be increased (i) as required by the terms of such Investment as in existence on the Issue Date or (ii) as otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

 

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(g) Investments in any Person to the extent such Investment represents the non-cash portion of the consideration received for an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.10 or for an asset disposition that does not constitute an Asset Sale;

(h) loans or advances or other similar transactions with customers, distributors, clients, developers, suppliers, promoters, managers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case, in the ordinary course of business, regardless of frequency;

(i) other Investments in an amount not to exceed the greater of $70.0 million and 35.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis) (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value) at any one time outstanding for all Investments made after the Issue Date; provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause is made in any Person that is not the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such person becomes the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (a) or (d) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(j) any Investment solely in exchange for, or made with the proceeds of, the issuance of the Issuer’s Qualified Capital Stock;

(k) any Investment in connection with Hedging Obligations and Foreign Currency Obligations otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

(l) any contribution of any Investment in a joint venture or partnership that is not a Restricted Subsidiary to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary in exchange for an Investment in the Person to whom such contribution is made in an equivalent value;

(m) any Investment in any joint venture engaged in a Permitted Business, including without limitation by contribution of assets of any Restricted Subsidiary, not to exceed the greater of $60.0 million and 30.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis) outstanding at any time for Investments made after the Issue Date (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause is made in any Person that is not the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such person becomes the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (a) or (d) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause for so long as such person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(n) any Investment acquired after the Issue Date as a result of the acquisition by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of another Person, including by way of a merger, amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation with or into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a transaction that is not prohibited by this Indenture after the Issue Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

(o) any Investment consisting of deposits, prepayments and other credits to suppliers or landlords made in the ordinary course of business;

(p) guaranties made in the ordinary course of business of obligations owed to landlords, suppliers, customers and licensees of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(q) loans and advances to officers, directors and employees for (i) business-related travel expenses, moving and relocation expenses and other similar expenses, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business and (ii) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $15.0 million at any one time outstanding;

(r) any Investment consisting of the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons in the ordinary course of business;

(s) any Investment consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses of intellectual property or leases, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(t) any Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (t) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $40.0 million and 20.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis) (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause is made in any Person that is not the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such person becomes the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (a) or (d) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause for so long as such person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

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

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

(w) Investments in any Receivables Subsidiary or by a Receivables Subsidiary in any other Person made in connection with a Receivables Facility (including the contribution or lending of cash and Cash Equivalents to finance the purchase of Receivables Assets or to otherwise fund required reserves);

(x) other Investments if after giving effect to such Investment, (x) no Default or Event of Default under Section 6.01(a), Section 6.01(b) or Section 6.01(h) has occurred or is continuing and (y) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Issuer on a pro forma basis is equal to or less than 4.50 to 1.00.

In the event a Permitted Investment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories described in clauses (a) through (x) above, the Issuer will be entitled to divide or classify (or later, divide, classify or reclassify in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such Permitted Investment (or portion thereof) in any matter than complies with this definition.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries may be made under clause (t) above. No other categories described above or in Section 4.07 may be used to make Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

Permitted Liens” means:

(a) Liens securing the Notes issued on the Issue Date and Liens securing any Guarantee thereof;

 

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(b) Liens securing (x) Indebtedness under any Credit Facility (and related Hedging Obligations and cash management obligations to the extent such Liens arise under the definitive documentation governing such Indebtedness and the incurrence of such obligations is not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture) permitted by Section 4.09(b)(2) and (y) other Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09(a) and Section 4.09(b)(4); provided that (i) in the case of any such Indebtedness described in subclause (y), after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the application of proceeds therefrom, the granting of such Liens and any other related transactions, the Consolidated First Lien Indebtedness Leverage Ratio does not exceed 5.00 to 1.00 as of the last day of the most recent quarter for which internal financial statements are available on the date such Indebtedness is incurred and (ii) any such Indebtedness described in this clause (b) (other than Indebtedness incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors pursuant to the second proviso of Section 4.09(a) and Section 4.09(b)(4)) shall be (1) secured solely by Liens on the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Notes Obligations and (2) subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if any);

(c) Liens securing (i) Hedging Obligations and Foreign Currency Obligations permitted to be incurred under Section 4.09 and (ii) cash management obligations not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture;

(d) Liens securing Purchase Money Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09(b)(6); provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries other than the assets so acquired, constructed, installed or improved, products and proceeds thereof and insurance proceeds with respect thereto;

(e) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged into, amalgamated, arranged or consolidated with the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that such Liens were not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such merger, amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation and do not apply to any assets other than the assets of the Person acquired in such merger, amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation;

(f) Liens on property of an Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time that it is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”; provided that such Liens were not incurred in connection with, or contemplation of, such designation;

(g) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition thereof by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer; provided that such Liens were not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition and do not extend to any assets of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries other than the property so acquired, constructed, installed or improved, products and proceeds thereof and insurance proceeds with respect thereto;

(h) Liens to secure the performance of statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds or performance bonds, or landlords’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, suppliers’, materialmen’s or other like Liens, in any case incurred in the ordinary course of business and with respect to amounts not yet delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate process of law, if a reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as is required by GAAP is made therefor;

(i) Liens existing on the Issue Date (including Liens on Collateral securing the 2027 Senior Notes outstanding on the Issue Date and other than such Liens existing pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) of this definition);

(j) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as shall be required in conformity with GAAP is made therefor;

(k) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09(b)(10); provided that (i) such Liens shall not extend to assets other than the assets that secure such Indebtedness being refinanced and (ii) such Liens have a Lien priority equal to or junior to (but not senior to) the Liens securing such Indebtedness being refinanced;

 

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(l) Liens (other than Liens created or imposed under ERISA) incurred or deposits made by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, bids, leases, government contracts, performance and return- of-money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any related Liens thereto);

(m) easements, rights-of-way, covenants, restrictions (including zoning restrictions), minor defects or irregularities in title and other similar charges or encumbrances not, in any material respect, impairing the use of the encumbered property for its intended purposes;

(n) licenses, sublicenses, leases or subleases granted to others not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(o) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods and Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements that constitute Cash Equivalents;

(p) normal and customary rights of setoff upon deposits of cash in favor of banks or other depository institutions;

(q) Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection;

(r) filings made by factoring companies on accounts receivable sold by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary to such companies in the ordinary course of business;

(s) Liens on Property of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor securing Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary incurred in accordance with Section 4.09;

(t) Liens in favor of the Issuer or any Guarantor;

(u) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to commercial letters of credit which solely encumber goods and/or documents of title and other property relating to such letters of credit and products and proceeds thereof;

(v) extensions, renewals or refundings of any Liens referred to in clause (e), (g) or (i) above; provided that any such extension, renewal or refunding does not extend to any assets or secure any Indebtedness not securing or secured by the Liens being extended, renewed or refinanced and if such Liens are on Collateral such Liens have lien priority equal to or subordinated to the Liens being extended, renewed or refunded and shall be subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable;

(w) other Liens securing Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be outstanding having an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the greater of $70.0 million and 35.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis) in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding; provided that Liens pursuant to this clause (w) shall rank pari passu or junior to the Liens on Collateral securing the Notes Obligations or shall be secured by assets of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Collateral;

(x) Liens incurred to secure any treasury management arrangement;

 

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(y) Liens on Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(z) Liens on Collateral securing any Junior Lien Obligations with respect to Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture; provided that after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the application of proceeds therefrom, the granting of such Liens and any other related transactions, the Consolidated Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio does not exceed 5.50 to 1.00 as of the last day of the most recent quarter for which internal financial statements are available on the date such Indebtedness is incurred;

(aa) Liens in connection with attachments or judgments (including judgment or appeal bonds) that do not result in an Event of Default under Section 6.01(g);

(bb) licenses, sublicenses, leases or subleases granted to others not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Issuer and its consolidated Subsidiaries;

(cc) pledges and deposits and other Liens securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to the Issuer or any Subsidiary;

(dd) Liens on Capital Stock in joint ventures securing obligations of such joint venture, to the extent required by the terms of the organizational documents or material contracts of such joint venture;

(ee) Liens securing insurance premiums financing arrangements; provided that such Liens are limited to the applicable unearned insurance premiums;

(ff) Liens on Receivables Assets granted pursuant to or arising in connection with a Receivables Facility; and.

provided, that the aggregate amount of Liens securing First Lien Indebtedness incurred after the Issue Date, other than “PIK Interest Additional Notes” issued under the 2027 Senior Notes Indenture, shall not exceed $100.0 million and such Liens and related Indebtedness shall only be incurred by the Issuer and the Guarantors.

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited partnership, general partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, unlimited liability company, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, bank trust company, land trust, business trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity whether legal or not.

Pledge and Security Agreement” means the Pledge and Security Agreement, to be dated as of February 6, 2024, by and among the Guarantors, as grantors, and the Collateral Agent, as amended, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time.

Preferred Equity Interest” in any Person, means an Equity Interest of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the payment of dividends or distributions, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Person, over Equity Interests of any other class in such Person.

Private Placement Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.01(c) hereof to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions hereof.

Proceeds” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Pledge and Security Agreement.

Professional Services Affiliate” means any PC Entity that (i) has entered into a Management Services Agreement with the Issuer or one of the Guarantors and (ii) is Controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Issuer.

 

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Pro Forma Cost Savings” means, with respect to any Measurement Period, the reduction in net costs and expenses and related adjustments that:

(i) were directly attributable to an acquisition, merger, consolidation or disposition that occurred during the Measurement Period or subsequent to the Measurement Period and on or prior to the date of determination and calculated on a basis that is consistent with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act, or

(ii) were actually implemented by the business that was the subject of any such acquisition, merger, consolidation or disposition or by any related business of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary with which such business is proposed to be or is being or has been integrated within 24 months after the date of the acquisition, merger, consolidation, disposition or operational change and prior to the date of determination that are supportable and quantifiable by the underlying accounting records of any such business, or

(iii) relate to the business that is the subject of any such acquisition, merger, consolidation or disposition of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary with which such business is proposed to be or is being or has been integrated and that are probable in the reasonable judgment of the Issuer based upon specifically identifiable actions to be taken within 24 months of the date of the acquisition, merger, consolidation or disposition,

in each case regardless of whether such reductions and related adjustments could then be reflected in pro forma financial statements in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy related thereto, as if all such reductions and related adjustments had been effected as of the beginning of such period. Pro forma Cost Savings as of any date of determination, together with any addbacks to Consolidated EBITDA included pursuant to clause (i) of the definition thereof, shall not in the aggregate exceed 25% of Consolidated EBITDA during the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such adjustments).

Property” means an interest of any kind in any property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, and whether tangible or intangible.

Purchase Money Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) incurred (within 365 days of such purchase) to finance or refinance the purchase (including in the case of Capital Lease Obligations the lease), construction, installation or improvement of any assets used or useful in a Permitted Business (whether through the direct purchase of assets or through the purchase of Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets); provided that the amount of Indebtedness thereunder does not exceed 100% of the purchase cost of such assets and costs incurred in such construction, installation or improvement.

QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

Qualified Capital Stock” means any Capital Stock of the Issuer that is not Disqualified Stock.

Rating Agencies” means:

(a) S&P;

(b) Moody’s; or

(c) if S&P or Moody’s or both shall not make a rating of the Notes publicly available, a nationally recognized securities rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Issuer, which shall be substituted for S&P or Moody’s or both, as the case may be.

Receivables Assets” means (a) any accounts receivable of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and the proceeds thereof and (b) all collateral securing such accounts receivable, all contracts and contract rights, guarantees or other obligations, in each case in respect of such accounts receivable, all records with respect to such accounts receivable and any other assets customarily transferred together with accounts receivable in connection with a non-recourse accounts receivable financing and which are sold, contributed, conveyed, assigned or otherwise transferred or pledged by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a Receivables Facility.

 

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Receivables Facility” means any financing transaction, including any securitization, revolving credit facility, factoring arrangement or other form of financing transaction, as may be amended, modified, supplemented, replaced or refinanced from time to time, pursuant to which (a) the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary sells (directly or indirectly), conveys, assigns or otherwise transfers Receivables Assets or grants a security interest therein to a Receivables Subsidiary or other Person, and (b) the obligations of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, thereunder are non-recourse (except for Standard Securitization Undertakings) to the Issuer and such Restricted Subsidiary that, in the case of each of clause (a) and (b) meets the following conditions: (i) the Issuer shall have determined in good faith that such Receivables Facility (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) and (ii) all Dispositions of accounts receivable and related assets by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Receivables Subsidiary are made at fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer).

Receivables Fee” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any Receivables Assets or participation interest issued or sold in connection with, and other fees paid to a Person that is not the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, any Receivables Facility.

Receivables Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary or Unrestricted Subsidiary (or another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in a Receivables Facility with the Issuer, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary in which the Issuer, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary makes an Investment and to which the Issuer, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary sells, assigns conveys or otherwise transfers assets constituting Receivables Assets) formed for the purpose of, and which engages in no activities other than in connection with, the financing of accounts receivable of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries and Unrestricted Subsidiaries and all proceeds thereof and all rights (contractual or other), collateral and other assets relating thereto, and any business or activities incidental or related to such business, and:

(a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Issuer, any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) or any Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of, and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Issuer, any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) or any Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Issuer any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) or any Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary), directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings,

(b) with which none of the Issuer, any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) or any Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which the Issuer, such Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) or such Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) reasonably believes to be no less favorable to the Issuer, such Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) or such Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Issuer, and

(c) to which none of the Issuer, any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) or any Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entity’s financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results.

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

 

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Regulation S Global Note” means a Global Note bearing the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in an initial denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes initially sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.

Reorganization Transactions” means the reorganization transactions effectuated pursuant to the Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Akumin Inc. and its Debtor Affiliates Docket No. 21 (as amended, modified, or supplemented from time to time), as confirmed by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas on November 30, 2023 Docket No. 272.

Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee or Collateral Agent, means any officer within the Corporate Trust Office (or any successor group of the Trustee or Collateral Agent) or any other officer of the Trustee or Collateral Agent customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Restricted Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

Restricted Global Note” means a Global Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

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

Restricted Period” means the relevant 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S.

Restricted Subsidiary” or “Restricted Subsidiaries” means any Subsidiary, other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries. For the avoidance of doubt, a Professional Services Affiliate that has not been designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer.

Reverse Dutch Election Available Proceeds” means $60,000,000 in the aggregate to be made available by the Issuer or/or the Restricted Subsidiaries upon receipt of the Stonepeak Direct Investment to fund cash payments pursuant to a reverse Dutch election process.

Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

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

Rule 903” means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.

Rule 904” means Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act.

S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, and its subsidiaries, or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Security Agreement” means the Security Agreement, dated as of the February 6, 2024, by and among the Issuer and the Guarantors, as grantors, and the Collateral Agent, as amended, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time.

Series” means (a) with respect to the First Lien Secured Parties, each of the (i) Credit Agreement Secured Parties (in their capacities as such), (ii) Notes Secured Parties (in their capacities as such) and (iii) Future First Lien Secured Parties that become subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement after the Issue Date that are represented by a common representative (in its capacity as such for such Future First Lien Secured Parties) and (b) with respect to any First Lien Obligations, each of the (i) Credit Agreement Obligations, (ii) the 2027 Notes Obligations and (iii) the Future First Lien Obligations incurred pursuant to any applicable agreement, which, pursuant to any joinder agreement, are to be represented under the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement by a common representative (in its capacity as such for such Future First Lien Obligations).

 

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Significant Subsidiary” means any 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.

Standard Securitization Undertakings” means representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities entered into by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer which the Issuer has determined in good faith to be customary in a Receivables Facility, including those relating to the servicing of the Receivables Assets.

Stonepeak” means Stonepeak Magnet Holdings LP and any investment funds advised, managed or controlled by Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners and, in each case (whether individually or as a group), Affiliates of any of the foregoing.

Stonepeak Direct Investment” means $130,000,000 of cash equity contributions made by Stonepeak to the Issuer on the Issue Date.

Strategic Investor” means physicians, hospitals, health systems, other healthcare providers, other healthcare companies and other similar strategic joint venture partners.

Subordinated Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Guarantees, as the case may be.

Subsidiary” or “Subsidiaries” means, with respect to any Person, (a) a Professional Services Affiliate of such Person or (b) any corporation, limited liability company, association or other business 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 owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof or any Person that is a consolidated subsidiary of the Issuer under GAAP and, at the Issuer’s option, designated as a “Subsidiary” in a certificate to the Trustee by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer. Unless otherwise specified, “Subsidiary” refers to a Subsidiary of the Issuer.

Total First Lien Debt” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of (i) First Lien Indebtedness of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) secured Purchase Money Obligations of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (iii) Indebtedness for borrowed money (which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any related Liens thereto) or Indebtedness evidenced by bank notes, debentures or similar instruments or drawn letters of credit secured by assets of the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiaries that are either (x) not Collateral or (y) secured by Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Note Obligations, in each case, outstanding on such date of determination, determined on a consolidated basis.

Trademark” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Pledge and Security Agreement.

Transaction Date” has the meaning provided in the term “Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.”

Transactions” means the Reorganization Transactions and issuance of the Initial Notes on the Issue Date.

Treasury Rate” means, at the time of computation, the weekly average for each Business Day during the most recent week that has ended at least two Business Days prior to the redemption date of the yield to maturity of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (or, if such statistical release is not so published or available or the relevant information no longer available thereon, any publicly available source of similar market data selected by the Issuer in good faith) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to August 1, 2024; provided, however, that if the period from the redemption date to August 1, 2024 is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States

 

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Treasury security for which a yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the redemption date to August 1, 2024 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used.

Trustee” means UMB Bank, National Association, in its capacity as trustee, until a successor replaces UMB Bank, National Association in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code (or any similar or equivalent jurisdiction) as in effect in any applicable jurisdiction from time to time.

Unrestricted Definitive Note” means one or more Definitive Notes that do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

Unrestricted Global Note” means a permanent Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary, representing Notes that do not bear the Private Placement Legend.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” or “Unrestricted Subsidiaries” means (A) any Subsidiary designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in a resolution of the Issuer’s Board of Directors in accordance with the instructions set forth below; and (B) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Issuer’s Board of Directors may designate any Subsidiary (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary so long as:

(a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligation (contingent or otherwise) thereof, immediately after such designation, (i) is guaranteed by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (ii) is recourse to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to satisfaction thereof;

(b) except as otherwise permitted by this Indenture (including by Section 4.11), neither the Issuer nor any other Restricted Subsidiary has any contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding with such Subsidiary, written or oral, other than on terms no less favorable to the Issuer or such other Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not the Issuer’s Affiliates;

(c) neither the Issuer nor any other Subsidiary (other than another Unrestricted Subsidiary) has any obligation (i) to subscribe for additional shares of Capital Stock of such Subsidiary or other equity interests therein; or (ii) to maintain or preserve such Subsidiary’s financial condition or to cause such Subsidiary to achieve certain levels of operating results; and

(d) at the time such Subsidiary is designated, it may not own or hold (directly or indirectly) any rights in any Intellectual Property that is material to the operation of the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

If at any time after the Issue Date the Issuer designates an additional Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the Issuer shall be deemed to have made a Restricted Investment in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer’s Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution of the Issuer’s Board of Directors and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee) of such Subsidiary. An Unrestricted Subsidiary may be designated as a Restricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary if, in each case, at the time of such designation or redesignation after giving pro forma effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing.

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

 

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Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (a) the total of the product obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment by (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary.

Section 1.02 Other Definitions.

 

Term

   Defined in Section

“Affiliate Transaction”

   4.11

“Change of Control Offer”

   4.15

“Change of Control Payment”

   4.15

“Change of Control Payment Date”

   4.15

“Collateral Document Order”

   12.07(r)

“Covenant Defeasance”

   8.04

“Covenant Suspension Event”

   4.16(a)

“Equity Offering”

   3.07(b)

“Event of Default”

   6.01

“Excess Proceeds”

   4.10

“Excess Proceeds Offer”

   4.10(d)

“Extension”

   3.08

“incur”

   4.09(a)

“Legal Defeasance”

   8.03

“Offer Amount”

   3.10(b)

“Offer Period”

   3.10(b)

“Paying Agent”

   2.03

“Payment Default”

   6.01(e)

“Purchase Date”

   3.10(b)

“Refinancing Indebtedness”

   4.09(b)

“Registrar”

   2.03

“Restricted Payments”

   4.07(a)(iv)

“Reversion Date”

   4.16(c)

“Suspended Covenants”

   4.16(a)

“Suspension Period”

   4.16(b)

Section 1.03 Divisions.

For all purposes under this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holder of its Equity Interests at such time.

Section 1.04 Rules of Construction.

Unless the context otherwise requires,

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

 

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

(3) “or” is not exclusive and “including” means “including without limitation”;

(4) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;

(5) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

(6) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor sections or rules adopted by the Commission from time to time;

(7) When calculating the availability under any basket or ratio under this Indenture, in each case in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Equity Interests and the use of proceeds thereof, the incurrence of any Lien or the making of any Investment or any Restricted Payments), the date of determination of such basket or ratio and of any Default or Event of Default may, at the Issuer’s option, be the date the definitive agreement(s) for such Limited Condition Transaction is entered into. Any such ratio or basket shall be calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Equity Interests and the use of proceeds thereof, the incurrence of any Lien or the making of any Investment or any Restricted Payments) as if they had been consummated at the beginning of the applicable period for purposes of determining the ability to consummate any such Limited Condition Transaction; provided that if the Issuer elects to make such determination as of the date of such definitive agreement(s), then (x) the Issuer shall be deemed to be in compliance with such ratios or baskets solely for purposes of determining whether the Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Equity Interests and the use of proceeds thereof, the incurrence of any Lien or the making of any Investment or any Restricted Payments), is permitted under the applicable covenants, and (y) such ratios or baskets shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction or related transactions; provided, further, that if the Issuer elects to have such determinations occur at the time of entry into such definitive agreement(s), any such transactions (including any incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock and the use of proceeds thereof, the incurrence of any Lien or the making of any Investment or any Restricted Payments) shall be deemed to have occurred on the date the definitive agreement(s) is entered into and shall be deemed outstanding thereafter for purposes of calculating any ratios or baskets under this Indenture after the date of such definitive agreement(s) and before the consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, unless such definitive agreement(s) is terminated or such Limited Condition Transaction or incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Equity Interests, Restricted Payment, Investment or incurrence of Liens or such other transaction to which pro forma effect is being given does not occur;

(8) For purposes of calculating any ratio-based basket, with respect to any revolving Indebtedness incurred under such ratio-based basket, the Issuer may elect (which election may not be changed with respect to such Indebtedness), at any time, to either (x) give pro forma effect to the incurrence of the entire committed amount of such Indebtedness, in which case such committed amount may thereafter be borrowed or reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, without further compliance with any ratio-based component of any provision of this Indenture, or (y) give pro forma effect to the incurrence of the actual amount drawn under such revolving Indebtedness, in which case, the ability to incur the amounts committed to under such Indebtedness will be subject to such ratio-based basket (to the extent being incurred pursuant to such ratio) at the time of each such Incurrence. To the extent clause (x) of the immediately preceding sentence is elected, such revolving Indebtedness shall be deemed to be incurred (and the fully committed amount of Indebtedness as outstanding) at all times thereafter for purposes of testing any ratio-based baskets, regardless of whether such Indebtedness is outstanding, until such commitments have been permanently terminated in full; and

 

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(9) Notwithstanding anything herein the contrary, unless the Issuer elects otherwise, if, on any date, the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any transaction or series of related transactions (A) utilizes a ratio-based basket under a covenant and (B) utilizes a non-ratio-based basket under the same covenant, then the applicable ratio-based basket under such covenant will be calculated on such date with respect to any usage under the applicable ratio-based basket under such covenant without giving effect to the usage under such non-ratio based basket under the same such covenant made in connection with such transaction or series of related transactions.

Section 1.05 Acts of Holders; Record Dates.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders shall be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent (if applicable) and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Issuer. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose hereof and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Issuer, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.05.

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

(c) The Issuer may fix any date as the record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, or to vote on any action, authorized or permitted to be given or take by Holders. If not set by the Issuer prior to the first solicitation of a Holder made by any Person in respect of any such action, or, in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, the record date for any such action or vote shall be the 30th day (or, if later, the date of the most recent list of Holders required to be provided pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof) prior to such first solicitation or vote, as the case may be. With regard to any record date, only the Holders on such date (or their duly designated proxies) shall be entitled to give or take, or vote on, the relevant action.

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

Section 2.01 Form and Dating.

(a) The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, the terms of which are incorporated in and made a part hereof. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements approved as to form by the Issuer, and required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Issuer is subject or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be issuable only in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

(b) The Notes shall initially be issued in the form of one or more Global Notes and DTC, its nominees, and their respective successors, shall act as the Depositary with respect thereto. Each Global Note shall (i) be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Note or the nominee of such Depositary, (ii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions, and (iii) shall bear a legend (the “Global Note Legend”) in substantially the following form:

 

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UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. THIS NOTE IS NOT EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

(c) Except as permitted by Section 2.06(g) hereof, any Note not registered under the Securities Act shall bear the following legend (the “Private Placement Legend”) on the face thereof:

THE NOTES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION AS SET FORTH BELOW. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”)), OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“REGULATION S”), (2) AGREES TO OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH NOTE PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE HOLDING PERIOD THEN IMPOSED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION) ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION PURSUANT TO REGULATION S IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903 OR RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTION THAT IS AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR,” AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION AND THAT DELIVERS A SIGNED CERTIFICATE (A FORM OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ISSUER OR THE TRUSTEE) TO THE TRUSTEE CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF THE SECURITY OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE ISSUER’S OR THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM.

 

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(d) Each Note that has more than a de minimis amount of original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS NOTE HAS BEEN ISSUED WITH “ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 1272 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED). UPON WRITTEN REQUEST (ADDRESSED TO GENERAL COUNSEL AT 8300 W SUNRISE BLVD PLANTATION, FL 33322), THE ISSUER WILL PROMPTLY MAKE AVAILABLE TO ANY HOLDER OF THIS NOTE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: (1) THE ISSUE PRICE AND ISSUE DATE OF THE NOTE; (2) THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT ON THE NOTE; AND (3) THE YIELD TO MATURITY OF THE NOTE.

Section 2.02 Form of Execution and Authentication.

An Officer shall sign the Notes for the Issuer by manual, electronic or facsimile signature.

If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.

A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee. The signature of the Trustee shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture. All notes shall be dated the date of their authentication.

The Trustee shall authenticate (i) Initial Notes for original issue on the Issue Date in an aggregate principal amount of $354,583,000 and (ii) subject to compliance with Section 4.09 hereof, one or more series of Notes for original issue after the Issue Date (such Notes to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A) in an unlimited amount, in each case upon written order of the Issuer in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, which Officers’ Certificate shall, in the case of any issuance pursuant to clause (ii) above, certify that such issuance is in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof. In addition, each such Officers’ Certificate shall specify the amount of Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the Notes are to be authenticated, whether the securities are to be Initial Notes or Notes issued under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence and the aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding on the date of authentication, and shall further specify the amount of such Notes to be issued as Global Notes or Definitive Notes and shall direct the Trustee to authenticate such Notes in accordance with the terms of this Indenture. Such Notes shall initially be in the form of one or more Global Notes, which (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, the Notes to be issued, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee and (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction. All Notes issued under this Indenture shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class and no series of Notes will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter; provided, however, that no additional Notes will be issued with the same CUSIP or ISIN as the Initial Notes unless the Issuer intends to treat such additional Notes and the Initial Notes as fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

In authenticating Notes other than the Initial Notes, the Trustee shall receive, and, subject to Section 7.01, shall be fully protected in relying upon:

(a) an executed supplemental indenture, if any;

(b) an Officers’ Certificate delivered in accordance with Section 12.04; and

(c) an Opinion of Counsel delivered in accordance with Section 12.04 and which shall state:

(1) that the form of such Notes has been established by a supplemental indenture or by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors in accordance with Sections 2.01 and 2.02 and in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(2) that the terms of such Notes have been established in accordance with Section 2.01 and in conformity with the other provisions of this Indenture; and

 

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(3) that such Notes, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Issuer in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate Notes. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer.

Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent.

The Issuer shall maintain (i) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (including any co-registrar, the “Registrar”) and (ii) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuer may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Issuer may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co- registrar without prior notice to any Holder of a Note. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing and the Trustee shall notify the Holders of the Notes of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. The Issuer may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar. The Issuer shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Agent not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions hereof that relate to such Agent. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any such Agent. If the Issuer fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, or fails to give the foregoing notice, the Trustee shall act as such, and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation in accordance with Section 7.07 hereof.

The Issuer initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent in connection with the Notes.

Section 2.04 Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust.

The Issuer shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee in writing of any Default by the Issuer in making any such payment. While any such Default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by such Paying Agent to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuer) shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee. If the Issuer acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Section 6.01(i) or Section 6.01(j), the Trustee shall automatically become the Paying Agent.

Section 2.05 Lists of Holders of the Notes.

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders of the Notes. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee at least seven Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders of the Notes, including the aggregate principal amount of the Notes held by each thereof.

Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. Global Notes will be exchanged by the Issuer for Definitive Notes, subject to any

 

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applicable laws, if (i) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee notice from the Depositary that (A) the Depositary is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary for the Global Notes or (B) the Depositary is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, the Issuer fails to appoint a successor Depositary within 90 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary, (ii) the Issuer in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee or (iii) upon request of the Trustee (acting at the written direction of Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes) or Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes if there shall have occurred and be continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes; provided that in no event shall any temporary Note that is a Global Note issued pursuant to Regulation S be exchanged by the Issuer for Definitive Notes prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificate identified by the Issuer and its counsel to be required pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act. In any such case, the Issuer will notify the Trustee in writing that, upon surrender by the Participants and Indirect Participants of their interests in such Global Note, certificated Notes will be issued to each Person that such Participants, Indirect Participants and the Depositary jointly identify as being the beneficial owner of the related Notes. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06. However, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in paragraph (b) or (c) below.

(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes shall be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth in this Indenture to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with the applicable subparagraphs below.

(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided, however, that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, no transfer of beneficial interests in a Regulation S Global Note may be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person unless permitted by applicable law and made in compliance with subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) below. Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this subparagraph (i) unless specifically stated above.

(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to subparagraph (i) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase or, (B) (1) if Definitive Notes are at such time permitted to be issued pursuant to this Indenture, a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to paragraph (h) below.

 

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(iii) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of subparagraph (ii) above and the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof; and

(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof.

(iv) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of subparagraph (ii) above, and the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit D hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a) thereof, or

(B) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the applicable certifications in item (4) thereof;

and, in each such case set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B), if the Issuer or the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained in this Indenture and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an authentication order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) above.

Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.

(c) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.

(i) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes for Restricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

 

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(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit D hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(a) thereof;

(B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

(D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;

(E) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in clauses (B) through (D) above, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3)(c) thereof, as applicable; or

(F) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof,

the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to paragraph (h) below, and the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the certificate a Restricted Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Restricted Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this paragraph (c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Restricted Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Restricted Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this subparagraph (i) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes for Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only if the Registrar receives the following:

 

  A.

if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note that does not bear the Private Placement Legend, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit D hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(b) thereof; or

 

  B.

if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note that does not bear the Private Placement Legend, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the applicable certifications in item (4) thereof,

and, in each such case set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B), if the Issuer or the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained in this Indenture and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

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If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (A) or (B) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an authentication order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) above.

Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes for Unrestricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in subparagraph (b)(ii) above, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to paragraph (h) below, and the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the certificate a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this subparagraph (c)(iii) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this subparagraph (c)(iii) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.

Transfer and Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes. If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

 

  A.

if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit D hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;

 

  B.

if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

 

  C.

if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; or

 

  D.

if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in clauses (B) through (C) above, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3)(c) thereof, as applicable,

the Trustee shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the appropriate Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (B) above, the 144A Global Note, and in the case of clause (C) above, the Regulation S Global Note.

Transfer and Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if the Registrar receives the following:

 

  A.

if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit D hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or

 

41


  B.

if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the applicable certifications in item (4) thereof;

and, in each such case set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B), if the Issuer or the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained in this Indenture and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this subparagraph (d)(ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.

Transfer and Exchange of Unrestricted Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Unrestricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee shall cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes.

If any such exchange or transfer from an Unrestricted Definitive Note or a Restricted Definitive Note, as the case may be, to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (ii)(A), (ii)(B) or (iii) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an authentication order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Unrestricted Definitive Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes, as the case may be, so transferred.

(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this paragraph (e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this paragraph (e).

(i) Transfer of Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and

(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including, if the Issuer or the Registrar so requests, a certification or Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act.

 

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(ii) Transfer and Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes for Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit D hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(d) thereof; or

(B) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the applicable certifications in item (4) thereof; and, in each such case set forth in subparagraph (A) and (B), if the Issuer or the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained in this Indenture and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

(iii) Transfer of Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

(f) [Reserved].

(g) Legends. The following legends shall appear on the faces of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions hereof.

(i) Private Placement Legend.

Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note (other than an Unrestricted Global Note) and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the Private Placement Legend.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(iv), (c)(ii), (c)(iii), (d)(ii), (d)(iii), (e)(ii) or (e)(iii) of this Section 2.06 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

(ii) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note shall bear the Global Note Legend.

(h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the notice of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

 

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(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon the Issuer’s order.

(ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.02, 2.10, 3.10 and 9.05 hereof).

(iii) The Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

(iv) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Issuer, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits hereof, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

(v) Neither the Issuer nor the Registrar shall be required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business on a Business Day 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection or (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

(vi) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Issuer may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Issuer shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(vii) The Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.

(viii) All certifications, Officers’ Certificates, and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.

(ix) Neither the Trustee nor the Registrar shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Notes (including any transfers between or among Depositary Participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture.

(x) [reserved]

(xi) [reserved]

(xii) Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

 

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Section 2.07 Replacement Notes.

If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, or the Issuer and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee, upon the written order of the Issuer signed by two Officers of the Issuer, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s requirements for replacements of Notes are met. If required by the Trustee or the Issuer, the Holder must supply an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuer to protect the Issuer, the Trustee, any Agent or any authenticating agent from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Issuer and the Trustee may charge for their expenses in replacing a Note.

Every replacement Note is a joint and several obligation of the Issuer.

Section 2.08 Outstanding Notes.

The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section 2.08 as not outstanding.

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Issuer receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser.

If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, it shall cease to be outstanding and interest on it shall cease to accrue.

Subject to Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer, a Subsidiary of the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer holds the Note.

Section 2.09 Treasury Notes.

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuer, any Subsidiary of the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes which a Responsible Officer knows to be so owned shall be so considered. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Notes that are to be acquired by the Issuer, any Subsidiary of the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer pursuant to an exchange offer, tender offer or other agreement shall not be deemed to be owned by the Issuer, a Subsidiary of the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer until legal title to such Notes passes to the Issuer, such Subsidiary or such Affiliate, as the case may be.

Section 2.10 Temporary Notes.

Until Definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuer may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have variations that the Issuer and the Trustee consider appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuer shall prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of the written order of the Issuer signed by two Officers of the Issuer, shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes. Until such exchange, temporary Notes shall be entitled to the same rights, benefits and privileges as Definitive Notes.

Section 2.11 Cancellation.

The Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of all canceled Notes in its customary manner, unless the Issuer, by written order signed by two Officers of the Issuer, directs canceled Notes to be returned to it. The Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has redeemed or paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. All canceled Notes held by the Trustee shall be disposed of and confirmation of their disposal delivered to the Issuer upon its request therefor, unless by a written order, signed by two Officers of the Issuer, the Issuer shall direct that canceled Notes be returned to it.

 

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Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest.

If the Issuer defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders of the Notes on a subsequent special record date, which date shall be at the earliest practicable date but in all events at least five Business Days prior to the payment date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes. The Issuer shall fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Issuer (or the Trustee, in the name of and at the expense of the Issuer and upon written request of the Issuer) shall send to Holders of the Notes a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

Section 2.13 [Reserved].

Section 2.14 CUSIP Number.

The Issuer in issuing the Notes may use a “CUSIP” number and, if it does so, the Trustee shall use the CUSIP number in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number printed in the notice or on the Notes and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuer shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP number.

ARTICLE 3REDEMPTION

Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee.

If the Issuer elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least 5, but no more than 10, Business Days (unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee) before the notice of redemption is delivered to Holders, an Officers’ Certificate of the Issuer setting forth (i) the redemption date, (ii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iii) the redemption price. If the Issuer is required to make the redemption pursuant to Section 3.10 hereof, it shall furnish the Trustee, at least five but not more than ten Business Days before the applicable purchase date, an Officers’ Certificate of the Issuer setting forth (i) the purchase date, (ii) the principal amount of Notes offered to be purchased and (iii) the purchase price.

Section 3.02 Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed.

(a) If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time in accordance with Section 3.07(b) hereof, the selection of Notes for redemption shall be made by lot, except that Global Notes shall be selected, subject to the applicable rules of the Depositary; provided that no Notes with a principal amount of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. If less than all the Notes are to be redeemed at any time in accordance with Section 3.07(a), (c) and (d) hereof, then the Notes shall be selected by lot, except that Global Notes shall be selected subject to the applicable rules of the Depository. In the event of partial redemption by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 15 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption.

(b) The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of them selected shall be in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions hereof that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

 

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Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption.

Subject to the provisions of Section 3.10 hereof, at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Issuer shall transmit a notice of redemption to each Holder (with a copy to the Trustee) whose Notes are to be redeemed to such Holder’s registered address.

The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state

(i) the redemption date;

(ii) the redemption price;

(iii) if any Note is being redeemed in part only, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed;

(iv) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

(v) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

(vi) that, unless the Issuer defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

(vii) the paragraph of the Notes and/or section hereof pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and

(viii) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.

At the Issuer’s written request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuer’s name and at the Issuer’s expense; provided that the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least 10 days (unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the date the Issuer wishes to have the notice given, an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption.

Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price.

Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption Price.

On or prior to 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on any redemption date, the Issuer shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuer any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Issuer in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, all Notes to be redeemed.

On and after the redemption date, if the Issuer does not default in the payment of the redemption price, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption. If a Note is redeemed on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Issuer to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes.

 

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Section 3.06 [Reserved].

Section 3.07 Optional Redemption.

Except as provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) below and Section 4.15 hereof, the Notes shall not be redeemable at the Issuer’s option prior to August 1, 2024. Thereafter, the Notes shall be subject to redemption at the option of the Issuer, in whole or in part, upon not less than 10 days’ or more than 60 days’ written notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of record of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive payments of interest on the related interest payment date), if redeemed during the 12- month period beginning on August 1 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2024

     103.750

2025

     101.875

2026 and thereafter

     100.000

(a) Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time and from time to time prior to August 1, 2024, the Issuer may redeem up to 40% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding at a redemption price equal to 107.500% of the principal amount thereof on the repurchase date, together with accrued and unpaid interest to such redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of record of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive payments of interest on the related interest payment date), with an amount equal to the net cash proceeds of one or more public or private sales of Qualified Capital Stock (each, an “Equity Offering”), other than proceeds from a sale to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or any employee benefit plan in which the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries participates; provided that (i) at least 60% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (including additional Notes but excluding Notes held by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) unless all such Notes are redeemed substantially concurrently and (ii) such redemption occurs no later than the 120th day following such sale of Qualified Capital Stock.

(b) In addition, at any time and from time to time prior to August 1, 2024, the Issuer may redeem all or any portion of the Notes outstanding at a redemption price equal to (i) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid interest to such redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of record of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive payments of interest on the related interest payment date), plus (ii) the Make Whole Amount.

(c) In connection with any redemption of Notes described in clauses (a) and (b) above, such redemption may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including any related Equity Offering, issuance of Indebtedness or other transaction. If such redemption or notice is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Issuer’s discretion, such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded, or the redemption date may be delayed or extended, in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any tender offer for the Notes, including a Change of Control Offer, if holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in such tender offer or Change of Control Offer and the Issuer, or any third party making such tender offer or Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Issuer, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such holders, the Issuer or such third party will have the right upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase date, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to the price offered to each other holder (excluding any early tender or incentive fee) in such tender offer or Change of Control Offer plus, to the extent not included in the tender offer payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to, but excluding, the date of such redemption.

 

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(e) Tax Redemption. If (a) the Issuer or any Guarantor becomes or will become obligated to pay Additional Amounts with respect to any Notes or any Guarantee (as described under Section 4.19) as a result of (1) any change in, or amendment to, the laws, treaties (including protocols), regulations or rulings of a Relevant Tax Jurisdiction, which change or amendment is first publicly announced and becomes effective after the Issue Date (or, if the Relevant Tax Jurisdiction did not become a Relevant Tax Jurisdiction until a later date, after such later date) or (2) any change in the official interpretation or application of the laws, treaties (including protocols), regulations or rulings of a Relevant Tax Jurisdiction (including by virtue of a holding, judgment or order by a court of competent jurisdiction or a change in published administrative practice), which change is first publicly announced and becomes effective after the Issue Date (or, if the Relevant Tax Jurisdiction did not become a Relevant Tax Jurisdiction until a later date, after such later date), and (b) such obligation cannot be avoided by the Issuer’s taking reasonable measures available to the Issuer or any Guarantor (provided that changing the jurisdiction of the Issuer or any Guarantor is not a reasonable measure for this purpose), the Issuer may at its option, having given not less than 30 days’ notice to the holders of such Notes (which notice shall be irrevocable), redeem all, but not a portion of, the Notes at any time a price equal to their principal amount plus interest accrued to, but excluding, the date of redemption (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), provided that no such notice of redemption shall be given earlier than 60 days prior to the earliest date on which the Issuer or any Guarantor would be obliged to pay such Additional Amounts were a payment in respect of the Notes then due); and provided further that in the case of a Guarantor, no redemption shall be permitted under this Section 3.07(e) if the Issuer or any other Guarantor can make payments on the Notes without the obligation to pay Additional Amounts. Prior to the publication or, where relevant, mailing of any notice of redemption pursuant to this paragraph, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee (i) an Officers’ Certificate of the Issuer certifying that the requirements described in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 3.07(e) are satisfied, and (ii) an opinion of an independent counsel of recognized standing to the effect that the Issuer or any Guarantor has or will become obliged to pay such Additional Amounts as a result of a change or amendment described in clause (a) of this Section 3.07(e). The Trustee shall accept, and will be entitled to conclusively rely on, such officers’ certificate and opinion of counsel as sufficient evidence of the existence and satisfaction of the conditions described in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 3.07(e), and upon such acceptance by the Trustee the Issuer will be entitled to give notice of redemption hereunder and such notice of redemption will be conclusive and binding on the holders of the Notes.

Section 3.08 [Reserved].

Section 3.09 [Reserved].

Section 3.10 Excess Proceeds Offer.

(a) In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10, the Issuer shall be required to commence an Excess Proceeds Offer, it shall follow the procedures specified below.

(b) The Excess Proceeds Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Offer Period”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “Purchase Date”), the Issuer shall purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and First Lien Obligations that may be purchased with such Excess Proceeds (which maximum principal amount of Notes and First Lien Obligations shall be the “Offer Amount”) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered in response to the Excess Proceeds Offer.

(c) To the extent the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary is required under the terms of any First Lien Obligations, the Issuer shall make an offer to the holders of such First Lien Obligations on a pro rata basis with the holders of the Notes, with such proceeds. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other First Lien Obligations surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of such Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis by lot, and, in the case of Global Notes, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary. To the extent that the principal amount of Notes tendered pursuant to an Excess Proceeds Offer is less than the amount of such Excess Proceeds and such other First Lien Obligations, the Issuer may use any remaining Excess Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture.

 

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(d) If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest shall be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Excess Proceeds Offer.

(e) Upon the commencement of any Excess Proceeds Offer, the Issuer shall send, by first class mail or electronically, a notice to each of the Holders of the Notes, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Excess Proceeds Offer. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Excess Proceeds Offer, shall state:

(i) that the Excess Proceeds Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.10 and the length of time the Excess Proceeds Offer shall remain open;

(ii) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;

(iii) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrue interest;

(iv) that, unless the Issuer defaults in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Excess Proceeds Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Purchase Date;

(v) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Excess Proceeds Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed, to the Issuer, a Depositary, if appointed by the Issuer, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days before the Purchase Date;

(vi) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Issuer, Depositary or Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is unconditionally withdrawing his election to have the Note purchased; and

(vii) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders and other First Lien Obligations tendered by the holders thereof exceeds the Offer Amount, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis, by lot, and, in the case of Global Notes, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Issuer so that only Notes in minimum denominations of $2,000, or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, shall be purchased).

(f) On or before the Purchase Date, the Issuer shall, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Excess Proceeds Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes or portion thereof tendered, and deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Issuer in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.10. The Issuer, Depositary or Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly (but in any case not later than five days after the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Note tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Issuer for purchase, and the Issuer shall promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note, to such Holder equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. In addition, the Issuer shall take any and all other actions required by the agreements governing any other First Lien Obligations. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Issuer to the Holder thereof. The Issuer shall publicly announce the results of the Excess Proceeds Offer on the Purchase Date.

(g) The Issuer shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rules) and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to an Excess Proceeds Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuer’s compliance with such laws and regulations shall not in and of itself be deemed to have caused a breach of its obligations under this Indenture.

 

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(h) Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.10 or Section 4.10, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.10 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.02 and 3.05 hereof.

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

Section 4.01 Payment of Notes.

(a) The Issuer shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Issuer, holds as of 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by or on behalf of the Issuer in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

(b) The Issuer shall pay interest (including post-petition or post-filing interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; the Issuer shall pay interest (including post-petition interest or post-filing in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

(a) The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an Affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office; provided that the Corporate Trust Office shall not be a place for service of legal process on the Issuer.

(b) The Issuer may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligation to maintain an office or agency for such purposes. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

(c) The Issuer hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office as one such office or agency of the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof.

Section 4.03 Reports.

(a) So long as the notes are outstanding, the Issuer shall furnish to the holders of the Notes and the Trustee:

(i) (x) all annual and quarterly financial statements substantially in forms that would be required to be contained in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on Forms 10-K and 10-Q (or successor forms) of the Issuer, if the Issuer were required to file such forms, plus a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and (y) with respect to the annual financial statements only, a report on the annual financial statements by the Issuer’s independent registered public accounting firm;

 

51


(ii) within 10 Business Days after the occurrence of an event required to be therein reported, such other information containing substantially the same information that would be required to be contained in filings with the SEC on Form 8-K under Items 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 2.01 (which, with respect to acquisitions, shall be only with respect to acquisitions that are “significant” pursuant to clauses (1) and (2) of the definition of “Significant Subsidiary” under Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X), 2.05, 2.06, 4.01, 4.02, 5.01 and 5.02(b) (only with respect to the principal executive officer, president, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and principal operating officer) and (c) (other than with respect to information otherwise required or contemplated by Item 402 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC) as in effect on the Issue Date if the Issuer were required to file such reports; provided, however, that no such current report will be required to include as an exhibit, or to include a summary of the terms of, any employment or compensatory arrangement agreement, plan or understanding between the Issuer (or any of its Subsidiaries) and any director, manager or executive officer, of the Issuer (or any of its Subsidiaries); provided, however, that (i) in no event shall such information or reports be required to comply with Rule 3-10 of Regulation S- X promulgated by the SEC or contain separate consolidating financial information with respect to, or separate financial statements or information for, the Issuer, the Guarantors, other Subsidiaries the shares of which are pledged to secure the Notes or any Guarantee, any Related Corporation or any other affiliate of the Issuer that would be required under (a) Section 3-09 of Regulation S-X, (b) Section 3-10 of Regulation S-X or (c) Section 3-16 of Regulation S-X, respectively, promulgated by the SEC, (ii) in no event shall such information or reports be required to comply with Regulation G under the Exchange Act or Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC with respect to any non-GAAP financial measures contained therein;

(iii) no such information or reports referenced under clause (2) above shall be required to be furnished if the Issuer determines in its good faith judgment that such event is not material to the holders of the notes or the business, assets, operations or financial position of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and

(iv) in no event shall information or reports referenced in clause (ii) above be required to include, as an exhibit, copies of any agreements, financial statements or other items that would be required to be filed as exhibits to a current report on Form 8-K except for (x) agreements evidencing material Indebtedness and (y) historical and pro forma financial statements to the extent reasonably available.

(b) All such annual information and reports shall be furnished within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year to which they relate (or 120 days in the case of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023), and all such quarterly information and reports shall be furnished within 45 days after the end of the fiscal quarter to which they relate (or 60 days in the case of the fiscal quarters ending March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024) and in each case subject to any extension, tolling or other relief that would be available to the Issuer under applicable United States securities laws and regulations at such time; provided that the Issuer shall furnish within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, preliminary unaudited consolidated financial results (the “2023 Preliminary Unaudited Results”) with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 consisting of balance sheets, statements of operations and statements of cash flows and other line-items as reasonably determined by the Company.

(c) Except as provided in Section 4.03(f), the Issuer will make available such information and reports (as well as the details regarding the conference calls described below and recordings of such calls) to any holder of notes and, upon request, to any beneficial owner of the notes, in each case by posting such information and reports on its website, on Intralinks or any comparable password-protected online data system which will require a confidentiality acknowledgment, and will make such information and reports readily available to any holder of notes, any bona fide prospective investor in the notes (which prospective investors shall be limited to “qualified institutional buyers” within the meaning of Rule 144A of the Securities Act or non-U.S. persons that certify their status as such to the reasonable satisfaction of the Issuer), any securities analyst (to the extent providing analysis of investment in the notes) or any market maker in the notes who agrees to treat such information and reports as confidential or accesses such information and reports on Intralinks or any comparable password-protected online data system which will require a confidentiality acknowledgment; provided that the Issuer shall post such information and reports thereon and make readily available any password or other login information to any such holder of notes, bona fide prospective investor, securities analyst or market maker.

 

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(d) The Issuer will hold a quarterly conference call for all holders of notes, bona fide prospective investors in the notes, securities analysts and market makers in the notes (each to the extent set forth in Section 4.03(c) and subject to such confidentiality obligations set forth therein) to discuss such financial information (including a customary Q&A session) no later than 10 Business Days after distribution of such financial information (which obligation, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be satisfied by the Issuer’s regular earnings calls); provided that the Issuer shall hold a conference call to provide a business update with respect to the 2023 Preliminary Unaudited Results of the Issuer to discuss such financial information as well as liquidity, expected capital expenditures, capital structure, governance structure and management team (including a customary Q&A session) for all holders of notes, bona fide prospective investors in the notes, securities analysts and market makers in the notes (each to the extent set forth in Section 4.03(c) and subject to such confidentiality obligations set forth therein) within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

(e) In addition, to the extent not satisfied by the foregoing, the Issuer shall furnish to holders of the notes any prospective investors, upon their request, any information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act so long as the notes remain outstanding.

(f) Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Issuer will be deemed to have furnished the financial statements and other information referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 4.03(a) if the Issuer has filed reports on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (“SEDAR”) or any successor system or with the SEC via the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (“EDGAR”) filing system or any successor system thereto; provided that if the Issuer has filed such reports on SEDAR or EDGAR, in order to comply with clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 4.03(a), the Issuer need only file such reports as would be required of it pursuant to applicable United States laws that apply to the Issuer’s public reporting requirements at such time and nothing more, provided, that the Trustee shall have no responsibility to determine if any documents have been filed.

(g) Delivery of such reports, information and documents pursuant to this Section 4.03 to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such reports, information or documents shall not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s compliance with any of their covenants under this Indenture or the Notes (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officers’ Certificate). Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be obligated to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, the Issuer’s compliance with the covenants in this Indenture with respect to the furnishing or posting of such reports, information and documents filed with the SEC or EDGAR or on a website or any online data system under this Indenture, or participate in any conference calls.

Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate.

The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers’ Certificate of the Issuer stating that a review of the activities of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Issuer and Guarantors have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their obligations under this Indenture and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge each such entity has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof, including, without limitation, a default in the performance or breach of Section 4.07, Section 4.09, Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action each is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).

Section 4.05 Taxes.

The Issuer shall pay, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except as contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

 

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Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

The Issuer covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance hereof; and the Issuer (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

Section 4.07 Limitation on Restricted Payments.

(a) Neither the Issuer nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may, directly or indirectly:

(i) pay any dividend or make any distribution on account of any Equity Interests of the Issuer other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer (such payment or distributions, “Dividend Restricted Payments”);

(ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value any of the Issuer’s Equity Interests (such payment or distributions, “Equity Purchase Restricted Payments”) or any Subordinated Indebtedness, other than (i) Subordinated Indebtedness within one year of the stated maturity date thereof and (ii) any such Equity Interests or Subordinated Indebtedness owned by the Issuer or by any Restricted Subsidiary;

(iii) pay any dividend or make any distribution on account of any Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, other than:

(A) to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary; or

(B) to all holders of any class or series of Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary on a pro rata basis; or

(iv) make any Restricted Investment

(all such prohibited payments and actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”), unless at the time of such Restricted Payment:

(1) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

(2) after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted Payment and any related transactions, the Issuer is able to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness in compliance with Section 4.09(a); and

(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate of all other Restricted Payments made after the Issue Date, is less than the sum of:

(A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer for the period (taken as one accounting period) from January 1, 2024 to the end of the Issuer’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income shall be a deficit, minus 100% of such aggregate deficit); plus

(B) an amount equal to the sum of (x) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the Fair Market Value of any property or assets received by the Issuer from the issue or sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer (other than Equity Interests sold to any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries), following the Issue Date and (y) the aggregate amount by which Indebtedness (other than any Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Subsidiary) incurred by the

 

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Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary on or subsequent to the Issue Date is reduced on the Issuer’s balance sheet upon the conversion or exchange into Qualified Capital Stock (less the amount of any cash, or the Fair Market Value of assets, distributed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary upon such conversion or exchange or expended pursuant to clause (b)(11) below); plus

(C) if any Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated by the Issuer as a Restricted Subsidiary, an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the net Investment by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in such Subsidiary at the time of such designation; provided, however, that the foregoing amount shall not exceed the amount of Restricted Investments made by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in any such Unrestricted Subsidiary following the Issue Date which reduced the amount available for Restricted Payments pursuant to this clause (3) less amounts received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from such Unrestricted Subsidiary that increased the amount available for Restricted Payments pursuant to clause (D) below; plus

(D) 100% of any cash dividends and other cash distributions and the Fair Market Value of property or assets other than cash received by the Issuer and the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries from an Unrestricted Subsidiary since the Issue Date to the extent not included in Consolidated EBITDA and 100% of the net proceeds received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the sale of any Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the foregoing amount shall not exceed the amount of Restricted Investments made by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in any such Unrestricted Subsidiary following the Issue Date which reduced the amount available for Restricted Payments pursuant to this clause (3); plus

(E) to the extent not included in clauses (A) through (D) above, an amount equal to the net reduction in Restricted Investments of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Issue Date resulting from payments in cash of interest on Indebtedness, dividends or repayment of loans or advances, or other transfers of property, in each case, to the Issuer or to a Restricted Subsidiary or from the net cash proceeds from the sale, conveyance, liquidation or other disposition of any such Restricted Investment; plus

(F) $40.0 million.

provided, that (x) for the avoidance of doubt, the conversion of any Indebtedness into Qualified Capital Stock as part of the Reorganization Transactions shall not increase the amounts available under this clause (3) and (y) the amount of Dividend Restricted Payments and Equity Purchase Restricted Payments made utilizing the amounts available under clause (3)(F), when aggregated with the amount of Dividend Restricted Payments and Equity Purchase Restricted Payments made utilizing the amounts available under Section 4.07(b)(13), shall not exceed $10.0 million.

(b) The foregoing provisions shall not prohibit the following (provided that with respect to clauses (9), (10) and (12) below, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing both before and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment):

(1) the payment of any dividend or distribution or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof or the giving of a redemption notice related thereto, if at the date of declaration or notice such payment, dividend, distribution or redemption would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

(2) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of (x) any Equity Interests of the Issuer in exchange for, or out of the net proceeds of the issue or sale within 60 days of, Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer (other than Equity Interests issued or sold to any Subsidiary) or (y) Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (a) in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the issuance and sale within 60 days of, Qualified Capital Stock, (b) in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the incurrence within 60 days of, Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under clause (10) of Section 4.09(b) or other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section 4.09 or (c) with the Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale or upon a Change of Control, in each case, to the extent required by the agreement governing such Subordinated Indebtedness but only if the Issuer shall have previously applied such Net Proceeds to make an Excess Proceeds Offer or made a Change of Control Offer, as the case may be, in accordance with Sections 4.10 and 4.15 and purchased all Notes validly tendered pursuant to the relevant offer prior to redeeming or repurchasing such Subordinated Indebtedness;

 

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(3) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or shares of Preferred Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary issued in accordance with Section 4.09;

(4) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants or upon the vesting of restricted stock units if such Equity Interests represent the exercise price of such options or warrants or represent withholding taxes due upon such exercise or vesting;

(5) distributions or payments of Receivables Fees in connection with a Receivables Facility;

(6) the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer held by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, advisor or consultant of the Issuer or of any Subsidiary of the Issuer (or any such Person’s estates or heirs) pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement; provided that the aggregate amounts paid under this clause (6) do not exceed the greater of (x) $20.0 million and (y) 10.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis) in any calendar year, with unused amounts in any calendar year carried over and available for use in any succeeding 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 Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer to any future, present or former employee, director, officer, consultant or advisor of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries that occurred after the Issue Date, to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Capital Stock have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of clause (iii) of the preceding paragraph; plus

(B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date; less

(C) the amount of any Restricted Payments made in previous calendar years pursuant to clauses (A) and (B) of this clause;

provided that the Issuer may elect to apply all or any portion of the aggregate increase contemplated by subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (6) in any fiscal year; provided, further, that (i) cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from any future, present or former employee, director, officer, consultant or advisor of the Issuer or Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Capital Stock of the Issuer and (ii) the repurchase of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the exercise of options, warrants or similar instruments if such Capital Stock represents all or a portion of the exercise price thereof and payments, in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares of such Capital Stock or withholding to pay other taxes payable in connection therewith, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 4.07 or any other provision of this Indenture;

(7) payments or distributions by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable law in connection with any merger or acquisition consummated on or after the Issue Date and not prohibited by this Indenture;

(8) purchases, redemptions or acquisitions of fractional shares of Equity Interests arising out of stock dividends, splits or combinations or business combinations;

(9) the payment by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any amounts pursuant to the voluntary cases under Title 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas and a joint prepackaged plan of reorganization of the Issuer and certain of its Affiliates;

 

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(10) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date; provided, however, that (a) the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such Designated Preferred Stock is issued, after giving effect to such issuance (and the payment of dividends or distributions) on a pro forma basis, would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00 and (b) the aggregate amount of dividends declared and paid pursuant to this clause (10) does not exceed the net cash proceeds actually received by the Issuer from any such sale of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date;

(11) any Restricted Payment if after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Issuer on a pro forma basis is equal to or less than 3.75 to 1.00;

(12) to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, payments to counterparties under Hedging Obligations or other hedge, swap or option agreements entered into in connection with the issuance of convertible debt or upon the exercise thereof; and

(13) other Restricted Payments in an amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $50.0 million and (y) 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis); provided, that the amount of Dividend Restricted Payments and Equity Purchase Restricted Payments made utilizing the amounts available under this Section 4.07(b)(13), when aggregated with the amount of Dividend Restricted Payments and Equity Purchase Restricted Payments made utilizing the amounts available under Section 4.07(a)(3)(F) above, shall not exceed $10.0 million.

(c) Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 4.07(a) and clause (1) of Section 4.07(b) and, to the extent made with the proceeds of the issuance of Qualified Capital Stock, Investments made pursuant to clause (j) of the definition of “Permitted Investments,” shall be included as Restricted Payments in any computation made pursuant to clause (3) of Section 4.07(a). Restricted Payments made pursuant to clauses (2) through (11) and (13) of Section 4.07(b) shall not be included as Restricted Payments in any computation made pursuant to clause (3) of Section 4.07(a).

If the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary makes a Restricted Investment and the Person in which such Investment was made subsequently becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, to the extent such Investment resulted in a reduction in the amounts calculated under clause (3) of Section 4.07(a) or under any other provision of this Section 4.07, (which was not subsequently reversed), then such amount shall be increased by the amount of such reduction.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.07, in the event that a Restricted Payment (or portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories described in the clauses above, or is permitted pursuant to Section 4.07(a), the Issuer shall be entitled to divide or classify (or later divide, classify or reclassify in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such Restricted Payment (or portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 4.07.

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

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

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not transfer any Intellectual Property that is material to the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Unrestricted Subsidiary by way of sale, Investment, designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, disposition or otherwise.

Section 4.08 Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.

The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

(a) pay dividends or make any other distribution to the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b) make loans or advances to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(c) transfer any of the Issuer’s properties or assets to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(i) Existing Indebtedness and existing agreements as in effect on the Issue Date;

(ii) applicable law or regulation;

(iii) any instrument governing Acquired Debt and any other agreement or instrument of an acquired Person or any of its Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness or other agreement or instrument was incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired or any of its Subsidiaries;

(iv) by reason of customary non-assignment provisions in leases entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(v) Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Refinancing Indebtedness are no more restrictive than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced;

(vi) this Indenture, the Notes and the Collateral Documents or the Issuer’s other Indebtedness ranking pari passu with the Notes; provided that except as set forth in clause (vii) below such restrictions are no more restrictive taken as a whole than those imposed by this Indenture, the Notes and the Collateral Documents;

(vii) any Indebtedness; provided that the restrictions therein (i) are not materially more restrictive than the agreements governing such Indebtedness as in effect on the Issue Date or (ii) will not affect the Issuer’s ability to make principal or interest payments on the Notes (as determined by the Issuer in good faith);

(viii) customary non-assignment provisions in contracts, leases, sub-leases and licenses entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(ix) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary or any of its assets in compliance with the terms of this Indenture that restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending such sale or other disposition;

(x) provisions limiting the disposition or distribution of assets or property (including cash) in joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, sale-leaseback agreements, stock sale agreements and other similar agreements (including agreements entered into in connection with a Restricted Investment), and customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to the Equity Interests or Indebtedness of such joint venture, which limitation is applicable only to the assets that are the subject of such agreements;

(xi) Liens not prohibited under Section 4.12;

(xii) any agreement for the sale of any Subsidiary or its assets that restricts distributions by that Subsidiary (or sale of such Subsidiary’s Equity Interests) pending its sale; provided that during the entire period in which such encumbrance or restriction is effective, such sale (together with any other sales pending) would be permitted under the terms of this Indenture;

(xiii) secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred by this Indenture that limits the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

(xiv) Purchase Money Indebtedness that imposes restrictions of the type described in clause (c) above on the property so acquired;

(xv) any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (i) through (xiv) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the Issuer’s good faith judgment, not materially more restrictive as a whole with respect to such encumbrances and restrictions than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing;

(xvi) Indebtedness or other agreements, including, without limitation, agreements described in clause (x) of this paragraph, of any non-Guarantor Subsidiary which imposes restrictions solely on such non-Guarantor Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries;

(xvii) any restriction on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers, licensors or lessors or required by insurance, surety or bonding companies, in each case under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business; or

(xviii) restrictions created in connection with any Receivables Facility that, in the good faith determination of the Issuer, are necessary or advisable to effect such Receivables Facility.

Section 4.09 Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness.

(a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to (collectively, “incur”) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any Preferred Equity Interests; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer and any Restricted Subsidiary may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) and any Guarantor may issue Preferred Equity Interests, if, after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness or the issuance of such Preferred Equity Interests and the application of the net proceeds thereof on a pro forma basis, the Issuer’s Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would have been at least 2.0 to 1.0; provided that Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that are not Guarantors may not incur Indebtedness or issue any Preferred Equity Interests pursuant to this paragraph if, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or issuance (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds

 

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therefrom), the aggregate amount of outstanding Indebtedness or Preferred Equity Interests of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that are not Guarantors at any one time outstanding incurred pursuant to the foregoing proviso and pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(4)(a) below, together with the amount of any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(10) below, exceeds the greater of (x) $50.0 million or (y) 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis).

(b) The foregoing limitation shall not apply to any of the following incurrences of Indebtedness:

(1) Indebtedness represented by the Notes and the Guarantees issued on the Issue Date;

(2) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor under any Credit Facility, including letters of credit or banker’s acceptances issued or created thereunder, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the sum of (a) the greater of (i) $210 million and (ii) 100.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis) and (b) an amount of First Lien Indebtedness that would not cause the Consolidated First Lien Indebtedness Leverage Ratio (calculated after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the application of proceeds therefrom, the granting of such Liens and any other related transactions) to be greater than 5.00 to 1.00 as of the last day of the most recent quarter for which internal financial statements are available on the date such Indebtedness is incurred, plus the amount of any accrued interest and any premiums payable and reasonable fees, expenses, commissions and costs in connection with the exchange, extension, refinancing, renewal, replacement, substitution or refunding of any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (2);

(3) (x) unsecured Indebtedness among the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (y) Preferred Equity Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary held by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary;

provided that if such Preferred Equity Interests are issued by a Guarantor, such Preferred Equity Interests are held by the Issuer or a Guarantor;

(4) (a) Indebtedness of the Issuer and any Restricted Subsidiary incurred to finance an Asset Acquisition or (b) Acquired Debt of a Person incurred prior to the date upon which such Person was acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (and not created in contemplation of such acquisition); provided that) after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness or Acquired Debt on a pro forma basis, the Issuer’s Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio either (A) would have been at least 2.0 to 1.0 or (B) would have been greater than immediately prior to such acquisition provided, further, that all Indebtedness incurred, issued or assumed pursuant to subclause (4)(a) and pursuant to the proviso in Section 4.09(a), together with the amount of any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred pursuant to clause (10) below, by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors or the Issuer shall not exceed an amount equal to the greater of (x) $50.0 million or (y) 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

(5) Existing Indebtedness (including the 2027 Senior Notes outstanding on the Issue Date and other than Indebtedness incurred under clause (1) or (2) above);

(6) Indebtedness consisting of Purchase Money Indebtedness in an aggregate amount (when aggregated with the amount of Refinancing Indebtedness outstanding under clause (10) below in respect of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (6)) not to exceed an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding equal to the greater of (x) $60.0 million or (y) 30.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

(7) Hedging Obligations of the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries covering Indebtedness of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Hedging Obligations are entered into for bona fide hedging activities, including the issuance of convertible debt, and not for speculative purposes;

 

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(8) Foreign Currency Obligations of the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries entered into to manage exposure of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries to fluctuations in currency values and not for speculative purposes;

(9) the incurrence by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, workers’ compensation claims, self-insurance obligations, bankers’ acceptances, guarantees, performance, surety, statutory, appeal, completion, export or import, indemnities, customs, revenue bonds or similar instruments in the ordinary course of business, including guarantees or obligations with respect thereto (in each case other than for an obligation for money borrowed);

(10) the incurrence by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness issued in exchange for, or the proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, substitute or refund in whole or in part, Indebtedness referred to in clause (a) of this Section 4.09 or in clause (1), (4), (5) or (6) or this clause (10) or in clause (11), (14), (15) or (20) below (“Refinancing Indebtedness”); provided, however, that:

(A) the principal amount of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not exceed the principal amount and accrued interest of the Indebtedness so exchanged, extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, substituted or refunded and any premiums payable and reasonable fees, expenses, commissions and costs in connection therewith;

(B) the Refinancing Indebtedness shall have a final maturity equal to or later than, and a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than, the earlier of (i) 91 days after the final maturity date of the Notes and (ii) the final maturity and Weighted Average Life to Maturity, respectively, of the Indebtedness being exchanged, extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, substituted or refunded;

(C) the Refinancing Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and the Guarantees, if at all, on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being exchanged, extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, substituted or refunded; and

(D) if the Indebtedness to be exchanged, refinanced, renewed, replaced, substituted or refunded was the obligation of the Issuer or Guarantor, such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be incurred by any of the Restricted Subsidiaries other than a Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary that was an obligor under the Indebtedness so refinanced;

(11) additional Indebtedness of the Issuer and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding an amount, taken together with the amount of any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof outstanding pursuant to clause (10) above, equal to the greater of (x) $70.0 million or (y) 35.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

(12) the guarantee by the Issuer or any Guarantor of Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 4.09 and the guarantee by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor of any Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor;

(13) the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock;

 

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(14) the incurrence by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries of guarantees in respect of obligations of joint ventures and, in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a joint venture, the incurrence of Indebtedness; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (14), taken together with the amount of any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof outstanding pursuant to clause (10), shall not exceed at any one time outstanding an amount equal to the greater of (x) $60.0 million and (y) 30.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

(15) Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed, taken together with the amount of any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof outstanding pursuant to clause (10) above, the greater of (x) $50.0 million and (y) 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

(16) the incurrence by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn against insufficient funds;

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

(18) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums in an amount not to exceed the annual premiums in respect thereof or (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(19) Indebtedness arising in connection with endorsement of instruments for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business;

(20) unsecured Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate outstanding principal amount which, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause and then outstanding, will not exceed 100% of the net cash proceeds received by the Issuer from the issuance or sale (other than to a Subsidiary, a Minority Investment, a Professional Services Affiliate or a Strategic Investor) of its Equity Interests or otherwise contributed to the equity (in each case, other than through the issuance of Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) of the Issuer, in each case, subsequent to the Issue Date (together with the amount of any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof outstanding pursuant to clause (10) above; provided, however, that (i) any such net cash proceeds that are so received or contributed shall not increase the amount available for making Restricted Payments to the extent the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries incur Indebtedness in reliance thereon and (ii) any net cash proceeds that are so received or contributed shall be excluded for purposes of incurring Indebtedness pursuant to this clause to the extent such net cash proceeds or cash have been applied to make Restricted Payments;

(21) Indebtedness the proceeds of which are applied to defease or discharge the Notes pursuant to Article 8;

(22) Preferred Equity Interests of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any Restricted Subsidiary that holds such Preferred Equity Interests of another Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Preferred Equity Interests (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of Preferred Equity Interests not permitted by this clause (22);

 

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(23) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of (a) workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits, property, casualty or liability insurance, self-insurance obligations, customer guarantees, performance, indemnity, surety, judgment, bid, appeal, advance payment (including progress premiums), customs, value added or other tax or other guarantees or other similar bonds, instruments or obligations, completion guarantees and warranties or relating to liabilities, obligations or guarantees incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; (b) customer deposits and advance payments (including progress premiums) received from customers for goods or services purchased in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; (c) letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, discounted bills of exchange, discounting or factoring of receivables or payables for credit management purposes, warehouse receipts, guarantees or other similar instruments or obligations issued or entered into, or relating to liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(24) Indebtedness in respect of unsecured promissory notes issued to a Strategic Investor in connection with repurchases, redemptions or other acquisition of Preferred Equity Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary owned by a Strategic Investor;

(25) non-voting Preferred Equity Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to a Strategic Investor in the ordinary course of business for bona fide business purposes; provided that after giving pro forma effect to the issuance of such Preferred Equity Interests the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available, is not less than 2.00 to 1.00;

(26) (a) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Professional Services Affiliate incurred in the ordinary course of business pursuant to or in connection with Management Services Agreement, (b) Guarantees by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or any other obligation or liability of a Professional Services Affiliate incurred in the ordinary course of business pursuant to or in connection with Management Services Agreement, (c) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary arising by reason of any Lien granted by or applicable to such Person or its assets securing Indebtedness of a Professional Services Affiliate incurred in the ordinary course of business pursuant to or in connection with Management Services Agreement, and (d) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of letters of credit, banker’s acceptances or other similar instruments or obligations issued for the benefit of, or relating to liabilities or obligations incurred on behalf of, a Professional Services Affiliate, incurred in the ordinary course of business pursuant to or in connection with Management Services Agreement; and

(27) Obligations under or in respect of Receivables Facilities.

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, (1) the outstanding principal amount of any item of Indebtedness shall be counted only once, and any obligation arising under any guarantee, Lien, letter of credit or similar instrument supporting such Indebtedness incurred in compliance with this Section 4.09 shall be disregarded, and (2) if an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories described in clauses (b)(1) through (27) above or is permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) and also meets the criteria of one or more of the categories described in clauses (1) through (27) of Section 4.09(b), the Issuer shall, in its sole discretion, classify such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09 and may from time to time reclassify such item of Indebtedness in any manner in which such item could be incurred at the time of such reclassification; provided that Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement on the Issue Date (and any Indebtedness secured by a Lien that refinances such Indebtedness) shall be deemed to be outstanding under clause (b)(2) above and may not be reclassified.

(d) Accrual of interest or dividends on Preferred Equity Interests, the accretion of original issue discount and the payment of interest or dividends on Preferred Equity Interests in the form of additional Indebtedness or Preferred Equity Interests of the same class shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09. Any increase in the amount of Indebtedness solely by reason of currency fluctuations shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09. A change in GAAP that results in an obligation existing at the time of such change, not previously classified as Indebtedness, becoming Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09.

 

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(e) The amount of indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be (1) the accreted value thereof, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount, (2) the principal amount thereof, in the case of any other Indebtedness, (3) in the case of the guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person, the maximum liability to which the specified Person may be subject upon the occurrence of the contingency giving rise to the obligation and (4) in the case of Indebtedness of others guaranteed by means of a Lien on any asset of the specified Person, the lesser of (A) the Fair Market Value of such asset on the date on which Indebtedness is required to be determined pursuant to this Indenture and (B) the amount of the Indebtedness so secured.

(f) 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 by the Issuer based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term Indebtedness, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit Indebtedness; 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-dominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-dominated 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. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.09, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Issuer may incur pursuant to this Section 4.09 shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies. The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, (1) if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated by the Issuer based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such Refinancing Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing and (2) shall be deemed to be outstanding only when the proceeds thereof are not applied to effect such refinancing (and to pay any fees, expenses, commissions and costs in connection therewith) substantially concurrently.

(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.09, in the case of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness initially incurred in reliance on one or more of clauses (1) through (26) of Section 4.07(b) measured by reference to a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA at the time of incurrence, if such refinancing would cause the percentage of Consolidated EBITDA restriction to be exceeded if calculated based on the percentage of Consolidated EBITDA on the date of such refinancing, such percentage of Consolidated EBITDA restriction shall not be deemed to be exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced, plus accrued and unpaid interest, dividends, premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs, underwriting discounts, fees, costs and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) in connection with such refinancing.

(h) For the avoidance of doubt, unsecured Indebtedness shall not be treated as subordinated or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors shall not be permitted to incur any Indebtedness for borrowed money (which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any related Liens thereto) pursuant to this Section 4.09.

Section 4.10 Limitation on Asset Sales.

(a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, consummate any Asset Sale unless:

(1) the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of contractually agreeing to such Asset Sale) of the assets included in such Asset Sale); and

 

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(2) other than with respect to Permitted Asset Swaps, at least 75% of the total consideration in such Asset Sale consists of cash or Cash Equivalents or Marketable Securities.

For purposes of clause (2), the following shall be deemed to be cash:

(a) the amount (without duplication) of any Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Indebtedness) of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary that is expressly assumed by the transferee in such Asset Sale and with respect to which the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is unconditionally released by the holder of such Indebtedness,

(b) the amount of any obligations or securities received from such transferee that are within 180 days converted by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary to cash (to the extent of the cash actually so received),

(c) Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Asset Sale, to the extent that the Issuer and each other Restricted Subsidiary are released from any Guarantee of payment of such Indebtedness in connection with such Asset Sale; and

(d) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (c), not to exceed the greater of $20.0 million and 10.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (calculated on a pro forma basis), 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.

(b) If the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary engages in an Asset Sale, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary shall apply all or any of the Net Proceeds therefrom to:

(1) at the Issuer’s election, either (x) repay First Lien Obligations (and in the case of any such repayment under any revolving credit facility, effect a permanent reduction in the availability under such revolving credit facility) or (y) repay, redeem or purchase the Notes; provided that if the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary repays First Lien Obligations (other than the Notes) pursuant to clause (b)(i)(x) of this Section 4.10, the Issuer shall apply a pro rata amount to (i) equally and ratably reduce the Notes Obligations in accordance with the procedures set forth under Section 3.07 and/or (ii) make an Excess Proceeds Offer; or

(2) (A) invest all or any part of the Net Proceeds thereof in capital expenditures or the purchase of assets to be used by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in a Permitted Business, (B) acquire Equity Interests in a Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary or in a Person engaged primarily in a Permitted Business that shall become a Restricted Subsidiary immediately upon the consummation of such acquisition or (C) a combination of (A) and (B).

(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 4.10, (i) to the extent that any of or all the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale received or deemed to be received by a Foreign Subsidiary (a “Foreign Disposition”) is (x) prohibited or delayed by applicable local law or (y) restricted by applicable organizational documents in each case, from being repatriated to the United States, an amount equal to the portion of such Net Proceeds so affected will not be required to be applied in compliance with this Section 4.10 so long, but only so long, as the applicable local law or organizational documents will not permit repatriation to the United States (the Issuer hereby agreeing to use reasonable efforts (as determined in the Issuer’s reasonable business judgment) to otherwise cause the applicable Foreign Subsidiary to within one year following the date on which the respective payment would otherwise have been required, promptly take all actions reasonably required by the applicable local law or applicable organizational impediments to permit such repatriation), and if within one year following the date on which the respective payment would otherwise have been required, such repatriation of any of such affected Net Proceeds is permitted under the applicable local law or applicable organizational impediment, an amount equal to such Net Proceeds will be promptly (and in any event not later than five Business Days after such repatriation could be made) applied (net of additional Taxes payable or reserved against as a result thereof) (whether or not repatriation

 

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actually occurs) in compliance with this Section 4.10 and (ii) to the extent that the Issuer has determined in good faith that repatriation of any of or all the Net Proceeds of any Foreign Disposition would have an material adverse Tax consequence (which for the avoidance of doubt, includes, but is not limited to, any prepayment out of such Net Proceeds whereby doing so the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective affiliates and/or equity owners would incur a Tax liability, including a Tax dividend, deemed dividend pursuant to Code Section 956 or a withholding Tax), an amount equal to the Net Proceeds so affected will not be required to be applied in compliance with this Section 4.10. The non-application of any prepayment amounts as a consequence of the foregoing provisions will not, for the avoidance of doubt, constitute a Default or an Event of Default.

(d) Any Net Proceeds from any Asset Sale that are not applied or invested (or committed pursuant to a written agreement to be applied) as provided in the preceding paragraph within 365 days after the receipt thereof and, in the case of any amount committed to a reinvestment, which are not actually so applied within 180 days following such 365 day period shall constitute “Excess Proceeds” and shall be applied pursuant to Section 4.10(d) hereof. Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary may temporarily reduce revolving indebtedness under a Credit Facility, if any, or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture.

(e) When the cumulative amount of Excess Proceeds that have not been applied in accordance with this Section 4.10 exceeds $30.0 million, the Issuer shall make an offer to all Holders of the Notes (an “Excess Proceeds Offer”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased out of such Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest to the date fixed for the closing of such offer in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.10 hereof. Upon completion of an Excess Proceeds Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

Section 4.11 Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates.

The Issuer shall not and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of the Issuer’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into any contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate (including any Unrestricted Subsidiary and Minority Investment) in any one or a series of transactions involving aggregate payments in excess of $20.0 million (or in the case of a Minority Investment, in excess of $10.0 million) (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”), unless:

(a) the terms of such Affiliate Transaction taken as a whole are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that could be obtained in a comparable transaction at the time of such transaction or the execution of the agreement providing for such transaction in arm’s length dealings with a Person who is not such an Affiliate; and

(b) in the event such Affiliate Transaction involves an aggregate value in excess of the greater of $30.0 million and 15% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended measurement period calculated on a pro forma basis), the terms of such transaction have been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Issuer;

Any Affiliate Transaction shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements set forth in clause (b) above if such Affiliate Transaction is approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Issuer, if any.

provided, however, that the following shall, in each case, not be deemed Affiliate Transactions:

(i) the entry into employment agreements and the adoption of compensation or benefit plans for the benefit of, or the payment of compensation to, directors and management of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, salaries, fees, bonuses, equity and incentive arrangements and payments);

 

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(ii) indemnification or similar arrangements for officers, directors, employees or agents of the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to charter, bylaw, statutory or contractual provisions;

(iii) transactions between or among the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(iv) Restricted Payments not prohibited by Section 4.07 and Permitted Investments;

(v) any transactions between the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries and any Affiliate of the Issuer the Equity Interests of which Affiliate are owned solely by the Issuer or one of the Restricted Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and by Persons who are not Affiliates of the Issuer or Restricted Subsidiaries, on the other hand;

(vi) the payment of compensation, fees, costs and expenses to, and indemnities (including under insurance policies) and reimbursements, employment and severance arrangements, and employee benefit and pension expenses provided on behalf of, or for the benefit of, future, current or former employees, directors, officers, managers, contractors, consultants, distributors or advisors of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (whether directly or indirectly);

(vii) any agreements or arrangements in effect on the Issue Date and any modifications, extensions or renewals thereof that are not disadvantageous to the holders of Notes in the Issuer’s reasonable determination in any material respect;

(viii) so long as they comply with clause (a) above, transactions with customers, clients, lessors, landlords, suppliers, contractors or purchasers or sellers of goods or services that are Affiliates, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture;

(ix) transactions with Persons who are Affiliates of the Issuer solely as a result of the Issuer’s or a Restricted Subsidiary’s Investment in such Person;

(x) sales of Equity Interests to Affiliates of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture and the granting of registration and other customary rights in connection therewith;

(xi) transactions with an Affiliate where the only consideration paid is Equity Interests of the Issuer other than Disqualified Stock;

(xii) transactions in which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, deliver to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of this covenant;

(xiii) transactions with joint ventures or Unrestricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(xiv) transactions between the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person, a director of which is also a director of the Issuer; provided, however, that such director abstains from voting as a director on any matter involving such other Person;

(xv) any transition services arrangement, supply arrangement or similar arrangement entered into in connection with or in contemplation of the disposition of assets or Capital Stock in any Restricted Subsidiary permitted under Section 4.10 or entered into with any Business Successor, in each case, that the Issuer determines in good faith is either fair to the Issuer or otherwise on customary terms for such type of arrangements in connection with similar transactions;

 

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(xvi) transactions entered into by an Unrestricted Subsidiary with an Affiliate prior to the day such Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary (and not entered into in contemplation of such redesignation) as described in the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiaries” and pledges of Capital Stock of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(xvii) (i) any lease entered into between the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, as lessee, and any Affiliate of the Issuer, as lessor and (ii) any operational services arrangement entered into between the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Affiliate of the Issuer, in each case, which is approved as being no worse than a transaction on an arm’s length basis by the reasonable determination of the Issuer;

(xviii) intellectual property licenses and research and development agreements in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; and

(xix) any customary transaction with a Receivables Subsidiary effected as part of a Receivables Facility in the ordinary course of business.

Section 4.12 Limitation on Liens.

(a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur or assume any Lien (each, an “Initial Lien”) on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired, or on any income or profits therefrom or assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom, other than (i) Permitted Liens and (ii) with respect to Liens on assets not constituting Collateral, any such Lien securing Indebtedness if the Notes are secured equally and ratably thereby (or, if such Indebtedness secured by Liens on assets not constituting Collateral is subordinated to the Notes, the Notes are secured on a priority basis with respect to such Indebtedness).

(b) Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 4.12(a) shall provide by its terms that such Lien shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of the Initial Lien.

(c) With respect to any Lien securing Indebtedness that was permitted to secure such Indebtedness at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, such Lien shall also be permitted to secure any Increased Amount of such Indebtedness. The “Increased Amount” of any Indebtedness shall mean any increase in the amount of such Indebtedness in connection with any accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, accretion of original issue discount or liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies or increases in the value of property securing Indebtedness.

Section 4.13 Additional Subsidiary Guarantees.

Upon the formation or acquisition of any newly Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer’s Professional Services Affiliates) by the Issuer or Guarantor that is not an Excluded Subsidiary, then in each case such Restricted Subsidiary shall (i) execute and deliver to the Trustee and Collateral Agent a supplemental indenture in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture on the terms set forth in this Indenture, (ii) execute and deliver to the Trustee and Collateral Agent joinders or supplements, as applicable, to the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (and, if applicable, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement), together with any other filings and agreements (subject to customary extension periods) required by the Collateral Documents to create or perfect the security interests of the Collateral Agent for its benefit and for the benefit of the Trustee and the holders of the Notes in the Collateral of such Restricted Subsidiary and (iii) deliver to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel certifying that such supplemental indenture and joinders or supplements to the Collateral Documents and First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (and, if applicable, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement) have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Restricted Subsidiary and constitute legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary. Thereafter, such Restricted Subsidiary shall be a Guarantor for all purposes of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (and, if applicable, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement).

 

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Section 4.14 Organizational Existence.

Subject to Article 5 hereof and the proviso to this Section 4.14, the Issuer shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (i) its existence as a corporation and, subject to Section 4.10 hereof, the corporate, limited liability company, partnership or other existence of any Significant Subsidiary, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary and (ii) subject to Section 4.10 hereof, the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Issuer and its Significant Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any Significant Subsidiary if the Board of Directors of the Issuer shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

Section 4.15 Change of Control.

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Issuer shall make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder of Notes to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of such Holder’s Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of repurchase (subject to the rights of Holders of record of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive payments of interest on the related interest payment date) (in either case, the “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Issuer shall send or otherwise deliver a notice to each Holder electronically in accordance with the procedures of the depository or by first-class mail with a copy to the Trustee stating:

(1) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.15;

(2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no earlier than 30 days and not later than 60 days after the date such notice is sent (the “Change of Control Payment Date”);

(3) that any Notes not tendered shall continue to accrue interest in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

(4) that, unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest on the Change of Control Payment Date;

(5) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the paying agent receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a notice sent electronically in accordance with the procedures of the depository or by first-class mail setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is unconditionally withdrawing its election to have such Notes purchased;

(6) that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion must be equal to $2,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof; and

(7) any other information material to such Holder’s decision to tender Notes.

The Issuer shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes required in the event of a Change of Control. The Issuer shall not be required to make a

 

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Change of Control Offer upon 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 this Indenture applicable to Change of Control Offer made by the Issuer. The Issuer’s obligations in respect of a Change of Control Offer can be modified with the consent of Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding at any time prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control. 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 making of the Change of Control Offer.

Section 4.16 Suspension of Covenants.

(a) During any period of time after the Issue Date that (i) the Notes are rated Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies and (ii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being collectively referred to as a “Covenant Suspension Event”), the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be subject to the following Sections of this Indenture (the “Suspended Covenants”):

(1) Section 4.07;

(2) Section 4.09;

(3) Section 4.10;

(4) clause (d) of the first paragraph of Section 5.01;

(5) Section 4.11;

(6) Section 4.08; and

(7) Section 4.13.

(b) At such time as Sections 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11 and clause (d) of the first paragraph of Section 5.01 are suspended (a “Suspension Period”), the Issuer shall no longer be permitted to designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

(c) In the event that the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants for any period of time as a result of the foregoing, and on any subsequent date (the “Reversion Date”) one or both of the Rating Agencies withdraw their Investment Grade rating or downgrade the rating assigned to the Notes below Investment Grade, then the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants with respect to future events.

(d) On each Reversion Date, all Indebtedness incurred during the Suspension Period prior to such Reversion Date shall be deemed to be Existing Indebtedness. For purposes of calculating the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under clause (3) of Section 4.07(a), calculations under such section shall be made as though such section had been in effect during the entire period of time after the Issue Date (including the Suspension Period). Restricted Payments made during the Suspension Period not otherwise permitted pursuant to any of clauses (2) through (12) under Section 4.07(b) shall reduce the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under clause (3) of such Section 4.07(a); provided that the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments on the Reversion Date shall not be reduced to below zero solely as a result of such Restricted Payments. For purposes of Section 4.10(d), on the Reversion Date, the unutilized amount of Net Proceeds shall be reset to zero. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither (a) the continued existence, after the Reversion Date, of facts and circumstances or obligations that were incurred or otherwise came into existence during a Suspension Period nor (b) the performance of any such obligations, shall constitute a breach of any covenant set forth herein or cause a Default or Event of Default thereunder; provided that (1) the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries did not incur or otherwise cause such facts and circumstances or obligations to exist in anticipation of a withdrawal or downgrade by the applicable Rating Agency below an Investment Grade rating and (2) the Issuer reasonably believed that such incurrence or actions would not result in such withdrawal or downgrade. On each Reversion Date, the Issuer shall be required to comply with the provisions under Section 4.13 as if such provisions were in effect at all times during the Suspension Period.

 

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The Issuer shall provide an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee indicating the occurrence of any Covenant Suspension Event, Suspension Period or Reversion Date. The Trustee shall have no obligation to monitor the ratings of the Notes, independently determine or verify if such events have occurred or notify the holders of Notes of any Covenant Suspension Event, Suspension Period or Reversion Date. The Trustee may provide a copy of such Officers’ Certificate to any Holder of Notes upon request.

Section 4.17 After-acquired Collateral.

From and after the Issue Date, if the Issuer or any Guarantor creates any additional security interest upon any Property that would constitute Collateral to secure any First Lien Obligations, the Issuer and each of the Guarantors shall grant a first-priority perfected security interest (subject to Permitted Liens) upon any such Collateral, as security for the Notes Obligations, subject to the limitations and exceptions set forth in the Collateral Documents.

Section 4.18 Further Assurances.

As set forth in the Collateral Documents and this Indenture, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall, at their expense, duly execute and deliver, or cause to be duly executed and delivered, such further agreements, documents, instruments, financing and continuation statements (or equivalent statements) and amendments thereto and do or cause to be done such further acts as may be necessary or proper or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to evidence, perfect, maintain and enforce the security interests and the priority thereof in the Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties, and to otherwise effectuate the provisions or purposes of this Indenture and the Collateral Documents.

Section 4.19 Additional Amounts.

All payments in respect of the Notes or any Guarantee by or on behalf of the Issuer, any Guarantor, or any successor thereto (each, a “Payor”) shall be made free and clear of, and without withholding or deduction for, or on account of, any present or future taxes, levies, duties, imposts, assessments or other governmental charges, including any interest, additions to tax and penalties related thereto (collectively, “Taxes”), unless such withholding or deduction is required by applicable law. If any Payor, or any other applicable withholding agent, is required to withhold or deduct any amount in respect of any payment made in respect of the Notes or any Guarantee with respect to any Tax imposed by or on behalf of any jurisdiction in which any Payor is, at any time, organized, resident or doing business for tax purposes, or any jurisdiction from or through which any Payor or any paying agent (on behalf of any Payor) makes any payments on the Notes or any Guarantee, or, in each case, any governmental authority or political subdivision thereof or therein having the power to tax (each, a “Relevant Tax Jurisdiction”), the Payor will, subject to the exceptions and limitations set forth below, pay such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as are necessary so that the net payment received by a beneficial owner of the Notes (including any Additional Amounts), after withholding or deduction for any Taxes of any Relevant Tax Jurisdiction (including in respect of any Additional Amounts) will equal the amount such beneficial owner would have received in respect of such payment had no such withholding or deduction been required. A Payor’s obligation to pay Additional Amounts shall not apply:

(a) to any Taxes that are imposed by reason of the holder (or the beneficial owner for whose benefit such holder holds such Note), or a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder of the holder if the holder is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation, or a person holding a power over an estate or trust administered by a fiduciary holder, being considered as:

(i) being or having been engaged in a trade or business in the Relevant Tax Jurisdiction or having or having had a permanent establishment in the Relevant Tax Jurisdiction; or

 

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(ii) having any other current or former connection with the Relevant Tax Jurisdiction (other than a connection arising solely as a result of the acquisition, ownership or disposition of the Notes or a beneficial interest therein, the receipt of any payment in respect of a Note or any Guarantee or the enforcement of any rights hereunder or thereunder), including being or having been a citizen or resident of the Relevant Tax Jurisdiction;

(b) to any Taxes that are imposed or withheld because the holder or beneficial owner failed to accurately comply with a request from a Payor to meet certification, identification or information or other reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence or identity of the holder or beneficial owner of the Notes or otherwise establish any available exemption from or reduction in the rate of deduction or withholding of, such Taxes (if such holder or beneficial owner is legally eligible to satisfy such requirements, exemptions or reductions), in each case, if compliance with such action is required as a precondition to exemption from, or reduction in, such Tax by a Relevant Tax Jurisdiction;

(c) to any Taxes that are imposed other than by withholding or deduction by a Payor or other applicable withholding agent in respect of a payment with respect to the Notes or any Guarantee;

(d) to any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, wealth or similar Taxes;

(e) to any Taxes that are imposed as a result of the presentation of a Note for payment (where presentation is required) more than 30 days after the relevant amount is first made available for payment to the holder (except to the extent that the holder would have been entitled to Additional Amounts had the Note been presented on the last day of such 30-day period);

(f) [reserved];

(g) to any Tax imposed pursuant to current Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to current Section 1471(b) of the Code (or any amended or successor version described above), or any intergovernmental agreements, treaties, conventions or similar agreements (and any related laws, regulations or administrative guidance) implementing the foregoing;

(h) to any Taxes that are imposed on or with respect to any payment by or on behalf of the Issuer or any Guarantor to the holder if such holder is a fiduciary, partnership, limited liability company or person other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment to the extent that, had the sole beneficial owner of such Note been the holder and had such Taxes been imposed on the sole beneficial owner, no Additional Amounts in respect of such Taxes would have been payable as a result of clauses (a)-(g) or (i) of this Section 4.19; or

(i) to any combination of the above items (the foregoing Taxes described in clauses (a)-(i), “Excluded Taxes”).

At least 30 calendar days prior to each date on which any payment under or with respect to the Notes or any Guarantee is due and payable, if a Payor will be obligated to pay Additional Amounts with respect to such payment (unless such obligation to pay Additional Amounts arises after the 35th day prior to the date on which such payment is due and payable, in which case it will be promptly thereafter), the Payor will deliver to the Trustee an officers’ certificate of the Issuer stating that such Additional Amounts will be payable and the amounts so payable and will set forth such other information necessary to enable the Trustee (or the applicable paying agent) to pay such Additional Amounts to holders on the payment date.

The applicable Payor, if it is the applicable withholding agent, will make any required withholding or deduction and remit the full amount deducted or withheld to the Relevant Tax Jurisdiction in accordance with applicable law. The Issuer will provide the Trustees (and, upon request, any holders or beneficial owners of the Notes) with official receipts or other documentation evidencing the payment of the Taxes with respect to which Additional Amounts are paid.

 

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The Issuer and the Guarantors will pay and indemnify each holder of Notes for any present or future stamp, court, issue, registration or documentary Taxes or any other excise, property or similar Taxes that are levied by any Relevant Tax Jurisdiction from the execution, delivery, enforcement or registration of the Notes (other than in respect of a transfer of a Note, to someone other than the Issuer or its Affiliates, that occurs after the sale of such Note to an investor pursuant to the offering of the Notes), the Guarantees, this Indenture or any other document or instrument in relation thereof, or the receipt of any payments with respect to the Notes or any Guarantee (limited, solely in the case of Taxes attributable to the receipt of any payments with respect thereto, to any such Taxes levied by a Relevant Tax Jurisdiction that are not excluded under clauses (a), (b) and (d) through (h) or any combination thereof). Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned in any context: the payment of principal, redemption prices or purchase prices in connection with a redemption or purchase of Notes, interest, or any other amount payable with respect to any of the Notes or any Guarantee, such reference shall be deemed to include payment of Additional Amounts as described under this Section 4.19 to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof.

The obligations described under this Section 4.19 will survive any termination, defeasance or discharge of this Indenture, and any transfer by a holder or beneficial owner of its Notes and will apply mutatis mutandis to any successor Person, to any Payor and to any jurisdiction in which such successor is organized or is otherwise resident or doing business for tax purposes or any jurisdiction from or through which payment is made by such successor or its respective agents.

Section 4.20 [Reserved].

Section 4.21 Limitation on Use of Proceeds of Stonepeak Direct Investment.

The Issuer shall not and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to use the proceeds from the Stonepeak Direct Investment other than (i) as Reverse Dutch Election Available Proceeds, (ii) to fund ordinary course working capital, (iii) to engage in additional buybacks of debt of the Issuer or (iv) for acquisitions where the Consolidated Leverage Ratio immediately after giving effect thereto is lower than the Consolidated Leverage Ratio immediately prior to giving effect thereto.

Section 4.22 Post-Closing CovenantSection 4.23

The Issuer shall (x) complete the tasks set forth on Schedule 7.18(2) of the Credit Agreement, in each case within the time limits specified on such schedule (in each case, as may be extended by the Credit Agreement Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion) and (y) no later than thirty (30) days after the Issue Date (or such later date as the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, in its reasonable discretion, shall agree to under Schedule 7.18(1) to the Credit Agreement), deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Notes Collateral Agent endorsements to each of the Issuer’s property and liability insurance policies naming the Notes Collateral Agent as loss payee and additional insured in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent under a corresponding provision of the Credit Agreement and, in each case, the parties hereto acknowledge that for all purposes of this Indenture and the Collateral Documents, any such actions shall not be required to be satisfied until such times as required under Section 7.18 of the Credit Agreement.

ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets.

The Issuer shall not consolidate, amalgamate, participate in an arrangement with or merge with or into (whether or not the Issuer is the surviving entity), 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, another Person unless:

(a) the Issuer is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement or merger (if other than the Issuer ) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States;

 

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(b) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement or merger (if other than the Issuer) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made assumes all the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes, this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (and, if applicable, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement) pursuant to a supplemental indenture and joinders or supplements, as applicable, to the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (and, if applicable, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement), in each case, in form reasonably acceptable to the Trustee and Collateral Agent;

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

(d) the Issuer or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement or merger (if other than the Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made (i) will have a Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio immediately after the transaction (but prior to any purchase accounting adjustments or accrual of deferred tax liabilities resulting from the transaction) not less than the Issuer’s Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio immediately preceding the transaction or (ii) would, at the time of such transaction after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.09(a).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to Sections 10.03 and 10.04, any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate, amalgamate with, participate in an arrangement with or merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary.

Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (c) and (d), this Article 5 shall not apply to a merger or amalgamation of the Issuer with a Restricted Subsidiary solely for the purpose of reorganizing the Issuer in another jurisdiction of the United States or any State thereof or the District of Columbia so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiary is not increased thereby.

Section 5.02 Successor Person Substituted.

Upon any consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement or merger, or any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor Person formed by such consolidation, merger, amalgamation or arrangement into or with which the Issuer is consolidated, amalgamated, arranged or merged, to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions hereof referring to the Issuer shall refer instead to the successor Person and not to the Issuer), and may exercise every right and power of, the Issuer under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person has been named as the Issuer herein. When a successor Person assumes all the obligations of the Issuer under the Notes and this Indenture pursuant to this Article 5, the applicable predecessor shall be released from the obligations so assumed.

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01 Events of Default.

Each of the following constitutes an “Event of Default”:

(a) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest or additional interest, if any, on the Notes;

 

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(b) default in payment when due of principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes at maturity, upon repurchase, redemption or otherwise;

(c) failure to comply for 30 days after notice with any obligations under the provisions described under Sections 3.10 (other than a failure to purchase Notes duly tendered to the Issuer for repurchase pursuant to a Change of Control Offer or an Excess Proceeds Offer), 4.10, 4.15 and 5.01;

(d) subject to the second paragraph of Section 6.02, default under any other provision of this Indenture, the Notes or the Collateral Documents, which default remains uncured for 60 days after notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount then outstanding of the Notes;

(e) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed (or commitments in respect of Indebtedness for borrowed money, in each case, which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any related Liens thereto) by the Issuer and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Issuer and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries), which default is caused by a failure to pay the principal of such Indebtedness at the final stated maturity thereof within the grace period provided in such Indebtedness (a “Payment Default”), and the principal amount of any such Indebtedness (including the principal amount of commitments in respect of such Indebtedness), together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness (including the principal amount of commitments in respect of such Indebtedness) under which there has been a Payment Default, aggregates $40.0 million or more;

(f) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed (or commitments in respect of Indebtedness for borrowed money, in each case, which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any related Liens thereto) by the Issuer and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries), which default results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness (or termination of related commitments) prior to its express maturity not rescinded or cured within 30 days after such acceleration (or termination of related commitments), and the principal amount of any such Indebtedness (including the principal amount of commitments in respect of such Indebtedness), together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness (including the principal amount of commitments in respect of such Indebtedness) under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated (or commitments terminated) and remains undischarged after such 30 day period, aggregates $40.0 million or more;

(g) failure by the Issuer and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments (other than any judgment as to which a reputable insurance company has accepted full liability) aggregating $40.0 million or more, which judgments are not stayed within 60 days after their entry;

(h) any Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) shall be held in a judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect, or any Guarantor that qualifies as a Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor that qualifies as a Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under its Guarantee;

(i) the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of the Issuer pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law (i) commences a voluntary case or proceeding under Bankruptcy Law; (ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding under Bankruptcy Law; (iii) consents to the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, receiver and manager, monitor or interim receiver of it or for all or substantially all of its property; or (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;

 

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(j) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that: (i) is for relief against the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of the Issuer in an involuntary case or proceeding; (ii) appoints a custodian, trustee, receiver, receiver and manager, monitor or interim receiver of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of the Issuer or for all or substantially all of the property of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of the Issuer; or (iii) orders the liquidation of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days; and

(k) any Collateral Document after delivery thereof shall for any reason cease (or shall be asserted in writing by the Issuer or any Guarantor to cease) to create a valid and perfected first-priority Lien to the extent required by the Collateral Documents (subject to no other Liens other than Permitted Liens) on Collateral that is (i) purported to be covered thereby and (ii) comprises Property which, when taken together with all Property as to which such a Lien has so ceased to be effective, has a fair market value in excess of $40.0 million (other than (x) in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Documents or (y) except to the extent that any such cessation of the Liens results from the failure of the administrative agent under the Credit Facilities or the Applicable Authorized Representative, as the case may be, in each case, as bailee for the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, to maintain possession of certificates actually delivered to it representing securities pledged under the Collateral Documents).

However, a Default under Section 6.01(c), Section 6.01(d) or Section 6.01(g) will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes notify the Issuer of the Default and, with respect to Section 6.01(c) or Section 6.01(g), the Issuer does not cure such Default within the time specified in Section 6.01(c) or Section 6.01(g) after the occurrence of such Default; provided that a notice of Default may not be given with respect to any action taken, and reported publicly or to holders, more than two years prior to such notice of Default.

Any failure to perform, or breach of, any covenant or agreement pursuant to Section 4.03 shall not be a Default or an Event of Default until the 121st day after the Issuer has received the notice referred to in clause (d) of Section 6.01 (at which point, unless cured or waived, such failure to perform or breach shall constitute an Event of Default). A failure to perform, or breach of any covenant or agreement pursuant to Section 4.03, shall automatically cease to be outstanding and shall be deemed to be cured at such time as the Issuer furnishes or files the applicable information or report.

Section 6.02 Acceleration.

If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee (at the written direction of the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount then outstanding of the Notes), by notice to the Issuer, or the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount then outstanding of the Notes, by written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee, may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default specified in paragraph (i) or (j) of Section 6.01 hereof with respect to the Issuer, all outstanding Notes shall become and shall be immediately due and payable without further action or notice. Holders of the Notes may not enforce this Indenture or the Notes except as provided in this Indenture.

Section 6.03 Other Remedies.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes and this Indenture and, subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent may pursue any available remedy under the Collateral Documents.

 

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The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults.

Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the Trustee, may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under this Indenture, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose hereof; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.05 Control by Majority.

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, either the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with the law or this Indenture that the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve the Trustee or the Collateral Agent in personal liability.

Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits.

A Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes only if:

(a) the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;

(b) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(c) such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability, cost, claim, fee or expense;

(d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of indemnity; and

(e) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Note.

Section 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes To Receive Payment.

Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of the Holder of the Note.

Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee.

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

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Section 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer (or any other obligor upon the Notes), the Issuer’s creditors or the Issuer’s property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder of a Note to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders of the Notes, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties which the Holders of the Notes may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of a Note any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder of a Note thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of a Note in any such proceeding.

Section 6.10 Priorities.

Subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if the Trustee or the Collateral Agent collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:

First: to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, their respective agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and the costs and expenses of collection;

Second: to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any and interest, respectively; and

Third: to the Issuer or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct in writing.

Section 6.11 Undertaking for Costs.

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes pursuant to this Article 6.

 

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ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee.

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent Person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.

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

(i) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions hereof and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(ii) in the absence of willful misconduct on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements hereof. The Trustee shall be under no duty to make any investigation as to any statement contained in any such instance, but may accept the same as conclusive evidence of the trust and accuracy of such statement or the correctness of such opinions. However, in the case of certificates or opinions specifically required by any provision hereof to be furnished to it, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform on their face to the requirements hereof but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein.

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;

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

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof.

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to this Section 7.01.

(e) No provision hereof shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holders of Notes, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability, cost, claim, fee or expense.

(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document (whether in original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document;

 

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(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both (in each case, in accordance with Section 12.04). The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care;

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Issuer shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Issuer;

(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

(g) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture;

(h) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder;

(i) The Trustee may request that the Issuer deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture; and

(j) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(k) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate (including any Officers’ Certificate), statement, instrument, opinion (including any Opinion of Counsel), notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.

Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee.

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee. Any Paying Agent or Registrar may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.

Section 7.04 Trustees Disclaimer.

(a) The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy hereof or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuer or upon the Issuer’s direction under any provision hereof, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

 

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(b) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuer, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Issuer.

Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults.

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.02(g), the Trustee shall mail or otherwise deliver to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.

Section 7.06 Limitation on Duty in Respect of Collateral.

Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody thereof, neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall have any duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or bailee or as to preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto. Neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall be responsible for filing any financing or continuation statements or recording any documents or instruments in any public office at any time or times or otherwise perfecting or maintaining the perfection of any security interest in the Collateral. Each of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care with respect to the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, accords its own property and neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall be liable or responsible for any loss or diminution in the value of any of the Collateral, by reason of the act or omission of any carrier, forwarding agency or other agent or bailee selected by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent in accordance with Section 7.02(c) or Section 11.07(b), as applicable.

The Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall not be responsible (i) for the existence, genuineness or value of any of the Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Liens in any of the Collateral, whether impaired by operation of law or by reason of any action or omission to act on its part hereunder, except to the extent such action or omission constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, (ii) for the validity or sufficiency of the Collateral or any agreement or assignment contained therein, (iii) for the validity of the title of the Issuer to the Collateral, or (iv) for insuring the Collateral or for the payment of taxes, charges, assessments or Liens upon the Collateral or otherwise as to the maintenance of the Collateral, in each case, except with respect to stock certificates, stock powers or other possessory collateral delivered to the Collateral Agent to the extent required under the Collateral Documents. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall have no duty to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms of this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if any) or the Collateral Documents by the Issuer, any Guarantor, or the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall have any responsibility for the preparation, filing or recording of any such instrument, document or financing statement or for the perfection or maintenance of any security interest created hereunder.

Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity.

The Issuer shall pay to the Trustee and Collateral Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its acceptance hereof and services hereunder. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall reimburse the Trustee and Collateral Agent promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s and Collateral Agent’s agents and counsel.

 

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The Issuer shall indemnify each of the Trustee and Collateral Agent and their respective agents, employees, officers, stockholders and directors for, and hold them harmless against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture (including any other Note Document) including enforcement of this Section 7.07, except any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense as shall be determined to have been caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a n enforceable judgement. Each of the Trustee and Collateral Agent shall notify the Issuer promptly of any claim of which a Responsible Officer has received written notice for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee and Collateral Agent to so notify the Issuer shall not relieve the Issuer of its obligations hereunder. The Issuer shall defend the claim and the Trustee and Collateral Agent shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee and Collateral Agent may have separate counsel and the Issuer shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required to pay such fees and expenses if the Issuer assumes such defense unless there is a conflict of interest between the Issuer and the Trustee in connection with such defense as determined by Trustee in consultation with counsel. The Issuer need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

The obligations of the Issuer under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge hereof or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.

To secure the Issuer’s payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge hereof.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or (j) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee.

A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08.

The Trustee may resign in writing at any time upon 30 days written notice and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Issuer. The Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Issuer with 30 days prior notice. The Issuer may remove the Trustee if upon 30 days written notice:

(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;

(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent person, within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law, or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

(c) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuer.

 

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If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Issuer or the Holders of Notes of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition at the expense of the Issuer any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

If the Trustee after written request by any Holder of a Note who has been a Holder of a Note for at least six months fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof, such Holder of a Note may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders of the Notes. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

If a Trustee resigns or is removed all fees and expenses of the Trustee incurred in the administration of the trust or in the performance of the duties hereunder shall be immediately due and payable to the Trustee.

Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification.

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, shall be subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

Section 7.11 Collateral Documents; Intercreditor Agreements.

By their acceptance of the Notes, the Holders hereby authorize and direct the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, to execute and deliver the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement in respect of permitted Junior Lien Obligations and any other Collateral Documents in which the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, is named as a party, including any Collateral Documents executed after the Issue Date. It is hereby expressly acknowledged and agreed that, in doing so, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are (a) expressly authorized to make the representations attributed to Holders in any such agreements and (b) not responsible for the terms or contents of such agreements, or for the validity or enforceability thereof, or the sufficiency thereof for any purpose. Whether or not so expressly stated therein, in entering into, or taking (or forbearing from) any action under, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any other Collateral Documents, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent each shall have all of the rights, immunities, indemnities, privileges and other protections granted to it under this Indenture and the Collateral Documents (in addition to those that may be granted to it under the terms of such other agreement or agreements).

 

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ARTICLE 8

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

Section 8.01 Termination of the Issuers Obligations.

(a) The Issuer may terminate its Obligations as to all outstanding Notes and the Liens on Collateral securing the Notes shall be released, except those obligations referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section 8.01, when

(1) either:

(a) all the Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuer and thereafter repaid to the Issuer or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(b) all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or, within one year will become due and payable or subject to redemption as set forth in Section 3.07 and the Issuer has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to the date of deposit together with irrevocable instructions from the Issuer directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(2) the Issuer has paid all other sums payable under this Indenture by the Issuer; and

(3) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent under this Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge hereof have been complied with; provided, however, that such counsel may rely, as to matters of fact, on a certificate or certificates of Officers of the Issuer.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Section 8.01, the Issuer’s obligations in Sections 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 7.07, 7.08, 8.07 and 8.08 hereof, and the rights, powers, trust, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, and the Issuer’s obligations in connection therewith, shall survive until the Notes are no longer outstanding pursuant to Section 2.08 hereof. After the Notes are no longer outstanding, the Issuer’s obligations in Sections 7.07, 7.08, 8.07 and 8.08 hereof shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

Section 8.02 Option To Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Issuer may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, at any time, with respect to the Notes, elect to have either Section 8.03 or 8.04 hereof applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.

Section 8.03 Legal Defeasance and Covenant Discharge.

Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.02 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuer shall be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes, each Guarantor’s obligation shall be discharged with respect to its Guarantee and the Liens on the Collateral securing the outstanding Notes shall be automatically terminated and released on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Legal Defeasance means that the Issuer shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.06 hereof and the other Sections hereof referred to in clauses (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following, which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when such payments are due, or on the redemption date, as the case may be; (b) the Issuer’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Sections 2.05, 2.07, 2.08, 2.10, 2.11 and 4.02 hereof; (c) the rights, powers, trust, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent hereunder, and the Issuer’s obligations in connection therewith; and (d) this Section 8.03. Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Issuer may exercise its option under this Section 8.03 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.04 hereof with respect to the Notes.

 

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Section 8.04 Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.02 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.04, the Issuer shall be released from its obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 3.10, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14 (other than existence of the Issuer (subject to Section 5.01), 4.15, 4.17, 4.18, 4.21, 5.1 (except clauses (a) and (b)) and 10.03 hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes and the Liens on Collateral securing the outstanding Notes shall be automatically terminated and released on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for GAAP). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Issuer may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01(c) hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder hereof and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.02 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.04, Sections 6.01(c) through 6.01(g) shall not constitute Events of Default.

Section 8.05 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.03 or Section 8.04 hereof to the outstanding Notes:

(a) the Issuer shall have irrevocably deposited with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable U.S. government obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the outstanding Notes on the stated maturity or on the applicable optional redemption date, as the case may be;

(b) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States confirming that (A) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in each case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the beneficial owners 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 in the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(c) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that the beneficial owners of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(d) [reserved];

(e) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

 

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(f) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

(g) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit made by the Issuer pursuant to its election under Section 8.03 and 8.04 hereof was not made by the Issuer with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Notes over any of its other creditors or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any of its other creditors or others; and

(h) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance under Section 8.03 hereof or the Covenant Defeasance under Section 8.04 hereof (as the case may be) have been complied with as contemplated by this Section 8.05.

Section 8.06 Deposited Money and Government Securities To Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to Section 8.07 hereof, all money and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.06, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.05 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuer acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Issuer shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.05 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

Anything in this Article 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuer from time to time upon the request of the Issuer any money or Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.05 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.05(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

Section 8.07 Repayment to Issuer.

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuer on their request or (if then held by the Issuer) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as a general creditor, look only to the Issuer for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuer as trustees thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Issuer cause to be published once, in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuer.

 

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Section 8.08 Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States Dollars or Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.03 or 8.04 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.03 or 8.04 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.03 or 8.04 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Issuer makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes.

Notwithstanding Section 9.02 hereof, the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee and the Collateral Agent (as applicable) may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees or amend or supplement any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any amended or supplemental indenture or any amendment or supplement to the Notes, the Guarantees, any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement without the consent of any Holder of a Note:

(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency (as determined by the Issuer in good faith);

(b) to provide for uncertificated Notes or Guarantees in addition to or in place of certificated Notes or Guarantees (provided that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated Notes are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code);

(c) to provide for the assumption of the obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor to the Holders of the Notes in the case of a merger, amalgamation, arrangement, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer or such Guarantor, pursuant to Article 5 or Article 10 hereof;

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

(e) to provide for the issuance of additional Notes in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Indenture;

(f) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of an appointment of a successor Trustee or a successor collateral agent;

(g) to comply with the rules of any applicable securities depository;

(h) to add Guarantees with respect to the Notes;

(i) to add Collateral with respect to the Notes and the Guarantees;

(j) to release Collateral from any Liens securing the Notes and the Guarantees when permitted or required by the Collateral Documents, this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement;

(k) to enter into any intercreditor agreement having substantially similar terms with respect to the holders of Notes as those set forth in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, or any joinder thereto or to enter into any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement in connection with the incurrence of any Future First Lien Obligations or Junior Lien Obligations not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture; or

 

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(l) with respect to the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, as provided in the relevant Collateral Document or First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Upon the request of the Issuer accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee and upon receipt by the Trustee and Collateral Agent of the documents described in Sections 7.02, 9.06 and 12.04 hereof, the Trustee and Collateral Agent shall join with the Issuer and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and shall make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained, but neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture or any amendment or supplement to the Notes, the Guarantees, any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement which affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders of Notes.

The Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee and/or Collateral Agent (as applicable) may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any amended or supplemental indenture or any amendment or supplement to the Notes, the Guarantees, any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with an exchange offer or tender offer for the Notes), and any existing Default and its consequences or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes, any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with an exchange offer or tender offer for the Notes). Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

(a) reduce the aggregate principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

(b) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes (other than as provided in clause (h) below);

(c) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note;

(d) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

(e) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes;

(f) make any change in the provisions hereof relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of or interest on the Notes;

(g) waive a redemption payment or mandatory redemption with respect to any Note (other than as provided in clause (h) below);

(h) amend, change or modify in any material respect the obligation of the Issuer to make and consummate a Change of Control Offer in the event of a Change of Control after such Change of Control has occurred;

(i) release all or substantially all of the Guarantees of the Guarantors other than in accordance with Article 10;

 

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(j) make any change in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions;

(k) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to the Notes or the Guarantees; or

(l) subordinate the payment of the Notes or Guarantees to any other obligation of the Issuers or the Guarantors (other than as permitted by Section 11.02).

Upon the request of the Issuer accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate, and upon the filing with the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Sections 7.02, 9.06 and 12.04 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Issuer and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture or amended or supplemental indenture or any amendment or supplement to the Notes, the Guarantees, any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement unless such amended or supplemental indenture or amendment or supplement to the Notes, the Guarantees, any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture or such amendment or supplement to the Notes, the Guarantees, any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Issuer to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amendment, supplement or waiver. Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Issuer with any provision of this Indenture or of the Notes.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of holders of at least 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, no amendment or waiver may (i) release all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Liens securing the Notes Obligations created by the Collateral Documents or (ii) change or alter the priority of the Liens securing the Notes Obligations created by the Collateral Documents in any manner adverse to the holders of the Notes (other than as permitted by Section 11.02) or (iii) make any change in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or in the provisions of this Indenture or any Collateral Document dealing with the application of proceeds of the Collateral that would materially adversely affect the Holders or alter the priority of the security interests in the Collateral.

Section 9.03 [Reserved].

Section 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents.

Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder of a Note.

The Issuer may fix a record date for determining which Holders of the Notes must consent to such amendment, supplement or waiver. If the Issuer fixes a record date, the record date shall be fixed at (i) the later of 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders of Notes furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof or (ii) such other date as the Issuer shall designate.

 

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Section 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Issuer in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

Section 9.06 Trustee, Collateral Agent To Sign Amendments, Etc.

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any amendment, supplement or waiver permitted by this Article or the modification thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, each of the Trustee and Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall receive, and shall by fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate stating that the execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee and Collateral Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such amendment, supplement or waiver which affects, as the case may be, the Trustee’s or Collateral Agent’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture, the Collateral Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or otherwise.

ARTICLE 10

GUARANTEES

Section 10.01 Guarantee.

Subject to this Article 10, each of the Guarantors jointly and severally, hereby unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and their respective successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the Obligations of the Issuer hereunder or thereunder, that:

(a) the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other Obligations of the Issuer to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and

(b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other Obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, each of the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will be obligated to pay the same immediately.

Each of the Guarantors jointly and severally, hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of a Note with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor.

Each of the Guarantors jointly and severally, hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Obligations guaranteed hereby. If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise, or any custodian, Trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Issuer or any Guarantor, to return to the Issuer or any Guarantor any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

 

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Each of the Guarantors jointly and severally, agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any Obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all Obligations guaranteed hereby. Each of the Guarantors jointly and severally, further agrees that, as between such Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Obligations as provided in Article 6, such Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by each Guarantor for the purpose of this Guarantee unless subsequently rescinded as set forth therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any Guarantee would constitute or result in a violation of any applicable fraudulent conveyance or similar law of any relevant jurisdiction, the liability of the applicable Guarantor under its Guarantee shall be reduced to the maximum amount permissible under such fraudulent conveyance or similar law.

The Guarantors hereby agree as among themselves that each Guarantor that makes a payment or distribution under a Guarantee shall be entitled upon payment in full of all guaranteed obligations under this Indenture to a contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment hereunder based on the respective net worth of all the Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP. The preceding sentence shall in no way affect the rights of the Holders of Notes, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent to the benefits hereof, the Notes, the Guarantees or the Collateral Documents.

Nothing contained in this Section 10.01 or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees shall impair, as between any Guarantor and the Holder of any Note, the obligation of such Guarantor, which is unconditional and absolute, to pay to the Holder thereof the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Notes in accordance with their terms and the terms of the Guarantee and this Indenture, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or the Holder of any Note from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law or hereunder or thereunder upon the occurrence of an Event of Default.

Section 10.02 Execution and Delivery of Guarantees.

To evidence its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by any of its Officers (or, with respect to any Guarantor that provides a Guarantee after the Issue Date, as set forth in Section 4.13). The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantees set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

Section 10.03 Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets of Guarantors.

Subject to Section 10.05 hereof, a Guarantor may not, and the Issuer shall not cause or permit any Guarantor to, consolidate, amalgamate, participate in an arrangement with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving entity), 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, another Person other than the Issuer or another Guarantor (in each case other than in accordance with Section 4.10) unless:

(a) such Guarantor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement or merger (if other than the Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

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(b) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than the Guarantor) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made assumes all the obligations of the Guarantor under this Indenture, the Notes, the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (and, if applicable, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement) pursuant to a supplemental indenture and joinders or supplements, as applicable, to the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (and, if applicable, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement), in each case, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent; and

(c) immediately after such transaction, no Event of Default exists.

Nothing contained in this Indenture shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Issuer or another Guarantor that is a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or shall prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Issuer or another Guarantor that is a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer. Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 hereof, nothing contained in this Indenture shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Issuer or another Guarantor that is a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or shall prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Issuer or another Guarantor that is a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer.

Section 10.04 Successor Person Substituted.

Upon any consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, merger, sale or conveyance described in paragraphs (a) through (c) of Section 10.03 hereof, and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of any Guarantee previously signed by the Guarantor and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions hereof to be performed by the Guarantor, such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor. Such successor Person thereupon may cause to be signed any or all of the Guarantees to be issuable hereunder by such Guarantor and delivered to the Trustee. All the Guarantees so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution of such Guarantee by such Guarantor. When a successor Person assumes all the obligations of the Issuer under the Notes and this Indenture pursuant to Article 5 hereof, the applicable predecessor shall be released from the obligations so assumed.

Section 10.05 Releases from Guarantees.

A Guarantor shall be released and relieved of its obligations under its Guarantee upon:

(1) in connection with any direct or indirect sale, conveyance or other disposition of all the Capital Stock of such Guarantor (including any such sale, conveyance or other disposition after which such Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary and excluding any sale, conveyance or other disposition of the Capital Stock of a Professional Services Affiliate to another Person if such Professional Services Affiliate remains a Restricted Subsidiary) or of all or substantially all of the assets and property of such Guarantor, if such sale or disposition is made in compliance with Section 4.10;

(2) such Guarantor is liquidated in accordance with the provisions hereof;

(3) the Issuer designates any such Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with the terms of this Indenture;

(4) with respect to any Guarantor, if such Guarantor becomes an Excluded Subsidiary in compliance with the terms of this Indenture (and subject to the immediately succeeding paragraph); or

(5) upon the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance with Section 8.01 or upon any Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, no Guarantee of a Guarantor shall be released as a result of the issuance or sale of Preferred Equity Interests in a Restricted Subsidiary to a Strategic Investor. In addition, in the event any Guarantor becomes an Excluded Subsidiary because it is no longer a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, such Guarantor shall not be released of its obligations under its Guarantee except pursuant to a transaction with a non-Affiliate for bona fide business purposes and the purpose of which was not to evade the Guarantee requirements.

Upon delivery by the Issuer to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent of an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that all the conditions precedent to such sale or other disposition have been complied with or that such Guarantor has been released from its obligations under its Guarantee in accordance with any other provision of this Section 10.05, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall execute any documents pursuant to written direction of the Issuer in order to evidence the release of any such Guarantor from its obligations under its Guarantee. Any such Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article 10.

ARTICLE 11

COLLATERAL

Section 11.01 Collateral Documents.

The due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium on, if any, and interest on the Notes when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an interest payment date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium on, if any, and interest on the Notes and performance of all other Notes Obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors to the Holders of the Notes or the Trustee and/or Collateral Agent (as applicable), according to the terms of this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees, shall be secured as provided in the Collateral Documents, which the Issuer and the Guarantors entered into on the Issue Date and which define the terms of the Liens that secure the Notes Obligations, subject to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

The Trustee, the Issuer and the Guarantors hereby acknowledge and agree that the Collateral Agent holds the Collateral for the benefit of the Holders, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and pursuant to the terms of the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement. Each Holder, by accepting a Note, consents and agrees to the terms of the Collateral Documents (including the provisions providing for the possession, use, release and foreclosure of Collateral) and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, each as may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms and the terms of this Indenture, and authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent and/or the Trustee, as applicable, to enter into the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement on the Issue Date, and, at any time after the Issue Date, if applicable, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement in respect of permitted Junior Lien Obligations, and any amendments, supplements, and/or joinders to the foregoing to which it is a party, at any time after the Issue Date, if applicable, and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith.

The Issuer shall deliver to the Collateral Agent copies of all documents required to be filed pursuant to the Collateral Documents, and shall do or cause to be done all such acts and things as may be necessary, proper, or as may be required by the Collateral Documents, to assure and confirm to the Collateral Agent the security interest in the Collateral contemplated hereby, by the Collateral Documents or any part thereof, as from time to time constituted, so as to render the same available for the security and benefit of this Indenture and of the Notes secured hereby, according to the intent and purposes herein expressed. On or following the Issue Date and subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall execute any and all further documents, financing statements (including continuation statements and amendments to financing statements), agreements and instruments, make all filings (including filings of financing statements under the UCC and continuation statements and amendments to such financing statements that may be necessary to continue the effectiveness of such financing statements), and take all further action that may be required under applicable law in order to grant, preserve, maintain, protect and perfect (or continue the perfection of) the validity and priority of the Liens and security interests created or intended to be created by the Collateral Documents in the Collateral, subject to Permitted Liens.

 

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Section 11.02 Release of Collateral.

The Liens on the Collateral owned by any Guarantor shall be automatically released when such Guarantor’s Guarantee is released in accordance with the terms of this Indenture. In addition, the Liens securing the Notes and the Guarantees shall be released automatically:

(i) in whole, upon payment in full of all principal, interest and the other Notes Obligations or upon the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance with Section 8.01 or upon any Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance;

(ii) in whole or in part, with the consent of the requisite holders of Notes in accordance with Section 9.02;

(iii) in part, as to any Property constituting Collateral that is disposed of to a Person other than the Issuer or a Guarantor (other than dispositions of the equity interests of Professional Services Affiliates or of property or assets of Professional Services Affiliates to other Professional Services Affiliates or owners of the equity interest of Professional Services Affiliates) in a transaction permitted pursuant to Section 4.10 and not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture, the Collateral Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement;

(iv) with respect to any Collateral that becomes Excluded Property, upon such Collateral becoming Excluded Property pursuant to a transaction or circumstance not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture;

(v) with respect to Collateral that is Capital Stock, upon the dissolution or liquidation of the issuer of such Capital Stock in a transaction that is not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture; and

(vi) in accordance with the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

The Collateral Agent shall, upon request of the Issuer or any Guarantor, subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Collateral Agent under any Note Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted hereunder in respect of Purchase Money Indebtedness or Indebtedness in respect of sale and leaseback transactions, capital leases and synthetic leases.

The Collateral Agent shall, without recourse, representation or warranty, execute documents reasonably requested by the Issuer or the Guarantors to evidence the release of the Collateral or subordination of Lien as set forth above in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, at the expense of the Issuer and the Guarantors, upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate of the Issuer certifying, and an opinion of counsel stating, that such release of Collateral or subordination of Lien is in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and that all conditions precedent relating to the release of Collateral or subordination of Lien have been satisfied. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any such release or subordination undertaken in reliance upon any such Officers’ Certificate, and opinion of counsel, and notwithstanding any term hereof or in any Collateral Document or any other Notes Document to the contrary, the Collateral Agent shall not be under any obligation to release or subordinate any such Lien and security interest, or execute and deliver any such instrument of release, satisfaction, discharge or termination, unless and until it receives such Officers’ Certificate and opinion of counsel.

For the avoidance of doubt, no Liens on Collateral shall be released as a result of the issuance or sale of Preferred Equity Interests in a Restricted Subsidiary to a Strategic Investor.

Section 11.03 Suits to Protect the Collateral.

Subject to the provisions of Article 7, the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee may or may direct the Collateral Agent, in each case on behalf of the Holders of the Notes, to take all actions it determines necessary or appropriate in order to:

 

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(a) enforce any of the terms of the Collateral Documents; and

(b) collect and receive any and all amounts payable in respect of the Obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors hereunder.

Subject to the provisions of the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall have the power to institute and to maintain such suits and proceedings as the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may deem expedient to prevent any impairment of the Collateral by any acts which may be unlawful or in violation of any of the Collateral Documents or this Indenture, and such suits and proceedings as the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may deem expedient to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the Holders in the Collateral. Nothing in this Section 11.03 shall be considered to impose any such duty or obligation to act on the part of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent.

Section 11.04 Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Collateral Documents.

Subject to the provisions of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of the Holders distributed under the Collateral Documents, and to make further distributions of such funds to the Holders according to the provisions of this Indenture.

Upon the full and final payment and performance of all Notes Obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors under this Indenture and the Notes or upon Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance with Section 8.01 hereof, the Trustee will, at the request of the Issuer, deliver a certificate to the Collateral Agent stating that such Notes Obligations have been paid in full, and instruct the Collateral Agent to release the Liens pursuant to this Indenture and the Collateral Documents.

Section 11.05 Purchaser Protected.

In no event shall any purchaser in good faith of any property purported to be released hereunder or under any Collateral Document be bound to ascertain the authority of the Collateral Agent or the Trustee to execute the applicable release or to inquire as to the satisfaction of any conditions required by the provisions hereof for the exercise of such authority or to see to the application of any consideration given by such purchaser or other transferee; nor shall any purchaser or other transferee of any property or rights permitted by this Article 11 to be sold be under any obligation to ascertain or inquire into the authority of the Issuer or the applicable Guarantor to make any such sale or other transfer.

Section 11.06 Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee.

In case the Collateral shall be in the possession of a receiver, interim receiver or trustee, lawfully appointed, the powers conferred in this Article 11 upon the Issuer or a Guarantor with respect to the release, sale or other disposition of such property may be exercised by such receiver, interim receiver or trustee, and an instrument signed by such receiver, interim receiver or trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of any similar instrument of the Issuer or a Guarantor or of any Officer or Officers thereof required by the provisions of this Article 11; and if the Trustee or the Collateral Agent shall be in the possession of the Collateral under any provision of this Indenture, then such powers may be exercised by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent.

Section 11.07 Collateral Agent.

(a) Each of the Holders by acceptance of the Notes hereby designates and appoints the Collateral Agent as its agent under this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and each of the Holders by acceptance of the Notes and the Trustee hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent to take such action on their behalf under the provisions of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Collateral Agent by the terms of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and consents and agrees to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor

 

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Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and each Collateral Document, as the same may be in effect or may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with their respective terms. The Collateral Agent accepts such appointment and agrees to act as such on the express conditions contained in this Section 11.07. Each Holder agrees that any action taken by the Collateral Agent in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and the Collateral Documents, and the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any rights or remedies set forth herein and therein shall be authorized and binding upon all Holders. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, the duties of the Collateral Agent shall be ministerial and administrative in nature, and the Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Notes Documents to which the Collateral Agent is a party, nor shall the Collateral Agent have or be deemed to have any trust or other fiduciary relationship with the Trustee, any Holder, the Issuer or any Guarantor, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or otherwise exist, against the Collateral Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” in this Indenture with reference to the Collateral Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

(b) The Collateral Agent may perform any of its duties under this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, by or through receivers, agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel of its selection concerning all matters pertaining to such duties, and shall be entitled to act upon, and shall be fully protected in taking action in reliance upon any advice or opinion given by such counsel. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any receiver, agent, employee or attorney-in-fact that it selects as long as such selection was made in good faith and with due care.

(c) The Collateral Agent shall not (i) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it under or in connection with this Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct) or under or in connection with any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or the transactions contemplated thereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct), or (ii) be responsible in any manner to any of the Trustee or any Holder for any recital, statement, representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by the Issuer or any other Guarantor or Affiliate of any Guarantor, or any Officer thereof, contained in this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Collateral Agent under or in connection with, this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or for any failure of the Issuer, any Guarantor or any other party to this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. The Collateral Agent shall not be under any obligation to the Trustee or any Holder to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or to inspect the properties, books, or records of the Issuer, any Guarantor or any of their Affiliates.

(d) The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, certification, telephone message, statement, or other communication, document or conversation (including those by telephone or e-mail) believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent, or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including, without limitation, counsel to the Issuer or any Guarantor), independent accountants and other experts and advisors selected by the Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, or other paper or document. The

 

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Collateral Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, unless it shall first receive such written direction or consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes and, it shall be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Holders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Collateral Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, in accordance with a request, direction, instruction or consent of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all of the Holders.

(e) The Collateral Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any default or Event of Default, unless a Responsible Officer of the Collateral Agent shall have received written notice from the Trustee or the Issuer referring to this Indenture, describing such Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” The Collateral Agent shall take such action with respect to such Event of Default as may be requested in accordance with, and subject to the provisions of, Article 6 by the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (subject to this Section 11.07 and the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement).

(f) The Collateral Agent may resign at any time upon 30 days’ advance written notice to the Trustee and the Issuer, such resignation to be effective upon the acceptance of a successor agent to its appointment as Collateral Agent. If the Collateral Agent resigns under this Indenture, the Issuer shall appoint a successor collateral agent. If no successor collateral agent is appointed prior to the intended effective date of the resignation of the Collateral Agent (as stated in the notice of resignation), the Collateral Agent may appoint, at the direction of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, a successor collateral agent, subject to the consent of the Issuer (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld and which shall not be required during a continuing Event of Default). If no successor collateral agent is appointed and consented to by the Issuer pursuant to the preceding sentence within thirty (30) days after the intended effective date of resignation (as stated in the notice of resignation) the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor collateral agent hereunder, such successor collateral agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Collateral Agent, and the term “Collateral Agent” shall mean such successor collateral agent, and the retiring Collateral Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Collateral Agent shall be terminated. After the retiring Collateral Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Section 11.07 (and Section 7.07 hereof) shall continue to inure to its benefit and the retiring Collateral Agent shall not by reason of such resignation be deemed to be released from liability as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Collateral Agent under this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

(g) UMB Bank, National Association shall initially act as Collateral Agent and shall be authorized to appoint co-Collateral Agents as necessary in its sole discretion. Except as otherwise explicitly provided herein or in the Collateral Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its respective officers, directors, employees or agents shall be liable to Issuer, any Guarantor or any Notes Secured Party for failure to demand, collect or realize upon any of the Collateral or for any delay in doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any other Person or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the Collateral or any part thereof. The Collateral Agent shall be accountable only for amounts that it actually receives as a result of the exercise of such powers, and neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

(h) By their acceptance of a Note hereunder, the Collateral Agent is authorized and directed by the Holders to (i) enter into the Collateral Documents to which it is party, whether executed on or after the Issue Date, (ii) enter into the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement on the Issue Date, (iii) enter into the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, after the Issue Date, (iv) make the representations of the Holders set forth in the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, (v) bind the Holders on the terms as set forth in the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, (vi) perform and observe its obligations under the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any; and (vii) release any Collateral in accordance with Section 11.02.

 

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(i) If at any time or times the Trustee shall receive (i) by payment, foreclosure, set-off or otherwise, any proceeds of Collateral or any payments with respect to the Obligations arising under, or relating to, this Indenture, except for any such proceeds or payments received by the Trustee from the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, or (ii) payments from the Collateral Agent in excess of the amount required to be paid to the Trustee pursuant to Article 6, the Trustee shall promptly turn the same over to the Collateral Agent, in kind, and with such endorsements as may be required to negotiate the same to the Collateral Agent such proceeds to be applied by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if any).

(j) The Collateral Agent is each Holder’s agent for the purpose of perfecting the Holders’ security interest in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC can be perfected only by possession. Should the Trustee obtain possession of any such Collateral, upon request from the Issuer, the Trustee shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof and promptly shall deliver such Collateral to the Collateral Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Collateral Agent’s instructions.

(k) The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to the Trustee or any of the Holders to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned by the Issuer, any Guarantor or is cared for, protected, or insured or has been encumbered, or that the Collateral Agent’s Liens have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected, maintained or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or to determine whether all or the Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s property constituting Collateral intended to be subject to the Lien and security interest of the Collateral Documents has been properly and completely listed or delivered, as the case may be, or the genuineness, validity, marketability or sufficiency thereof or title thereto, or to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under any duty of care, disclosure, or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of the rights, authorities, and powers granted or available to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Indenture, any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, other than pursuant to the instructions of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes or as otherwise provided in the Collateral Documents. Neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall have a duty or obligation to monitor the condition, financial or otherwise, of the Issuer or any Guarantor.

(l) If the Issuer or any Guarantor (i) incurs any obligations in respect of First Lien Obligations or Junior Lien Obligations at any time when no applicable intercreditor agreement is in effect or at any time when Indebtedness constituting First Lien Obligations or Junior Lien Obligations entitled to the benefit of an existing First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement is concurrently retired, and (ii) delivers to the Collateral Agent an Officers’ Certificate so stating and requesting the Collateral Agent to enter into an intercreditor agreement (on substantially the same terms as the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or, in the case of the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, in customary market form (as reasonably determined by the Issuer as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent)) in favor of a designated agent or representative for the holders of the First Lien Obligations or Junior Lien Obligations so incurred, the Collateral Agent shall (and is hereby authorized and directed to) enter into such intercreditor agreement (at the sole expense and cost of the Issuer, including reasonable legal fees and expenses of the Collateral Agent), bind the Holders on the terms set forth therein and perform and observe its obligations thereunder.

(m) No provision of this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or any Collateral Document shall require the Collateral Agent or the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or thereunder or to take or omit to take any action hereunder or thereunder or take any action at the request or direction of Holders unless it shall have received indemnity satisfactory to the Collateral Agent against potential costs and liabilities incurred by the Collateral Agent relating thereto.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or the Collateral Documents, in the event the Collateral Agent is entitled or required to commence an action to foreclose or otherwise exercise its remedies to acquire control or possession of the Collateral, the Collateral Agent shall not be required to commence any such action or

 

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exercise any remedy or to inspect or conduct any studies of any property under the mortgages or take any such other action if the Collateral Agent has determined that the Collateral Agent may incur personal liability as a result of the presence at, or release on or from, the Collateral or such property, of any hazardous substances in an amount and in a form all satisfactory to the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion, protecting the Collateral Agent from all such liability. The Collateral Agent shall at any time be entitled to cease taking any action described in this clause (m) if it no longer reasonably deems any indemnity, security or undertaking from the Issuer or the Holders to be sufficient.

(n) The Collateral Agent (i) shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in connection with this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and the Collateral Documents or instrument referred to herein or therein, except to the extent that any of the foregoing are found by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from its own gross negligence or willful misconduct, (ii) shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Collateral Agent may agree in writing with the Issuer (and money held in trust by the Collateral Agent need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law) and (iii) may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel. The grant of permissive rights or powers to the Collateral Agent shall not be construed to impose duties to act.

(o) The Collateral Agent does not assume any responsibility for any failure or delay in performance or any breach by the Issuer or any other Guarantor under this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and the Collateral Documents. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible to the Holders or any other Person for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties contained in this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or in any certificate, report, statement, or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Collateral Agent under or in connection with, this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or any Collateral Document; the execution, validity, genuineness, effectiveness or enforceability of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and any Collateral Documents of any other party thereto. The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation to any Holder or any other Person to ascertain or inquire into the existence of any Default or Event of Default, the observance or performance by any obligor of any terms of this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and the Collateral Documents, or the satisfaction of any conditions precedent contained in this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and any Collateral Documents. The Collateral Agent shall not be required to initiate or conduct any litigation or collection or other proceeding under this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and the Collateral Documents unless expressly set forth hereunder or thereunder or as directed by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes. The Collateral Agent shall have the right at any time to seek instructions from the Holders with respect to the administration of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any.

(p) The parties hereto and the Holders hereby agree and acknowledge that neither the Collateral Agent shall not assume, be responsible for or otherwise be obligated for any liabilities, claims, causes of action, suits, losses, allegations, requests, demands, penalties, fines, settlements, damages (including foreseeable and unforeseeable), judgments, expenses and costs (including but not limited to, any remediation, corrective action, response, removal or remedial action, or investigation, operations and maintenance or monitoring costs, for personal injury or property damages, real or personal) of any kind whatsoever, pursuant to any environmental law as a result of this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, the Collateral Documents or any actions taken pursuant hereto or thereto. Further, the parties hereto and the Holders hereby agree and acknowledge that in the exercise of its rights under this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and the Collateral Documents, the Collateral Agent may hold or obtain indicia of ownership primarily to protect the security interest of the Collateral Agent in the Collateral and that any such actions taken by the Collateral Agent shall not be construed as or otherwise constitute any participation in the management of such Collateral, as those terms are defined in Section 101(20)(E) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et seq., as amended.

 

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(q) Upon the receipt by the Collateral Agent of a written request of the Issuer signed by an Officer containing the statements required herein (a “Collateral Document Order”) and the Opinion of Counsel and Officers’ Certificate required by this Section, the Collateral Agent shall execute and enter into, and if satisfactory in form to the Collateral Agent, shall execute and enter into, without the further consent of any Holder or the Trustee, any Collateral Document or amendment or supplement thereto to be executed after the Issue Date. Such Collateral Document Order shall (i) state that it is being delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to, and is a Collateral Document Order referred to in, this Section 11.07(r), and (ii) instruct the Collateral Agent to execute and enter into such Collateral Document. Any such execution of a Collateral Document shall be at the direction and expense of the Issuer, upon delivery to the Collateral Agent of an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent to the execution and delivery of the Collateral Document have been satisfied and the entry into such Collateral Document(s) is otherwise permitted by the terms of this Indenture. The Holders, by their acceptance of the Notes, hereby authorize and direct the Collateral Agent to execute such Collateral Documents.

(r) Subject to the provisions of the applicable Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, each Holder, by acceptance of the Notes, agrees that the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and the Collateral Documents to which it is a party and all agreements, documents and instruments incidental thereto, and act in accordance with the terms thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, except as expressly set forth herein, in the Collateral Documents, in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall have no discretion under this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, or the Collateral Documents and shall not be required to make or give any determination, consent, approval, request or direction without the written direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

(s) After the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee may direct the Collateral Agent in connection with any action required or permitted by this Indenture, the Collateral Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any.

(t) The Collateral Agent is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of itself, the Trustee and the Holders distributed under the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, and to the extent not prohibited under the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, for turnover to the Trustee to make further distributions of such funds to itself, the Trustee and the Holders in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.10 and the other provisions of this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

(u) In each case that the Collateral Agent may or is required hereunder or under any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, to take any action (an “Action”), including, without limitation, to make any determination, to give consents, to exercise rights, powers or remedies, to release or sell Collateral or otherwise to act hereunder or under any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, the Collateral Agent may seek direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable with respect to any Action taken or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with the direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. If the Collateral Agent shall request direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes with respect to any Action, the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such Action unless and until the Collateral Agent shall have received direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, and the Collateral Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining.

(v) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, in any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, in no event shall the Collateral Agent or the Trustee be responsible for, or have any duty or obligation with respect to, the recording, filing, registering, perfection, protection or maintenance of the security interests or Liens intended to be created by this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any (including, without limitation, the filing or continuation of any UCC financing, financing change or continuation statements or similar documents or instruments), nor shall the Collateral Agent or the Trustee be responsible for, and neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee makes any representation regarding, the validity, effectiveness or priority of any of the Collateral Documents or the security interests or Liens intended to be created thereby.

 

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(w) Before the Collateral Agent acts or refrains from acting in each case at the request or direction of the Issuer or the Guarantors, or in connection with any Collateral Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, it may require an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which shall conform to the provisions of this Section 11.07 and Section 12.04 hereof. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate or opinion.

(x) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein but subject to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall act pursuant to the instructions of the Note Secured Parties as provided in this Indenture solely with respect to the Collateral Documents.

(y) If any Collateral Agent consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business (including this transaction) to, another Person, the successor Person without any further act shall be the successor of such Collateral Agent.

ARTICLE 12

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 12.01 [Reserved].

Section 12.02 Notices.

Any notice or communication by the Issuer, any Guarantor, the Trustee or Collateral Agent to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, next-day air courier or facsimile:

If to the Issuer or any Guarantor, to it care of:

Akumin Inc.

8300 W Sunrise Blvd

Plantation, FL 33322

Facsimile No.: (954) 678-4489

Attention: General Counsel

If to the Trustee or Collateral Agent:

UMB Bank, National Association

100 William Street, Suite 1850

New York, NY 10038

Attn: Corporate Trust

The Issuer, any Guarantor, the Trustee or Collateral Agent, by notice to the other, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders of Notes) shall be deemed to have been duly given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, if mailed; one Business Day after being timely delivered to a next-day air courier; and when transmission is confirmed, if sent by facsimile.

 

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Any notice or communication to a Holder of a Note shall be mailed by first class mail to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder of a Note or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders of Notes.

If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

If the Issuer mails a notice or communication to Holders of Notes, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

Any notice or communication delivered or to be delivered to a Holder of Global Notes shall be delivered in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and shall be sufficiently given to it if so delivered within the time prescribed.

Each of the Trustee and Collateral Agent agree to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail, pdf, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods, provided, however, that the Trustee and Collateral Agent shall have received an incumbency certificate listing persons designated to give such instructions or directions and containing specimen signatures of such designated persons, which such incumbency certificate shall be amended and replaced whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Issuer elects to give the Trustee and Collateral Agent e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee and Collateral Agent in their discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s and Collateral Agent’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. Neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s or Collateral Agent’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Issuer agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee and Collateral Agent, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee or Collateral Agent acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk or interception and misuse by third parties.

Section 12.03 [Reserved].

Section 12.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

Upon any request or application by the Issuer to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent to take any action under this Indenture (other than the application for authentication of the Initial Notes), the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee:

(a) an Officers’ Certificate in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

Section 12.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture, if applicable; shall include:

(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

 

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(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied (and, in the case of an Opinion of Counsel, may be limited to reliance on an Officers’ Certificate as to matters of fact); and

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

Section 12.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents.

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders of Notes. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

Section 12.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Owners, Employees, Incorporators and Stockholders.

No director, owner, officer, employee, member, partner, manager, incorporator or stockholder of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their Affiliates, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their Affiliates under the Notes, the Guarantees, this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if applicable, or any Collateral Document or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

Section 12.08 Governing Law.

THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE GUARANTEES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

Section 12.09 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Issuer or any of its respective Subsidiaries. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 12.10 Successors.

All agreements of the Issuer and the Guarantors in this Indenture and the Notes and the Guarantees shall bind the successors of the Issuer and the Guarantors, respectively. All agreements of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent in this Indenture shall bind its respective successor.

Section 12.11 Severability.

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 12.12 Counterpart Originals.

This Indenture may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart (including a counterpart executed by electronic signature) of a signature page of this Indenture by telecopy or other electronic imaging means shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Indenture. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Indenture or any document to be signed in connection with this Indenture shall be deemed to

 

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include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means. All notices, approvals, consents, requests and any communications hereunder must be in writing (provided that any such communication sent to the Trustee hereunder must be in the form of a document that is signed manually or by way of a digital signature provided by DocuSign, AdobeSign or such other digital signature provider as specified in writing to the Trustee by the authorized representative of the Issuer. The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based recordkeeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code. The Issuer agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of using digital signatures and electronic methods to submit communications to Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

Section 12.13 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and headings of the Articles and Sections hereof have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

Section 12.14 Force Majeure.

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

Section 12.15 Waiver of Jury Trial.

EACH OF THE ISSUER, THE GUARANTORS, THE HOLDERS BY THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE NOTES, AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 12.16 Certain Tax Matters Related to the Trustee.

In order to comply with applicable tax laws, rules and regulations (inclusive of directives, guidelines and interpretations promulgated by competent authorities) in effect from time to time (“Applicable Law”), the Issuer agrees (i) to provide to UMB Bank, National Association sufficient information about holders or other applicable parties and/or transactions (including any modification to the terms of such transactions) so UMB Bank, National Association can determine whether it has tax related obligations under Applicable Law, (ii) that UMB Bank, National Association shall be entitled to make any withholding or deduction from payments under this Indenture to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Law for which UMB Bank, National Association shall not have any liability, and (iii) to hold harmless UMB Bank, National Association for any losses it may suffer due to the actions it takes to comply with such Applicable Law. The terms of this section shall survive the termination of this Indenture.

 

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Section 12.17 Submission to Jurisdiction.

The Issuer and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any New York State court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York or any federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York in respect of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture, the Guarantees and the Notes, and irrevocably accepts for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts. The Issuer hereby appoints CT Corporation at 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10004, or, if otherwise, its principal place of business in the City of New York from time to time, as its agent for service of process, and agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by hand delivery or registered mail upon such agent shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court.

Section 12.18 Intercreditor Agreements.

Reference is made to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if applicable). Each Holder, by its acceptance of a Note, (a) consents to the priority of Liens and payments provided for in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, (b) agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (c) authorizes and instructs the Collateral Agent and the Trustee to enter into the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as the Collateral Agent and as representative on behalf of such Holder, including without limitation, making the representations of the Holders contained therein, and including any amendments, restatements or supplements thereto providing for, inter alia, substantially the same rights, priorities and obligations referred to in the applicable intercreditor agreement and covering any other matters incidental thereto.

[Signatures on following pages]

 

105


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

AKUMIN Inc., as Issuer

 

By:  

 

 

Name:

Title:

 

ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC GROUP, LLC
ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC RESOURCES, LLC
AFFILIATED PET SYSTEMS, L.L.C.
AFO IMAGING, INC.
AKUMIN FL, LLC
AKUMIN FLORIDA HOLDINGS, LLC
AKUMIN HEALTH ILLINOIS, LLC
AKUMIN HOLDINGS CORP.
AKUMIN IMAGING TEXAS, LLC
AKUMIN OPERATING CORP.
ALLIANCE HEALTHCARE SERVICES, INC.
ALLIANCE IMAGING NC, LLC
ALLIANCE ONCOLOGY OF ALABAMA, LLC
ALLIANCE ONCOLOGY OF ARIZONA, LLC
ALLIANCE ONCOLOGY, LLC
ALLIANCE RADIOSURGERY, LLC
DECATUR HEALTH IMAGING, L.L.C.
DELAWARE OPEN MRI RADIOLOGY ASSOCIATES, LLC
DIAGNOSTIC HEALTH CENTER OF ANCHORAGE, LLC
ELITE IMAGING, LLC
ELITE RADIOLOGY OF GEORGIA, LLC
GREATER BOSTON MRI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
GREATER BOSTON MRI SERVICES, LLC
IMAGING CENTER OF WEST PALM BEACH LLC,
INMED DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES OF MA, LLC
JEANES RADIOLOGY ASSOCIATES, LLC
LCM IMAGING, INC.
LEBANON DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING, LLC
MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS, LLC
MEDICAL OUTSOURCING SERVICES, LLC
MID-AMERICAN IMAGING INC.
MONROE PET, LLC
MUSC HEALTH CANCER CARE ORGANIZATION, LLC
NEHE/WSIC II, LLC
NEHE-MRI, LLC
NEOSPINE BLOCKER CORP.
NEW ENGLAND HEALTH ENTERPRISES BUSINESS TRUST
NEW ENGLAND HEALTH ENTERPRISES, INC.
NEW ENGLAND HEALTH IMAGING - HOULTON, LLC
NEW ENGLAND MOLECULAR IMAGING LLC
PCI MAUI HOLDINGS, INC.

 

[Signature Page to the Indenture]


PET SCANS OF AMERICA CORP.
PMI PARTNERS, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING AT CASA LINDA PLAZA, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING AT THE MEDICAL CENTER, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING HEB, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING OF AUSTIN, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING OF CORINTH, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING OF DENTON, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING OF FORT WORTH, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING OF FRISCO, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING OF GARLAND, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING OF GRAPEVINE/COLLEYVILLE, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING OF IRVING, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING OF MCKINNEY, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING OF MESQUITE, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING OF PLANO, LLC
PREFERRED IMAGING ON PLANO PARKWAY, LLC
PREFERRED OPEN MRI, LLC
RITTENHOUSE IMAGING CENTER, LLC
ROSE RADIOLOGY CENTERS, LLC.
ROUND ROCK IMAGING, LLC
SHARED P.E.T. IMAGING, LLC.
SMT HEALTH SERVICES, LLC
SYNCMED, LLC
THAIHOT INVESTMENT COMPANY US LIMITED
THREE RIVERS HOLDING, LLC
TIC ACQUISITION HOLDINGS, LLC
U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF AUSTIN, LLC
U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF CHICAGO, LLC
U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF COLUMBUS, LLC
U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF ILLINOIS, LLC
U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF PHILADELPHIA, LLC
U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF RENO, LLC
U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF RUSH-CHICAGO, LLC
U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF TULSA, LLC
U.S. RADIOSURGERY, LLC
USR HOLDINGS, LLC
VISTA PEM PROVIDERS, LLC
WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS MAGNETIC RESONANCE SERVICES, LLC
WILKES-BARRE IMAGING, L.L.C.

WOODLAND DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING, LLC

 

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

[Signature Page to the Indenture]


UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee and Collateral Agent

 

By:  

 

 

Name:

Title:

 

[Signature Page to the Indenture]


EXHIBIT A

[Face of Note]

 

8.000% Senior Secured Note due 2028

Cert. No. [ ]

CUSIP No. [144A: 01021X AA8/ Reg S: U0098A AA5]

Akumin Inc.

promises to pay to [_______]

or its registered assigns

the principal sum of _______

Dollars on August 1, 2028

Interest Payment Dates: February 1 and August 1, commencing August 1, 2024.

Record Dates: January 15 and July 15 (whether or not a Business Day).

 

A-1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated:

 

AKUMIN Inc., as Issuer

 

By:  

 

 

Name:

Title:


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

Dated:

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

 

UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as Trustee

 

By:  
  Authorized Signatory


(Back of Note)

Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture (as hereinafter defined) unless otherwise indicated.

(1) Interest. The Issuer promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate and in the manner specified below. Interest will accrue at 8.000% per annum and will be payable semi-annually in cash on each February 1 and August 1, commencing August 1, 2024, (the “First Interest Payment Date”) or if any such day is not a Business Day on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “Interest Payment Date”) to Holders of record of the Notes at the close of business on the immediately preceding January 15 and July 15, whether or not a Business Day. The interest payable on the First Interest Payment Date shall equal an amount equal to the sum of (a) the amount interest calculated in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence and (b) a pro rata portion of $369,357.29 based on the principal amount of this Note and the aggregate principal amount of all of the Initial Notes. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Interest shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of original issuance. To the extent lawful, the Issuer shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate of the then applicable interest rate on the Notes; it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

(2) Method of Payment. The Issuer shall pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the record date next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date. The Issuer will pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. The Notes will be payable both as to principal and interest at the office or agency of the Issuer maintained for such purpose or, at the option of the Issuer, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders of Notes at their respective addresses set forth in the register of Holders of Notes. Unless otherwise designated by the Issuer, the Issuer’s office or agency will be the office of the Trustee maintained for such purpose.

(3) Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, the Trustee will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuer may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar without prior notice to any Holder of a Note. The Issuer may act in any such capacity.

(4) Indenture. The Issuer issued the Notes under an Indenture, dated as of February 6, 2024 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, the Guarantors and UMB Bank, National Association, as trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”) and as notes collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”). This is one of an issue of Notes of the Issuer issued, or to be issued, under the Indenture. The Issuer shall be entitled to issue additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Indenture. All Notes issued under the Indenture shall be treated as a single class of Notes under the Indenture. The terms of the Indenture shall govern any inconsistencies between the Indenture and the Notes. The Notes are senior secured obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors, secured by a first-priority security interest in the Collateral.

(5) Optional Redemption.

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) below and clause (6) below, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Issuer’s option prior to August 1, 2024. Thereafter, the Notes will be subject to redemption at the option of the Issuer, in whole or in part, upon not less than 10 days’ or more than 60 days’ written notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of record of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive payments of interest on the related interest payment date), if redeemed during the 12- month period beginning on August 1 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2024

     103.750

2025

     101.875

2026 and thereafter

     100.000


(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time and from time to time prior to August 1, 2024, the Issuer may redeem up to 40% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding at a redemption price equal to 107.500% of the principal amount thereof on the repurchase date, together with accrued and unpaid interest to such redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of record of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive payments of interest on the related interest payment date), with an amount equal to the net cash proceeds of one or more public or private sales of Qualified Capital Stock (each, an “Equity Offering”), other than proceeds from a sale to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or any employee benefit plan in which the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries participates; provided that (i) at least 60% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (including additional Notes but excluding Notes held by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) unless all such Notes are redeemed substantially concurrently and (ii) such redemption occurs no later than the 120th day following such sale of Qualified Capital Stock.

(c) In addition, at any time and from time to time prior to August 1, 2024, the Issuer may redeem all or any portion of the Notes outstanding at a redemption price equal to (i) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid interest to such redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of record of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive payments of interest on the related interest payment date), plus (ii) the Make Whole Amount.

Make Whole Amount” means, with respect to any Note at any redemption date, as determined by the Issuer, the greater of (i) 1.0% of the principal amount of such Note and (ii) the excess, if any, of (A) an amount equal to the present value of (1) the redemption price of such Note at August 1, 2024 plus (2) the remaining scheduled interest payments on the Notes to be redeemed (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date) to August 1, 2024 (other than interest accrued to the redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, over (B) the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed. The Trustee shall have no obligation to calculate or verify the calculation of the Make Whole Amount.

Treasury Rate” means, at the time of computation, the weekly average for each business day during the most recent week that has ended at least two business days prior to the redemption date of the yield to maturity of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (or, if such statistical release is not so published or available or the relevant information no longer available thereon, any publicly available source of similar market data selected by the Issuer in good faith) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to August 1, 2024; provided, however, that if the period from the redemption date to August 1, 2024 is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the redemption date to August 1, 2024 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used.

(d) In connection with any redemption of Notes described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above, such redemption may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including any related Equity Offering, issuance of Indebtedness or other transaction. If such redemption or notice is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Issuer’s discretion, such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded, or the redemption date may be delayed or extended, in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any tender offer for the Notes, including a Change of Control Offer, if holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in such tender offer or Change of Control Offer and the Issuer, or any third party making such tender offer or Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Issuer, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such holders, the Issuer or such third party will have the right upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase date, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to the price offered to each other holder (excluding any early tender or incentive fee) in such tender offer or Change of Control Offer plus, to the extent not included in the tender offer payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to, but excluding, the date of such redemption.


(f) Tax Redemption. If (a) the Issuer or any Guarantor becomes or will become obligated to pay Additional Amounts with respect to any Notes or any Guarantee (as described in Section 4.19 of the Indenture) as a result of (1) any change in, or amendment to, the laws, treaties (including protocols), regulations or rulings of a Relevant Tax Jurisdiction, which change or amendment is first publicly announced and becomes effective after the Issue Date (or, if the Relevant Tax Jurisdiction did not become a Relevant Tax Jurisdiction until a later date, after such later date) or (2) any change in the official interpretation or application of the laws, treaties (including protocols), regulations or rulings of a Relevant Tax Jurisdiction (including by virtue of a holding, judgment or order by a court of competent jurisdiction or a change in published administrative practice), which change is first publicly announced and becomes effective after the Issue Date (or, if the Relevant Tax Jurisdiction did not become a Relevant Tax Jurisdiction until a later date, after such later date), and (b) such obligation cannot be avoided by the Issuer’s taking reasonable measures available to the Issuer or any Guarantor (provided that changing the jurisdiction of the Issuer or any Guarantor is not a reasonable measure for this purpose), the Issuer may at its option, having given not less than 30 days’ notice to the holders of such Notes (which notice shall be irrevocable), redeem all, but not a portion of, the Notes at any time a price equal to their principal amount plus interest accrued to, but excluding, the date of redemption (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), provided that no such notice of redemption shall be given earlier than 60 days prior to the earliest date on which the Issuer or any Guarantor would be obliged to pay such Additional Amounts were a payment in respect of the Notes then due); and provided further that in the case of a Guarantor, no redemption shall be permitted under this section if the Issuer or any other Guarantor can make payments on the Notes without the obligation to pay Additional Amounts. Prior to the publication or, where relevant, mailing of any notice of redemption pursuant to this paragraph, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee (i) an officers’ certificate of the Issuer certifying that the requirements described in clauses (a) and (b) above are satisfied, and (ii) an opinion of an independent counsel of recognized standing to the effect that the Issuer or any Guarantor has or will become obliged to pay such Additional Amounts as a result of a change or amendment described in clause (a) above. The Trustee shall accept, and will be entitled to conclusively rely on, such officers’ certificate and opinion of counsel as sufficient evidence of the existence and satisfaction of the conditions described in clauses (a) and (b) above, and upon such acceptance by the Trustee the Issuer will be entitled to give notice of redemption hereunder and such notice of redemption will be conclusive and binding on the holders of the Notes.

(6) Repurchase at Option of Holder. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Issuer shall make an offer to each Holder of Notes to repurchase on the Change of Control Payment Date all or any part of such Holder’s Notes (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date). Holders of Notes that are subject to an offer to purchase will receive a Change of Control Offer from the Issuer prior to any related Change of Control Payment Date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “Option of Holder To Elect Purchase” appearing below.

When the cumulative amount of Excess Proceeds that have not been applied in accordance with Section 4.10 of the Indenture exceeds $30.0 million, the Issuer shall make an offer to all Holders of the Notes (an “Excess Proceeds Offer”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased out of such Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest to the date fixed for the closing of such offer in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. To the extent the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary is required under the terms of other First Lien Obligations of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary (other than Subordinated Indebtedness), the Issuer shall also make a pro rata offer to the holders of such First Lien Obligations (including the Notes) with such proceeds. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other First Lien Obligations surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of such Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis by lot, and, in the case of global notes, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary. To the extent that the principal amount of Notes tendered pursuant to an Excess Proceeds Offer is less than the amount of such Excess Proceeds, the Issuer may use any remaining Excess Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by the Indenture. Upon completion of an Excess Proceeds Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero. Holders of Notes that are subject to an offer to purchase will receive an Excess Proceeds Offer from the Issuer prior to any related Purchase Date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “Option of Holder To Elect Purchase” appearing below.


(7) Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption shall be transmitted at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address (with a copy to the Trustee). Notes may be redeemed in part but only in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 that are equal to or in excess of $2,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder of Notes are to be redeemed. On and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of them called for redemption unless the Issuer fails to redeem such Notes or such portions thereof.

(8) Suspension of Covenants. During any period of time after the Issue Date that (i) the Notes are rated Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies and (ii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the Indenture, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to Sections 4.07 (Limitation on Restricted Payments), 4.09 (Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness), 4.10 (Limitation on Asset Sales), clause (d) of the first paragraph of Section 5.01 (Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets), 4.11 (Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates), 4.08 (Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries) and 4.13 (Additional Subsidiary Guarantors).

(9) Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder of a Note, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. Neither the Issuer nor the Registrar is required to exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption. Also, it need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

(10) Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment to the Trustee for registration of the transfer of this Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Issuer may deem and treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as its absolute owner for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not this Note is overdue, and neither the Trustee, any Agent nor the Issuer shall be affected by notice to the contrary. The registered Holder of a Note shall be treated as its owner for all purposes.

(11) Amendments, Supplement and Waivers. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes, the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Guarantees or any amended or supplemental indenture may be amended or supplemented with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with an exchange offer or tender offer for the Notes), and any existing Default and its consequences or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with an exchange offer or tender offer for the Notes). Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder of Notes) (a) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver; (b) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes (other than as provided in clause (h) below); (c) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note; (d) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration); (e) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes; (f) make any change in the provisions of the Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of or interest on the Notes; (g) waive a redemption payment or mandatory redemption with respect to any Note (other than as provided in clause (h) below); (h) amend, change or modify in any material respect the obligation of the Issuer to make and consummate a Change of Control Offer in the event of a Change of Control after such Change of Control has occurred; (i) release all or substantially all of the Guarantees of the Guarantors other than in accordance with Article 10 of the Indenture; (j) make any change in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions; (k) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any


payment on or with respect to the Notes or the Guarantees; (l) subordinate the payment of the Notes or Guarantees to any other obligation of the Issuers or the Guarantors or (m) [reserved]. Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Collateral Documents or any amended or supplemental indenture may be amended or supplemented: to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency (as determined by the Issuer in good faith); to provide for uncertificated Notes or Guarantees in addition to or in place of certificated Notes or Guarantees; to provide for the assumption of the obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor to the Holders of the Notes in the case of a merger, amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation pursuant to Article 5 or Article 10 of the Indenture; to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the rights under the Indenture of any Holder of the Notes in any material respect; to provide for the issuance of additional Notes in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Indenture; to evidence and provide for the acceptance of an appointment of a successor Trustee; to comply with the rules of any applicable securities depository; to add Guarantees with respect to the Notes; to release Collateral from the Liens securing the Notes and the Guarantees when permitted or required by the Collateral Documents, the Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement; to enter into any intercreditor agreement having substantially similar terms with respect to the holders of the Notes as those set forth in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, or any joinder thereto, or to enter into any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement in connection with the incurrence of any Future First Lien Obligations or Junior Lien Obligations not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture; or with respect to the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, as provided in the relevant Collateral Document or First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of holders of at least 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, no amendment or waiver may (i) release all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Liens securing the Notes Obligations created by the Collateral Documents, (ii) change or alter the priority of the Liens securing the Notes Obligations created by the Collateral Documents in any manner adverse to the holders of the Notes, or (iii) make any change in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or in the provisions of the Indenture or any Collateral Document dealing with the application of proceeds of the Collateral that would materially adversely affect the Holders or alter the priority of the security interests in the Collateral.

(12) Defaults and Remedies. Each of the following constitutes an Event of Default:

(a) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest or additional interest, if any, on the Notes;

(b) default in payment when due of principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes at maturity, upon repurchase, redemption or otherwise;

(c) failure to comply for 30 days after notice with any obligations under the provisions described under Sections 3.10 (other than a failure to purchase Notes duly tendered to the Issuer for repurchase pursuant to a Change of Control Offer or an Excess Proceeds Offer), 4.10, 4.15 and 5.01 of the Indenture;

(d) subject to Section 6.04 of the Indenture, default under any other provision of the Indenture or the Notes, which default remains uncured for 60 days after notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount then outstanding of the Notes;

(e) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed (or commitments in respect of Indebtedness for borrowed money in each case, which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any related Liens thereto) by the Issuer and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Issuer and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries), which default is caused by a failure to pay the principal of such Indebtedness at the final stated maturity thereof within the grace period provided in such Indebtedness (a “Payment Default”), and the principal amount of any such Indebtedness (including the principal amount of commitments in respect of such Indebtedness), together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness (including the principal amount of commitments in respect of such Indebtedness) under which there has been a Payment Default, aggregates $40.0 million or more;


(f) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed (or commitments in respect of Indebtedness for borrowed money in each case, which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any related Liens thereto) by the Issuer and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), which default results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness (or termination of related commitments) prior to its express maturity not rescinded or cured within 30 days after such acceleration (or termination of related commitments), and the principal amount of any such Indebtedness (including the principal amount of commitments in respect of such Indebtedness), together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness (including the principal amount of commitments in respect of such Indebtedness) under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated (or commitments terminated) and remains undischarged after such 30 day period, aggregates $40.0 million or more;

(g) failure by the Issuer and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments (other than any judgment as to which a reputable insurance company has accepted full liability) aggregating $40.0 million or more, which judgments are not stayed within 60 days after their entry;

(h) any Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) shall be held in a judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect, or any Guarantor that qualifies as a Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), or any person acting on behalf of any Guarantor that qualifies as a Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under its Guarantee;

(i) the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law (i) commences a voluntary case or proceeding under Bankruptcy Law; (ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding under Bankruptcy Law; (iii) consents to the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, receiver and manager, monitor or interim receiver of it or for all or substantially all of its property; or (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;

(j) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that: (i) is for relief against the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of the Issuer in an involuntary case or proceeding; (ii) appoints a custodian, trustee, receiver, receiver and manager, monitor or interim receiver of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of the Issuer or for all or substantially all of the property of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last Measurement Period, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of the Issuer; or (iii) orders the liquidation of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days;

(k) any Collateral Document after delivery thereof shall for any reason cease (or shall be asserted in writing by the Issuer or any Guarantor to cease) to create a valid and perfected first-priority Lien to the extent required by the Collateral Documents (subject to no other Liens other than Permitted Liens) on Collateral that is (i) purported to be covered thereby and (ii) comprises Property which, when taken together with all Property as to which such a Lien has so ceased to be effective, has a fair market value in excess of $40.0 million (other than (x) in accordance with the terms of the Indenture or the terms of the


First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Documents or (y) except to the extent that any such cessation of the Liens results from the failure of the administrative agent under the Credit Facilities or the Applicable Authorized Representative, as the case may be, in each case, as bailee for the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, to maintain possession of certificates actually delivered to it representing securities pledged under the Collateral Documents); and

(l) [reserved].

If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, by notice to the Issuer, or the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount then outstanding of the Notes, by written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee, may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default specified in paragraph (i) or (j) of Section 6.01 of the Indenture, all outstanding Notes shall become and shall be immediately due and payable without further action or notice. Holders of the Notes may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in such Holders’ interest.

However, a Default under Section 6.01(c), Section 6.01(d) or Section 6.01(g) of the Indenture will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes notify the Issuer of the Default and, with respect to Section 6.01(c) or Section 6.01(g) of the Indenture, the Issuer does not cure such Default within the time specified in Section 6.01(c) or Section 6.01(g) of the Indenture after the occurrence of such Default; provided that a notice of Default may not be given with respect to any action taken, and reported publicly or to holders, more than two years prior to such notice of Default.

Any failure to perform under, or breach of, Section 4.03 of the Indenture shall not be a Default or an Event of Default until the 121st day after the Issuer has received the notice referred to in clause (d) of Section 6.01 of the Indenture (at which point, unless cured or waived, such failure to perform or breach shall constitute an Event of Default). Any failure to perform, or breach of any covenant or agreement pursuant to Section 4.03 of the Indenture, shall automatically cease to be outstanding and shall be deemed to be cured at such time as the Issuer furnishes or files the applicable information or report.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all the Holders rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal, interest or premium that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, by written notice to the Trustee, may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest or premium on, or principal of, the Notes.

The Issuer is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture.

(13) Trustee Dealings with Issuer. The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledges of the Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer with the same rights if would have had if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the Commission for permission to continue as Trustee (if any of the Notes are registered pursuant to the Securities Act), or resign.

(14) No Personal Liability of Directors, Owners, Employees, Incorporators and Stockholders. No director, owner, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their Affiliates, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their Affiliates under this Note, 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 of the Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.


(15) Guarantees. Payment of principal and interest (including interest on overdue principal and overdue interest, if lawful) is unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by each of the Guarantors.

(16) Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

(17) Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of a Note or an assignee, such as TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

(18) CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Note Identification Procedures, the Issuer has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders of Notes. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed herein.

The Issuer will furnish to any Holder of a Note upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:

Akumin Inc.

8300 W Sunrise Blvd

Plantation, FL 33322

Facsimile No.: (954) 678-4489

Attention: General Counsel


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to

 

 

(Insert assignee’s Soc. Sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and Zip code)

and irrevocably appoint _______ as agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
Date:             
Your Signature:   

   

   (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)
Signature Guarantee.


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have all or any part of this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.10 (Excess Proceeds Offer) or Section 4.15 (Change of Control) of the Indenture, check the appropriate box:

 

☐ Section 4.10    ☐ Section 4.15

If you want to have only part of the Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

$

 

Date:         

  
Your Signature:   

 

  

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee.


[ATTACHMENT FOR GLOBAL NOTES]

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN GLOBAL NOTE

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

   Amount of Decrease
in Principal Amount
of this Global Note
   Amount of Increase
Principal Amount of
this Global Note
   Principal Amount
of this Global Note
following such
Decrease (or
Increase)
   Signature of
Authorized Officer
of Trustee or Note
Custodian


[FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER]

Akumin Inc.

8300 W Sunrise Blvd

Plantation, FL 33322

Facsimile No.: (954) 678-4489

Attention: General Counsel

UMB Bank, National Association

100 William Street, Suite 1850

New York, NY 10038

Attn: Corporate Trust

Re: 8.000% Senior Secured Note due 2028

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of February 6, 2024 (the “Indenture”), among Akumin Inc., as Issuer (the “Issuer”), the Guarantors named therein and UMB Bank, National Association, as trustee and notes collateral agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

_______ (the “Transferor”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $_______ in such Note[s] or interests (the “Transfer”), to _______ (the “Transferee”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

 

1.       Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note or a Definitive Note Pursuant to Rule 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believed and believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
2.       Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note or a Definitive Note pursuant to Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a Person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or

 

C-1


      scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person. Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
3.       Check and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in a Definitive Note pursuant to any provision of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

 (a) ☐ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

or

 (b) ☐ such Transfer is being effected to the Issuer or a subsidiary thereof.

 (c) ☐ such Transfer is being effected to an Institutional Accredited Investor and pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904, and the Transferor hereby further certifies that it has not engaged in any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act and the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note or Restricted Definitive Notes and the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is supported by (1) a certificate executed by the Transferee in the form of Exhibit E to the Indenture and (2) an Opinion of Counsel provided by the Transferor or the Transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification), to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

4.       Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note.

 (a) ☐ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Rule 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 (b) ☐ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Regulation S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

 

C-2


 (c) ☐ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Other Exemption. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuer.

 

   

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]

    By:  

 

     

Name:

Title:

Dated:              

 

C-3


ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

1.   The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:
    [CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]
  (a)      a beneficial interest in the:
    (i)       144A Global Note (CUSIP [_______]), or
    (ii)       Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP [_______]), or
  (b)      a Restricted Definitive Note.
2.   After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:
    [CHECK ONE]
  (c)      a beneficial interest in the:
    (i)       144A Global Note (CUSIP [_______]), or
    (ii)       Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP [_______]), or
    (iii)       Unrestricted Global Note CUSIP [_______], or
  (d)      a Restricted Definitive Note; or
  (e)      an Unrestricted Definitive Note,
  in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

C-4


EXHIBIT D

[FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE]

Akumin Inc.

8300 W Sunrise Blvd

Plantation, FL 33322

Facsimile No.: (954) 678-4489

Attention: General Counsel

UMB Bank, National Association

100 William Street, Suite 1850

New York, NY 10038

Attn: Corporate Trust

Re: 8.000% Senior Secured Note due 2028

(CUSIP [_______])

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of February 6, 2024 (the “Indenture”), among Akumin Inc., as Issuer (the “Issuer”), the Guarantors named therein and UMB Bank, National Association, as trustee and notes collateral agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

_______ (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $_______ in such Note[s] or interests (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

1. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Unrestricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note.

(a) ☐ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(b) ☐ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(c) ☐ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

D-1


(d) ☐ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes for Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes.

(a) ☐ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Restricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

(b) ☐ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] _ 144A Global Note, _ Regulation S Global Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuer.

 

   

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]

    By:  

 

     

Name:

Title:

Dated:               

 

D-2


EXHIBIT E

[FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM

ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR]

Akumin Inc.

8300 W Sunrise Blvd

Plantation, FL 33322

Facsimile No.: (954) 678-4489

Attention: General Counsel

UMB Bank, National Association

100 William Street, Suite 1850

New York, NY 10038

Attn: Corporate Trust

Re: 8.000% Senior Secured Note due 2028

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of February 6, 2024 (the “Indenture”), among Akumin Inc., as Issuer (the “Issuer”) and UMB Bank, National Association, as trustee and notes collateral agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

In connection with our proposed purchase of $_______ aggregate principal amount of:

 

  (a)

☐ a beneficial interest in a Global Note, or

 

  (b)

☐ a Definitive Note,

we confirm that:

1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes or any interest therein is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes or any interest therein except in compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

2. We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes and any interest therein may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter stated, that if we should sell the Notes or any interest therein, prior to the expiration of the holding period applicable to sales of the Notes under Rule 144 of the Securities Act, we will do so only (A) to the Issuer or any subsidiary thereof, (B) in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined therein), (C) to an institutional “accredited investor” (as hereinafter defined) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes (or has furnished on its behalf by a U.S. broker- dealer) to you and to the Issuer a signed letter substantially in the form of this letter and an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act, (D) outside the United States in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (F) in accordance with another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act (and based upon an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Issuer) or (G) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any person purchasing the definitive Note or beneficial interest in a Global Note from us in a transaction meeting the requirements of clauses (A) through (F) of this paragraph a notice advising such purchaser that resales thereof are restricted as stated herein.

3. We understand that, on any proposed resale of the Notes or beneficial interest therein, we will be required to furnish to you and the Issuer such certifications, legal opinions and other information as you and the Issuer may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies with the foregoing restrictions. We further understand that the Notes purchased by us will bear a legend to the foregoing effect.

 

D-1


4. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

5. We are acquiring the Notes or beneficial interest therein purchased by us for our own account or for one or more accounts (each of which is an institutional “accredited investor”) as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion.

You and the Issuer are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.

 

   

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]

    By:  

 

     

Name:

Title:

Dated:               

 

D-2

Exhibit 10.3

Execution Version

 

 

 

REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of February 6, 2024

among

AKUMIN INC.,

as the Borrower,

CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF THE BORROWER,

as Guarantors,

THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO

and

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent

 

 

PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC

and

BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

       Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

     1  

1.01

  Defined Terms      1  

1.02

  Interpretative Provisions      59  

1.03

  Accounting Terms and Provisions      61  

1.04

  Rounding      62  

1.05

  Times of Day      62  

1.06

  Letter of Credit Amounts      62  

1.07

  Limited Condition Transactions      62  

1.08

  Divisions      63  

1.09

  Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification      64  

ARTICLE II COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

     64  

2.01

  Commitments      64  

2.02

  Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations      68  

2.03

  Additional Provisions with Respect to Letters of Credit      70  

2.04

  Swingline Loans      78  

2.05

  Repayment of Loans      80  

2.06

  Prepayments      80  

2.07

  Termination or Reduction of Commitments      81  

2.08

  Interest      82  

2.09

  Fees      83  

2.10

  Computation of Interest and Fees      84  

2.11

  Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback      84  

2.12

  Sharing of Payments by Lenders      86  

2.13

  Evidence of Debt      87  

2.14

  Defaulting Lenders      87  

2.15

  Extended Revolving Commitments      90  

2.16

  Replacement Revolving Commitments      92  

ARTICLE III TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

     94  

3.01

  Taxes      94  

3.02

  Illegality      98  

3.03

  Inability to Determine Rates; Benchmark Replacement Setting      98  

3.04

  Increased Cost; Capital Adequacy      100  

3.05

  Compensation for Losses      102  

3.06

  Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders      102  

3.07

  Survival Losses      103  

ARTICLE IV GUARANTY

     103  

4.01

  The Guaranty      103  

 

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4.02

  Obligations Unconditional      104  

4.03

  Reinstatement      105  

4.04

  Certain Waivers      105  

4.05

  Remedies      106  

4.06

  Rights of Contribution      106  

4.07

  Guaranty of Payment; Continuing Guaranty      106  

4.08

  Keepwell      106  

ARTICLE V CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

     107  

5.01

  Conditions to Closing Date      107  

5.02

  Conditions to All Credit Extensions      109  

ARTICLE VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     109  

6.01

  Existence, Qualification and Power      109  

6.02

  Authorization; No Contravention      110  

6.03

  Governmental Authorization; Other Consents      110  

6.04

  Binding Effect      110  

6.05

  [Reserved]      110  

6.06

  No Material Adverse Effect      110  

6.07

  Litigation      110  

6.08

  No Default      111  

6.09

  Ownership of Property; Liens      111  

6.10

  Environmental Matters      111  

6.11

  Taxes      111  

6.12

  ERISA Compliance      111  

6.13

  Labor Matters      112  

6.14

  Subsidiaries      112  

6.15

  Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act      112  

6.16

  Disclosure      113  

6.17

  Compliance with Laws      113  

6.18

  Insurance      113  

6.19

  Solvency      113  

6.20

  Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc      114  

6.21

  Collateral Matters      114  

6.22

  Anti-Money Laundering, International Trade Laws, Sanctions and Anti-Corruption Laws      114  

6.23

  Affected Financial Institution      115  

6.24

  HIPAA Compliance      115  

6.25

  Healthcare Matters      115  

ARTICLE VII AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     116  

7.01

  Financial Statements      116  

7.02

  Certificates; Other Information      117  

 

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7.03

  Notification      119  

7.04

  Preservation of Existence; Business      120  

7.05

  Payment of Taxes      120  

7.06

  Compliance with Laws      120  

7.07

  Maintenance of Property      120  

7.08

  Insurance      121  

7.09

  Books and Records      121  

7.10

  Inspection Rights      121  

7.11

  Use of Proceeds      121  

7.12

  Joinder of Subsidiaries as Guarantors      122  

7.13

  Pledge of Capital Stock      122  

7.14

  Pledge of Other Property      123  

7.15

  Further Assurances Regarding Collateral      123  

7.16

  Federal Health Care Program Exclusions      124  

7.17

  Government Healthcare Investigations      124  

7.18

  Post-Closing Matters      124  

7.19

  Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, International Trade Laws, and Sanctions      124  

ARTICLE VIII NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     125  

8.01

  Liens      125  

8.02

  Investments      128  

8.03

  Indebtedness      131  

8.04

  Mergers and Dissolutions; Sale of All or Substantially All Assets      136  

8.05

  Dispositions      138  

8.06

  Restricted Payments      138  

8.07

  Change in Nature of Business      140  

8.08

  Change in Accounting Practices or Fiscal Year      140  

8.09

  Transactions with Affiliates      140  

8.10

  Financial Covenant      142  

8.11

  Limitation on Subsidiary Distributions      142  

8.12

  Amendment of Material Documents      143  

8.13

  Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, International Trade Laws and Sanctions      143  

ARTICLE IX EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

     144  

9.01

  Events of Default      144  

9.02

  Remedies upon Event of Default      146  

9.03

  Right to Cure      147  

9.04

  Application of Funds      148  

ARTICLE X AGENTS

     149  

10.01

  Appointment and Authorization of the Agents      149  

10.02

  Rights as a Lender      151  

10.03

  Exculpatory Provisions      151  

 

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10.04

  Reliance by Agents      152  

10.05

  Delegation of Duties      152  

10.06

  Resignation of an Agent      152  

10.07

  Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders      153  

10.08

  No Other Duties      154  

10.09

  Agents May File Proofs of Claim      154  

10.10

  Collateral and Guaranty Matters      154  

10.11

  Withholding Tax      156  

10.12

  Treasury Management Agreements and Swap Contracts      156  

10.13

  Credit Bidding      156  

ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS

     158  

11.01

  Amendments, Etc      158  

11.02

  Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication      160  

11.03

  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement      162  

11.04

  Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver      163  

11.05

  Payments Set Aside      165  

11.06

  Successors and Assigns      165  

11.07

  Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality      170  

11.08

  Right of Setoff      172  

11.09

  Interest Rate Limitation      172  

11.10

  Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness      172  

11.11

  Survival of Representations and Warranties      173  

11.12

  Severability      173  

11.13

  Replacement of Lenders      173  

11.14

  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc      175  

11.15

  Waiver of Jury Trial      176  

11.16

  USA PATRIOT Act Notice      176  

11.17

  Designation as Senior Debt      177  

11.18

  No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility      177  

11.19

  Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions      177  

11.20

  Judgment Currency; Submission to Jurisdiction      178  

11.21

  Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs      179  

 

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SCHEDULES
Schedule 1.01(A)    Closing Date Guarantors
Schedule 1.01(B)    Closing Date Immaterial Subsidiaries
Schedule 2.01    Revolving Committed Amounts
Schedule 6.14    Subsidiaries
Schedule 6.21    Filings and Recordings
Schedule 7.18    Post-Closing Matters
Schedule 8.01    Existing Liens
Schedule 8.02    Existing Investments
Schedule 8.03    Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 8.09    Existing Affiliate Transactions
Schedule 11.02    Notice Addresses
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A    Form of Loan Notice
Exhibit B-1    Form of Revolving Note
Exhibit B-2    Form of Swingline Note
Exhibit C-1    Form of United States Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Exhibit C-2    Form of United States Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Exhibit C-3    Form of United States Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Exhibit C-4    Form of United States Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Exhibit D    Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit E    Form of Joinder Agreement
Exhibit F    Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit G    Form of Pledge and Security Agreement


REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of February 6, 2024 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), among Akumin Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Guarantors identified herein, the Lenders party hereto and PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.

W I T N E S E T H

WHEREAS, on October 22, 2023, the Borrower and certain of its affiliates filed for chapter 11 protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (the “Bankruptcy Court”);

WHEREAS, on November 30, 2023, the Bankruptcy Court approved the Joined Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Akumin Inc. and Its Debtor Affiliates (the “Reorganization Plan”), which provides for, among other transactions, the Lenders providing for revolving credit facilities for the purposes set forth herein; and

WHEREAS, the Lenders have agreed to make the requested facilities available on the terms and conditions set forth herein and in accordance with the Reorganization Plan;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises and the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

1.01 Defined Terms.

As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings provided below:

2027 Senior Secured Notes” means the senior secured notes due 2027 of the Borrower issued pursuant to the New 2027 Notes Indenture in an aggregate principal amount of up to $440.0 million.

2028 Senior Secured Notes” means the 8.00% senior secured notes due 2028 of the Borrower issued pursuant to the New 2028 Notes Indenture in an aggregate principal amount of up to $355.0 million.

Acquisition” means the purchase or acquisition (whether in one or a series of related transactions) by any Person of (a) more than 50% of the Capital Stock with ordinary voting power of another Person or (b) all or substantially all of the property (other than Capital Stock) of another Person or a division or line of business or business unit of another Person, whether or not involving a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with such Person.


Additional Credit Extension Amendment” means an amendment to this Agreement (which may, at the option of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, be in the form of an amendment and restatement of this Agreement) providing for any Incremental Loan Facilities pursuant to Section 2.01(d), Extended Revolving Commitments pursuant to Section 2.15 and/or Replacement Revolving Commitments pursuant to Section 2.16, which shall be consistent with the applicable provisions of this Agreement and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the parties thereto. Each Additional Credit Extension Amendment shall be executed by the L/C Issuer and/or the Swingline Lender (to the extent Section 11.01 would require the consent of the L/C Issuer and/or the Swingline Lender, respectively, for the amendments effected in such Additional Credit Extension Amendment), the Administrative Agent, the Credit Parties and the other parties specified in Section 2.01(d), 2.15 or 2.16, as applicable, of this Agreement (but not any other Lender not specified in Section 2.01(d), 2.15 or 2.16, as applicable, of this Agreement), but shall not effect any amendments that would require the consent of each affected Lender or all Lenders pursuant to Section 11.01. Any Additional Credit Extension Amendment may include conditions for closing documentation, all to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and acceptable to the Borrower.

Administrative Agent” means PNC Bank, National Association, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders under any of the Credit Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

Administrative Agent Fee Letter” means that certain administrative agent fee letter, dated as of the Closing Date, between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 11.02, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.

Administrative Questionnaire” means an administrative questionnaire for the Lenders in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

Affiliate Transaction” has the meaning provided in Section 8.09.

Agent” means the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent.

Agent Parties” has the meaning provided in Section 11.02(c).

Aggregate Revolving Commitments” means the sum of the Revolving Commitments of all Revolving Lenders.

Aggregate Revolving Committed Amount” has the meaning provided in Section 2.01(a).

 

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Agreement” has the meaning provided in the preamble hereto.

Agreement Currency” has the meaning provided in Section 11.20.

Anti-Corruption Laws” means (a) the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; (b) the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, as amended; and (c) any other applicable Law relating to anti-bribery or anti-corruption in any jurisdiction in which the Borrower or Guarantor is located or doing business.

Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means (a) the Bank Secrecy Act and the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001; (b) the U.K. Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the Money Laundering Regulations 2017, as amended, and the Terrorist Asset-Freezing etc. Act 2010; and (c) any other applicable Law relating to anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism in any jurisdiction in which the Borrower or Guarantor is located or doing business.

Anticipated Cure Deadline” has the meaning provided in Section 9.03(b).

Applicable Rate” means, with respect to Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans (it being understood that all Swingline Loans shall be Base Rate Loans) and Letter of Credit Fees, (a) from the Closing Date until delivery to the Administrative Agent of the Compliance Certificate relating to the financial statements for the first full fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b), 4.00% for Term SOFR Rate Loans and 3.00% for Base Rate Loans, and (b) thereafter, the percentages per annum in the table below.

 

Applicable Rate

 

Pricing Level

   Consolidated Senior Secured Net
Leverage Ratio
   Term SOFR
Rate Loans
and Letter
of Credit
Fees
    Base Rate Loans  

1

   > 4.45:1.00      4.00     3.00

2

   < 4.45:1.00 but > 3.95:1.00      3.75     2.75

3

   < 3.95:1.00      3.50     2.50

The Applicable Rate for Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans and Letter of Credit Fees will be based on the Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.02(a). Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio shall become effective on the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 7.02(a); provided, however, that if (i) a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance therewith or (ii) an Event of Default pursuant to Section 9.01(a) or (f) has occurred and is continuing, then, with respect to Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans and Letter of Credit Fees, in the case of the preceding clause (i), pricing level 1 shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered until the first Business Day immediately following delivery thereof, and in the case of clause (ii), pricing level 1 shall apply as of the first Business Day after the occurrence of such Event of Default until the first Business Day immediately following the cure or waiver of such Event of Default.

 

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Determinations by the Administrative Agent of the appropriate pricing level shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered, managed or underwritten by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 11.06) and accepted by the Administrative Agent and, if required by Section 11.06, the Borrower, in substantially the form of Exhibit F or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Attributable Principal Amount” means (a) in the case of capital leases, the amount of capital lease obligations determined in accordance with GAAP, (b) in the case of Synthetic Leases, an amount determined by capitalization of the remaining lease payments thereunder as if it were a capital lease determined in accordance with GAAP, and (c) in the case of Sale and Leaseback Transactions, the present value (discounted in accordance with GAAP at the debt rate implied in the applicable lease) of the obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the term of such lease.

Auto-Extension Letter of Credit” has the meaning provided in Section 2.03(b)(iii).

Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, if such Benchmark is a term rate, any tenor for such Benchmark (or payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark, as applicable) that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period pursuant to this Agreement as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to Section 3.03(b)(iv).

Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.

Bail-In Legislation” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, regulation, rule or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code.

Bankruptcy Court” has the meaning provided in the recitals hereto.

 

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Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the NYFRB Rate in effect on such day plus 12 of 1.00% and (c) the Term SOFR Rate for a one month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1.00%, so long as the Term SOFR Rate is offered, ascertainable and not unlawful. The “Prime Rate” is a rate set by the Administrative Agent based upon various factors including its costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such rate announced by the Administrative Agent shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

Benchmark” means, initially, the Term SOFR Reference Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event has occurred with respect to a then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 3.03(b)(i). Any reference to “Benchmark” shall include, as applicable, the published component used in the calculation thereof.

Benchmark Replacement” means, with respect to any Benchmark Transition Event, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date:

(1) Daily Simple SOFR; or

(2) the sum of (A) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, giving due consideration to (x) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (y) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement to the then-current Benchmark for Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time and (B) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

provided that if the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (2) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement; and provided further, that any Benchmark Replacement shall be administratively feasible as determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, giving due consideration to (A) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant

 

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Governmental Body or (B) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time.

Benchmark Replacement Date” means a date and time determined by the Administrative Agent, which date shall be no later than the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

(1) in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (A) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (B) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate or is based on a term rate, all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

(2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the date determined by the Administrative Agent, which date shall promptly follow the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein;

For the avoidance of doubt, if such Benchmark is a term rate or is based on a term rate, the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (1) or (2) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark available under this Agreement (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

Benchmark Transition Event” means, the occurrence of one or more of the following events, with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

(1) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide such Benchmark (or component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate or is based on a term rate, all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

(2) a public statement or publication of information by a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent, the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the

 

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administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate or is based on a term rate, all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate or is based on a term rate, any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

(3) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent announcing that such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate or is based on a term rate, all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are not, or as of a specified future date will not be, representative.

Benchmark Unavailability Period” means the period (if any) (x) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Credit Document in accordance with Section 3.03(b) and (b) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Credit Document in accordance with Section 3.03(b).

Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate’ (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

Blocked Property” means any property in which a Sanctioned Person that is subject to blocking sanctions or asset freezes holds any interest, including such property that could cause any actual or possible violation by the Lenders or Administrative Agent of any applicable Sanctions if the Lenders or Administrative Agent were to obtain an encumbrance on, lien on, pledge of, or security interest in such property, or provide services in consideration of such property.

Board of Directors” means (a) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or, except in the context of the definition of “Change of Control,” a duly authorized committee thereof, (b) with respect to a partnership, the board of directors of the general partner of the partnership, and (c) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

 

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Borrower Obligations” means, without duplication, (a) all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, the Borrower arising under any Credit Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against the Borrower of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding, (b) unless otherwise designated in writing by the Borrower, all obligations under any Swap Contract between the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and the Administrative Agent, any Lead Arranger, any Lender or Affiliate of the Administrative Agent, a Lead Arranger or a Lender or any Person that was the Administrative Agent, a Lead Arranger, a Lender or Affiliate of the Administrative Agent, a Lead Arranger or a Lender at the time it entered into such Swap Contract (or, if entered into prior to the Closing Date, any Person who was the Administrative Agent, a Lead Arranger, a Lender or Affiliate of the Administrative Agent, a Lead Arranger or a Lender as of the Closing Date) (each, in such capacity, a “Hedge Bank”), and (c) unless otherwise designated in writing by the Borrower, all obligations under any Treasury Management Agreement between the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and the Administrative Agent, any Lender or Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or a Lender or any Person that was the Administrative Agent, a Lender or Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or a Lender at the time it entered into such Treasury Management Agreement (or, if entered into prior to the Closing Date, any Person who was the Administrative Agent, a Lead Arranger, a Lender or Affiliate of the Administrative Agent, a Lead Arranger or a Lender as of the Closing Date) (each, in such capacity, a “Treasury Management Bank”); provided that Excluded Swap Obligations shall not constitute Borrower Obligations of any Guarantor that is not a Qualified ECP Guarantor.

Borrower” has the meaning provided in the preamble hereto, together with its successors and permitted assigns pursuant to Section 8.04.

Borrowing” means (a) a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Term SOFR Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period, or (b) a borrowing of Swingline Loans, as the context may require.

Business Day” means any day (other than a day which is a Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which banks in New York are authorized or required by law to close); provided, however, that, when used in connection with an amount that bears interest at a rate based on SOFR or any direct or indirect calculation or determination of SOFR, the term “Business Day” means any such day that is also a U.S. Government Securities Business Day.

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

Capital Stock” means (a) in the case of a corporation, capital stock, (b) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock, (c) in the case of a partnership, partnership interests (whether general or limited), (d) in the case of a limited liability company, membership interests and (e) 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 (but excluding,

 

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in each case, any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock). For the avoidance of doubt, a debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, cash and/or Capital Stock, in an amount determined by reference to the price of such Capital Stock, will be deemed to satisfy the requirements of the exclusion set forth in the final parenthetical of the preceding sentence.

Cash Collateralize” has the meaning provided in Section 2.03(g).

Cash Equivalents” means (a) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any state thereof, Canada or any Canadian province or any agency or instrumentality of any of the foregoing (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States, any state thereof, Canada or any Canadian province, as applicable, is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more than twelve (12) months from the date of acquisition, (b) Dollar-denominated or Canadian Dollar-denominated time deposits, money market deposits and certificates of deposit of (i) any Lender that accepts such deposits in the ordinary course of such Lender’s business, (ii) any commercial bank of recognized standing having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million or (iii) any bank whose short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least A-1 or from Moody’s is at least P-1, in each case with maturities of not more than twelve (12) months from the date of acquisition, (c) commercial paper issued by any issuer bearing at least an “A-2” rating for any short-term rating provided by S&P and/or Moody’s and maturing within twelve (12) months of the date of acquisition, (d) repurchase agreements entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with a bank or trust company (including any of the Lenders) or recognized securities dealer having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million for direct obligations issued by or fully guaranteed by the United States or any state thereof, Canada or any Canadian province and having, on the date of purchase thereof, a fair market value of at least 100% of the amount of the repurchase obligations, (e) Investments (classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets) in money market investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that are administered by reputable financial institutions having capital and surplus of at least $500.0 million and the portfolios of which are limited to Investments of the character described in the foregoing clauses hereof, (f) shares of mutual funds if no less than 95% of such funds’ investments satisfy the provisions of clauses (a) through (e) above and (g) in the case of the Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary, short-term investments of comparable credit quality (or the best available in the Borrower’s or Foreign Subsidiary’s jurisdiction) and tenor to those referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above which are customarily used for cash management purposes in any country in which the Borrower, such Foreign Subsidiary operates.

CFC” means a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Internal Revenue Code.

CFC Holdco” means any Domestic Subsidiary with no material assets other than the Capital Stock of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs.

Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the Closing Date, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that (x) the

 

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Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or any other Governmental Authority, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case, be deemed to have been introduced or adopted after the Closing Date, regardless of the date enacted or adopted.

Change of Control” means:

(a) the Borrower becomes aware of (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Closing Date), other than Stonepeak, that is or becomes directly or indirectly the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Closing Date) of more than 50% of the total voting power of all classes of Capital Stock of the Borrower then outstanding and entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors (“Voting Stock”) of the Borrower; provided that any transaction in which the Borrower becomes a Subsidiary of another Person will not constitute a Change of Control unless more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of such Person is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Closing Date) other than Stonepeak; or

(b) the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to a person (as defined in clause (a) above) other than the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; or

(c) a “change of control” or any comparable term under, and as defined in, any of the documentation relating to the 2027 Senior Secured Notes, the 2028 Senior Secured Notes or any Funded Debt of the Borrower or any Subsidiary having an aggregate principal amount in excess of $50.0 million shall have occurred.

Notwithstanding the preceding or any provision of Section 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, (i) a “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Closing Date) shall not be deemed to beneficially own Voting Stock subject to a stock or asset purchase agreement, merger or amalgamation agreement, option agreement, warrant agreement or similar agreement (or voting or option or similar agreement related thereto) until the consummation of the acquisition of the Voting Stock in connection with the transactions contemplated by such agreement and (ii) a “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Closing Date) will not be deemed to beneficially own the Voting Stock of another Person as a result of its ownership of Voting Stock or other securities of such other Person’s parent entity (or related contractual rights) unless it owns 50% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock entitled to vote for the election of the board of directors of such parent entity having a majority of the aggregate votes on the board of directors (or similar body) of such parent entity.

 

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Class” means (i) with respect to any Commitment, its character as a Revolving Commitment or any other group of Commitments (whether established by way of new Commitments or by way of conversion or extension of existing Commitments or Loans) designated as a “Class” in an Additional Credit Extension Amendment and (ii) with respect to any Loan, its character as a Revolving Loan, a Swingline Loan or any other group of Loans (whether made pursuant to new Commitments or by way of conversion or extension of existing Loans) designated as a “Class” in an Additional Credit Extension Amendment; provided that (x) in no event shall there be more than three (3) Classes of Revolving Commitments or more than three (3) Classes of Revolving Loans outstanding at any time and (y) notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the borrowing and repayment of Revolving Loans shall be made on a pro rata basis across all Classes of Revolving Loans (except to the extent that any applicable Additional Credit Extension Amendment provides that the Class of Revolving Loans established thereunder shall be entitled to less than pro rata treatment in borrowings or repayments), and any termination of Revolving Commitments shall be made on a pro rata basis across all Classes of Revolving Commitments (except to the extent that any applicable Additional Credit Extension Amendment provides that the Class of Revolving Commitments established thereunder shall be entitled to less than pro rata treatment in reduction of Revolving Commitments) and other than the termination of any Revolving Commitments on the expiration or maturity date thereof. Commitments or Loans that have different maturity dates, pricing (other than upfront fees) or other terms shall be designated separate Classes.

Closing Date” means February 6, 2024.

Collateral” means the collateral identified in, and at any time covered, or purported to be covered by, the Collateral Documents.

Collateral Agent” means PNC Bank, National Association, in its capacity as collateral agent or security trustee, as applicable, for the Lenders under any of the Collateral Documents, or any successor collateral agent.

Collateral Documents” means the Pledge and Security Agreement and any other documents executed and delivered in connection with the attachment or perfection (or the equivalent under applicable foreign law) of security interests granted to secure the Obligations.

Commitment Fee Rate” means (a) from the Closing Date until delivery to the Administrative Agent of the Compliance Certificate relating to the financial statements for the first fiscal quarter after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b), 0.50% per annum, and (b) thereafter, the applicable percentage per annum set forth below determined by reference to the Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.02(a):

 

Commitment Fee Rate

 

Pricing Level

   Consolidated Senior Secured Net
Leverage Ratio
   Applicable
Percentage
 

1

   > 4.45:1.00      0.50

2

   < 4.45:1.00 but > 3.95:1.00      0.375

3

   < 3.95:1.00      0.25

 

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The Commitment Fee Rate will be based on the Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.02(a). Any increase or decrease in the Commitment Fee Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio shall become effective on the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 7.02(a); provided, however, that, if (i) a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance therewith or (ii) an Event of Default pursuant to Section 9.01(a) or (f) has occurred and is continuing, then, in the case of clause (i), pricing level 1 shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered until the first Business Day immediately following delivery thereof, and in the case of clause (ii), pricing level 1 shall apply as of the first Business Day after the occurrence of such Event of Default until the first Business Day immediately following the cure or waiver of such Event of Default.

Commitment Fees” has the meaning provided in Section 2.09(a).

Commitment Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the earlier of (a) (i) in the case of Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans, the Revolving Termination Date, or (ii) in the case of Letters of Credit, the L/C Expiration Date, or (b) in the case of Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans and Letters of Credit, the date on which the applicable Revolving Commitments shall have been terminated as provided herein.

Commitments” means the Revolving Commitments, the L/C Commitments, the Swingline Commitment and any other commitment to extend credit established pursuant to an Additional Credit Extension Amendment, as the context may require.

Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D.

Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period” (or other applicable provision regarding interest periods available), the definition of “U.S. Government Securities Business Day,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, the applicability and length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark Replacement and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides (in consultation with the Borrower) that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of the Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents).

 

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Connection Income Taxes” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.

Consolidated EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person for any period, (1) the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period; plus (2) in each case (other than in the case of clause (h)) solely to the extent deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, and without duplication:

(a) provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital;

(b) Consolidated Interest Expense;

(c) Consolidated Non-Cash Charges of such Person for such period;

(d) any extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual losses or expenses, including, without limitation, (i) salary, benefit and other direct savings resulting from workforce reductions by such Person implemented during such period, (ii) severance or relocation costs or expenses and fees and restructuring costs of such Person during such period, (iii) costs and expenses incurred after the Closing Date related to employment of terminated employees incurred by such Person during such period, (iv) costs or charges (other than Consolidated Non-Cash Charges) incurred in connection with any Equity Offering, Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness permitted hereunder, including a refinancing thereof, and including any such costs and charges incurred in connection with the Transactions, (v) losses realized in connection with any business disposition or any disposition of assets outside the ordinary course of business or the disposition of securities and (vi) costs, expenses or losses arising out of, or related to, the ransomware incident that occurred on October 11, 2023, in each case, without regard to any limitations of Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K;

(e) [reserved];

(f) any proceeds from business interruption insurance received by such Person during such period, to the extent the associated losses arising out of the event that resulted in the payment of such business interruption insurance proceeds were included in computing Consolidated Net Income;

(g) adjustments contained in any due diligence quality of earnings report from time to time prepared with respect to the target of an acquisition or Investment by a nationally recognized accounting firm;

(h) the amount of “run-rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, operating improvements and cost synergies related to mergers and other business combinations, acquisitions, divestures, restructurings, cost savings initiatives and other similar initiatives consummated prior to or after the Closing Date projected by the Borrower in good faith as a result of actions either taken or are expected to be taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are

 

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expected to be taken (in each case, in the good faith determination of the Borrower) within twenty-four (24) months after a merger or other business combination, acquisition, divestiture, restructuring, cost savings initiative or other initiative (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions and cost synergies had been realized on the first day of the Measurement Period and as if such cost savings, operating expense reductions and cost synergies were realized during the entirety of the Measurement Period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during the Measurement Period from such actions; provided that (x) no cost savings, operating expense reductions and cost synergies shall be added pursuant to this clause (h) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges otherwise added to Consolidated EBITDA, whether through a pro forma adjustment or otherwise, for the Measurement Period and (y) for purposes of this clause (h), “run-rate” means the full recurring benefit for a period that is associated with any action either taken or expected to be taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (in each case, in the good faith determination of the Borrower); provided that all amounts added to Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to this clause (h) for any period, when combined with all amounts added to Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to the definition of “Pro Forma Cost Savings” for such period, shall not exceed 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period (such 25% to be calculated after giving effect to any amounts added to Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to this clause (h) or the definition of “Pro Forma Cost Savings” for such period);

(i) unrealized or realized foreign exchange losses resulting from the impact of foreign currency changes;

(j) any costs or expenses incurred by the Borrower or a Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan, stock option plan, phantom equity plan, profits interests or any other management, employee benefit or other compensatory plan or agreement (and any successor plans or arrangements thereto), employment, termination or severance agreement, or any stock subscription or equityholder agreement, and any costs or expenses in connection with the rollover, acceleration or payout of Capital Stock held by management, to the extent that such costs or expenses are non-cash or otherwise funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Borrower or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Qualified Capital Stock of the Borrower;

(k) any other non-cash charges, write-downs, expenses, losses or items reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period from the impact of acquisition method accounting adjustment and any non-cash write-up, write-down or write-off with respect to re-valuing assets and liabilities in connection with any Investment or any effects of adjustments resulting from the application of purchase accounting, purchase price accounting (including any step-up in inventory and loss of profit on the acquired inventory) (provided that if any such non-cash charge, write-down, expense, loss or item represents an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, (A) the Borrower may elect not to add back such non-cash charge, expense or loss in the current period and (B) to the extent the Borrower elects to add back such non-cash charge, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA when paid); and

(l) the amount of loss or discount on sale of Receivables Assets and related assets in connection with a Receivables Facility;

 

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minus (3) to the extent not excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, (x) non- cash gain or income of such Person for such period (except to the extent representing an accrual for future cash receipts or a reversal of a reserve that, when established, was not eligible to be a Consolidated Non-Cash Charge), (y) any extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or income and without regard to any limitations of Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K, and (z) the amount of gain on sale of Receivables Assets and related assets in connection with a Receivables Facility.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Consolidated EBITDA shall not include the Consolidated Net Income of, or any addbacks or adjustments related to, (x) the Minority Interest Allocation of any Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary, or (y) any Minority Investment other than to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary from such Minority Investment (and in such case, a pro rata portion (based on the amount of such dividends or distributions) of addbacks or adjustments may be made under this definition).

Unless otherwise specified, the Person for whom Consolidated EBITDA is being determined or calculated shall be the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

Consolidated First Lien Net Debt” means, at any time, without duplication, (a) Indebtedness for borrowed money secured by a Lien on any assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary ranking pari passu with the Liens securing the Obligations, (b) secured Purchase Money Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (c) Indebtedness for borrowed money or Indebtedness evidenced by bank notes, debentures or similar instruments or drawn letters of credit secured by assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that are either, in the case of this clause (c): (x) not Collateral or (y) secured by Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Obligations, in each case, outstanding on such date of determination, determined on a consolidated basis (provided that any Indebtedness of a Receivables Subsidiary under a Receivables Facility shall not be included in clause (a), (b) or (c) of this definition), minus (d) the sum of (i) unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of the Consolidated Group as of such date and (ii) cash and Cash Equivalents of the Consolidated Group as of such date (whether or not held in a pledged account) that are restricted in favor of the Administrative Agent and the holders of the Revolving Obligations (which may include cash and Cash Equivalents securing other Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien on any of the Collateral along with the Revolving Facility, so long as the Lien in favor of such Revolving Obligations on such cash and Cash Equivalents is equal to or higher in priority to such Lien securing such other Indebtedness) as of such date (excluding, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) of this definition, for any calculation of the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio at such time, (x) any cash and Cash Equivalents from the proceeds of any substantially concurrent incurrence of Indebtedness and (y) any cash and Cash Equivalents of a Receivables Subsidiary).

Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (i) Consolidated First Lien Net Debt on such day to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA of the Consolidated Group for the most recently ended Measurement Period.

Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDA of such Person for such period to (ii) Consolidated Fixed Charges of such Person for such period.

 

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In calculating Consolidated Fixed Charges for purposes of determining the denominator (but not the numerator) of the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, (x) interest on outstanding Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis as of the date of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio and which will continue to be so determined thereafter shall be deemed to have accrued at a fixed rate per annum equal to the rate of interest on such Indebtedness in effect on such date; and (y) notwithstanding clause (x) above, interest on Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis, to the extent such interest is covered by agreements relating to Hedging Obligations, shall be deemed to accrue at the rate per annum resulting after giving effect to the operation of such agreements.

For purposes of calculating the pro forma Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio with respect to the issuance of Preferred Equity Interests, any required dividends or other distributions on account of such Preferred Equity Interests shall be deemed to be Consolidated Fixed Charges of such Person during the applicable period.

Consolidated Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of (i) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period; plus (ii) the amount of all dividend payments on any series of Disqualified Capital Stock of such Person or its Subsidiaries or Preferred Equity Interest of such Person or its Subsidiaries (other than (x) dividends paid in Qualified Capital Stock and (y) dividends paid by a Subsidiary of such Person to such Person or to a Subsidiary of such Person) paid, accrued or scheduled to be paid or accrued during such period; minus (iii) the consolidated interest income of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, whether received or accrued, to the extent such income was included in determining Consolidated Net Income. Unless otherwise specified, the Person for whom Consolidated Fixed Charges are being determined or calculated shall be the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

Unless otherwise specified, the Person for whom Consolidated Fixed Charges is being determined or calculated shall be the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Group” means the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, as determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, consolidated interest expense of such Person for such period, whether paid or accrued, including amortization of original issue discount, non-cash interest payments (but excluding any non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement in mark-to-market valuation of any Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP) and the interest component of capital lease obligations, on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP, but excluding amortization or write-off of deferred financing fees and expensing of any other financing fees, and the non-cash portion of interest expense resulting from the reduction in the carrying value under purchase accounting of outstanding Indebtedness; provided that, for purposes of calculating consolidated interest expense, no effect will be given to the discount and/or premium resulting from accounting for derivatives in accordance with GAAP as a result of the terms of the Indebtedness to which such consolidated interest expense applies; provided, further, that with respect to the calculation of the consolidated interest expense of the Borrower, (A) commissions, discounts, yield, and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Receivables Facility and (B) the interest expense of Unrestricted Subsidiaries and any Person that is not a Subsidiary shall be excluded.

 

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Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP, and without reduction for any dividends on Preferred Equity Interests; provided, however, that:

(a) the Net Income of any Person that is not a Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the referent Person, in the case of a gain, or to the extent of any contributions or other payments by the referent Person, in the case of a loss;

(b) the Net Income of any Person that is an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the referent Person;

(c) solely for purposes of Section 8.06, the Net Income of any Subsidiary of such Person that is not a Guarantor shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or bylaws or any other agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or government regulation to which it is subject; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of such Person will be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or converted to cash) by any such Subsidiary to such Person in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein;

(d) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles shall be excluded;

(e) any income (loss) (x) from the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments, (y) from sales or dispositions of assets (other than in the ordinary course of business), or (z) that is extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual (without regard to any limitations of Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K), in each case, shall be excluded;

(f) any unrealized or realized gains or losses in respect of any Hedging Obligations or any ineffectiveness recognized in earnings related to hedge transactions or the fair value of changes therein recognized in earnings for derivatives that do not qualify as hedge transactions shall be excluded;

(g) any non-cash compensation expense recorded from grants and periodic re- measurements of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights shall be excluded;

(h) any non-cash impairment charge or asset write-off, in each case, pursuant to GAAP, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP shall be excluded;

(i) any fees, expenses and other charges in connection with the Transactions or any acquisition, investment, asset disposition, issuance or repayment of debt, issuance of Equity Interests, refinancing transaction or amendment or other modification of any debt instrument shall be excluded;

 

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(j) gains and losses resulting solely from fluctuations in foreign currencies shall be excluded;

(k) (i) the Net Income (loss) attributable to any Subsidiary that constitutes a Non- Wholly Owned Subsidiary shall be included but shall exclude the Minority Interest Allocation attributable to that Subsidiary and (ii) any Minority Investment attributable to any Subsidiary shall be included only to the extent of the amounts of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the referent Person; and

(l) any gain (or loss) (i) in respect of facilities no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, abandoned, closed, disposed or discontinued operations, (ii) on disposal, abandonment or discontinuance of disposed, abandoned, closed or discontinued operations and (iii) attributable to asset dispositions, abandonments, sales or other dispositions of any asset (including pursuant to any Sale and Leaseback Transaction) or the designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary other than in the ordinary course of business shall be excluded.

Consolidated Non-Cash Charges” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate depreciation, amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period), impairment, compensation, rent, other non-cash expenses and write-offs and write-downs of assets (including non-cash charges, losses or expenses attributable to the movement in the mark-to-market valuation of Hedging Obligations or in connection with the early extinguishment of Hedging Obligations) of such Person and its Subsidiaries reducing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP, but excluding any such charge which consists of or requires an accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges for any future period.

Consolidated Senior Secured Net Debt” means, at any time, without duplication, (a) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Indebtedness evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or drawn letters of credit and Purchase Money Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary outstanding on such date (determined on a consolidated basis), in each case, which are secured by a Lien on the assets or property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (provided that any Indebtedness of a Receivables Subsidiary under a Receivables Facility shall not be included in this clause (a)) minus (b) the sum of (i) unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of the Consolidated Group as of such date and (ii) cash and Cash Equivalents of the Consolidated Group as of such date (whether or not held in a pledged account) that are restricted in favor of the Administrative Agent and the holders of the Revolving Obligations (which may include cash and Cash Equivalents securing other Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien on any of the Collateral along with the Revolving Facility, so long as the Lien in favor of such Revolving Obligations on such cash and Cash Equivalents is equal to or higher in priority to such Lien securing such other Indebtedness) (excluding, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) of this definition, for any calculation of the Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio at such time, (x) any cash and Cash Equivalents from the proceeds of any substantially concurrent incurrence of Indebtedness and (y) any cash and Cash Equivalents of a Receivables Subsidiary).

 

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Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Senior Secured Net Debt on such day to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA of the Consolidated Group for the most recently ended Measurement Period.

Consolidated Total Assets” means the total assets of the Consolidated Group determined in accordance with GAAP, as shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Borrower required to have been delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b) or, for the period prior to the time any such statements are required to be so delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b), as shown on the latest financial statements received by the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date.

Consolidated Total Net Debt” means, at any time, without duplication, (a) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Indebtedness evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or drawn letters of credit and Purchase Money Indebtedness of the Borrower and or any Subsidiary outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis, to the extent required to be recorded on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP (provided that any Indebtedness of a Receivables Subsidiary under a Receivables Facility shall not be included in this clause (a)) minus (b) the sum of (i) unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of the Consolidated Group as of such date) and (ii) cash and Cash Equivalents of the Consolidated Group as of such date (whether or not held in a pledged account) that are restricted in favor of the Administrative Agent and the holders of the Revolving Obligations (which may include cash and Cash Equivalents securing other Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien on any of the Collateral along with the Revolving Facility, so long as the Lien in favor of such Revolving Obligations on such cash and Cash Equivalents is equal to or higher in priority to such Lien securing such other Indebtedness) (excluding, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) of this definition, for any calculation of the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio at such time, (x) any cash and Cash Equivalents from the proceeds of any substantially concurrent incurrence of Indebtedness and (y) any cash and Cash Equivalents of a Receivables Subsidiary).

Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Total Net Debt on such day to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA of the Consolidated Group for the most recently ended Measurement Period.

Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

Convertible Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Borrower permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Agreement that is either (a) convertible or exchangeable into common stock of the Borrower (and cash in lieu of fractional shares) and/or cash (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such common stock) or (b) sold as units with call options, warrants or rights to purchase (or substantially equivalent derivative transactions) that are, in each case, exercisable for common stock of the Borrower and/or cash (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such common stock).

 

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Copyright” has the meaning set forth in the Pledge and Security Agreement.

Corresponding Tenor” with respect to any Available Tenor means, as applicable, either a tenor (including overnight) or an interest payment period having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as such Available Tenor.

Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

Covered Party” has the meaning provided in Section 11.21.

Credit Documents” means this Agreement, the Notes, the Collateral Documents, the Administrative Agent Fee Letter, the Issuer Documents, any Joinder Agreement, any Revolving Lender Joinder Agreement and any Additional Credit Extension Amendment.

Credit Extension” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.

Credit Party” means the Borrower and each Guarantor.

Credit Party Materials” has the meaning provided in Section 7.02.

Cumulative Credit” means, with respect to any proposed use of the Cumulative Credit at any time, an amount equal to:

(a) $20.0 million; provided, that the Borrower shall not make Restricted Payments (as defined in clause (i) and (ii) of the definition thereof) in respect of its Capital Stock pursuant to this clause (a), that when aggregated with Restricted Payments (as defined in clause (i) and (ii) of the definition thereof) in respect of its Capital Stock made pursuant to Section 8.06(e)(A), exceed $10.0 million, plus

(b) an amount equal to 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Consolidated Group for the period (taken as one accounting period) from the Closing Date to the end of the most recently ended Measurement Period (or, if the Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit), plus

 

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(c) without duplication of any amounts referred to in clause (e), the aggregate amount of Net Cash Proceeds of any issuance of Qualified Capital Stock of the Borrower (but not including any issuance or purchase referred to in Section 8.02(c), 8.02(q) or 8.06(f) or any Cure Amount) after the Closing Date and at or prior to such time, excluding any issuance to a Subsidiary of the Borrower or to any Unrestricted Subsidiary, plus

(d) the aggregate amount of Net Cash Proceeds of any issuance of debt securities representing obligations of any member of the Consolidated Group (other than debt securities constituting intercompany Indebtedness) that have been converted into or exchanged for Qualified Capital Stock of the Borrower after the Closing Date and at or prior to such time, plus

(e) if positive, the amount of cash returns on any Investment made pursuant to Section 8.02(j)(B) in a Person other than a Credit Party (to the extent such Investment was made through the use of the Cumulative Credit) resulting from interest payments, dividends, repayments of loans or advances or profits from Dispositions of Property, in each case to the extent actually received by a Credit Party at or prior to such time, plus

(f) if any Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated by the Borrower as a Subsidiary, an amount equal to the fair market value of the net Investment by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in such Subsidiary at the time of such designation; provided, however, that the foregoing amount shall not exceed the amount of Investments made by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in any such Unrestricted Subsidiary following the Closing Date which reduced the amount available for Investments and Restricted Payments pursuant to this clause (f) less amounts received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary from such Unrestricted Subsidiary that increased the amount available for Investments and Restricted Payments pursuant to clause (g) below, plus

(g) 100% of any cash dividends and other cash distributions and the fair market value of property or assets other than cash received by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries from an Unrestricted Subsidiary since the Closing Date to the extent not included in Consolidated EBITDA and 100% of the net proceeds received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries from the sale of any Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the foregoing amount shall not exceed the amount of Investments made by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in any such Unrestricted Subsidiary following the Closing Date which reduced the amount available for Investments and Restricted Payments pursuant to this clause (g), plus

(h) to the extent not included in clauses (a) through (g) above, an amount equal to the net reduction in Investments of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries following the Closing Date resulting from payments in cash of interest on Indebtedness, dividends, or repayment of loans or advances, or other transfers of property, in each case, to the Borrower or to a Subsidiary or from the net cash proceeds from the sale, conveyance, liquidation or other disposition of any such Investment, minus

(i) the aggregate amount of Investments and Restricted Payments made after the Closing Date pursuant to Sections 8.02(j)(B) and 8.06(e)(B), respectively, through utilization of the Cumulative Credit (excluding such proposed use of the Cumulative Credit, but including any other simultaneous proposed use of the Cumulative Credit).

 

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Cure Amount” has the meaning provided in Section 9.03(a).

Cure Right” has the meaning provided in Section 9.03(a).

Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day (a “SOFR Rate Day”), the interest rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent by dividing (the resulting quotient rounded upwards, at the Administrative Agent’s discretion, to the nearest 1/100th of 1%) (A) SOFR for the day (the “SOFR Determination Date”) that is two (2) Business Days prior to (i) such SOFR Rate Day if such SOFR Rate Day is a Business Day or (ii) the Business Day immediately preceding such SOFR Rate Day if such SOFR Rate Day is not a Business Day, by (B) a number equal to 1.00 minus the SOFR Reserve Percentage, in each case, as such SOFR is published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate) on the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source identified by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or its successor administrator for the secured overnight financing rate from time to time. If Daily Simple SOFR as determined above would be less than the SOFR Floor, then Daily Simple SOFR shall be deemed to be the SOFR Floor. If SOFR for any SOFR Determination Date has not been published or replaced with a Benchmark Replacement by 5:00 p.m. (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania time) on the second Business Day immediately following such SOFR Determination Date, then SOFR for such SOFR Determination Date will be SOFR for the first Business Day preceding such SOFR Determination Date for which SOFR was published in accordance with the definition of “SOFR”; provided that SOFR determined pursuant to this sentence shall be used for purposes of calculating Daily Simple SOFR for no more than 3 consecutive SOFR Rate Days. If and when Daily Simple SOFR as determined above changes, any applicable rate of interest based on Daily Simple SOFR will change automatically without notice to the Borrower, effective on the date of any such change.

Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, arrangement, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally, including any applicable corporations legislation to the extent the relief sought under such corporations legislation relates to or involves the compromise, settlement, adjustment or arrangement of debt.

Default” means any event, act or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with notice, the passage of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

Default Rate” means an interest rate equal to (a) with respect to Obligations other than (i) Term SOFR Rate Loans and (ii) Letter of Credit Fees, the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to such Loans plus 2.00% per annum; (b) with respect to Term SOFR Rate Loans, the Term SOFR Rate plus the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to such Loans plus 2.00% per annum; and (c) with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus 2.00% per annum.

Default Right” has the meaning provided in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

 

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Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of its Loans or participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within three (3) Business Days of the date required to be funded by it hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower or the Administrative Agent that it does not intend to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such notification relates to such Lenders’ obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or any applicable L/C Issuer, to confirm that it will comply with the terms of this Agreement relating to its participation obligations in respect of all then outstanding Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), (d) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent, any applicable L/C Issuer or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within three (3) Business Days of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, (e) in the case of a Lender with a Commitment, Swingline Exposure or L/C Obligations, is insolvent or has become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding or Bail-In Action or (f) has any Affiliate that has Control of such Lender that is insolvent or that has become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding; provided that a Lender shall not qualify as a “Defaulting Lender” solely as the result of the acquisition or maintenance of an ownership interest in such Lender or any Person Controlling such Lender, or the exercise of Control over such Lender or any Person Controlling such Lender, by a governmental authority or an instrumentality thereof so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such governmental authority or instrumentality thereof) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.

Designated Non-Cash Consideration” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with a Subject Disposition that is designated as “Designated Non-Cash Consideration” on the date received pursuant to a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth the basis of such fair market value (with the amount of Designated Non-Cash Consideration in respect of any Subject Disposition being reduced for purposes of Section 8.05 to the extent the Borrower or any Subsidiary converts the same to cash or Cash Equivalents).

Designated Preferred Stock” means any Preferred Equity Interest of the Borrower (other than (x) Disqualified Capital Stock and (y) Preferred Equity Interests issued in connection with a Cure Right), that is issued for cash (other than to (x) any of Subsidiary of the Borrower, (y) any Unrestricted Subsidiary or (z) an employee stock plan or trust established by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an officers’ certificate of the Borrower, on the date of issuance thereof, the cash proceeds of which are not used as part of or increasing the Cumulative Credit.

 

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Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any Sale and Leaseback Transaction) of any Property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith (but excluding the making of any Investment pursuant to Section 8.02).

Disqualified Capital Stock” means Capital Stock that (a) requires the payment of any dividends or distributions (other than dividends or distributions payable solely in shares of Capital Stock other than Disqualified Capital Stock) prior to the ninety-first (91st) day after the Final Maturity Date then in effect as of the date such Disqualified Capital Stock is issued or (b) matures or is mandatorily redeemable or subject to mandatory repurchase or redemption or repurchase at the option of the holders thereof, in whole or in part and whether upon the occurrence of any event, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation, on a fixed date or otherwise, in each case prior to the ninety-first (91st) day after the Final Maturity Date then in effect as of the date such Disqualified Capital Stock is issued (other than (i) as a result of a change of control or asset sale or casualty event so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale or casualty event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Obligations that are then accrued and payable and the termination of the Commitments or (ii) upon payment in full of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations for which no claim has been made) and termination of the Commitments); provided, however, that (i) only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, provide for the mandatory scheduled prepayment of distributions or dividends, or which is or becomes convertible as described above after the ninety-first (91st) day after the Final Maturity Date then in effect as of the date such Disqualified Capital Stock is issued shall be deemed to be Disqualified Capital Stock and (ii) if such Capital Stock is issued pursuant to a plan for the benefit of the employees of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations.

Disqualified Institution” means any (a) competitor of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries identified in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent from time to time and (b) any Affiliate of any such competitor (excluding any Affiliate that is primarily engaged in, or that advises funds or other investment vehicles that are engaged in, making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit or securities in the ordinary course and with respect to which the primary Person referenced in clause (a) does not, directly or indirectly, possess the power to direct or cause the direction of the investment policies of such entity) that is readily identifiable as such on the basis of its name or identified as such in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent from time to time; it being understood and agreed that the identification of any Person as a Disqualified Institution after the Closing Date shall not apply to retroactively disqualify any Person that has previously acquired an assignment or participation interest in any Loan until such time such Person no longer constitutes a Lender. The identity of Disqualified Institutions shall be made available, upon request but not posted, to all Lenders and prospective assignees.

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

 

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Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Earnout Obligations” means, in connection with any Permitted Acquisition, any contingent obligation of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to make payments after the closing date thereof that is structured as an earnout or similar contingent payment or arrangement.

EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clause (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

Electronic Signature” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.

Eligible Assignee” means (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender, (c) an Approved Fund and (d) any other Person (other than a natural person or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated by or for the primary benefit of, a natural person) approved by the party or parties whose approval is required under Section 11.06(b); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include (x) the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, (y) any Defaulting Lender or (z) any Disqualified Institution.

EMU Legislation” means the legislative measures of the European Council for the introduction of, changeover to or operation of a single or unified European currency.

Environmental Laws” means any and all applicable federal, state, provincial, territorial, local, municipal and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower, any other Credit Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

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Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares, interests, rights, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests or units in, including any limited or general partnership interest and any limited liability company and unlimited liability company membership interest) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.

Equity Offering” means one or more public or private sales of Qualified Capital Stock.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Internal Revenue Code or, solely for purposes of Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code, that is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.

ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) with respect to any Pension Plan, the failure to satisfy the minimum funding standard under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code and Section 302 of ERISA, whether or not waived, the failure to make by its due date a required installment under Section 430(j) of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to any Pension Plan or the failure to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; (c) a withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (d) a complete or partial withdrawal (within the meaning of Sections 4203 and 4205 of ERISA) by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan resulting in withdrawal liability pursuant to Section 4201 of ERISA or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is insolvent pursuant to Section 4245 of ERISA or in “endangered” or “critical” status (within the meaning of Section 432 of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 305 of ERISA); (e) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (f) an event or condition that constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

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EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor Person), as in effect from time to time.

Event of Default” means any of the events specified in Section 9.01; provided that any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, has been satisfied.

Exchange Act” means Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Excluded Account” means any deposit or securities account (a) used exclusively for payroll and/or payroll, local, state, federal and other Taxes and/or other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of any Credit Party’s employees, (b) used exclusively to pay all Taxes required to be collected, remitted or withheld (c) which any Credit Party holds exclusively as an escrow, fiduciary or trust for the benefit of another Person (other than a Credit Party) or (d) actually pledged pursuant to Section 8.01(f), (r), (s), (w) or (cc) so long as such deposit accounts or securities accounts are used solely to hold segregated deposits in respect of such Permitted Liens.

Excluded Property” means (a) vehicles or other assets covered by a certificate of title or ownership, (b) fee interests in real property, (c) leasehold real property, (d) those assets as to which the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall reasonably determine in writing that the costs (including adverse tax consequences) of obtaining a security interest therein are excessive in relation to the value of the security to be afforded thereby, (e) assets if the granting or perfecting of a security interest in such assets in favor of the Collateral Agent would violate any applicable Law (other than to the extent that any such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the UCC of any applicable jurisdiction or other similar applicable law in any jurisdiction) or principles of equity, (f) any right, title or interest in any instrument, permit, lease, intangible, general intangible (other than Equity Interests), license, contract or agreement to the extent, but only to the extent, that a grant of a security interest therein to secure the Obligations would, under the terms of such instrument, permit, lease, general intangible (other than Equity Interests), license, contract or agreement, result in a breach of the terms of, or constitute a default under, or result in the abandonment, termination, invalidation or unenforceability of, or require the consent of any Person other than a member of the Consolidated Group which has not been obtained, in each case, under such instrument, permit, lease, general intangible, license, contract or agreement (other than to the extent that any such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the UCC of any applicable jurisdiction or any other similar applicable law in any jurisdiction (including, without limitation, Title 11 of the United States Code)) or any applicable law or principles of equity, (g) any Capital Stock acquired after the Closing Date (other than Capital Stock in a Subsidiary (including Professional Services Affiliates) issued or acquired after such Person became a Subsidiary) in accordance with this Agreement if, and to the extent that, and for so long as, (i) such Capital Stock constitutes less than 50% of all applicable Capital Stock of such Person, and the Person or Persons holding the remainder of such Capital Stock are not Affiliates of the Borrower to the extent and for so long as a grant of a security interest therein to secure the Obligations would be prohibited by the Organization Documents of such Person, (ii) the granting or perfecting of a security interest in such assets in favor of the Collateral Agent would violate applicable law or a contractual obligation binding on such Capital Stock and (iii) with respect to such contractual obligations (other than contractual obligations in connection with limited liability company agreements,

 

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stockholders’ agreements and other joint venture agreements), such obligation existed at the time of the acquisition of such Capital Stock and was not created or made binding on such Capital Stock in contemplation of or in connection with the acquisition of such Person, (h) any Property purchased with the proceeds of Purchase Money Indebtedness or that is subject to a capital lease and/or Synthetic Leases and/or Indebtedness in respect of Sale and Leaseback Transactions, in each case, incurred in accordance with Section 8.03 if the contract or other agreement in which the Indebtedness and/or Liens related thereto is granted (or the documentation providing for such capital lease obligation) prohibits or requires the consent of any Person other than a member of the Consolidated Group as a condition to the creation of any other security interest on such Property, (i) any Capital Stock of Unrestricted Subsidiaries, (j) any property that is located outside of the United States to the extent a Lien thereon cannot be perfected by the filing of a UCC or delivery of original promissory notes or stock certificates (solely to the extent otherwise required by the Credit Documents); provided that, “Excluded Property” shall also include any voting Capital Stock in any Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC or any CFC Holdco, in each case, that is directly owned by a Credit Party, in excess of 65% of the total outstanding voting Capital Stock of such Person, (k) Excluded Accounts, (l) any intent-to use Trademark applications prior to the filing of a “Statement of Use” or “Amendment to Allege Use” with respect thereto, to the extent, and solely during the period in which, the grant of a security interest therein may impair the validity or enforceability of any Trademark registration that may issue from such intent to use Trademark application under applicable Law, (m) “margin stock” (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), (n) commercial tort claims with a value of less than $5.0 million (with such value determined by the Borrower in good faith), (o) any Capital Stock of Receivables Subsidiaries and (p) any Blocked Property; provided, however, that Excluded Property shall not include (x) any Capital Stock of any Professional Service Affiliates and any agreements described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the definition of “PC Entity Requirements” or (y) any Proceeds, substitutions or replacements of any Excluded Property referred to in clauses (a) through (p) (unless such Proceeds, substitutions or replacements would constitute Excluded Property referred to in clauses (a) through (p)).

Excluded Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any Sale and Leaseback Transaction with respect to Property owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary so long as (a) such Property is acquired after the Closing Date and (b) such Sale and Leaseback Transaction is consummated within one hundred eighty (180) days of the acquisition of such Property.

Excluded Subsidiary” means (a) any Immaterial Subsidiary, (b) any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (c) any Subsidiary of the Borrower designated as an “Excluded Subsidiary” on the Closing Date on Schedule 6.14 hereto, (d) any Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary, (e) any Subsidiary designated as an “Excluded Subsidiary” after the Closing Date by a written notice to the Administrative Agent; provided that, any such designation pursuant to this clause (e) shall constitute an Investment pursuant to Section 8.02 (and, for the avoidance of doubt, such Investment shall then be permitted to be made pursuant to Section 8.02), (f) any captive insurance subsidiaries or not-for-profit subsidiaries, (g) any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary, (h) [reserved], (i) any Subsidiary that is prohibited by applicable Law, regulation or by any Contractual Obligation existing on the Closing Date or on the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary (as long as such Contractual Obligation was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary) from becoming a Guarantor or that would require a governmental (including regulatory) or third-party consent, approval, license or authorization that has not been obtained in

 

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order to become a Guarantor, (j) any Subsidiary acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition financed with secured Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.03 and any Subsidiary thereof that guarantees such Indebtedness, in each case, to the extent such secured Indebtedness prohibits such Subsidiary from becoming a Guarantor and such prohibition was not enacted in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition, (k) any Subsidiary to the extent that the burden or cost (including any adverse tax consequences) of obtaining a guaranty therefrom is excessive in relation to the benefit afforded thereby (as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), (l) any Subsidiary that is (x) a CFC Holdco or (y) a Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC; provided that this clause (l) shall not apply to any Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as of the Closing Date and (m) any Receivables Subsidiary.

Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the guarantee of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the guarantee of such Guarantor or the grant of such security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.

Excluded Taxes” means, any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to any Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other recipient (a “Recipient”) or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to any Recipient: (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by such recipient’s net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) any U.S. federal backup withholding Tax imposed under Section 3406 of the Code, and in the case of a Lender, any other U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to Laws in effect at the time (i) such Lender becomes a party hereto (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 11.13) or (ii) such Lender changes its Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, immediately prior to the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 3.01, (c) any Tax that is attributable to a Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 3.01(e) and (d) any Taxes imposed pursuant to FATCA.

Existing Class” means a Class of Existing Revolving Commitments.

Existing Revolving Commitments” has the meaning provided in Section 2.15(a).

Extended Class” means a Class of Extended Revolving Commitments.

 

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Extended Revolving Commitments” has the meaning provided in Section 2.15(a).

Extending Lender” has the meaning provided in Section 2.15(b).

Extension Effective Date” has the meaning provided in Section 2.15(b).

Extension Election” has the meaning provided in Section 2.15(b).

Extension Request” has the meaning provided in Section 2.15(a).

Fair Value” has the meaning provided in the definition of “Solvent.”

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code as of the Closing Date (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future Treasury regulations thereunder or other official administrative interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to current Section 1471(b) of the Internal Revenue Code (or any amended or successor version described above), or any intergovernmental agreement (and any related laws, regulations or official administrative guidance) implementing the foregoing.

Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions, as determined in such manner as the NYFRB shall set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the federal funds effective rate.

Federal Health Care Program” means any federal health care program, as such term is defined in 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(f), including the Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE programs.

Final Maturity Date” means, at any time, the latest of the Revolving Termination Date and any final maturity date specified in an Additional Credit Extension Amendment.

Fixed Basket” means any basket that is subject to a fixed-dollar limit (including baskets based on a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA).

Floor” means the benchmark rate floor, if any, provided in this Agreement initially (as of the execution of this Agreement, the modification, amendment or renewal of this Agreement or otherwise) with respect to the Term SOFR Rate, or if no floor is specified, zero.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.

 

 

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Funded Debt” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following:

(a) all Indebtedness for borrowed money or Indebtedness evidenced by bonds, bank notes, debentures or similar instruments;

(b) all Purchase Money Indebtedness; and

(c) all direct obligations under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances and similar instruments (it being understood and agreed that outstanding letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances and similar facilities shall not constitute Funded Debt unless such letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or similar facilities have been drawn on and the resulting obligations have not been paid by the Borrower);

provided, however, that the Indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is non- recourse to any of the Credit Parties and whose net income is excluded in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income due to the operation of clause (b) of the definition thereof shall be excluded.

For purposes of clauses (a) and (b) hereof, the amount of Funded Debt shall be determined based on (x) the outstanding principal amount, in the case of Indebtedness for borrowed money under clause (a) and Purchase Money Indebtedness (other than obligations in respect of capital leases) under clause (b) and (y) the Attributable Principal Amount in the case of Purchase Money Indebtedness in respect of capital leases under clause (b).

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States as set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board from time to time applied on a consistent basis.

Government Official” means any officer, employee, official, representative, or any Person acting for or on behalf of any Governmental Authority, government-owned or government-controlled association, organization, business, or enterprise, or public international organization, any political party or official thereof and any candidate for political office.

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

Granting Lender” has the meaning provided in Section 11.06(h).

Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning provided in Section 4.01(a).

Guarantors” means (a) as of the Closing Date, each Subsidiary of the Borrower listed on Schedule 1.01(A) and (b) each other Subsidiary of the Borrower that becomes a Guarantor pursuant to the terms hereof, in each case, together with its successors; provided that no Excluded Subsidiary shall be required to be a Guarantor.

 

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Hazardous Materials” means all materials, substances or wastes characterized, classified or regulated as hazardous, toxic, pollutant, contaminant or radioactive under Environmental Laws, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes.

Healthcare Laws” means all federal, state, provincial and territorial Laws relating to the regulation, provision or administration of, or payment for, diagnostic imaging services, including, but not limited to (i) the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7(b)), the Stark Law (42 U.S.C. § 1395nn and § 1395(q)), the civil False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. § 3729 et seq.), the exclusion laws (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7) and the Civil Monetary Penalties provisions of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 1320 a-7a) and the regulations promulgated pursuant to such statutes; (ii) HIPAA; (iii) the Medicare statute (Title XVIII of the Social Security Act) and the regulations promulgated thereunder; (iv) the Medicaid statute (Title XIX of the Social Security Act) and the regulations promulgated thereunder; (v) the federal TRICARE statute (10 U.S.C. § 1071 et seq.), (vi) [reserved]; (vii) quality and safety laws relating to the regulation, provision or administration of, or payment for, healthcare products or services; (viii) licensure laws relating to the regulation, provision or administration of, or payment for, healthcare products or services; (ix) state, provincial and territorial workers compensation laws; (x) other laws and regulations regarding confidentiality, security, or privacy (including state data breach laws) related to protected health information and other sensitive health information; and (xi) any and all other applicable healthcare laws or regulations, including those related to the corporate practice of medicine restrictions or prohibitions, or fee-splitting, as each of clauses (i) through (xi) may be amended from time to time.

Hedge Bank” has the meaning provided in the definition of “Borrower Obligations.”

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person pursuant to any arrangement with any other Person, whereby, directly or indirectly, such Person is entitled to receive from time to time periodic payments calculated by applying either floating or a fixed rate of interest on a stated notional amount in exchange for periodic payments made by such other Person calculated by applying a fixed or a floating rate of interest on the same notional amount and shall include, without limitation, any Swap Contracts.

HIPAA” means the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, and all regulations promulgated thereunder.

Honor Date” has the meaning provided in Section 2.03(c)(i).

Immaterial Subsidiary” means at any date of determination, any Subsidiary of the Borrower designated as such in writing by the Borrower that had assets representing 2.5% or less of the Borrower’s Consolidated Total Assets on, and generated less than 2.5% of the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ total revenues for the four quarters ending on, the last day of the most recently ended Measurement Period; provided that, if all Subsidiaries that are individually “Immaterial Subsidiaries” have aggregate Total Assets that would represent 5.0% or more of the Borrower’s Consolidated Total Assets on such last day or generated 5.0% or more of the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ total revenues for such four fiscal quarters, then such number of Subsidiaries of the Borrower as are necessary shall become Material Subsidiaries so that Subsidiaries that are

 

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“Immaterial Subsidiaries” have in the aggregate Total Assets that represent less than 5.0% of the Borrower’s Consolidated Total Assets and less than 5.0% of the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ total revenues as of such last day or for such four quarters, as the case may be (it being understood that any such determination with respect to revenues and assets shall be made on a Pro Forma Basis). It is acknowledged and agreed that the Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 1.01(B) are Immaterial Subsidiaries in accordance with the definition hereof.

Incremental Base Amount” has the meaning provided in Section 2.01(d)(i)(x).

Incremental Equivalent Debt” means secured or unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the form of pari passu secured notes or loans, junior notes or loans or unsecured notes or loans; provided that (a) such Indebtedness shall (x) to the extent secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations, be subject to a customary pari passu intercreditor agreement, or (y) to the extent secured on a junior lien basis to the Obligations, be subject to a customary junior priority intercreditor agreement, in the case of each of clauses (x) and (y), on terms that are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, (b) no Incremental Equivalent Debt shall (x) mature prior to the Revolving Termination Date (other than customary extension rollover provisions (including by conversion or exchange) for bridge facilities, in which case, such maturity may be earlier than that of the Revolving Loans if such maturity is automatically extended upon the initial maturity date to a date not earlier than the Revolving Termination Date) or (y) have amortization payments (or other scheduled payments of principal) that will result in more than, when taken together with the aggregate principal amount of all other Incremental Equivalent Debt and Permitted Notes Refinancing Debt, 25% of the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness being scheduled to be repaid prior to the Revolving Termination Date and (c) the covenants, events of default, guarantees, collateral and other terms of which (other than interest rate, redemption premiums and other pricing terms, and terms that are not customarily applicable to revolving credit facilities, as determined in good faith by the Borrower), taken as a whole, shall not be more restrictive in any material respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries than those applicable to the Revolving Loans under this Agreement, as determined by the Borrower in good faith, except to the extent such terms apply solely to any period after the Revolving Termination Date; provided that any such Incremental Equivalent Debt may contain any such provision that is more restrictive to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries than those in this Agreement and that applies prior to the Revolving Termination Date, so long as all Lenders also receive the benefit of such more restrictive terms, and any amendment to this Agreement to cause all Lenders to so receive the benefit of such restrictive terms shall not require the consent of any Lender.

Incremental Loan Facilities” has the meaning provided in Section 2.01(d).

Incremental Prepayment Amount” has the meaning provided in Section 2.01(d)(i)(y).

Incremental Revolving Commitments” has the meaning provided in Section 2.01(d).

Incremental Revolving Facilities” has the meaning provided in Section 2.01(d).

incur” with respect to any Indebtedness, means to create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to such Indebtedness.

 

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Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

(a) all Funded Debt;

(b) net obligations under Swap Contracts;

(c) Support Obligations in respect of Indebtedness of another Person (based on the amount of Indebtedness that is the subject of the Support Obligations);

(d) Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture or other similar entity in which such Person is a general partner or joint venturer, and has personal liability for such obligations, but only to the extent there is recourse to such Person for payment thereof; and

(e) obligations of such Person with respect to Disqualified Capital Stock or, with respect to any Subsidiary of such Person, the liquidation preference with respect to, any Preferred Equity Interests (but excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends); and

(f) amounts representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any Property (including pursuant to Purchase Money Indebtedness), except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable.

For purposes hereof, the amount of Indebtedness shall be determined (i) based on Swap Termination Value in the case of net obligations under Swap Contracts under clause (b) and (ii) based on the outstanding principal amount of the Indebtedness that is the subject of the Support Obligations in the case of Support Obligations under clause (c).

Indemnified Taxes” means all (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party under any Credit Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.

Indemnitee” has the meaning provided in Section 11.04(b).

Independent Financial Advisor” means a Person or entity which, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of the Borrower, is independent and otherwise qualified to perform the task for which it is to be engaged.

Information” has the meaning provided in Section 11.07.

Intercreditor Agreement” means the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and between the Collateral Agent, the collateral agent under the 2027 Senior Secured Notes and the collateral agent under the 2028 Senior Secured Notes, and acknowledged and agreed to by the Borrower and the Guarantors.

Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Base Rate Loan (including Swingline Loans), the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, the Revolving Termination Date and, in the case of any Swingline Loan, any other dates as may be mutually agreed upon by the Borrower and the Swingline Lender, and (b) as to any Term SOFR Rate Loan, the last Business

 

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Day of each Interest Period for such Loan, the date of repayment of principal of such Loan, the Revolving Termination Date and, in addition, where the applicable Interest Period exceeds three (3) months, the date every three (3) months after the beginning of such Interest Period. If an Interest Payment Date falls on a date that is not a Business Day, such Interest Payment Date shall be deemed to be the immediately succeeding Business Day.

Interest Period” means, as to each Term SOFR Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Term SOFR Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Term SOFR Rate Loan and ending on the date one (1), three (3) or six (6) months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice; provided that:

(a) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the immediately succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day;

(b) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

(c) no Interest Period with respect to any Revolving Loan shall extend beyond the Revolving Termination Date.

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

International Trade Laws” means all applicable Laws relating to export controls, customs and anti-boycott measures.

Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person of or in the Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other equity or Indebtedness interest of another Person, by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of Capital Stock of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, guaranty or assumption of Indebtedness of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other Indebtedness or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor undertakes any Support Obligation with respect to Indebtedness of such other Person, or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of assets of another Person that constitute a business unit. For purposes of covenant compliance, (x) the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment, and (y) the sale of Capital Stock of a Person that is a Subsidiary or a Credit Party following which such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary or a Credit Party, respectively, shall be deemed to be an Investment by the Borrower in such Person an amount equal to the fair market value of the Capital Stock of such Person held by (A) in the case of a Person ceasing to be a Subsidiary, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries immediately following such sale and (B) in the case of a Person ceasing to be a Credit Party, the Borrower and the other Credit Parties immediately following such sale.

 

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IP Rights” has the meaning provided in Section 6.20.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

ISDA Definitions” means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any successor thereto, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet for interest rate derivatives published from time to time by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or such successor thereto.

ISP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance of such Letter of Credit).

Issuer Documents” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the L/C Application and any other document, agreement or instrument entered into by the Borrower and an L/C Issuer (or in favor of an L/C Issuer) relating to such Letter of Credit.

Joinder Agreement” means a joinder agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E, executed and delivered in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.12.

Judgment Currency” has the meaning provided in Section 11.20.

Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state, provincial, territorial, municipal and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes, executive orders and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, including, without limitation, Environmental Laws.

L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing.

L/C Application” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the applicable L/C Issuer.

L/C Borrowing” means any extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit that has not been reimbursed.

L/C Commitment” means, with respect to any L/C Issuer, the commitment of such L/C Issuer to issue and to honor payment obligations under Letters of Credit. As of the Closing Date, the L/C Commitment of PNC Bank, National Association is $5.0 million.

L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.

 

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L/C Expiration Date” means the day that is five (5) days prior to the Revolving Termination Date (assuming for the purposes of this definition of “L/C Expiration Date” that the proviso in the definition of “Revolving Termination Date” is applicable unless the Springing Maturity Date shall have passed without the Revolving Termination Date occurring) then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day), as such date may be extended in accordance with the terms hereof and with the consent of the applicable L/C Issuer.

L/C Issuer” means (a) PNC Bank, National Association, in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, together with its successors in such capacity, and (b) any Revolving Lender approved by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower; provided that no Lender shall be obligated to become an L/C Issuer hereunder. References herein and in the other Credit Documents to the L/C Issuer shall be deemed to refer to the L/C Issuer in respect of the applicable Letter of Credit or to all L/C Issuers, as the context requires.

L/C Obligations” means, at any date of determination, the sum of (x) the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit at such date plus (y) the aggregate amount of all Unreimbursed Amounts at such date, including, without duplication, all L/C Borrowings at such date. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

L/C Sublimit” has the meaning provided in Section 2.01(b).

LCA Election” has the meaning provided in Section 1.07.

Lead Arrangers” means PNC Capital Markets LLC and Barclays Bank PLC, in their capacities as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners for the Revolving Facility.

Lender” means each of the Persons identified as a “Lender” on the signature pages hereto (and, as appropriate, includes the Swingline Lender) and each Person who joins as a Lender pursuant to the terms hereof, together with its successors and permitted assigns.

Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender set forth in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time provide notice of to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement.

Letter of Credit Fees” has the meaning provided in Section 2.09(b)(i).

Liabilities” has the meaning provided in the definition of “Solvent.”

Lien” means with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, hypothec, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded, registered, published or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any lease in the nature thereof).

 

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Limited Condition Transaction” means (a) any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment by the Borrower or one or more of its Subsidiaries permitted by this Agreement whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party acquisition financing and which is designated as a Limited Condition Transaction to the Administrative Agent by the prior written election of the Borrower and/or (b) the making of any irrevocable Restricted Payment, including any payment or prepayment of Subordinated Debt.

Loan” means any Revolving Loan or Swingline Loan, and the Base Rate Loans and Term SOFR Rate Loans comprising such Loans.

Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Borrowing of Loans (including Swingline Loans), (b) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other or (c) a continuation of Term SOFR Rate Loans, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

Management Services Agreement” means any agreement, however styled, between a Credit Party and a PC Entity, pursuant to which such Credit Party provides management services or similar services to such PC Entity. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to Management Services Agreements shall include all related documents necessary to ensure that each relationship with each PC Entity meets the PC Entity Requirements.

Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the financial condition, operations, business, properties or liabilities (actual or contingent) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the rights and remedies of any Agent or any Lender under any material Credit Document; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Credit Party of any material Credit Document to which it is a party.

Material IP” has the meaning provided in the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”.

Material Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary of the Borrower other than an Excluded Subsidiary.

Maximum Rate” has the meaning provided in Section 11.09.

Measurement Period” means, at any date of determination, the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended on or prior to such date of determination for which financial statements are internally available (other than for purposes of calculating ratios pursuant to Section 8.10, which shall look to the most recently completed four (4) fiscal quarters of the Borrower).

Minimum Extension Condition” has the meaning provided in Section 2.15(f).

Minority Interest Allocation” means, with respect to any measurement hereunder related to any Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary, the portion of such amount that is allocable (based on the percentage of Equity Interests held in such Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary) to Persons other than the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

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Minority Investment” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity which is not a Subsidiary of such Person but of which any shares of securities or other interests are at the time beneficially owned, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Minority Investment” or to “Minority Investments” shall refer to a Minority Investment or Minority Investments of the Borrower.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

Multiemployer Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five (5) plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

Net Cash Proceeds” means the aggregate proceeds paid in cash or Cash Equivalents received by any member of the Consolidated Group in connection with any issuance of Capital Stock, net of (a) attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, sales commissions, underwriting discounts, transfer Taxes, other customary expenses and brokerage, consultant and other customary fees and expenses, in each case, actually incurred in connection therewith and directly attributable thereto and (b) Taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (estimated reasonably and in good faith by the Borrower and after taking into account any available Tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements).

Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP.

New 2027 Notes Indenture” means that certain Indenture, dated on or around the Closing Date, by and among the Borrower and UMB Bank, National Association, in respect of the 2027 Senior Secured Notes.

New 2028 Notes Indenture” means that certain Indenture, dated on or around the Closing Date, by and among the Borrower and UMB Bank, National Association, in respect of the 2028 Senior Secured Notes.

New York Courts” means any New York State court or federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York City in the borough of Manhattan, and any appellate court from any thereof.

New York UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State of New York.

Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning provided in Section 11.13(b).

Non-Extension Notice Date” has the meaning provided in Section 2.03(b)(iii).

 

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Non-Fixed Basket” means any basket that is subject to compliance with a financial ratio or test (including the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio and the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio).

Non-U.S. Lender” means any Lender that is not a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary.

Notes” means the Revolving Notes and the Swingline Note.

NYFRB” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

NYFRB Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day (or for any day that is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that, if none of such rates are published for any day that is a Business Day, the term “NYFRB Rate” means the rate for a federal funds transaction quoted at 11:00 a.m. on such day received by the Administrative Agent from a Federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; provided, further, that, if any of the aforesaid rates shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

Obligations” means the Borrower Obligations and the Guaranteed Obligations, other than Excluded Swap Obligations.

Organization Documents” means (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation, memorandum of association and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company or unlimited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Credit Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Credit Document).

Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Credit Document or from the execution, delivery, registration or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Credit Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment pursuant to Section 11.13).

 

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Outstanding Amount” means (a) with respect to Revolving Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any Borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Revolving Loans occurring on such date; (b) with respect to Swingline Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any Borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Swingline Loans occurring on such date; and (c) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the aggregate outstanding amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Borrower of Unreimbursed Amounts.

Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight eurodollar by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions, as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate (from and after such date as the NYFRB shall commence to publish such composite rate).

Participant” has the meaning provided in Section 11.06(d).

Participant Register” has the meaning provided in Section 11.06(d).

Patent” has the meaning set forth in the Pledge Security Agreement.

Patriot Act” means the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

PC Entity” means any Person (other than a natural Person), including any professional corporation, professional association, limited liability company or limited partnership, providing medical, healthcare or related professional services, to the extent any applicable requirement of Law provides that the ownership of such Person shall be limited to appropriately licensed professionals (natural persons or professional corporations or similar entities which are wholly owned by natural persons) who are duly licensed or otherwise legally authorized to render the specific professional services for which the Person is organized.

PC Entity Requirements” means (i) an executed management services agreement with the Borrower or a Guarantor, which terms shall include, but not be limited to, customary term and termination provisions, prohibitions on assignment by the PC Entity with no restrictions on assignment by the Borrower or any Guarantor, purchase provisions allowing the Borrower or a Guarantor (or other nominee designated by the Borrower or a Guarantor) to buy all assets of the PC Entity at a nominal price and a requirement that the PC Entity enter into cash management arrangements with the Borrower or a Guarantor providing such Borrower or Guarantor full dominion over such cash in a customary manner, including customary cash sweep agreements of cash to the Borrower or a Guarantor, (ii) customary stock transfer restriction agreements and (iii)

 

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customary non-compete and non-solicit agreements with the primary physician employees and physician owners of the PC Entity responsible for providing all or substantially all of such PC Entity’s professional services, including the Borrower, which non-compete and non-solicit agreements shall be in force during the term of each such party’s relationship with the PC Entity and for a customary period following termination of such Person’s relationship with the PC Entity for any reason.

Pension Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five (5) plan years.

Perfection Certificate” means that certain perfection certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, executed and delivered by the Borrower in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations, as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Permitted Acquisition” means any Acquisition; provided that (a) if such Acquisition involves consideration greater than $10.0 million, then (A) subject to the Limited Condition Transaction provisions, the Borrower would be in compliance with Section 8.10 on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Measurement Period (whether or not Section 8.10 was otherwise applicable as of such last day), and the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a Compliance Certificate demonstrating such compliance and (B) the Borrower shall have provided the Administrative Agent no less than five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice of the consummation of such Acquisition and (b) the aggregate amount of consideration paid by a Credit Party in respect of all Acquisitions of Persons that do not become Guarantors and/or assets that do not become Collateral during the term of this Agreement (other than any such Persons or assets owned by or that otherwise constitute an Investment (each, an “Ancillary Investment”) of any Person that is the subject to such Acquisition, as long as such Ancillary Investment was not made by such person in contemplation of such Acquisition) shall not exceed the greater of (i) $20.0 million and (ii) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period; provided that the Borrower may elect to allocate consideration expended in such Acquisition for Property to be held by members of the Consolidated Group that are not Credit Parties or Acquisitions of Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors to Investments made pursuant to any clause of Section 8.02, so long as capacity to make such Investments pursuant to the applicable clause is available at the time of such allocation (and any consideration so allocated shall reduce capacity for Investments pursuant to such clauses to the extent that capacity for such Investments are limited by such clauses), and to the extent such consideration is in fact so allocated to one of such clauses in accordance with the foregoing requirements, such consideration shall not count toward the limitations set forth in this clause (b).

Permitted Business” means the businesses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries conducted on the Closing Date and any business reasonably related, ancillary or complementary thereto and any reasonable extension thereof.

 

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Permitted Liens” means Liens permitted pursuant to Section 8.01.

Permitted Notes Refinancing Debt” means Indebtedness that is not prohibited by the terms of this Agreement and that (i) does not mature earlier than the date that is one hundred eighty-one (181) days after the Revolving Termination Date, (ii) does not have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is shorter than the then-remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the 2027 Senior Secured Notes or the 2028 Senior Secured Notes and is not otherwise subject to any amortization or required sinking fund payments; provided that customary amortization payments with respect to “term A loans” or “term B loans” shall be permitted (provided that such customary amortization payments shall not result in, when taken together with the aggregate principal amount all other Incremental Equivalent Debt and Permitted Notes Refinancing Debt, more than 25% of the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness being scheduled to be repaid prior to the Revolving Termination Date, (iii) does not have mandatory prepayment or mandatory offer to purchase events that are more onerous to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries than the terms of the 2027 Senior Secured Notes or the 2028 Senior Secured Notes; provided that customary “excess cash flow”, asset sale and casualty event prepayments with respect to “term A loans” and “term B loans” shall be permitted, (iv) to the extent secured, is not secured by assets that are not Collateral and the Liens on such Collateral are pari passu or junior to the Liens on such Collateral securing the 2027 Senior Secured Notes or the 2028 Senior Secured Notes (and shall be subject to the Intercreditor Agreement or to another intercreditor agreement reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower) and (v) is not guaranteed other than by a Credit Party.

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, unlimited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) established or maintained by the Borrower or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.

Platform” has the meaning provided in Section 7.02.

Pledge and Security Agreement” means the pledge and security agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit G, among the Borrower and the Credit Parties, as pledgors and grantors, and the Collateral Agent, and any other pledge and/or security agreements governed by the laws of any state of the United States of America that may be entered into by and among or between any Credit Party and the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms hereof.

Preferred Equity Interest” in any Person, means an Equity Interest of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the payment of dividends or distributions, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Person, over Equity Interests of any other class in such Person.

Present Fair Saleable Value” has the meaning provided in the definition of “Solvent.”

Prime Rate” has the meaning provided in the definition of “Base Rate.”

primary obligor” has the meaning provided in the definition of “Support Obligations.”

 

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Professional Services Affiliate” means any PC Entity that (i) has entered into a Management Services Agreement with the Borrower or any Guarantor and (ii) is Controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Borrower. For the avoidance of doubt, any Professional Services Affiliate of a Subsidiary of the Borrower shall be a Professional Services Affiliate of the Borrower.

Pro Forma Basis” and “Pro Forma Effect” mean, with respect to compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 8.10 and any other financial test, fixed charge coverage ratio based test, leverage ratio based test (including for determining the Applicable Rate and Commitment Fee Rate) or covenant hereunder (including, but not limited to, “grower” baskets with respect to Indebtedness, Investments, Dispositions, Restricted Payments (including, without limitation, any payment or prepayment of Subordinated Debt) and Liens), that all Pro Forma Events that have occurred during the applicable period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters or subsequent to such period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of such covenant, test or ratio is made shall be deemed to have been consummated and incurred as of the first day of such period and all Pro Forma Cost Savings relating to any Pro Forma Event shall have been added to Consolidated EBITDA in accordance with the definitions of “Consolidated EBITDA” and “Pro Forma Cost Savings.” Notwithstanding anything herein or in any other Credit Document to the contrary, when calculating any ratios or tests for purposes of the incurrence of any Indebtedness under any leverage-ratio-based incurrence test, the cash and Cash Equivalents that are proceeds from the incurrence of any such Indebtedness shall not be netted for purposes of the pro forma calculation of any applicable ratio or test, but pro forma adjustment shall be given effect to any prepayment or repayment of Indebtedness with the use of such proceeds.

Pro Forma Cost Savings” means, with respect to any Measurement Period, the reduction in net costs and expenses and related adjustments that:

(a) were directly attributable to an acquisition, merger, consolidation or disposition that occurred during the Measurement Period or subsequent to the Measurement Period and on or prior to the date of determination and calculated on a basis that is consistent with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act, or

(b) were actually implemented by the business that was the subject of any such acquisition, merger, consolidation or disposition or by any related business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary with which such business is proposed to be or is being or has been integrated within twenty-four (24) months after the date of the acquisition, merger, consolidation, disposition or operational change and prior to the date of determination that are supportable and quantifiable by the underlying accounting records of any such business, or

(c) relate to the business that is the subject of any such acquisition, merger, consolidation or disposition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary with which such business is proposed to be or is being or has been integrated and that are probable in the reasonable judgment of the Borrower based upon specifically identifiable actions to be taken within twenty-four (24) months of the date of the acquisition, merger, consolidation or disposition,

 

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in each case, regardless of whether such reductions and related adjustments could then be reflected in pro forma financial statements in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy related thereto, as if all such reductions and related adjustments had been effected as of the beginning of such period. Pro Forma Cost Savings as of any date of determination, together with any addbacks to Consolidated EBITDA included pursuant to clause (h) of the definition thereof, shall not in the aggregate exceed 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for such Measurement Period (after giving effect to such Pro Forma Cost Savings or amounts pursuant to clause (h) of the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA” for such Measurement Period).

Pro Forma Event” means (a) the Transactions, (b) any Incremental Loan Facilities, (c) any Incremental Equivalent Debt, (d) any Acquisition or similar Investment that is not prohibited by this Agreement, (e) any Subject Disposition, (f) any Disposition of all or substantially all of the assets or all the Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that is not prohibited by this Agreement, (g) any designation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Subsidiary Redesignation, (h) any discontinuance of a division or line of business or operations, (i) any operational change and (j) any other similar events occurring or transactions consummated during the period (including any Indebtedness that is incurred, repaid or assumed in connection therewith, assuming such Indebtedness bears interest during any portion of the applicable period prior to the relevant acquisition at the weighted average of the interest rates applicable to outstanding Loans incurred during such period).

Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to each Lender at any time a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the amount of outstanding Revolving Commitments of such Lender at such time and the denominator of which is the aggregate amount of Revolving Commitments of all Lenders at such time; provided that, if any such Revolving Commitments have been terminated, then the Pro Rata Share of each applicable Lender shall be determined based on the Pro Rata Share of such Lender immediately prior to such termination and after giving effect to any subsequent assignments made pursuant to the terms hereof.

Property” means an interest of any kind in any property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, and whether tangible or intangible.

Public Lender” has the meaning provided in Section 7.02.

Purchase Money Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (including obligations in respect of capital leases) incurred (within 365 days of such purchase) to finance or refinance the purchase (including, in the case of capital lease obligations, the lease), construction, installation or improvement of any assets used or useful in a Permitted Business (whether through the direct purchase of assets or through the purchase of Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets); provided that the amount of Indebtedness thereunder does not exceed 100% of the purchase cost of such assets and costs incurred in such construction, installation or improvement.

QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C.
 5390(c)(8)(D).

QFC Credit Support” has the meaning provided in Section 11.21.

 

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Qualified Capital Stock” means any Capital Stock of the Borrower other than Disqualified Capital Stock.

Qualified ECP Guarantor” means, in respect of any Swap Obligation, each Credit Party that has total assets exceeding $10.0 million at the time the relevant guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or such other person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Receivables Assets” means (a) any accounts receivable of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and the proceeds thereof and (b) all collateral securing such accounts receivable, all contracts and contract rights, guarantees or other obligations, in each case in respect of such accounts receivable, all records with respect to such accounts receivable and any other assets customarily transferred together with accounts receivable in connection with a non-recourse accounts receivable financing and which are sold, contributed, conveyed, assigned or otherwise transferred or pledged by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with a Receivables Facility.

Receivables Facility” means any financing transaction, including any securitization, revolving credit facility, factoring arrangement or other form of financing transaction, as may be amended, modified, supplemented, replaced or refinanced from time to time, pursuant to which (a) the Borrower or any Subsidiary sells (directly or indirectly), conveys, assigns or otherwise transfers Receivables Assets or grants a security interest therein to a Receivables Subsidiary or other Person, and (b) the obligations of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, thereunder are non-recourse (except for Standard Securitization Undertakings) to the Borrower and such Subsidiary that, in the case of each of clause (a) and (b) meets the following conditions: (i) the Borrower shall have determined in good faith that such Receivables Facility (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) and (ii) all Dispositions of accounts receivable and related assets by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Receivables Subsidiary are made at fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower).

Receivables Fee” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any Receivables Assets or participation interest issued or sold in connection with, and other fees paid to a Person that is not the Borrower or a Subsidiary in connection with, any Receivables Facility.

Receivables Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary or Unrestricted Subsidiary (or another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in a Receivables Facility with the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary in which the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary makes an Investment and to which the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary sells, assigns, conveys or otherwise transfers assets constituting Receivables Assets) formed for the purpose of, and which engages in no activities other than in connection with, the financing of accounts receivable of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and Unrestricted Subsidiaries and all proceeds thereof and all rights (contractual or other), collateral and other assets relating thereto, and any business or activities incidental or related to such business, and:

 

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(a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Borrower, any Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) or any Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of, and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Borrower, any Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) or any Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than such Receivables Subsidiary) in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Borrower any Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) or any Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary), directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings,

(b) with which none of the Borrower, any Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) or any Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which the Borrower, such Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) or such Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) reasonably believes to be no less favorable to the Borrower, such Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) or such Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Borrower, and

(c) to which none of the Borrower, any Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) or any Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Subsidiary) has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entity’s financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results.

Recipient” has the meaning provided in the definition of “Excluded Taxes.”

Register” has the meaning provided in Section 11.06(c).

Registered Public Accounting Firm” has the meaning provided in the Securities Laws and shall be independent of the Borrower as prescribed by the Securities Laws.

Regulation D” means Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Regulation U” means Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

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Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

Relevant Governmental Body” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor thereto.

Reorganization Plan” has the meaning provided in the recitals hereto.

Reorganization Transactions” means transactions taken under or contemplated by the Restructuring Support Agreement and all other related and ancillary transactions thereto.

Replaced Revolving Commitments” has the meaning provided in Section 2.16(a).

Replacement Revolving Commitments” has the meaning provided in Section 2.16(a).

Replacement Revolving Lender” has the meaning provided in Section 2.16(b).

Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the thirty (30) day notice period to the PBGC has been waived by regulation.

Reportable Compliance Event” means that: (a) any Specified Covered Entity becomes a Sanctioned Person, or is charged by indictment, criminal complaint, or similar charging instrument, arraigned, custodially detained, or criminally penalized or the subject of an investigation by a Governmental Authority in connection with any Anti-Corruption Law, Anti-Money Laundering Law, International Trade Laws, or Sanctions; (b) any Specified Covered Entity engages in a transaction that has caused any Person hereunder (including the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Lenders, and any underwriter, advisor, investor, or otherwise) to be in violation of any Anti-Corruption Law, International Trade Law, or Sanctions, including a Specified Covered Entity’s use of any proceeds of the Loans hereunder to directly or indirectly fund any activities or business of, with, or for the benefit of any Person that is a Sanctioned Person, or located in any Sanctioned Jurisdiction; or (c) any pledged Collateral qualifies as Blocked Property.

Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing of Loans (including Swingline Loans), a Loan Notice and (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a L/C Application.

Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments or, if the Revolving Commitments shall have expired or been terminated, Lenders holding more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Obligations (including, in each case, the aggregate principal amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans).

Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.

 

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Responsible Officer” means, as to any Credit Party, the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, the president, any executive vice president, the chief financial officer, the chief accounting officer, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any vice president, any senior vice president, the secretary or the general counsel of such Credit Party, any manager of such Credit Party (if such Credit Party is a limited liability company) or the general partner of such Credit Party (if such Credit Party is a limited partnership). Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Credit Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Credit Party, and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Credit Party.

Restricted Party List” means any export controls-related list administered and enforced by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (e.g., Entity List, Denied Persons List, Unverified List, or Military End-User List).

Restricted Payment” means (i) any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Capital Stock of any member of the Consolidated Group, (ii) any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Capital Stock or of any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Capital Stock or (iii) any payment or prepayment of principal on or redemption, repurchase or acquisition for value of, any Subordinated Debt of any member of the Consolidated Group, except any scheduled payment of principal (including at maturity) or any prepayment, redemption, repurchase or acquisition for value thereof within three hundred sixty- five (365) days of the stated maturity thereof.

Restructuring Support Agreement” means that certain Restructuring Support Agreement, dated as of October 20, 2023, by and among the Borrower, the Lenders party thereto, Stonepeak Magnet Holdings LP, and the various other parties thereto.

Revolving Commitment” means, for each Revolving Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans (and to share in Revolving Obligations) hereunder, under documentation relating to Incremental Revolving Commitments or pursuant to an Additional Credit Extension Amendment, in each case, in the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Committed Amount, as such commitment may be increased or decreased pursuant to the other provisions hereof.

Revolving Commitment Percentage” means, for each Revolving Lender, a fraction (expressed as a percentage carried to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Committed Amount at such time and the denominator of which is the Aggregate Revolving Committed Amount at such time. The Revolving Commitment Percentages as of the Closing Date are set forth in Schedule 2.01 hereto under the column entitled “Revolving Commitment Percentage”.

 

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Revolving Committed Amount” means, for each Revolving Lender, the amount set forth in Schedule 2.01 hereto under the row applicable to such Lender in the column entitled “Revolving Committed Amount”, in the Assignment and Assumption by which such Revolving Lender became a Revolving Lender or in any documentation relating to Incremental Revolving Commitments or Additional Credit Extension Amendments, as such Revolving Committed Amount may be reduced or increased pursuant to the other provisions hereof.

Revolving Facility” means the Aggregate Revolving Commitments and the provisions herein related to the Revolving Loans, the Swingline Loans and the Letters of Credit.

Revolving Lender Joinder Agreement” means a joinder agreement, in a form to be agreed among the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and each Lender with an Incremental Revolving Commitment or commitment under an Incremental Revolving Facility, executed and delivered in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.01(d).

Revolving Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 hereto under the heading “Revolving Lender” together with their successors and permitted assigns, and any Person that shall be designated a “Revolving Lender” pursuant to Incremental Revolving Commitments or an Additional Credit Extension Amendment in accordance with the provisions hereof.

Revolving Loans” has the meaning provided in Section 2.01(a).

Revolving Notes” means the promissory notes, if any, given to evidence the Revolving Loans, as amended, restated, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed or replaced. A form of Revolving Note is attached as Exhibit B-1.

Revolving Obligations” means the Revolving Loans, the L/C Obligations and the Swingline Loans; provided that Excluded Swap Obligations shall not constitute Revolving Obligations of any Guarantor that is not a Qualified ECP Guarantor.

Revolving Termination Date” means November 2, 2027; provided that, if on the date that is one hundred eighty-one (181) days prior to the maturity date of the 2027 Senior Secured Notes (the “Springing Maturity Date”), more than $30.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2027 Senior Secured Notes remain outstanding or all amounts in excess of such $30.0 million have not been refinanced, repaid, prepaid, redeemed, satisfied and discharged or defeased with (a) Permitted Notes Refinancing Debt, (b) net proceeds of an issuance of Qualified Capital Stock of the Borrower to a Person other than a Subsidiary of the Borrower or an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (c) net proceeds of an asset sale or other disposition of property or assets to a Person other than a Subsidiary of the Borrower or an Unrestricted Subsidiary otherwise permitted under this Agreement, (d) a capital contribution to the Borrower from a Person other than a Subsidiary of the Borrower or an Unrestricted Subsidiary and/or (e) cash from operations, then the Revolving Termination Date shall be the Springing Maturity Date.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of McGraw Hill Financial Inc. and any successor thereto.

Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means, with respect to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any Person (other than a Credit Party) whereby the Borrower or such Subsidiary shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property.

 

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Same Day Funds” means, with respect to disbursements and payments in Dollars, immediately available funds.

Sanctioned Jurisdiction” means, at any time, a country, area, territory, or jurisdiction that is the subject or target of comprehensive U.S. sanctions.

Sanctioned Person” means any Person that is (a) located in, organized under the laws of, or ordinarily resident in a Sanctioned Jurisdiction; (b) identified on any Sanctions-related list; or (c) owned 50% or more, in the aggregate, directly or indirectly by, controlled by, or acting for, on behalf of or at the direction of, one or more Persons described in clauses (a) or (b) above.

Sanctions” means all Laws relating to economic and financial sanctions or trade embargoes administered by the United States, including the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, Canada, the European Union or any Member State, the United Kingdom, or the United Nations Security Council.

Sarbanes-Oxley” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

Section 2.02(b) Ratable Share” has the meaning provided in Section 2.02(b).

Secured Party” has the meaning provided in the Pledge and Security Agreement.

Securities Laws” means the Securities Act of 1933, the Exchange Act, Sarbanes-Oxley and the applicable accounting and auditing principles, rules, standards and practices promulgated, approved or incorporated by the SEC or the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, as each of the foregoing may be amended and in effect on any applicable date hereunder.

Senior Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that is not expressly subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

Significant Subsidiary” means (a) any Subsidiary that satisfies the criteria for a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Laws, as such Regulation is in effect on the Closing Date and (b) any Subsidiary that, when aggregated with all other Subsidiaries that are not otherwise Significant Subsidiaries and as to which any event described in Section 9.01(f) or (h) has occurred and is continuing, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary under clause (a) of this definition.

SOFR” means, for any day, a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

SOFR Determination Date” has the meaning provided in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.

 

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SOFR Floor” means a rate of interest per annum equal to 0.00%.

SOFR Rate Day” has the meaning provided in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.

SOFR Reserve Percentage” means, for any day, the maximum effective percentage in effect on such day, if any, as prescribed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the reserve requirements (including, without limitation, supplemental, marginal and emergency reserve requirements) with respect to SOFR funding.

Solvent” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, (a) the Fair Value and Present Fair Saleable Value of the aggregate assets of such Person exceeds the value of its Liabilities; (b) such Person will not have, as of such date, an unreasonably small amount of capital with which to conduct its business; (c) such Person will be able to pay its Liabilities as they mature or become absolute; and (d) the Fair Value and Present Fair Saleable Value of the aggregate assets of such Person exceeds the value of its Liabilities by an amount that is not less than the capital of such Person (as determined pursuant to Section 154 of the Delaware General Corporate Law). The term “Solvency” shall have an equivalent meaning. For the purposes of this definition, “Fair Value” means the aggregate amount at which the assets of the applicable entity (including goodwill) would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, within a commercially reasonable amount of time, each having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts, neither being under any compulsion to act and with equity to both; “Present Fair Saleable Value” means the aggregate amount of net consideration (giving effect to reasonable and customary costs of sale or Taxes) that could be expected to be realized if the aggregate assets of the applicable entity are sold with reasonable promptness in an arm’s length transaction under present conditions for the sale of assets of comparable business enterprises; and “Liabilities” means all debts and other liabilities of the applicable entity, whether secured, unsecured, fixed, contingent, accrued or not yet accrued.

SPC” has the meaning provided in Section 11.06(h).

Specified Covered Entity” means (a) the Borrower and each of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries; and (b) each Guarantor and any Person who has pledged (or will pledge) Collateral hereunder or under any Credit Document.

Springing Maturity Date” has the meaning provided in the definition of “Revolving Termination Date.”

Standard Securitization Undertakings” means representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Unrestricted Subsidiary which the Borrower has determined in good faith to be customary in a Receivables Facility, including those relating to the servicing of the Receivables Assets.

Stonepeak” means Stonepeak Magnet Holdings LP and any investment funds advised, managed or controlled by Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners and, in each case (whether individually or as a group), Affiliates of any of the foregoing.

Strategic Investor” means physicians, hospitals, health systems, other healthcare providers, other healthcare companies and other similar strategic joint venture partners.

 

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Subject Disposition” means any Disposition other than (a) Dispositions of damaged, worn-out or obsolete Property that, in the Borrower’s reasonable judgment, is no longer used or useful in the business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries; (b) Dispositions of inventory, services or other property in the ordinary course of business; (c) Dispositions of Property to the extent that (i) such Property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement Property that is promptly purchased or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement equipment or property (which replacement property is actually promptly purchased); (d) licenses, sublicenses, leases, subleases and assignments not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries; (e) the sale, discount or other Disposition (with or without recourse, and on customary or commercially reasonable terms and for credit management purposes) of inventory, accounts receivable or notes receivable in the ordinary course of business or in connection with the compromise or collection thereof or consistent with past practice or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings, or the conversion or exchange of accounts receivable for notes receivable; (f) any Disposition at any time by (i) a Credit Party to any other Credit Party, (ii) a Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party to a Credit Party or (iii) a Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party to another Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party; (g) the Disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents; (h) Excluded Sale and Leaseback Transactions; (i) Restricted Payments not prohibited by Section 8.06; (j) mergers, amalgamations and consolidations not prohibited by Section 8.04; (k) the granting of Liens not prohibited by Section 8.01; (l) a Disposition of Property, to the extent constituting the making of an Investment not prohibited by Section 8.02 (other than Section 8.02(a)); (m) Dispositions, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of assets or other properties of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries with fair market value in the aggregate not exceeding the greater of (i) $15.0 million and (ii) 20% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement; (n) Dispositions related to the unwinding of any Swap Contract in accordance with its terms; (o) the sale of assets received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries upon the foreclosure on a Lien; (p) the lease, assignment, license, sublease or sublicense of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice; (q) sales, transfers or other Dispositions to Professional Services Affiliates in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices pursuant to Management Services Agreements; (r) the issuance of Capital Stock by a Subsidiary to the Borrower or to another Subsidiary or as part of, or pursuant to, an equity incentive or compensation plan approved by the Board of Directors of the Borrower; (s) any loss or destruction of or damage to any property or asset or receipt of insurance proceeds in connection therewith or any institution of a proceeding for, or actual condemnation, seizure or taking by the exercise of eminent domain or otherwise of such property or asset, or confiscation of such property or asset or the requisition of the use of such property or asset or settlement in lieu of the foregoing; (t) sales, transfers or other Dispositions of Investments in joint ventures or similar entities to the extent required by, or made pursuant to, customary buy/sell arrangements between, the parties set forth in joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements; (u) any surrender or waiver of contractual rights or the settlement, release, surrender or waiver of contractual, tort, litigation or other claims of any kind; (v) any sales or grants of licenses or sublicenses to use the intellectual property, or the abandonment, dedication to the public or other disposition thereof, and licenses, leases or subleases of other assets, of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to the extent not materially interfering with the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; (w) Dispositions of non-voting Preferred Equity Interests in a Subsidiary to a Strategic Investor in the ordinary course of business and for a bona fide business purpose; (x) Dispositions of Equity Interests of, or sale of Indebtedness or other assets or securities of, Unrestricted Subsidiaries; and (y) any sale, contribution, transfer, assignment or other disposition of Receivables Assets, or participations therein, in connection with any Receivables Facility.

 

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Subordinated Debt” means (a) as to the Borrower, any Funded Debt of the Borrower that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment of any of the Revolving Obligations of the Borrower and (b) as to any Guarantor, any Funded Debt of such Guarantor that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment of any of the Revolving Obligations of such Guarantor.

Subsidiary” of a Person means (a) a Professional Services Affiliate of such Person, (b) a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, unlimited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person or (c) any other Person that is a consolidated subsidiary of such Person under GAAP and designated as a Subsidiary of such Person in a certificate to the Administrative Agent by a financial or accounting officer of such Person; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document, no Minority Investment shall be considered to be a Subsidiary of the Borrower for purposes of this Agreement or any other Credit Document. Unless otherwise provided, “Subsidiary” shall refer to a Subsidiary of the Borrower; provided that an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed not to be a Subsidiary for purposes of this Agreement and each other Credit Document.

Subsidiary Redesignation” has the meaning provided in the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.”

Support Obligations” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness payable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person. The amount of any Support Obligations shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Support Obligation is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith.

 

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Supported QFC” has the meaning provided in Section 11.21.

Swap Contract” means any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement.

Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination values determined in accordance therewith, such termination values, and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amounts determined as the mark-to-market values for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

Swingline Borrowing” means a borrowing of a Swingline Loan pursuant to Section 2.01(c).

Swingline Commitment” means, with respect to the Swingline Lender, the commitment of the Swingline Lender to make Swingline Loans, and with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to purchase participation interests in Swingline Loans.

Swingline Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time. The Swingline Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be its Revolving Commitment Percentage of the total Swingline Exposure at such time.

Swingline Lender” means PNC Bank, National Association, in its capacity as such, together with any successor in such capacity.

Swingline Loans” has the meaning provided in Section 2.01(c).

Swingline Note” means the promissory note given to evidence the Swingline Loans, as amended, restated, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed or replaced. A form of Swingline Note is attached as Exhibit B-2.

Swingline Sublimit” has the meaning provided in Section 2.01(c).

 

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Synthetic Lease” means any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing arrangement that is considered borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as an operating lease under GAAP.

Tax Returns” means any return, report or similar statement filed or required to be filed with respect to any Tax (including any attached schedules) including any informational return, claim for refund, amended return or declaration of estimated Tax.

Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (CBA) (or a successor administrator of the Term SOFR Reference Rate selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion).

Term SOFR Determination Date” has the meaning provided in the definition of “Term SOFR Rate”.

Term SOFR Rate” means, for any calculation with respect to any Borrowing of Term SOFR Rate Loans, for any Interest Period, the interest rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent by dividing (the resulting quotient rounded upwards, at the Administrative Agent’s discretion, to the nearest 1/100th of 1%) (A) the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor comparable to such Interest Period, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the day (the “Term SOFR Determination Date”) that is two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, by (B) a number equal to 1.00 minus the SOFR Reserve Percentage. If the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published or replaced with a Benchmark Replacement by 5:00 p.m. (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania time) on the Term SOFR Determination Date, then the Term SOFR Reference Rate, for purposes of clause (A) in the preceding sentence, shall be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor on the first Business Day preceding such Term SOFR Determination Date for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published in accordance herewith, so long as such first preceding Business Day is not more than three (3) Business Days prior to such Term SOFR Determination Date. If the Term SOFR Rate, determined as provided above, would be less than the SOFR Floor, then the Term SOFR Rate shall be deemed to be the SOFR Floor. The Term SOFR Rate shall be adjusted automatically without notice to the Borrower on and as of (i) the first day of each Interest Period, and (ii) the effective date of any change in the SOFR Reserve Percentage.

Term SOFR Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Term SOFR Rate.

Term SOFR Reference Rate” means the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR.

Third Party Payor” means Medicare, Medicaid or any Federal Health Care Program, private insurance company, health maintenance organization, preferred provider organization, alternative delivery system, managed care system, government contracting agency or other similar entity that is obligated to make payments on behalf of any Account Debtor of any Person.

 

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Total Assets” of any Person means the total assets of such Person as set forth on such Person’s most recent balance sheet.

Trademark” has the meaning set forth in the Pledge and Security Agreement.

Transaction Agreement Date” has the meaning provided in Section 1.07.

Transactions” means (i) the establishment of the Revolving Commitments, (ii) the Reorganization Transactions, (iii) the incurrence of the 2027 Senior Secured Notes, (iv) the incurrence of the 2028 Senior Secured Notes and (v) the payment of fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing.

Treasury Management Agreement” means any agreement governing the provision of treasury or cash management services, including deposit accounts, funds transfer, automated clearinghouse, zero balance accounts, returned check concentration, controlled disbursement, lockbox, purchase cards, account reconciliation and reporting and trade finance services.

Treasury Management Bank” has the meaning provided in the definition of “Borrower Obligations.”

Type” means, with respect to any Revolving Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Term SOFR Rate Loan.

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in any applicable jurisdiction from time to time.

UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended form time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.

UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.

Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

United States” or “U.S.” means the United States of America.

Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning provided in Section 2.03(c)(i).

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary hereunder by written notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent; provided that the Borrower shall only be permitted to so designate a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if (a) no Default or Event of Default would result and be continuing after giving effect thereto; (b) when any Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the portion of the aggregate fair

 

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value of the assets of such newly designated Unrestricted Subsidiary (proportionate to the Borrower’s or applicable Subsidiary’s equity interest in such Unrestricted Subsidiary) at the time of the designation thereof as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be treated as Investments pursuant to Section 8.02 and such designation shall only be permitted if there is capacity for such Investment under Section 8.02(x); and (c) with respect to any Indebtedness for borrowed money with an aggregate principal amount in excess of $25.0 million (to the extent the concept of an Unrestricted Subsidiary exists in such other Indebtedness), such Subsidiary shall have been designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary (or otherwise not be subject to the covenants and defaults except on a basis substantially similar to this Agreement) under the documents governing such Indebtedness permitted to be incurred hereunder; provided, further, that (A) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligation (contingent or otherwise) of such Subsidiary being designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, immediately after such designation: (i) is guaranteed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) is recourse to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to satisfaction thereof, (B) except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement (including Section 8.09), neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has any contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding with such Subsidiary being so designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, written or oral, other than on terms no less favorable to the Borrower or such other Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Borrower, (C) neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary (other than another Unrestricted Subsidiary) has any obligation (i) to subscribe for additional shares of Capital Stock of such Subsidiary being so designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or other equity interests therein or (ii) to maintain or preserve such Subsidiary’s financial condition or to cause such Subsidiary to achieve certain levels of operating results and (D) at the time any Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such newly designated Unrestricted Subsidiary may not own or hold (directly or indirectly) any rights in any intellectual property that is material to the operation of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (“Material IP”). Any Unrestricted Subsidiary may be designated by the Borrower to be a Subsidiary for purposes of this Agreement (each, a “Subsidiary Redesignation”); provided that no Event of Default would result therefrom. The term “Unrestricted Subsidiary” shall also include any subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. An Unrestricted Subsidiary, for as long as such Subsidiary remains an Unrestricted Subsidiary, shall be deemed to not be a Subsidiary or Borrower for all purposes under the Credit Documents.

U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (a) a Saturday, (b) a Sunday or (c) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.

U.S. Lender” means any Lender that is a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code.

U.S. Special Resolution Regime” has the meaning provided in Section 11.21.

Voting Stock” has the meaning provided in the definition of “Change of Control.”

 

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Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (i) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payment of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment by (ii) the outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness on such date.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means, with respect to any direct or indirect Subsidiary of any Person, that 100% of the Capital Stock with ordinary voting power issued by such Subsidiary (other than directors’ qualifying shares and investments by foreign nationals mandated by applicable Law) is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

Withholding Agent” means any Credit Party, the Administrative Agent and any other applicable withholding agent.

Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.

1.02 Interpretative Provisions.

With reference to this Agreement and each other Credit Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Credit Document:

(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Credit Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Credit Document, shall be construed to refer to such Credit Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Credit Document to “Articles,” “Sections,” “Exhibits” and “Schedules” shall be construed to refer to articles and sections of, and exhibits and schedules to, the Credit Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law

 

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and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including,” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding,” and the word “through” means “to and including.”

(c) Section headings herein and in the other Credit Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Credit Document.

(d) If a new Class of Revolving Commitments is established after the Closing Date pursuant to an Additional Credit Extension Amendment, references to “Revolving Commitments” herein shall mean all Classes of Revolving Commitments, unless the Additional Credit Extension Amendment provides otherwise with respect to any one or more particular references to “Revolving Commitments”; and references to “Revolving Facility,” “Revolving Lender” and “Revolving Loan” shall also be subject to such rule of interpretation.

(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Credit Document to the contrary, in calculating any Non-Fixed Basket, any amounts incurred, or transactions entered into or consummated, in reliance on a Fixed Basket (and proceeds thereof) in a substantially concurrent transaction with the amount incurred, or transaction entered into or consummated, under an applicable Non-Fixed Basket shall be disregarded in the calculation of such Non-Fixed Basket.

(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Credit Document to the contrary, in the event any Lien, Indebtedness, Disposition, Investment, Restricted Payment, or other transaction, action, judgment or amount incurred under any provision in this Agreement or any other Credit Document (or any of the foregoing in concurrent transactions, a single transaction or a series of related transactions) meets the criteria of one or more than one of the categories of baskets under this Agreement (including within any defined terms or within or, to the extent reallocation of available capacity is expressly permitted between the applicable covenants, among negative covenants), including any Fixed Basket or Non-Fixed Basket, as applicable, the Borrower shall be permitted, in its sole discretion, to divide and classify and to later, at any time and from time to time, re-divide and re-classify (including to re-classify utilization of any Fixed Basket as being incurred under any Non-Fixed Basket or other Fixed Basket or utilization of any Non-Fixed Basket as being incurred under any Fixed Basket or other Non-Fixed Basket) on one or more occasions (based on circumstances existing on the date of any such re-division and re-classification) any such Lien, Indebtedness, Disposition, Investment, Restricted Payment, or other transaction, action, judgment or amount, in whole or in part, among one or more than one applicable baskets under this Agreement (in the case of re-classification or re-division, so long as the amount so re-classified or re-divided is permitted at the time of such re-classification or re-division to be incurred pursuant to the applicable basket into which such amount is re-classified or re-divided at such time). For the avoidance of doubt, the amount of any Lien, Indebtedness, Disposition, Investment, Restricted Payment

 

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or other transaction, action, judgment or amount that shall be allocated to each such basket shall be determined by the Borrower at the time of such division, classification, re-division or re-classification, as applicable. If any Lien, Indebtedness (including pursuant to Incremental Loan Facilities, Incremental Equivalent Debt, Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or Extended Loans/Commitments), Disposition, Investment, Restricted Payment, or other transaction, action, judgment or amount incurred under any provision in this Agreement or any other Credit Document (or any portion of the foregoing) previously divided and classified (or re-divided and re-classified) as set forth above under any Fixed Basket, could subsequently be re-divided and re-classified under a Non-Fixed Basket, such re-division and re-classification shall be deemed to occur automatically, in each case, unless otherwise elected by the Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) all Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Documents will be deemed to have been incurred in reliance only on the exception in Section 8.03(a), (ii) the 2027 Senior Secured Notes and the 2028 Senior Secured Notes will be deemed to have been incurred in reliance only on the exception in Section 8.03(k) (and any refinancing thereof pursuant to Section 8.03(l) shall only be incurred pursuant to such Section 8.03(l)) and (iii) Incremental Equivalent Debt will be deemed to have been incurred in reliance only on the exception in Section 8.03(y).

1.03 Accounting Terms and Provisions.

(a) All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the audited financial statements referenced in Section 7.01(a), except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, determinations of (i) the Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio for purposes of determining the applicable pricing level under the definition of “Applicable Rate” or “Commitment Fee Rate,” (ii) Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio and the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the purposes of determining compliance with covenants, conditions and the Incremental Loan Facilities and (iii) revenues for determining Material Subsidiaries and Immaterial Subsidiaries shall be made on a Pro Forma Basis.

(c) If, at any time after the Closing Date, any change in GAAP or in the consistent application thereof would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Credit Document, the Borrower may, after giving written notice thereof to the Administrative Agent, determine all such computations on such a basis; provided that, if any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Credit Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided, further, that, until so amended (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.

 

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(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any obligation of the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries that would have been characterized as an operating lease as determined in accordance with GAAP as in effect prior to January 1, 2019 (whether or not such operating lease was in effect on such date) shall continue to be accounted for as an operating lease (and not as a capital lease) and be excluded from the definition of “Indebtedness” and other relevant definitions for all purposes under this Agreement, regardless of any change in GAAP following such date that would otherwise require such obligation to be re-characterized as a capital lease.

1.04 Rounding.

Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

1.05 Times of Day.

Unless otherwise provided, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

1.06 Letter of Credit Amounts.

Unless otherwise provided, all references herein to the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to mean the maximum face amount available to be drawn of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all increases thereof contemplated by such Letter of Credit or the Issuer Documents related thereto, whether or not such maximum face amount is in effect at such time.

1.07 Limited Condition Transactions.

In connection with any action being taken in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction for purposes of determining:

(a) any calculation of the relevant ratios (including the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio and Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio), Consolidated Net Income, Consolidated EBITDA and testing availability under baskets (including baskets measured as a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA) with respect to the incurrence of any Indebtedness or Liens, the making of any Permitted Acquisitions or similar Investments, Restricted Payments (including, without limitation, any payment or prepayment of Subordinated Debt subject to Section 8.06), asset sales or other sales or Dispositions of assets or fundamental changes, any designation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries and any Subsidiary Redesignation, or

 

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(b) compliance with representations and warranties or whether a Default or Event of Default exists in connection with any of the foregoing (in each case, other than with respect to any Credit Extension),

at the option of the Borrower (the Borrower’s election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction, an “LCA Election”), the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is entered into or the date that such Limited Condition Transaction is declared (the “Transaction Agreement Date”) may be used as the applicable date of determination, as the case may be, in each case with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Pro Forma Basis,” Consolidated EBITDA or “Consolidated Net Income”. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Borrower makes an LCA Election, (a) any fluctuation or change in the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Net Income and/or Consolidated EBITDA, from the Transaction Agreement Date to the date of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction will not be taken into account for purposes of determining whether any Indebtedness or Lien that is being incurred in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction is permitted to be incurred, or whether any other transaction undertaken in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries complies with the Credit Documents and (b) after the Transaction Agreement Date and until such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated or the definitive agreements in respect thereof are terminated or expire, such Limited Condition Transaction and all transactions proposed to be undertaken in connection therewith (including without limitation the incurrence of Indebtedness and Liens) will be given Pro Forma Effect as if they occurred at the beginning of the most recently ended Measurement Period when determining compliance of other transactions (including without limitation the incurrence of Indebtedness and Liens unrelated to such Limited Condition Transaction) that are consummated after the Transaction Agreement Date and on or prior to the date of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction and any such transactions (including without limitation any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) will be deemed to have occurred on the Transaction Agreement Date and be outstanding thereafter for purposes of calculating any baskets or ratios under the Credit Documents after the Transaction Agreement Date and before the date of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction (or the date the definitive agreements in respect thereof are terminated or expire).

1.08 Divisions.

For all purposes under the Credit Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.

 

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1.09 Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification.

The interest rate on a Loan denominated in Dollars may be derived from an interest rate benchmark that may be discontinued or is, or may in the future become, the subject of regulatory reform. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, Section 3.03(b) provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission, performance or any other matter related to any interest rate used in this Agreement, or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof, including without limitation, whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, the existing interest rate being replaced or have the same volume or liquidity as did any existing interest rate prior to its discontinuance or unavailability. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates and/or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of any interest rate used in this Agreement or any alternative, successor or alternative rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) and/or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain any interest rate used in this Agreement, any component thereof, or rates referenced in the definition thereof, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

ARTICLE II

COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

2.01 Commitments.

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein:

(a) Revolving Loans. On and after the Closing Date, each Revolving Lender severally agrees to make revolving credit loans (the “Revolving Loans”) in Dollars to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day prior to the Revolving Termination Date; provided that, after giving effect to any such Revolving Loan, (x) with respect to the Revolving Lenders collectively, the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Obligations shall not exceed $55.0 million (as such amount may be increased pursuant to Section 2.01(e) or decreased pursuant to Section 2.07 or 9.02(a), the “Aggregate Revolving Committed Amount”) and (y) with respect to each Revolving Lender individually, such Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage of Revolving Obligations shall not exceed its respective Revolving Committed Amount. Revolving Loans may consist of Base Rate Loans, Term SOFR Rate Loans or a combination thereof, as the Borrower may request. Revolving Loans may be repaid and reborrowed in accordance with the provisions hereof.

 

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(b) Letters of Credit. On and after the Closing Date, (x) each L/C Issuer, in reliance upon the commitments of the Revolving Lenders set forth herein, agrees (A) to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower (or for the account of any member of the Consolidated Group, but in such case, the Borrower will remain obligated to reimburse such L/C Issuer for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit, and the Borrower acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of members of the Consolidated Group inures to the benefit of the Borrower and the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the business of such members of the Consolidated Group) on any Business Day, (B) to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued hereunder and (C) to honor drawings under Letters of Credit; and (y) each Revolving Lender severally agrees to purchase from such L/C Issuer a participation interest in each Letter of Credit issued hereunder in an amount equal to such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share thereof; provided that (A) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations shall not exceed $5.0 million (as such amount may be decreased in accordance with the provisions hereof, the “L/C Sublimit”), (B) with regard to the Revolving Lenders collectively, the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Obligations shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Committed Amount, (C) with regard to each Revolving Lender individually, such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage of Revolving Obligations shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Commitment, and (D) no L/C Issuer shall be required to (but, in its sole discretion, any L/C Issuer may) issue, amend, extend or increase any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect thereto, there would be L/C Obligations arising from Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer in excess of its L/C Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrower may obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.

(c) Swingline Loans. During the Commitment Period, the Swingline Lender agrees, in reliance upon the commitments of the other Revolving Lenders set forth herein, to make revolving credit loans (the “Swingline Loans”) to the Borrower in Dollars on any Business Day; provided that (i) the Outstanding Amount of Swingline Loans shall not exceed $5.0 million (as such amount may be decreased in accordance with the provisions hereof, the “Swingline Sublimit”), (ii) with respect to the Revolving Lenders collectively, the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Obligations shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Committed Amount and (iii) with regard to each Revolving Lender individually, such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage of Revolving Obligations shall not exceed such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment. Swingline Loans shall be comprised solely of Base Rate Loans, and may be repaid and reborrowed in accordance with the provisions hereof. Immediately upon the making of a Swingline Loan, each Revolving Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swingline Lender a participation interest in such Swingline Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage thereof.

(d) Incremental Loan Facilities. Any time after the Closing Date, the Borrower may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, establish additional revolving credit facilities by increasing the Aggregate Revolving Commitments hereunder as provided in Section 2.01(e) (the “Incremental Revolving Commitments”) or establishing one or more additional revolving credit facility tranches hereunder (including, for the avoidance of doubt, increasing any existing Incremental Revolving Facility) as provided in Section 2.01(e) (the “Incremental Revolving Facilities”; the Incremental Revolving Facilities and the Incremental Revolving Commitments are collectively referred to as the “Incremental Loan Facilities”); provided that:

 

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(i) the aggregate principal amount of loans and commitments for all the Incremental Loan Facilities established after the Closing Date will not exceed an amount equal to the sum of (x) (A) an amount equal to (I) the greater of $75.0 million and 100% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period minus (II) $55.0 million (the “Incremental Base Amount”), minus (B) the aggregate principal amount of Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred pursuant to Section 8.03(y)(i) after the Closing Date, plus (y) the aggregate principal amount of all permanent reductions in the Revolving Commitments pursuant to Section 2.07 and all voluntary prepayments of the 2027 Senior Secured Notes and the 2028 Senior Secured Notes and any Incremental Equivalent Debt that is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Obligations, in each case, made prior to the date of such incurrence other than from proceeds of long-term Indebtedness (the “Incremental Prepayment Amount”), minus the aggregate principal amount of Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred or established pursuant to Section 8.03(y)(ii), plus (z) additional amounts of Indebtedness that may be incurred at such time that would not cause the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, on a Pro Forma Basis (for the avoidance of doubt, after giving effect to such Incremental Loan Facilities and the immediately following provisos) as of the last day of the most recently ended Measurement Period, to exceed 5.00:1.00; provided, further, that, in each case, with respect to any Incremental Loan Facility, the maximum amount of loans available to be drawn thereunder is assumed to have been borrowed, but without giving effect to any incurrence under the Incremental Base Amount that is incurred substantially simultaneously with amounts under this clause (z); provided, further, that the Borrower shall be deemed to have utilized the amounts under clauses (y) and (z) prior to utilization of the amounts under clause (x);

(ii) subject to the Limited Condition Transaction provisions, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or shall result after giving effect to any such Incremental Loan Facility; and

(iii) the conditions to the making of a Credit Extension under Section 5.02(a) shall be satisfied.

In connection with the establishment of any Incremental Loan Facility, (A) none of the Lead Arrangers or the Administrative Agent shall have any obligation to arrange for or assist in arranging any Incremental Loan Facility, (B) any Incremental Loan Facility shall be subject to such conditions, including fee arrangements, as may be provided in connection therewith and (C) none of the Lenders shall have any obligation to provide commitments or loans for any Incremental Loan Facility.

(e) Establishment of Incremental Revolving Commitments and Incremental Revolving Facilities. Subject in all cases to Section 2.01(d), the Borrower may (x) establish Incremental Revolving Commitments or Incremental Revolving Facilities by increasing the Aggregate Revolving Committed Amount hereunder and (y) establish Incremental Revolving Facilities; provided that:

(i) any Person that is not a Revolving Lender that is proposed to be a Lender under any such increased Aggregate Revolving Committed Amount or Incremental Loan Facility shall be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, each L/C Issuer and the Swingline Lender;

 

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(ii) Persons providing commitments for the Incremental Revolving Commitments or Incremental Loan Facilities pursuant to this Section 2.01(e) will provide a Revolving Lender Joinder Agreement;

(iii) increases in the Aggregate Revolving Committed Amount will be in a minimum principal amount of $5.0 million and integral multiples of $1.0 million in excess thereof and Incremental Revolving Facilities shall be in a minimum principal amount of $5.0 million and integral multiples of $1.0 million in excess thereof;

(iv) if any Incremental Revolving Commitments are established and any Revolving Loans are outstanding at the time of any such increase under the applicable Revolving Facility, either, at the option of the Borrower (x) the Borrower will prepay such Revolving Loans on the date of effectiveness of the Incremental Revolving Commitments (including payment of any break-funding amounts owing under Section 3.05) or (y) each Lender with an Incremental Revolving Commitment shall purchase at par interests in each Borrowing of Revolving Loans then outstanding under the applicable revolving facility such that immediately after giving effect to such purchases, each Borrowing thereunder shall be held by each Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Facility;

(v) the final maturity date of any Incremental Revolving Facility shall be no earlier than the Revolving Termination Date and no Incremental Revolving Facility will require any scheduled amortization or mandatory commitment reduction prior to the Revolving Termination Date;

(vi) the final maturity date of any Incremental Revolving Commitment shall be the same as the final maturity date of the revolving facility being increased and no Incremental Revolving Commitment will require any scheduled amortization or mandatory commitment reduction prior to the final maturity date of the revolving facility being increased;

(vii) all Incremental Revolving Facilities shall only be incurred by Credit Parties and shall only be secured by assets that constitute Collateral; and

(viii) the effective yield with respect to any Incremental Revolving Facility shall be determined by the Borrower and the Lenders of the Incremental Revolving Facility.

Any Incremental Revolving Commitment established hereunder shall have terms identical to the Revolving Commitments existing on the Closing Date or those of the applicable Incremental Revolving Facility being increased; provided that, if required to consummate an Incremental Revolving Commitment, the pricing, interest rate margins, rate floors and undrawn fees on the revolving facility being increased may also be increased for all Lenders of such revolving facility without the consent of any Lender, but additional upfront or similar fees may be payable to the Lenders participating in the Incremental Revolving Commitment without any requirement to pay such amounts to any existing Lenders, it being understood that the Credit Parties and the Administrative Agent may make (without the consent of or notice to any other party) any amendment to reflect such increase in any Revolving Commitments.

 

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Any Incremental Revolving Facility established hereunder shall be on terms to be determined by the Borrower and the Lenders thereunder (and the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may, without the consent of any other Lender, enter into an amendment to this Agreement to appropriately include the Incremental Revolving Facilities hereunder); provided that, to the extent that such terms and documentation are not consistent with the applicable revolving facility (except to the extent permitted by clause (v) or (vii) above), they shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided, further, that (x) without the consent of the Administrative Agent, such documentation may contain additional or more restrictive covenants than the Revolving Facility if such covenants are applicable only after the Final Maturity Date hereunder then in effect at the time such Incremental Revolving Facility is established and (y) to the extent that any financial maintenance covenant or other term is added for the benefit of any Incremental Revolving Facility that applies prior to the Final Maturity Date hereunder then in effect at the time such Incremental Revolving Facility is established, no consent shall be required from the Administrative Agent or any Lender to the extent that such financial maintenance covenant or other term is also added for the benefit of the Revolving Facility.

The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to request such legal opinions, certificates (such legal opinions and certificates to be consistent with those delivered under Section 5.01 at the Closing Date, appropriately adjusted, and only to the extent requested by the prospective lenders under any Incremental Revolving Facility or Incremental Revolving Commitments) and affirmations of collateral and guarantees as the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem necessary or advisable in connection with any Incremental Revolving Facility or Incremental Revolving Commitments.

2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations.

(a) Each Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of a Term SOFR Rate Loan shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Loan Notice appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than (i) with respect to Term SOFR Rate Loans, 12:00 noon (New York City time) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of any such Borrowing, conversion or continuation and (ii) with respect to Base Rate Loans, 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the requested date of any such Borrowing, conversion or continuation. Except in the case of any Revolving Loan that is borrowed to refinance a Swingline Loan or L/C Borrowing (which may be in an amount sufficient to refinance such Swingline Loan or L/C Borrowing), each Borrowing, conversion or continuation shall be in a principal amount of (i) with respect to Term SOFR Rate Loans, $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof, or (ii) with respect to Base Rate Loans, $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether such request is for a Borrowing, conversion, or continuation, (ii) the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the

 

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Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Term SOFR Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Term SOFR Rate Loans in any Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, the Interest Period will be deemed to be one (1) month. Each Lender at its option may make any Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms hereof.

(b) Following receipt of a Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Pro Rata Share of the applicable Loans (the “Section 2.02(b) Ratable Share”), and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans described in Section 2.02(a). Each Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in Dollars in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day specified in the applicable Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 5.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 5.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Administrative Agent with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower.

(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, without the consent of the Required Lenders, a Term SOFR Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Term SOFR Rate Loan. During the existence of an Event of Default, at the request of the Required Lenders, (i) no Loan denominated in Dollars may be requested as, converted to or continued as a Term SOFR Rate Loan and (ii) any outstanding Term SOFR Rate Loan shall be converted to a Base Rate Loan on the last day of the Interest Period with respect thereto.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Term SOFR Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of the Term SOFR Rate by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in the Administrative Agent’s prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.

(e) After giving effect to all Borrowings, all conversions of Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than ten (10) Interest Periods in effect with respect to the Revolving Loans.

 

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2.03 Additional Provisions with Respect to Letters of Credit.

(a) Obligation to Issue or Amend.

(i) No L/C Issuer shall issue any Letter of Credit if:

(A) subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve (12) months after the date of issuance or last extension, unless such L/C Issuer has approved such expiry date;

(B) the expiry date of any requested Letter of Credit would occur after the L/C Expiration Date, unless either (1) all the Revolving Lenders have approved such expiry date or (2) prior to the issuance of such Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit shall have been Cash Collateralized in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section 2.03(g) below or backstopped by a letter of credit in a face amount equal to 103% of the then- undrawn amount of such Letter of Credit from an issuer and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer in its sole discretion; or

(C) such Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars.

(ii) No L/C Issuer shall be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

(A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin such L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to such L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such L/C Issuer shall prohibit, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense that was not applicable on the Closing Date and that such L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;

(B) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate any Law applicable to such L/C Issuer;

(C) except as otherwise agreed by such L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent, such Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $5,000;

(D) except as otherwise agreed by such L/C Issuer, such Letter of Credit contains provisions for automatic reinstatement of the stated amount after any drawing thereunder;

 

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(E) any Revolving Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless such L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of cash collateral, reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate the L/C Issuer’s actual or potential L/C Obligations (after giving effect to Section 2.14) with respect to such Defaulting Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit and all other L/C Obligations as to which such L/C Issuer has exposure; and

(F) such Letter of Credit is a commercial Letter of Credit, unless such L/C Issuer otherwise consents, or if the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of such L/C Issuer with respect to letters of credit.

(iii) No L/C Issuer shall be under any obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) such L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof; or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.

(iv) The applicable L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Revolving Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and such L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article X with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such L/C Issuer in connection with such Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article X included such L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to such L/C Issuer.

(b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment; Auto-Extension Letters of Credit.

(i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to the applicable L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of an L/C Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each such L/C Application must be received by the applicable L/C Issuer not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) at least three (3) Business Days prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be, of any Letter of Credit (or such later date and time as the applicable L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such L/C Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; and (G) such other matters as such L/C Issuer may reasonably require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such L/C Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer: (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day);

 

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(C) the nature of the proposed amendment; (D) the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit; and (E) such other matters as such L/C Issuer may reasonably require. Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to such L/C Issuer such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as such L/C Issuer may require.

(ii) Promptly after receipt of any L/C Application, the applicable L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such L/C Application from the Borrower and, if not, such L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless such L/C Issuer has received written notice from the Administrative Agent, any Revolving Lender or any Credit Party, at least one (1) Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Section 5.01 (if issued on the Closing Date) or 5.02 shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the applicable L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower (or applicable Subsidiary) or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with such L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices.

(iii) If the Borrower so requests in any L/C Application, the applicable L/C Issuer will issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit such L/C Issuer to prevent any such renewal at least once in each twelve (12) month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) in each such twelve (12) month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued (but in any event not later than thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled expiry date thereof). Unless otherwise directed by the applicable L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the applicable L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Revolving Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized the applicable L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the L/C Expiration Date; provided, however, that no L/C Issuer shall permit any such extension if (A) such L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted or would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of Section 2.03(a) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is five (5) Business Days before the Non- Extension Notice Date from the Administrative Agent or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 5.02 is not then satisfied, and in each case directing such L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.

(iv) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the applicable L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

(c) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.

 

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(i) Upon any drawing under any Letter of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. Not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on or prior to the date that is three (3) Business Days following the date that the Borrower receives notice from any L/C Issuer of any payment by such L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each such date of payment by such L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit, an “Honor Date”), the Borrower shall reimburse such L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in Dollars in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing; provided, that the Borrower and the applicable L/C Issuer may, each in their discretion, with the consent of the Administrative Agent and so long as such arrangements do not adversely affect the rights of any Lender in any material respect, enter into Letter of Credit cash collateral prefunding arrangements acceptable to them for the purpose of reimbursing Letter of Credit draws. If the Borrower does not reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer on the Honor Date, the Administrative Agent, at the request of such L/C Issuer, shall promptly notify each Revolving Lender as of the Honor Date of such unreimbursed drawing (an “Unreimbursed Amount”) and the amount of such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share thereof. In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Borrowing of Term SOFR Rate Loans having an Interest Period of one (1) month (unless otherwise specified by the Borrower), to be disbursed on the third (3rd) Business Day after the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02(a) for the principal amount of Loans but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Revolving Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 5.02 (other than the delivery of a Loan Notice). Any notice given by the applicable L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) shall be in writing.

(ii) Each Revolving Lender shall, upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i), make funds available to the Administrative Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer, in Dollars at the Administrative Agent’s Office for payments in Dollars in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of such Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent. With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the applicable L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of such Unreimbursed Amount, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at (i) through and including the third Business Day following the Honor Date, the rate of interest applicable to Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans and (ii) thereafter, the Default Rate. In such event, each Revolving Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Revolving Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03.

(iii) Until a Revolving Lender funds its L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such amount shall be solely for the account of such L/C Issuer.

 

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(iv) Each Revolving Lender’s obligation to make L/C Advances to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such Revolving Lender may have against such L/C Issuer, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or Event of Default, (C) non-compliance with the conditions set forth in Section 5.02, or (D) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided that such L/C Issuer shall have complied with the provisions of Section 2.03(b)(ii). No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse any L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by such L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

(v) If any Revolving Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Revolving Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), such L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Revolving Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to such L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by such L/C Issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by such L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing. A certificate of the applicable L/C Issuer submitted to any applicable Revolving Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (v) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) Repayment of Participations.

(i) At any time after any L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Revolving Lender such Revolving Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c), if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of such L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of cash collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Revolving Lender its Pro Rata Share (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Revolving Lender’s L/C Advance was outstanding), in the same type of funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

(ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of any L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 11.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Revolving Lender shall pay to the

 

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Administrative Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer its Pro Rata Share thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Revolving Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Bank Funding Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Revolving Lenders under this clause (ii) shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

(e) Obligations Absolute. The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:

(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement or any other Credit Document;

(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that the Borrower or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), any L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;

(iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;

(iv) any payment by any L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by any L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law; or

(v) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

The Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to the Borrower and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, the Borrower will promptly notify the applicable L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the applicable L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

 

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(f) Role of the L/C Issuers in such Capacity. Each Revolving Lender and the Borrower agrees that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, no L/C Issuer shall have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of any L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of any L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Revolving Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Required Lenders; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment); or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document. The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to the Borrower’s use of any Letter of Credit; provided, however, that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower from pursuing such rights and remedies as the Borrower may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law, in equity or under any other agreement. None of any L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of any L/C Issuer, shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in Sections 2.03(e)(i) through (v); provided, however, that, notwithstanding anything in such clauses to the contrary, the Borrower shall have a claim against each L/C Issuer, and each L/C Issuer shall be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower that are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable judgment to have been caused by such L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment) or such L/C Issuer’s willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and each L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, that may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.

(g) Cash Collateral. Upon the request of the applicable L/C Issuer, if, as of the L/C Expiration Date, any Letter of Credit may for any reason remain outstanding and partially or wholly undrawn, the Borrower shall promptly Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to 103% of such Outstanding Amount determined as of the L/C Expiration Date). For purposes hereof, “Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the applicable L/C Issuer and the Revolving Lenders, as collateral for such L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances pursuant to customary documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer (which documents are hereby consented to by the Lenders). Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings. Cash collateral shall be maintained in blocked, interest bearing deposit accounts or money market fund accounts at the Administrative Agent.

(h) Applicability of ISP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by any L/C Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued, the rules of the ISP shall apply to each Letter of Credit.

 

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(i) Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of any Subsidiary of the Borrower, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.

(j) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower shall pay Letter of Credit Fees as set forth in Section 2.09(b).

(k) Conflict with Issuer Documents. In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.

(l) Addition of L/C Issuer. The Borrower may, at any time and from time to time, designate one or more additional Revolving Lenders to act as an L/C Issuer under the terms of this Agreement with the consent of such Revolving Lender and upon notice to the Administrative Agent. Any Revolving Lender designated as an L/C Issuer pursuant to this Section 2.03(l) shall have all the rights and obligations of an L/C Issuer under the Credit Documents with respect to Letters of Credit issued or to be issued by it, and all references in the Credit Documents to the term “L/C Issuer” shall, with respect to such Letters of Credit, be deemed to refer to such Lender in its capacity as an L/C Issuer. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Revolving Lenders of any such additional L/C Issuer. If at any time there is more than one L/C Issuer hereunder, the Borrower may, in its discretion, select which L/C Issuer is to issue any particular Letter of Credit.

(m) Provisions Related to Maturing Revolving Commitments. If the Final Maturity Date in respect of any tranche of Revolving Commitments occurs prior to the expiration of any Letter of Credit, then (i) if one or more other tranches of Revolving Commitments in respect of which the Final Maturity Date shall not have occurred are then in effect, such Letters of Credit shall automatically be deemed to have been issued (including for purposes of the obligations of the Revolving Lenders to purchase participations therein and to make Revolving Loans and payments in respect thereof pursuant to Sections 2.03(c) and 2.03(d)) under (and ratably participated in by Revolving Lenders pursuant to) the relevant Revolving Commitments in respect of such non-terminating tranches up to an aggregate amount not to exceed the aggregate principal amount of the unutilized Revolving Commitments thereunder at such time (it being understood that no partial face amount of any Letter of Credit may be so reallocated) and (ii) to the extent not reallocated pursuant to the immediately preceding clause (i), the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize any such Letter of Credit in accordance with Section 2.03(g). Commencing with the Final Maturity Date of any tranche of Revolving Commitments, if not previously determined, the sublimit for Letters of Credit shall be agreed with the Administrative Agent under the extended tranches and the L/C Commitment of each L/C Issuer shall be agreed with such L/C Issuer. No L/C Issuer shall have any obligation to issue a Letter of Credit with an expiration date beyond the L/C Expiration Date unless it is satisfied there will be sufficient available Revolving Commitments (or backstopping arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer have been made) to cover its exposure in respect thereof.

 

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2.04 Swingline Loans.

(a) Borrowing Procedures. Each Swingline Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent by delivery to the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent of a written Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each such notice must be received by the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $100,000, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Promptly after receipt by the Swingline Lender of any Loan Notice, the Swingline Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Loan Notice and, if not, the Swingline Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swingline Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent prior to 3:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date of the proposed Swingline Borrowing directing the Swingline Lender not to make such Swingline Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in this Article II, or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 5.01 (if on the Closing Date) or Section 5.02 is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swingline Lender will, not later than 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the borrowing date specified in such Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swingline Loan available to the Borrower at its office by crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Swingline Lender in immediately available funds. The Swingline Lender shall not be required to make any Swingline Loan at any time when a Revolving Lender is a Defaulting Lender (except if all of the Swingline Exposure of such Defaulting Lender is reallocated pursuant to Section 2.14).

(b) Refinancing.

(i) The Swingline Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may (and, in any event, within ten (10) Business Days of the applicable Swingline Borrowing, shall) request that each Revolving Lender fund its risk participations in Swingline Loans in an amount equal to such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage of Swingline Loans then outstanding. Each Revolving Lender shall make an amount equal to its Revolving Commitment Percentage of the amount specified in such notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds for the account of the Swingline Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the day specified in such notice. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swingline Lender.

(ii) Each Revolving Lender’s funding of its risk participation in the relevant Swingline Loan and each Revolving Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(b)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

(iii) If any Revolving Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender any amount required to be paid by such Revolving Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(b) by the time specified in Section 2.04(b)(i), the Swingline Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Revolving

 

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Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swingline Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Swingline Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swingline Lender in connection with the foregoing. If such Revolving Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Revolving Lender’s funded participation in the relevant Swingline Loan. A certificate of the Swingline Lender submitted to any Revolving Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(iv) Each Revolving Lender’s obligation to purchase and fund risk participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(b) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such Revolving Lender may have against the Swingline Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or Event of Default, (C) non-compliance with the conditions set forth in Section 5.02 or (D) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided that the Swingline Lender has complied with the provisions of Section 2.04(a). No such purchase or funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay Swingline Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

(c) Repayment of Participations.

(i) At any time after any Revolving Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swingline Loan, if the Swingline Lender receives any payment on account of such Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender will distribute to such Revolving Lender its Revolving Commitment Percentage of such payment (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Revolving Lender’s risk participation was funded) in the same funds as those received by the Swingline Lender.

(ii) If any payment received by the Swingline Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swingline Loan is required to be returned by the Swingline Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 11.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swingline Lender in its discretion), each Revolving Lender shall pay to the Swingline Lender its Revolving Commitment Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swingline Lender. The obligations of the Revolving Lenders under this clause (ii) shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

(d) Interest for Account of Swingline Lender. The Swingline Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Swingline Loans. Until each Revolving Lender funds its risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 of any Swingline Loan, interest in respect thereof shall be solely for the account of the Swingline Lender.

 

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(e) Payments Directly to Swingline Lender. The Borrower shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swingline Loans directly to the Swingline Lender.

2.05 Repayment of Loans.

(a) Revolving Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Revolving Lenders the Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans on the Revolving Termination Date.

(b) Swingline Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Swingline Lender the Outstanding Amount of the Swingline Loans on the Revolving Termination Date.

2.06 Prepayments.

(a) Voluntary Prepayments. The Loans may be repaid in whole or in part without premium or penalty (except in the case of Loans other than Base Rate Loans, amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.05); provided that:

(i) in the case of Loans other than Swingline Loans, (A) notice thereof must be received by 12:00 noon (New York City time) by the Administrative Agent at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date of prepayment, in the case of Term SOFR Rate Loans, and one (1) Business Day prior to the date of prepayment, in the case of Base Rate Loans, (B) any such prepayment shall be a minimum principal amount of (x) $500,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof, in the case of Term SOFR Rate Loans and (y) $500,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof, in the case of Base Rate Loans, or, in each case, the entire remaining principal amount thereof, if less; and

(ii) in the case of Swingline Loans, (A) notice thereof must be received by the Swingline Lender by 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date of prepayment (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), and (B) any such prepayment shall be in the same minimum principal amounts as for advances thereof (or any lesser amount that may be acceptable to the Swingline Lender).

Each such notice of voluntary prepayment hereunder shall be irrevocable and shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment, the Loans and Types of Loans that are being prepaid and, if Term SOFR Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will give prompt notice to the applicable Lenders of any prepayment on the Loans and the Lender’s interest therein. Prepayments of Term SOFR Rate Loans hereunder shall be accompanied by accrued interest on the amount prepaid and breakage or other amounts due, if any, under Section 3.05. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a notice of voluntary prepayment delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or other contingent events, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied.

(b) Mandatory Prepayments. Subject in each case to Section 2.06(c):

 

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(i) Revolving Commitments. If at any time (1) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Obligations shall exceed the Aggregate Revolving Committed Amount, (2) the Outstanding Amount of Swingline Loans shall exceed the Swingline Sublimit or (3) the L/C Obligations shall exceed the L/C Sublimit, immediate prepayment will be made on or in respect of the applicable Revolving Obligations in an amount equal to such difference; provided, however, that, except under the circumstances described in Section 2.03(a)(ii)(E), 2.03(g), 2.14(d) or 9.02(c), L/C Obligations will not be Cash Collateralized hereunder until the Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans have been paid in full.

(ii) Term SOFR Prepayment Account. If the Borrower is required to make a mandatory prepayment of Term SOFR Rate Loans under this Section 2.06(b), so long as no Event of Default exists, the Borrower shall have the right, in lieu of making such prepayment in full, to deposit an amount equal to such mandatory prepayment with the Administrative Agent in a cash collateral account maintained (pursuant to documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) by the Administrative Agent. Any amounts so deposited shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the prepayment of such Term SOFR Rate Loans and shall be applied to the prepayment of the applicable Term SOFR Rate Loans at the earliest of (x) the end of the current Interest Periods applicable thereto, (y) three (3) months following the date of such deposit and (z) at the election of the Administrative Agent, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default. At the request of the Borrower, amounts so deposited shall be invested by the Administrative Agent in Cash Equivalents maturing on or prior to the date or dates on which it is anticipated that such amounts will be applied to prepay such Term SOFR Rate Loans; any interest earned on such Cash Equivalents will be for the account of the Borrower and the Borrower will deposit with the Administrative Agent the amount of any loss on any such Cash Equivalents to the extent necessary in order that the amount of the prepayment to be made with the deposited amounts may not be reduced.

(c) Application. Within each Loan, prepayments will be applied first to Base Rate Loans, then to Term SOFR Rate Loans in direct order of Interest Period maturities. In addition:

(i) Voluntary Prepayments of Loans. Voluntary prepayments of any Class of Loans will be paid by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective interests in such Class of Loans.

(ii) Mandatory Prepayments of Loans. Mandatory prepayments will be paid by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective interests therein; provided that mandatory prepayments in respect of the Revolving Commitments under Section 2.06(b)(i) above shall be applied to the respective Revolving Obligations as appropriate.

2.07 Termination or Reduction of Commitments.

The Revolving Commitments hereunder may be permanently reduced in whole or in part by notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent; provided that (i) any such notice thereof must be received by 12:00 noon (New York City time) at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date of reduction or termination and any such reduction or terminations shall be in a minimum

 

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amount of $500,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof; and (ii) the Commitments may not be reduced to an amount less than the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Obligations that will be then outstanding thereunder. The Administrative Agent will give prompt notice to the Lenders of any such reduction in Commitments. Any reduction of any Commitments shall be applied to the Commitment of each applicable Lender according to its Pro Rata Share. All commitment or other fees accrued with respect to any Commitment through the effective date of any termination thereof shall be paid on the effective date of such termination. A notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or other events, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied.

2.08 Interest.

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08(b) below, (i) each Term SOFR Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Loan that is a Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate; and (iii) each Swingline Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

(b) If any amount payable by the Borrower under any Credit Document is not paid when due, then such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law.

(c) Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

(d) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

(e) Conforming Changes Relating to SOFR. With respect to the Term SOFR Rate, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time with the consent of the Borrower and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or any other Credit Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other the Credit Documents; provided that, the Administrative Agent shall provide notice to the Lenders of each such amendment implementing such Conforming Changes reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.

 

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2.09 Fees.

(a) Commitment Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender in accordance with its Revolving Commitment Percentage, a commitment fee equal to the Commitment Fee Rate times the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate Revolving Committed Amount exceeds the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, any Swingline Loans) and (ii) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations, (such fees, collectively, the “Commitment Fees”). The Commitment Fees shall accrue from and including the Closing Date, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date; provided that all outstanding Commitment Fees shall be due and payable on the Revolving Termination Date.

(b) Letter of Credit Fees.

(i) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Revolving Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share, a Letter of Credit fee, in Dollars, for each Letter of Credit, an amount equal to the Applicable Rate for Revolving Loans that are Term SOFR Rate Loans multiplied by the daily maximum undrawn Outstanding Amount under such Letter of Credit (the “Letter of Credit Fees”). For purposes of computing the daily undrawn Outstanding Amount under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. The Letter of Credit Fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears, and shall be due and payable on the tenth (10th) day of each January, April, July and October (for the Letter of Credit Fees accrued during the previous calendar quarter or portion thereof), commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the L/C Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, while any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under Section 9.01(a) or (f), all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.

(ii) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuers. The Borrower shall pay directly to the applicable L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by it equal to 0.125% per annum of the daily maximum amount then available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fee shall be due and payable on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December (for fronting fees accrued during such calendar quarter or portion thereof), commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the L/C Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. In addition, the Borrower shall pay directly to each L/C Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the applicable L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.

(c) Other Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Administrative Agent Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever, except as set forth in the Administrative Agent Fee Letter.

 

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2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees.

All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by the Administrative Agent’s prime rate shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid; provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.11(a), bear interest for one (1) day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

2.11 Payments Generally; Administrative Agents Clawback.

(a) General. All payments to be made by any Credit Party hereunder shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. All payments of principal and interest on any Loan shall be payable in Dollars. All payments of fees pursuant to Section 2.09 shall be payable in Dollars. All payments in respect of Unreimbursed Amounts shall be payable in Dollars. All other payments herein shall be payable in Dollars. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Same Day Funds not later than 3:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Pro Rata Share of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 3:00 p.m. (New York City time) shall be deemed received on the immediately succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. Subject to the definition of “Interest Period,” if any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by the Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed time of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in Same Day Funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the

 

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Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

(ii) Payments by the Borrower; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the applicable L/C Issuer hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the applicable Lenders or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the L/C Issuers, as the case may be, receiving any such payment severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or L/C Issuer, in Same Day Funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this Section 2.11(b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article V are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

(d) Obligation of the Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 11.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 11.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 11.04(c).

 

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(e) Funding Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

(f) Insufficient Funds. If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, L/C Borrowings, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, toward payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, toward payment of principal and L/C Borrowings then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and L/C Borrowings then due to such parties.

2.12 Sharing of Payments by Lenders.

If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Loans made by it or the participations in L/C Obligations or in Swingline Loans held by it resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and sub-participations in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing to them; provided that:

(a) if any such participations or sub-participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or sub-participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and

(b) the provisions of this Section 2.12 shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement, (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or sub-participations in L/C Obligations or Swingline Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section 2.12 shall apply) or (z) any payments made pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.16.

Each Credit Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Credit Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Credit Party in the amount of such participation.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the provisions of this Section 2.12 shall be subject to the express provisions of this Agreement which require, or permit, differing payments to be made to non-Defaulting Lenders as opposed to Defaulting Lenders.

 

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2.13 Evidence of Debt.

(a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and evidenced by one or more entries in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent, acting solely for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 5f.103-1(c) as a non-fiduciary agent for the Borrower, in each case in the ordinary course of business. Each other Agent shall promptly provide the Administrative Agent with all information needed to maintain such accounts in respect of the Loans administered by such Agent. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a Note for such Lender, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

(b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in Section 2.13(a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records and, in the case of the Administrative Agent, entries in the Register, evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

(c) Each Lender having sold a participation in any of its Obligations, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent for the Borrower, shall maintain a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of such Participants (and each change thereto, whether by assignment or otherwise) and the rights, interest or obligation of such Participants in any Obligation, in any Commitment and in any right to receive any payments hereunder.

2.14 Defaulting Lenders.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender hereunder (as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent or, in the case of clause (d) below, any applicable L/C Issuer), then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Defaulting Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

(a) the Administrative Agent (or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be) shall promptly notify the Borrower and each Lender that such Lender is a Defaulting Lender for purposes of this Agreement;

 

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(b) fees under Section 2.09(a) shall cease to accrue on the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender (except to the extent reallocated pursuant to Section 2.14(e));

(c) the Commitments and Loans of such Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded for all purposes of any determination of whether the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment or waiver pursuant to Section 11.01);

(d) if any Swingline Loan or Letter of Credit is outstanding at the time the notice described in clause (a) above is provided, the Borrower shall within one (1) Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent (i) prepay such Swingline Loan and (ii) cash collateralize such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Obligations in accordance with Section 2.03(a)(ii)(E) and on terms similar to the procedures set forth in Section 2.03(g) for so long as such L/C Obligations are outstanding; provided that, to the extent the sum of the total Revolving Obligations (other than any Revolving Obligations constituting outstanding Revolving Loans made by any Defaulting Lender but including each Defaulting Lender’s L/C Obligations and Swingline Exposure) does not exceed the sum of the total Revolving Commitments (excluding the Revolving Commitment of any Defaulting Lender except to the extent of any outstanding Revolving Loans of such Defaulting Lender), the Administrative Agent shall, by notice to the Revolving Lenders, elect to reallocate the Swingline Exposure among all non-Defaulting Lenders by disregarding the Revolving Commitments of all Defaulting Lenders (except to the extent of any outstanding Revolving Loans of such Defaulting Lenders) for purposes of calculating each non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage, and no such Swingline Loan shall be required to be repaid, and no L/C Obligations shall be required to be cash collateralized, pursuant to this Section 2.14(d) to the extent of such reallocation;

(e) to the extent:

(i) the Borrower cash collateralizes any Defaulting Lender’s L/C Obligations pursuant to Section 2.14(d), the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.09(b)(i) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Obligations during the period such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Obligations are cash collateralized (but shall be reallocated pursuant to clause (ii) below);

(ii) the L/C Obligations of the non-Defaulting Lenders are reallocated pursuant to the proviso to Section 2.14(d), then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.09(b)(i) shall be adjusted proportionately to reflect such reallocation; or

(iii) the Borrower fails to cash collateralize any Defaulting Lender’s L/C Obligations pursuant to Section 2.14(d) and the L/C Obligations are not reallocated pursuant to the proviso to Section 2.14(d), then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of any L/C Issuer or any Lender hereunder, all fees that otherwise would have been payable to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.09(b)(i) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Obligations shall be payable to each applicable L/C Issuer until such L/C Obligations are cash collateralized or reallocated pursuant to Section 2.14(d);

 

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(f) for purposes of determining:

(i) the amount of the total Commitments for purposes of Sections 2.01, 2.03(b) and 2.04(a), the Commitment of each Defaulting Lender shall be excluded therefrom (other than any portion of such Commitment pursuant to which there is then outstanding a Loan from such Defaulting Lender); and

(ii) the applicable L/C Obligations of any Lender with respect to any Letter of Credit that is issued, increased (to the extent of the increase only) or renewed (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not with respect to any other applicable L/C Obligations relating to any other Letter of Credit) during the period in which there is a Defaulting Lender or the Swingline Exposure of any Lender with respect to any Swingline Loan made during the period in which there is a Defaulting Lender, the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender shall be deemed to be zero; and

(g) any amount paid by the Borrower for the account of a Defaulting Lender that was or is a Lender under this Agreement (whether on account of principal, interest, fees, indemnity payments or other amounts) will not be paid or distributed to such Defaulting Lender, but will instead be retained by the Administrative Agent in a segregated non-interest-bearing account until (subject to the proviso set out below) the Revolving Termination Date and will be applied by the Administrative Agent, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, to the making of payments from time to time in the following order of priority: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent under this Agreement; second, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the L/C Issuers or the Swingline Lender (pro rata as to the respective amounts owing to each of them) under this Agreement; third, to Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ fronting exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 2.03(g); fourth, to the funding of any Revolving Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement; fifth, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Revolving Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ future fronting exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 2.03(g); sixth, to the payment of post-default interest and then current interest due and payable to the Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders, ratably among them in accordance with the amounts of such interest then due and payable to them; seventh, to the payment of fees then due and payable to the Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders), ratably among them in accordance with the amounts of such fees then due and payable to them; eighth, to pay unreimbursed payments made by the L/C Issuers pursuant to a Letter of Credit then due and payable to the Lenders that are Non-Defaulting Lenders ratably in accordance with the amounts thereof then due and payable to them; ninth, to the ratable payment of other amounts then due and payable to the Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders); tenth, on the Revolving Termination Date, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eleventh, after the Revolving Termination Date, to pay amounts owing under this Agreement to such Defaulting Lender or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.

 

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In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrower, each L/C Issuer and the Swingline Lender each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender that such Lender has ceased to be a Defaulting Lender and, from and after the date of such notification, the Swingline Exposure and L/C Obligations of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Commitment and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders (other than Swingline Loans) as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Pro Rata Share thereof; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while such Lender was a Defaulting Lender; provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to non-Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Lender having been a Defaulting Lender.

2.15 Extended Revolving Commitments.

(a) The Borrower may at any time and from time to time request that all or a portion of the Revolving Commitments of any Class (the Commitments of such applicable Class, the “Existing Revolving Commitments”) be converted into a new Class of Revolving Commitments (the Commitments of such applicable Class, the “Extended Revolving Commitments”) with terms consistent with this Section 2.15. In order to establish any Extended Revolving Commitments, the Borrower shall provide a notice to the Administrative Agent (an “Extension Request”) setting forth the proposed terms of the Extended Revolving Commitments to be established, which terms shall be substantially identical to those applicable to the Existing Revolving Commitments, as determined by the Borrower in good faith and such determination shall be conclusive evidence that such terms are substantially identical to such Existing Revolving Commitment (unless a Lender shall have objected thereto in writing within five (5) Business Days and has set forth such Lender’s objections with specificity), except that:

(i) the maturity date of the Extended Revolving Commitments shall be later than the maturity date of the Existing Revolving Commitments;

(ii) (A) the interest rates, interest margins, rate floors, upfront fees, funding discounts, original issue discounts and premiums with respect to the Extended Revolving Commitments may be different than those for the Existing Revolving Commitments, (B) additional fees and/or premiums may be payable to the Extending Lenders in addition to or in lieu of any of the items contemplated by the preceding clause (A) and/or (C) the undrawn revolving credit commitment fee rate with respect to the Extended Revolving Commitments may be different than those for the Existing Revolving Commitments;

(iii) subject to the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Credit Parties may be subject to covenants and other terms for the benefit of the Extending Lenders that

(iv) apply only after the Final Maturity Date of the Existing Revolving Commitments (before giving effect to the Extended Revolving Commitments) or (y) are also added for the benefit of all Lenders holding Existing Revolving Commitments;

 

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(v) no existing Lender shall be required to provide any Extended Revolving Commitments and no Existing Revolving Commitments will become Extended Revolving Commitments without such party’s affirmative consent thereto; and

(vi) any applicable Minimum Extension Condition shall be satisfied unless waived by the Borrower.

(b) Each Extension Request shall specify the date (the “Extension Effective Date”) on which the Borrower proposes that the conversion of an Existing Class into an Extended Class shall be effective, which shall be a date reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Each Lender of an Existing Class that is requested to be extended shall be offered the opportunity to convert its Existing Class into the Extended Class on the same basis as each other Lender of such Existing Class. Any Lender (to the extent applicable, an “Extending Lender”) wishing to have all or a portion of its Existing Class subject to such Extension Request converted into an Extended Class shall notify the Administrative Agent (an “Extension Election”) on or prior to the date specified in such Extension Request of the amount of its Existing Class subject to such Extension Request that it has elected to convert into an Extended Class. In the event that the aggregate portion of the Existing Class subject to Extension Elections exceeds the amount of the Extended Class requested pursuant to the Extension Request, the portion of the Existing Class converted shall be allocated on a pro rata basis based on the amount of the Existing Class included in each such Extension Election. Notwithstanding the conversion of any Existing Revolving Commitment into an Extended Revolving Commitment, such Extended Revolving Commitment shall be treated identically with all Existing Revolving Commitments for purposes of the obligations of a Revolving Lender in respect of Swingline Loans under Section 2.01(c) and Letters of Credit under Section 2.03, except that the applicable Additional Credit Extension Amendment may provide that the maturity date for Swingline Loans and/or the Letters of Credit may be extended and the related obligations to make Swingline Loans and issue Letters of Credit may be continued so long as the Swingline Lender and/or the applicable L/C Issuer, as applicable, have consented to such extensions in their sole discretion (it being understood that no consent of any other Lender (other than the Extending Lenders) shall be required in connection with any such extension). In no event may the Swingline Sublimit or the L/C Sublimit be increased without the consent of the Swingline Lender or each L/C Issuer, as the case may be.

(c) An Extended Class shall be established pursuant to an Additional Credit Extension Amendment executed by the Extending Lenders (and the other Persons specified in the definition of “Additional Credit Extension Amendment” but no other existing Lender). No Additional Credit Extension Amendment shall provide for any Class of Extended Revolving Commitments in an aggregate principal amount that is less than $5.0 million.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, on the Extension Effective Date, (i) the amount of each Existing Revolving Commitment shall be deemed reduced by an amount equal to the amount converted into an Extended Revolving Commitment and (ii) if, on any Extension Effective Date, any Loans of any Extending Lender are outstanding under the applicable Existing Revolving Commitments, such Loans (and any related participations) shall be deemed to be converted into Loans (and related participations) made pursuant to the Extended Revolving Commitments in the same proportion as such Extending Lender’s Existing Revolving Commitments are converted to Extended Revolving Commitments.

 

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(e) This Section 2.15 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.12 or 11.01 to the contrary. Each Extended Class shall be documented by an Additional Credit Extension Amendment executed by the Extending Lenders providing such Extended Class (and the other persons specified in the definition of “Additional Credit Extension Amendment” but no other existing Lender), and the Additional Credit Extension Amendment may provide for such amendments to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as may be necessary or appropriate in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower to effect the provisions of this Section 2.15.

(f) The Borrower may at its election specify as a condition (a “Minimum Extension Condition”) to consummating any such extension that a minimum amount (to be determined and specified in the relevant Extension Request in the Borrower’s sole discretion and which may be waived by the Borrower) of Revolving Commitments of any or all applicable tranches be tendered. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby consent to the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.15 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, payment of any interest, fees or premium in respect of any Extended Revolving Commitments on such terms as may be set forth in the relevant Extension Request (which shall be consistent with the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.15)) and hereby waive the requirements of any provision of this Agreement (including Sections 2.06, 2.12 and 11.01) or any other Credit Document that may otherwise prohibit or conflict with any such extension or any other transaction contemplated by this Section 2.15.

2.16 Replacement Revolving Commitments.

(a) The Borrower may at any time and from time to time, with the consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), request the establishment of one or more additional Classes of Revolving Commitments (“Replacement Revolving Commitments”) to replace all or a portion of any existing Classes of Revolving Commitments under this Agreement (“Replaced Revolving Commitments”); provided that:

(i) substantially concurrently with the effectiveness of the Replacement Revolving Commitments, all or an equivalent portion of the Revolving Commitments in effect immediately prior to such effectiveness shall be terminated, and all or an equivalent portion of the Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans then outstanding, together with all interest thereon, and all other amounts accrued for the benefit of the Revolving Lenders, shall be repaid or paid (it being understood, however, than any Letters of Credit issued and outstanding under the Replaced Revolving Commitments shall be deemed to have been issued under the Replacement Revolving Commitments if the amount of such Letters of Credit would exceed the remaining amount of commitments under the Replaced Revolving Commitments after giving effect to the reduction contemplated hereby);

(ii) such Replacement Revolving Commitments shall be in an aggregate amount not greater than the aggregate amount of Replaced Revolving Commitments to be replaced plus any accrued interest, fees, costs and expenses related thereto (including any upfront fees);

(iii) the final maturity date of such Replacement Revolving Commitments shall be later than the maturity date of the Replaced Revolving Commitments;

 

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(iv) the L/C Sublimit and the Swingline Sublimit under such Replacement Revolving Commitments shall be as agreed between the Borrower, the Lenders providing such Replacement Revolving Commitments, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer (or any replacement L/C Issuer) and the Swingline Lender (or any replacement Swingline Lender); provided that in no event may the Swingline Sublimit of any Swingline Lender or the L/C Sublimit of any L/C Issuer be increased without its consent;

(v) (A) the pricing, rate floors, discounts, fees and optional prepayment or redemption provisions applicable to such Replacement Revolving Commitments shall be as agreed between the Borrower and the Replacement Revolving Lenders so long as, in the case of any optional prepayment or redemption provisions, such Replacement Revolving Lenders do not participate on a greater than pro rata basis in any such prepayments as compared to Replaced Revolving Commitments and (B) the covenants and other terms applicable to such Replacement Revolving Commitments (excluding those terms described in the immediately preceding clause (A)), which shall be as agreed between the Borrower and the lenders providing such Replacement Revolving Commitments, shall not be more favorable (when taken as a whole) to the lenders providing the Replacement Revolving Commitments than those applicable to the Replaced Revolving Commitments (as determined by the Borrower in good faith), except to the extent such covenants and other terms apply solely to any period after the Final Maturity Date applicable under this Agreement (before giving effect to the Replacement Revolving Commitments) or such covenants or other terms apply equally for the benefit of the other Lenders; provided that the Replacement Revolving Commitments may be guaranteed by Subsidiaries that are Credit Parties (but not other Subsidiaries);

(vi) no existing Lender shall be required to provide any Replacement Revolving Commitments;

(vii) the Replacement Revolving Commitments shall rank pari passu in right of payment and security with the existing Revolving Commitments; and

(viii) any Loans under a Replacement Revolving Commitment will be drawn and participate in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans on a pro rata basis with any existing Revolving Commitments.

(b) Each such notice shall specify (x) the date on which the Borrower proposes that the Replacement Revolving Commitments become effective, which shall be a date reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and (y) the identity of the Persons (each of which shall be a Person that would be an Eligible Assignee (for this purpose treating a Lender of Replacement Revolving Commitments as if it were an assignee)) whom the Borrower proposes would provide the Replacement Revolving Commitments (each such person, a “Replacement Revolving Lender”) and the portion of the Replacement Revolving Commitments to be provided by each such Person.

(c) This Section 2.16 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.12 or 11.01 to the contrary. The Replacement Revolving Commitments shall be documented by an Additional Credit Extension Amendment executed by the Persons providing the Replacement Revolving Commitments (and the other Persons specified in the definition of “Additional Credit Extension

 

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Amendment” but no other existing Lender), and the Additional Credit Extension Amendment may provide for such amendments to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.16.

ARTICLE III

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

3.01 Taxes.

(a) Payments Free of Taxes. Except as otherwise required by Law (as determined in the good faith discretion of the applicable Withholding Agent), any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Credit Parties hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall be made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Taxes; provided that if any applicable Withholding Agent shall be required by applicable Law (as determined in the good faith discretion of the applicable Withholding Agent) to deduct or withhold any Taxes in respect of such payments, then (i) if the Tax in question is an Indemnified Tax, the sum payable by the applicable Credit Party shall be increased as necessary so that after all required deductions or withholdings have been made (including deductions or withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) the applicable Lender (or in the case of a payment received by an Agent for its own account, such Agent) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made; provided that, if the applicable Withholding Agent in respect of an Indemnified Tax is a Person other than a Credit Party or the Administrative Agent (e.g., in the case of U.S. federal withholding taxes, a Lender that is a U.S. partnership), the additional amounts required to be paid by a Credit Party under this Section 3.01(a) in respect of such Indemnified Tax shall not be greater than the additional amounts such Credit Party would have been obligated to pay had such Credit Party made payment of such sum directly to the applicable beneficial owner of such payment, (ii) the applicable Withholding Agent shall make such deductions or withholdings and (iii) the applicable Withholding Agent shall timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Law.

(b) Payment of Other Taxes. Without limiting the provisions of Section 3.01(a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Law, or at the request of the Administrative Agent reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.

(c) Indemnification by the Borrower. Without duplication of any amounts payable under Section 3.01(a), the Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender within ten (10) days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 3.01) payable by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability, together with any reasonable supporting documentation, delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive

 

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absent manifest error. Upon the reasonable request of any Credit Party, the Lenders, and the Administrative Agent agree to use their reasonable efforts to cooperate with such Credit Party (at such Credit Party’s expense) in claiming a refund of, any Indemnified Taxes paid by such Credit Party pursuant to this Section 3.01, that such Credit Party reasonably believes were not correctly or legally asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority unless such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, determines in good faith that pursuing such a refund would be materially disadvantageous to it. Any refund obtained pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be payable to the Borrower in accordance with and to the extent provided by Section 3.01(f).

(d) Evidence of Payments. As soon as reasonably practicable after any payment of Taxes pursuant to this Section 3.01 by a Credit Party to a Governmental Authority, such Credit Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e) Status of Lenders. Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Credit Document shall, to the extent it is legally eligible to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested in writing by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation that is required by applicable Law and that is reasonably requested in writing by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested in writing by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall, to the extent it is legally eligible to do so, deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable Law and reasonably requested in writing by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Each Lender agrees that if any documentation it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such documentation or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal ineligibility to do so.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

(i) each U.S. Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter when required by Law or upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) two (2) duly completed copies of IRS Form W-9 (or any successor form) certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding;

(ii) each Non-U.S. Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter when required by Law or upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) two (2) duly completed copies of an applicable IRS Form W-8, certifying that it is not a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code; provided that, each Non-U.S. Lender that becomes a party to this Agreement after the Closing Date, the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement) (and from time to time thereafter when required by Law or upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) two (2) duly completed copies of whichever of the following is applicable:

 

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(A) in the case of a Non-U.S. Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Credit Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or W- 8BEN-E (or any successor forms) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and/or (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Credit Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or any successor forms) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such treaty,

(B) IRS Form W-8ECI (or any successor forms),

(C) in the case of a Non-U.S. Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 871(h) or Section 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, (x) a certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit C-1 to the effect that such Non-U.S. Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code, and that no payments in connection with the Credit Documents are effectively connected with such Lender’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business (a “United States Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or any successor forms),

(D) to the extent a Non-U.S. Lender is not the beneficial owner, IRS Form W-8IMY (or any successor forms), accompanied by a IRS Form W-8ECI, W-8BEN, W8IMY, W-8BEN-E or W-9, United States Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C-2 or Exhibit C-3 (or, in each case, other successor forms) and/or any other required documentation from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that, if the Non-U.S. Lender is a partnership (and not a participating Lender) and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Non-U.S. Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Non-U.S. Lender may provide a United States Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C-4 on behalf of such direct or indirect partner(s),

(E) any other form prescribed by applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax duly completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Laws to permit the applicable Withholding Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made (if any) on any payments to such Lender under the Credit Documents.

 

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(iii) If a payment made to a Lender under any Credit Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Sections 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by Law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their FATCA obligations, to determine whether such Lender has or has not complied with such Lender’s FATCA obligations and to determine the amount, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this Section 3.01(e)(iii), FATCA shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

(iv) The Administrative Agent (and any assignee or successor) will deliver, to the Borrower, on or prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement (or, assignment or succession, if applicable), either (i) (A) two (2) executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI with respect to any amounts payable to the Administrative Agent for its own account and (B) two (2) duly completed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY (certifying that it is either a “qualified intermediary” that assumes primary responsibility for U.S. federal withholding or a “U.S. branch” that has agreed to be treated as a U.S. person with respect to payments under the Loans) for the amounts the Administrative Agent receives for the account of Lenders, or (ii) two (2) executed copies of IRS Form W-9, whichever is applicable. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 3.01(e), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to deliver any documentation that such Administrative Agent is not legally eligible to deliver as a result of a Change in Law after the date on which such Administrative Agent becomes the Administrative Agent hereunder. The Administrative Agent agrees that if any documentation it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such documentation or promptly notify the Borrower in writing of its legal ineligibility to do so.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 3.01(e), a Lender shall not be required to deliver any documentation that such Lender is not legally eligible to deliver. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to deliver to the Borrower and any successor Administrative Agent any documentation delivered by the Lender to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 3.01(e).

(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If the Administrative Agent or any Lender determines, in its reasonable discretion, exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Indemnified Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by any Credit Party or with respect to which a Credit Party has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall pay to the applicable Credit Party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Credit Party under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Indemnified Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including any Taxes imposed with respect to the refund) of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant

 

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Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided that the applicable Credit Party, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to such Credit Party pursuant to this Section 3.01(f) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This Section 3.01(f) shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to any Credit Party or any other Person. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in no event will any Lender or the Administrative Agent be required to pay any amount to any Credit Party the payment of which would place such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, in a less favorable net after-Tax position than such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, would have been in if the Indemnified Tax giving rise to such refund had never been imposed.

(g) Survival of Obligations. Each party’s obligations under this Section 3.01 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Credit Document

(h) L/C Issuers and Swingline Lenders. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 3.01, the term “Lender” shall include any L/C Issuer and the Swingline Lender.

3.02 Illegality.

If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Term SOFR Rate Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Term SOFR Rate, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Term SOFR Rate Loans or to convert Loans that are Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Rate Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Term SOFR Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Term SOFR Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Term SOFR Rate Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

3.03 Inability to Determine Rates; Benchmark Replacement Setting.

(a) Inability to Determine Rates. If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term SOFR Rate Loan:

(i) the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that (x) the Term SOFR Rate cannot be determined pursuant to the definition thereof; or (y) a fundamental change has occurred with respect to the Term SOFR Rate (including, without limitation, changes in national or international financial, political or economic conditions); or

 

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(ii) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the Term SOFR Rate for the applicable Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of funding, establishing or maintaining such Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone, telecopy or electronic mail as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (A) any request for the conversion of any Loan to, or continuation of a Loan in Dollars as, a Term SOFR Rate Loan shall be ineffective and such Loan shall be continued as a Base Rate Loan and (B) if any Loan Notice requests a Loan that is a Term SOFR Rate Loan, such Loan shall be made as a Base Rate Loan.

(b) Benchmark Replacement Setting.

(i) Benchmark Replacement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any Credit Document, if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred on or after the Closing Date and prior to any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (A) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (1) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Credit Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Credit Document and (B) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Credit Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Credit Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.

(ii) Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Credit Document.

 

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(iii) Notices. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (A) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, and (B) the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement. The Administrative Agent will notify the Borrower of (x) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to Section 3.03(b)(iv) below and (y) the commencement of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 3.03(b), including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Credit Document except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 3.03.

(iv) Unavailability of Tenor of Benchmarks. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (A) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate and either (I) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (II) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is not or will not be representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor; and (B) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (A) above either (I) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (II) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is not or will not be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.

(v) Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for, conversion to or continuation of a loan to be made, converted or continued at the then-current Benchmark during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for an advance or conversion to Base Rate Loans. During a Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of any Base Rate Loans based upon such then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination thereof.

3.04 Increased Cost; Capital Adequacy.

(a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:

 

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(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, insurance charge or similar requirement against, credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in the Term SOFR Rate) or L/C Issuer;

(ii) subject any Lender or L/C Issuer to any Tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to any Credit Document, any Letter of Credit, any participation in a Letter of Credit or any Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender or L/C Issuer in respect thereof (except, in each case, for Indemnified Taxes, any Taxes described in clauses (b) through (e) of the definition of “Excluded Taxes” and Connection Income Taxes); or

(iii) impose on any Lender or L/C Issuer or relevant market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Term SOFR Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Term SOFR Rate Loan (or, in the case of clause (ii) above, any Loan), or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan, or to increase the cost to such Lender or L/C Issuer of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or L/C Issuer, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered; provided that, such increased costs may only be requested by a Lender imposing such increased costs on borrowers similarly situated to the Borrower under credit facilities comparable to those provided hereunder.

(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender or L/C Issuer determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or L/C Issuer’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or L/C Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law, then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or L/C Issuer’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender or L/C Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in Section 3.04(a) or (b) and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

 

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(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or L/C Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or L/C Issuer’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or L/C Issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than one hundred and eighty (180) days prior to the date that such Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or L/C Issuer’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the one hundred and eighty (180) days period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

3.05 Compensation for Losses.

Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any reasonable loss, cost or expense (but not loss of profit) actually incurred by it as a result of:

(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Term SOFR Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, pursuant to Section 2.01(e)(iv), by reason of acceleration, or otherwise); or

(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or

(c) any assignment of a Term SOFR Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 11.13;

including any reasonable loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

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(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 (or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 11.13.

(c) Limitation on Additional Amounts, Etc. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article III, unless a Lender gives notice to the Borrower that it is obligated to pay an amount under this Article III within one hundred and eighty (180) days after the latest of the date the Lender incurs the respective increased costs, loss, expense or liability, reduction in amounts received or receivable or reduction in return on capital, (ii) the date such Lender has actual knowledge of its incurrence of the respective increased costs, loss, expense or liability, reductions in amounts received or receivable or reduction in return on capital or (iii) where the increased costs, loss, expense, liability, etc. relates to a third party claim (e.g., a Tax claim), the date on which the Lender has actual knowledge of such claim, then such Lender shall not be entitled to be compensated for such amounts by the Borrower pursuant to this Article III to the extent any portion of such amounts are directly attributable (e.g., late penalties payable on a third party claim) to such Lender’s failure to provide notice within the required period.

3.07 Survival Losses.

All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, resignation of the Administrative Agent and any assignment of rights by, or replacement of, any Lender or L/C Issuer.

ARTICLE IV

GUARANTY

4.01 The Guaranty.

(a) Each of the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally guarantees (other than with respect to its own Obligations) to the Administrative Agent and each of the holders of the Obligations, as hereinafter provided, as primary obligor and not as surety, the prompt payment of the Borrower Obligations (the “Guaranteed Obligations”) in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise) strictly in accordance with the terms thereof. The Guarantors hereby further agree that if any of the Guaranteed Obligations are not paid in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise), the Guarantors will, jointly and severally, promptly pay the same, without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in any other of the Credit Documents, Swap Contracts or other documents relating to the Guaranteed Obligations, the obligations of each Guarantor under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render such obligations subject to avoidance under the Debtor Relief Laws or any comparable provisions of any applicable state law.

4.02 Obligations Unconditional.

The obligations of the Guarantors under Section 4.01 are joint and several, absolute and unconditional, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of any of the Credit Documents or other documents relating to the Obligations, or any substitution, compromise, release, impairment or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 4.02 that the obligations of the Guarantors hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances, but subject in any case to Sections 10.10 and 10.12. Each Guarantor agrees that such Guarantor shall have no right of subrogation, indemnity, reimbursement or contribution against the Borrower or any other Guarantor for amounts paid under this Article IV until such time as the Obligations have been irrevocably paid in full and the commitments relating thereto have expired or been terminated. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of any Guarantor hereunder, which shall remain absolute and unconditional as described above:

(a) at any time or from time to time, without notice to any Guarantor, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived;

(b) any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of any of the Credit Documents, or other documents relating to the Guaranteed Obligations or any other agreement or instrument referred to therein shall be done or omitted;

(c) the maturity of any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the Obligations shall be modified, supplemented or amended in any respect, or any right under any of the Credit Documents or other documents relating to the Guaranteed Obligations, or any other agreement or instrument referred to therein shall be waived or any other guarantee of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any security therefor shall be released, impaired or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with;

(d) any Lien granted to, or in favor of, the Administrative Agent or any of the holders of the Guaranteed Obligations as security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall fail to attach or be perfected; or

(e) any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be determined to be void or voidable (including, without limitation, for the benefit of any creditor of any Guarantor) or shall be subordinated to the claims of any Person (including, without limitation, any creditor of any Guarantor).

 

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With respect to its obligations hereunder, each Guarantor hereby expressly waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest, notice of acceptance of the guaranty given hereby and of extensions of credit that may constitute obligations guaranteed hereby, notices of amendments, waivers and supplements to the Credit Documents and other documents relating to the Guaranteed Obligations, or the compromise, release or exchange of collateral or security, and all notices whatsoever, and any requirement that the Administrative Agent or any holder of the Guaranteed Obligations exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against any Person under any of the Credit Documents or any other documents relating to the Guaranteed Obligations or any other agreement or instrument referred to therein, or against any other Person under any other guarantee of, or security for, any of the Obligations.

4.03 Reinstatement.

Neither the Guarantors’ obligations hereunder nor any remedy for the enforcement thereof shall be impaired, modified, changed or released in any manner whatsoever by an impairment, modification, change, release or limitation of the liability of the Borrower, by reason of the Borrower’s bankruptcy or insolvency or by reason of the invalidity or unenforceability of all or any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations. The obligations of the Guarantors under this Article IV shall be automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf of any Person in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any of the Obligations, whether as a result of any proceedings pursuant to any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, and each Guarantor agrees that it will indemnify the Administrative Agent and each holder of Guaranteed Obligations on demand for all reasonable costs and expenses (including all reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel to the extent set forth in Section 11.04(a)) incurred by the Administrative Agent or such holder of Guaranteed Obligations in connection with such rescission or restoration, including any such costs and expenses incurred in defending against any claim alleging that such payment constituted a preference, fraudulent transfer or similar payment under any Debtor Relief Law.

4.04 Certain Waivers.

Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that (a) the guaranty given hereby may be enforced without the necessity of resorting to or otherwise exhausting remedies in respect of any other security or collateral interests, and without the necessity at any time of having to take recourse against the Borrower hereunder or against any collateral securing the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise, (b) it will not assert any right to require that action first be taken against the Borrower or any other Person (including any co-guarantor) or pursuit of any other remedy or enforcement of any other right and (c) nothing contained herein shall prevent or limit action being taken against the Borrower hereunder, under the other Credit Documents or the other documents and agreements relating to the Guaranteed Obligations or from foreclosing on any security or collateral interests relating hereto or thereto, or from exercising any other rights or remedies available in respect thereof, if neither the Borrower nor the Guarantors shall timely perform their obligations, and the exercise of any such rights and completion of any such foreclosure proceedings shall not constitute a discharge of the Guarantors’ obligations hereunder unless as a result thereof, the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid in full and the commitments relating thereto shall have expired or been terminated, it being the purpose and intent that the Guarantors’ obligations hereunder be absolute, irrevocable, independent and unconditional under all circumstances, but subject in any case to Sections 10.10 and 10.12.

 

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4.05 Remedies.

The Guarantors agree that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the holders of the Guaranteed Obligations, on the other hand, the Guaranteed Obligations may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as provided in Section 9.02 (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the circumstances provided in Section 9.02) for purposes of Section 4.01, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such declaration (or preventing the Guaranteed Obligations from becoming automatically due and payable) as against any other Person and that, in the event of such declaration (or the Guaranteed Obligations being deemed to have become automatically due and payable), the Guaranteed Obligations (whether or not due and payable by any other Person) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for purposes of Section 4.01. The Guarantors acknowledge and agree that the Guaranteed Obligations are secured in accordance with the terms of the Collateral Documents and that the holders of the Guaranteed Obligations may exercise their remedies thereunder in accordance with the terms thereof.

4.06 Rights of Contribution.

The Guarantors hereby agree as among themselves that, in connection with payments made hereunder, each Guarantor shall have a right of contribution from each other Guarantor in accordance with applicable Law. Such contribution rights shall be subordinate and subject in right of payment to the Guaranteed Obligations until such time as the Guaranteed Obligations have been irrevocably paid in full and the commitments relating thereto shall have expired or been terminated, and none of the Guarantors shall exercise any such contribution rights until the Guaranteed Obligations have been irrevocably paid in full and the commitments relating thereto shall have expired or been terminated.

4.07 Guaranty of Payment; Continuing Guaranty.

The guarantee in this Article IV is a guaranty of payment and not of collection, and is a continuing guarantee, and shall apply to all Guaranteed Obligations whenever arising.

4.08 Keepwell.

Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Credit Party to honor all of its obligations under this guarantee and any security interest granted under the Pledge and Security Agreement in respect of Swap Obligations; provided, however, that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section 4.08 for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 4.08, or otherwise under this guarantee, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount. The

 

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obligations of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section 4.08 shall remain in full force and effect until the Obligations have been paid and performed in full. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section 4.08 constitute, and this Section 4.08 shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Credit Party for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

ARTICLE V

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

5.01 Conditions to Closing Date.

The obligation of each Lender and L/C Issuer to honor any Request for Credit Extension hereunder on the Closing Date is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(a) Executed Credit Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received executed counterparts to (i) this Agreement, (ii) the Pledge and Security Agreement, (iii) the Perfection Certificate and (iv) the Notes, to the extent requested by a Lender by written notice delivered to the Administrative Agent at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, in each case, duly executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties as of the Closing Date, dated of the Closing Date and in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and each of the Lenders.

(b) Personal Property Collateral. The Collateral Agent shall have received the following:

(i) UCC Financing Statements. Such UCC financing statements as are necessary to perfect the security interests in the Collateral;

(ii) Intellectual Property. Such Patent, Trademark and Copyright security agreements as are necessary to perfect the security interests in the Credit Parties’ Patents and Trademarks which have been issued by, or registered or applied for in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and in the Credit Parties’ Copyrights that are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office; and

(iii) Insurance. Copies of insurance certificates or policies with respect to all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Credit Documents together with endorsements identifying the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the holders of the Obligations, as additional insured or loss payee, with respect to all insurance policies to be maintained with respect to the properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries forming any part of the Collateral (including any general liability policies).

(c) Opinions of Counsel. The Administrative Agent shall have received a customary duly executed opinion of Sidley Austin LLP, counsel to the Credit Parties, dated as of the Closing Date.

 

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(d) Organization Documents, Etc. The Administrative Agent shall have received a duly executed certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Credit Party, attaching each of the following documents and certifying that each is true, correct and complete and in full force and effect as of the Closing Date:

(i) Charter Documents. Copies of its articles or certificate of organization or formation, certified to be true, correct and complete as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction of its organization or formation;

(ii) Bylaws. Copies of its bylaws, operating agreement or partnership agreement;

(iii) Resolutions. Copies of its resolutions approving and adopting the Credit Documents to which it is party, the transactions contemplated therein, and authorizing the execution and delivery thereof;

(iv) Incumbency. Incumbency certificates identifying the Responsible Officers of such Credit Party that are authorized to execute Credit Documents; and

(v) Good Standing Certificates. Certificates of good standing or the equivalent (if any) from its jurisdiction of organization or formation, in each case certified as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority.

(e) Officer’s Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying that the conditions set forth in Sections 5.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied as of the Closing Date.

(f) Fees and Expenses. All fees required to be paid hereunder or pursuant to any letter agreement among the Borrower and/or one or more Revolving Lenders, and all costs and expenses invoiced at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date (or such shorter period of time as may be agreed to by the Administrative Agent) shall have been paid in full or shall be paid in full on the Closing Date.

(g) [Reserved].

(h) Restructuring Support Agreement Transactions. The Reorganization Transactions shall have been consummated on substantially the terms contemplated by the Restructuring Support Agreement (with such deviations as permitted by the terms thereof or as consented to as contemplated therein).

(i) KYC Information and Beneficial Ownership Certificate. The Credit Parties shall have provided all documentation and other information to the Lenders that is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Patriot Act, to the extent requested at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date. Further, to the extent the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, the Borrower shall have provided, at least five (5) days prior to the Closing Date, to any Lender that has requested, in a written notice to the Borrower at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, a Beneficial Ownership Certification; provided that, upon the execution and delivery by such Lender of its signature page to this Agreement, the condition to deliver such Beneficial Ownership Certification shall be deemed to be satisfied.

 

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Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 10.04, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 5.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

5.02 Conditions to All Credit Extensions.

The obligation of each Lender and L/C Issuer to honor any Request for Credit Extension is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Credit Party contained in Article VI and in the other Credit Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date (provided that representations and warranties that are qualified by materiality shall be true and correct in all respects).

(b) No Default or Event of Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof.

(c) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the applicable L/C Issuer or the Swingline Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

Each Request for Credit Extension submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Borrower that the conditions specified in Sections 5.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

ARTICLE VI

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Credit Parties represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers that:

6.01 Existence, Qualification and Power.

Each Credit Party (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and (to the extent the concept is applicable in such jurisdiction) in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, organization or formation, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Credit Documents to which it is a party and (ii) except to the extent it would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, own its assets and

 

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carry on its business, and (c) except to the extent it would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, is duly qualified and is licensed and in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license.

6.02 Authorization; No Contravention.

The execution, delivery and performance by each Credit Party of each Credit Document to which it is party have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action and do not (a) contravene the terms of such Credit Party’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) under, (i) any Contractual Obligation to which such Credit Party is party or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Credit Party or its Property is subject; or (c) violate any Law applicable to such Credit Party and the relevant Credit Documents, except, in the case of clause (b) or (c) of this Section 6.02, as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents.

No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Credit Party of this Agreement or any other Credit Document (other than (a) as have already been obtained and are in full force and effect, (b) filings to perfect security interests granted pursuant to the Credit Documents and (c) approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations, or other actions, notices or filings the failure of which to procure would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect).

6.04 Binding Effect.

Each Credit Document has been duly executed and delivered by each Credit Party that is party hereto or thereto. Each Credit Document constitutes legal, valid and binding obligations of such Credit Party, enforceable against such Credit Party in accordance with its terms, except to the extent the enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable Debtor Relief Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by equitable principles of law (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law) and implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing.

6.05 [Reserved].

6.06 No Material Adverse Effect.

Since the Closing Date, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.07 Litigation.

There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against any member of the Consolidated Group or against any of their properties or revenues that either individually or in the aggregate would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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6.08 No Default.

No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Credit Document.

6.09 Ownership of Property; Liens.

Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has good and valid title in fee simple to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all its real property, and good title to, or a valid leasehold interest in or right to use, all its other material property, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and the property of the Consolidated Group is subject to no Liens, other than Permitted Liens.

6.10 Environmental Matters.

Except with respect to any matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, none of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.

6.11 Taxes.

Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect: (a) the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries (i) has timely filed (or has had filed on its behalf) all Tax Returns required to be filed and (ii) has paid prior to delinquency all Taxes, whether or not shown on a Tax Return, levied or imposed upon it or its properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable (including in its capacity as a withholding agent), except for Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided, in accordance with GAAP or GAAP, as applicable, if such contest suspends enforcement or collection of the claim in question; and (b) there are no current, pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, proposed Tax assessments, deficiencies, audits or other claims against or with respect to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

6.12 ERISA Compliance.

(a) Each Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or an application for such a letter is currently pending before the IRS with respect thereto and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred that would prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification except in such instances in which the failure to comply therewith either individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as would not reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Pension Plan subject to Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code and (ii) no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code has been made with respect to any Pension Plan.

 

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(b) There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Except as would not reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) no ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) there has been no “prohibited transaction” (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code) with respect to any Plan; and (iii) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that would reasonably be expected to be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

6.13 Labor Matters.

Except as would not reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) as of the Closing Date, there are no strikes, lockouts or slowdowns against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of Borrower, overtly threatened to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and (b) the hours worked by and payments made to employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (Ontario) or any other applicable federal, state, provincial, territorial, local or foreign law dealing with such matters.

6.14 Subsidiaries.

Set forth on Schedule 6.14 is a list of all Subsidiaries of the Borrower on the Closing Date, together with the jurisdiction of organization, and ownership and ownership percentages of Capital Stock of each such Subsidiary as of such date. Schedule 6.14 identifies whether such Subsidiary is an Excluded Subsidiary on the Closing Date. The outstanding Capital Stock of each Subsidiary owned by any Credit Party has been validly issued, is owned free of Liens (other than Permitted Liens) and, with respect to any outstanding shares of Capital Stock of a corporation, such shares have been validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.

6.15 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

(a) The Credit Parties are not engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of their important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying “margin stock” (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock.

(b) None of the Credit Parties or any Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

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6.16 Disclosure.

(a) No written report, financial statement, certificate or other information (taken as a whole) furnished by or on behalf of any Credit Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Credit Document (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading, in each case as of the Closing Date; provided that, with respect to projected financial information and estimates, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time they were made.

(b) As of the Closing Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification provided on or prior to the Closing Date to any Lender (if any) in connection with this Agreement is true and correct in all material respects.

6.17 Compliance with Laws.

Each member of the Consolidated Group is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions, settlements or other material agreements with any Governmental Authority and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.18 Insurance.

The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, and have paid all premiums and costs that are due and payable and are related to, insurance coverages in such amounts (with no materially greater risk retention) and against such risks under similar circumstances as are reasonably determined by the management of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to be sufficient in accordance with the usual and customary practices of companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar lines of business as the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and operating in the same or similar locations, except to the extent reasonable self-insurance meeting the same standards is maintained with respect to such risks.

6.19 Solvency.

As of the Closing Date, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are, and after giving effect to the transactions occurring on the Closing Date will be, Solvent.

 

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6.20 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, as of the Closing Date, each Credit Party owns, or possesses the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, industrial designs, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “IP Rights”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without infringing the IP Rights of any other Person. As of the Closing Date, no claim or litigation alleging that any Credit Party is infringing or has infringed the IP rights of a third party is pending or, to the knowledge of the Credit Parties, threatened, that, either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.21 Collateral Matters.

(a) Each of the Collateral Documents creates (or when executed, will create, as the case may be), as security for the Obligations purported to be secured thereby, subject to the provisions hereof and thereof, a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the applicable Secured Parties in all the Collateral subject to such Collateral Document, and each such Collateral Document will, upon completion of the filing of UCC financing statements, constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all of the Collateral described therein to the extent a security interest therein can be perfected by the filing of UCC financing statements (except for Collateral the security interest in respect of which is not required to be perfected under the Credit Documents). The pledgor or grantor, as the case may be, under each Collateral Document has good title to all Collateral subject thereto free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens. No filings or recordings are required in order to perfect the security interests created under the Collateral Documents, except for filings or recordings listed on Schedule 6.21 (as amended by each Perfection Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent after the Closing Date), all of which shall have been made on or prior to the Closing Date except as otherwise expressly provided in Schedule 6.21 (or such Perfection Certificates, as applicable).

(b) When the applicable Collateral Document (or a short-form version thereof) is filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, the security interest created thereunder shall constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Credit Parties in the Intellectual Property (as such term is defined in the Pledge and Security Agreement) in which a security interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registering a security agreement or analogous document in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person, other than with respect to the rights of Persons pursuant to Permitted Liens (it being understood that subsequent recordings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, may be necessary to perfect a lien on registered trademarks, trademark applications and copyrights acquired by the Credit Parties after the Closing Date).

6.22 Anti-Money Laundering, International Trade Laws, Sanctions and Anti-Corruption Laws.

(a) Each Specified Covered Entity, and its directors and officers, and to the knowledge of the Borrower, any employee, agent, or affiliate acting on behalf of such Specified Covered Entity: (i) is not a Sanctioned Person, (ii) is not on a Restricted Party List; (iii) does not engage in business or transactions in or involving a Sanctioned Person or Sanctioned Jurisdiction except as permitted for a Person required to comply with U.S. Sanctions; and (iv) is not in material violation of International Trade Laws or Sanctions. No Specified Covered Entity nor any of its directors or officers, or to the knowledge of the Borrower, employees, agents or affiliates acting on behalf of

 

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such Specified Covered Entity has, during the past five (5) years, received any written notice or communication from any Governmental Authority that alleges a violation of any International Trade Laws or Sanctions. Each Specified Covered Entity has instituted and maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with applicable Sanctions.

(b) Each Specified Covered Entity and its directors and officers, and to the knowledge of the Borrower, any employee, agent, or affiliate acting on behalf of such Specified Covered Entity, is not in violation of, and has not, during the past five (5) years, directly or indirectly, taken any act that could cause any Specified Covered Entity to be in material violation of Anti-Corruption Laws. No Specified Covered Entity nor any of its directors, officers, employees, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, its agents or affiliates acting on behalf of such Specified Covered Entity has, during the past five (5) years, received any notice or communication from any Person that alleges, or has been involved in an internal investigation involving any allegations relating to, potential violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, or has received a request for information from any Governmental Body regarding Anti-Corruption Law matters. Each Specified Covered Entity has instituted and maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws.

6.23 Affected Financial Institution.

No Credit Party is an Affected Financial Institution.

6.24 HIPAA Compliance.

Except, either individually or in the aggregate, as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (i) to the extent the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a “covered entity” as such term is defined under HIPAA, the Borrower and its applicable Subsidiaries are in compliance with applicable HIPAA requirements; (ii) the Borrower or its applicable Subsidiaries have implemented commercially reasonable safeguards designed to ensure that personal information within the possession of the Borrower or its applicable Subsidiaries is protected against unauthorized access, use or disclosures; and (iii) to the knowledge of the Credit Parties, there has been no “breach” as defined under HIPAA with respect to any “protected health information” (as defined under HIPAA) maintained by any of the Borrower or its applicable Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Credit Parties, any of their respective business associates.

6.25 Healthcare Matters.

(a) Except, either individually or in the aggregate, as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in compliance, in all material respects, with all applicable Healthcare Laws.

(b) [reserved].

(c) [reserved].

(d) [reserved].

 

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(e) The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have all applicable Medicare supplier billing number(s) necessary to submit reimbursement claims to the Medicare program for health care services and/or supplies furnished by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in those jurisdictions where the Borrower and its Subsidiaries conduct business, except, either individually or in the aggregate, as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

ARTICLE VII

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Until the Revolving Obligations shall have been paid in full or otherwise satisfied, the Commitments hereunder shall have expired or been terminated and no L/C Obligations are outstanding (unless each Letter of Credit underlying such L/C Obligations has been (A) Cash Collateralized at 103% of the aggregate face amount thereof, (B) backstopped by a letter of credit from an issuer, and in form and substance, reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer and with a face amount of 103% of the face amount of such Letter of Credit or (C) deemed reissued under another senior secured credit agreement satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer on terms and conditions satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer in its sole discretion), the Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to:

7.01 Financial Statements.

Deliver to the Administrative Agent:

(a) not later than ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower (or one hundred twenty (120) days in the case of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023), a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by (A) a customary management’s discussion and analysis relating to such fiscal year and (B) a report and opinion of a Registered Public Accounting Firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit or other material qualification or exception (other than any such qualification or exception that is expressly with respect to, or expressly resulting from, (A) an upcoming maturity date of any Indebtedness occurring within one year from the time such opinion is delivered or (B) any potential inability to satisfy any financial maintenance covenants set forth in any agreement, document or instrument governing or evidencing Indebtedness (including Section 8.10) on a future date or in a future period); provided, that (x) to the extent not publicly filed or otherwise made available to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date, concurrently with the delivery of the financial information required to be delivered under this Section 7.01(a) for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, the Credit Parties will deliver the financial information required under Section 7.01(b) for the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2023 and (y) the Borrower shall furnish within ninety (90) days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, preliminary unaudited consolidated financial results with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 consisting of balance sheets, statements of operations and statements of cash flows and other line-items as reasonably determined by the Borrower;

 

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(b) not later than forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower (or sixty (60) days in the case of the fiscal quarters ending March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024), a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes, accompanied by a customary management’s discussion and analysis relating to such fiscal quarter; and

(c) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of consolidated financial statements referred to in Sections 7.01(a) and (b) above, if during any of the periods for which financial statements are required to be delivered hereunder the Borrower shall have one or more material Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then such financial statements shall be accompanied by information in reasonable detail summarizing the material differences between the financial statements delivered hereunder and the results of operations (income statement) and financial condition (balance sheet) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries without giving effect to the results or condition of any such Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 7.02, the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under Section 7.01(a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in Sections 7.01(a) and (b) above at the times specified therein.

7.02 Certificates; Other Information.

Deliver to the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each L/C Issuer:

(a) within five (5) Business Days following each delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 7.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (i) setting forth computations in reasonable detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent demonstrating compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 8.10 (whether or not then required to be tested), (ii) certifying that no Default or Event of Default exists as of the date thereof (or the nature and extent thereof and proposed actions with respect thereto), (iii) a calculation of the Cumulative Credit (in reasonable detail) as of the last day of the period covered by such financial statements and (iv) setting forth a list of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries and the Subsidiaries (other than Immaterial Subsidiaries) (A) formed or acquired, (B) divested, liquidated, merged or otherwise disposed of, (C) that ceased to meet the definition of “Immaterial Subsidiary” or (D) designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries or Material Subsidiaries, or redesignated as Subsidiaries pursuant to a Subsidiary Redesignation, in each case, during the period covered by such financial statements;

 

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(b) promptly upon receipt thereof, all notices of default under any Indebtedness having an aggregate principal amount of at least $25.0 million;

(c) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party, or compliance with the terms of the Credit Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent) may from time to time reasonably request;

(d) promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any material financial statement or report furnished to any holder of any Indebtedness of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party having an aggregate principal amount of at least $25.0 million pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.01 or any other clause of this Section 7.02;

(e) as soon as available, but in any event no more than ninety (90) days following the beginning of each fiscal year of the Borrower or one hundred twenty (120) days in the case of the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2024), a detailed consolidated budget for the subsequent fiscal year (including a projected consolidated balance sheet and related statements of projected operations and cash flow as of the end of and for each fiscal quarter of such fiscal year and setting forth the assumptions used for purposes of preparing such budget);

(f) promptly following any request therefor, the Borrower will provide documentation reasonably requested by any Lender for purposes of compliance with the Beneficial Ownership Certification; and

(g) upon the request of the Required Lenders, the Borrower will allow the Lenders to join the quarterly conference calls for all holders of notes pursuant to Section 4.03(d) of the New 2027 Notes Indenture and the New 2028 Notes Indenture, respectively.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.01 or 7.02 may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the internet at the website address listed on Schedule 11.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent) including, to the extent the Lenders and the Administrative Agent have access thereto and such documents are available thereon, the EDGAR database and sec.gov; provided that the Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents. Except for Compliance Certificates, the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

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The Credit Parties hereby acknowledge that the Administrative Agent and/or the Lead Arrangers will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Credit Parties hereunder (collectively, the “Credit Party Materials”) by posting the Credit Party Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and that certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Credit Parties or their securities) (each, a “Public Lender”). The Credit Parties hereby agree that so long as any Credit Party is the issuer of any outstanding debt or equity securities that are registered or issued pursuant to a private offering or is actively contemplating issuing any such securities (1) all Credit Party Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” (which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof), or otherwise indicated to the Administrative Agent as being “PUBLIC”; (2) by marking or otherwise indicating the Credit Party Materials “PUBLIC,” the Credit Parties shall be deemed to have authorized the Agents, the Lead Arrangers, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders to treat such Credit Party Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Credit Parties or their securities for purposes of federal, state, provincial and territorial securities Laws in the United States (provided, however, that to the extent such Credit Party Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.07); (3) all Credit Party Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated as “Public Investor”; and (4) the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers shall be entitled to treat any Credit Party Materials that are not marked or otherwise indicated “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not marked as “Public Investor.”

7.03 Notification.

(a) Promptly, and in any event within five (5) Business Days after any Responsible Officer of the Borrower or any of its material Subsidiaries obtains knowledge thereof, notify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each L/C Issuer of:

(i) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;

(ii) the filing or commencement of any litigation, investigation or proceeding affecting any Credit Party which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(iii) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

(iv) any other occurrences or events that result in, or would reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice delivered under this Section 7.03 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth the details of the occurrence or event requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

 

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7.04 Preservation of Existence; Business.

Except as otherwise permitted hereunder, do all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (x) its existence and (y) its rights, franchises and authority, except (i) to the extent, in the case of clauses (x) (with respect to any Subsidiary only and not the Borrower) and (y), that the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) with respect to any Subsidiary or the Borrower, to the extent otherwise permitted by Section 8.04, and (iii) for the liquidation or dissolution of Subsidiaries if the assets of such Subsidiaries, to the extent such assets exceed estimated liabilities, are acquired by the Borrower or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower in such liquidation or dissolution (and, in the case of assets of a Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary, such assets are acquired by the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower); provided that Subsidiaries that are Guarantors may not be liquidated into Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors. If any new Management Services Agreement is entered into after the Closing Date, it shall be compliant in all material respects with the PC Entity Requirements to the extent permissible under applicable Healthcare Laws.

7.05 Payment of Taxes.

(a) Except in each case to the extent that the failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, pay and discharge all Taxes imposed upon it, or upon its income or profits, or upon any of its properties, before they become delinquent; provided that no such Person shall be required to pay any amount that is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves, determined in accordance with GAAP or GAAP, as applicable, have been established, if such contest suspends enforcement or collection of the claim in question.

(b) Timely and correctly file all Tax Returns required to be filed by it, except for failures to file that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

7.06 Compliance with Laws.

Comply with the requirements of all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority, a breach of which would result in a Material Adverse Effect, except where contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued.

7.07 Maintenance of Property.

Maintain and preserve its material properties and equipment in good repair, working order and condition, normal wear and tear and casualty and condemnation excepted, and make all repairs, renewals, replacements, extensions, additions, betterments and improvements thereto consistent with its reasonable business judgment, to the extent and in the manner customary for similar businesses, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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7.08 Insurance.

Maintain at all times in force and effect insurance in such amounts, covering such risks and liabilities and with such deductibles or self-insurance retentions as determined by the Borrower in its reasonable business judgment. The Collateral Agent shall be named as loss payee and/or additional insured, as its interests may appear, with respect to any such insurance providing coverage in respect of any Collateral under the Collateral Documents, and the Borrower shall request each provider of any such insurance to agree, by endorsement upon the policy or policies issued by it or by independent instruments furnished to the Collateral Agent, that it will give the Collateral Agent thirty (30) days’ prior written notice (except for nonpayment, which shall be ten (10) days’ prior written notice) before any such policy or policies shall be canceled.

7.09 Books and Records.

Maintain proper books of record and account, in which entries that are true and correct in all material respect and in conformity with GAAP in all material respect shall be made of all material financial transactions and, if and to the extent required by GAAP, matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

7.10 Inspection Rights.

Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (in the case of such Lender, coordinated through the Administrative Agent) to (i) discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower and (ii) visit and inspect any of its properties and examine its corporate, financial and operating records, once per fiscal year of the Borrower at such reasonable times during normal business hours, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided, however, that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any of its representatives or independent contractors or any Lender (in the case of such Lender, coordinated through the Administrative Agent) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, all meetings and inspections requested and held pursuant to this Section 7.10 are subject to applicable attorney-client privilege exceptions and compliance with non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements between the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries and third parties. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall give the Borrower the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Borrower’s accountants.

7.11 Use of Proceeds.

Use the proceeds of the Revolving Loans, from time to time, for Permitted Acquisitions and other general corporate and working capital purposes and not in contravention of any Law or of any Credit Document. For the avoidance of doubt, the proceeds of the Revolving Loans shall not be used to fund a reverse Dutch auction held by the Credit Parties. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately for any purpose that entails a violation of, or that is inconsistent with, the provisions of Regulation U.

 

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7.12 Joinder of Subsidiaries as Guarantors.

(a) With respect to the formation or acquisition (or other receipt of interests) (including, without limitation, upon the formation of any Subsidiary resulting from a division of a limited liability company) of any Subsidiary that is not an Excluded Subsidiary (and with respect to any Subsidiary that ceases to be an Excluded Subsidiary), within sixty (60) days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) of the formation, acquisition, cessation, division or other receipt of interests of any such Subsidiary, (i) cause the joinder of such Subsidiary as a Guarantor of the Obligations pursuant to Joinder Agreements or such other documentation in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (and to provide to the Administrative Agent the Organization Documents of such Subsidiary to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent), (ii) take all actions necessary to create and perfect a security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the applicable Secured Parties in its assets (subject to the limitations set forth in the applicable Collateral Documents), including (x) delivery to the Collateral Agent of all stock certificates evidencing the Capital Stock pledged pursuant to the Collateral Documents (to the extent certificated) owned by such Subsidiary, together with undated stock transfer powers executed in blank, (y) delivery to the Collateral Agent of all promissory notes owing to such Subsidiary and pledged pursuant to the Collateral Documents, together with undated allonges executed in blank, and (z) filing of the Pledge and Security Agreement (or a short-form version thereof) in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and/or the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, and UCC financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be necessary to so perfect such security interest and (iii) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver opinions of counsel to such Subsidiary, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(b) For the avoidance of doubt, if (i) an Excluded Subsidiary shall cease to be an Excluded Subsidiary or (ii) an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be redesignated as a Subsidiary pursuant to a Subsidiary Redesignation, such Subsidiary shall thereupon comply with the foregoing; provided that this Section 7.12 shall not require the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in particular assets of any Subsidiaries or guarantees from any Subsidiaries if, to the extent and for so long as, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower jointly determine, that the cost to the Borrower of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets or obtaining such guarantees from such Subsidiaries (in each case, taking into account, among other things, (x) any adverse Tax or other consequences to the Borrower and the other Subsidiaries (including the imposition of withholding or other Taxes or costs on Lenders) that are not de minimis and (y) with respect to security interests in Equity Interests in Persons that are not, directly or indirectly, wholly owned by the Borrower, any restrictions on the creation or perfection of such security interests (including the costs of obtaining necessary consents and approvals from other holders (other than the Borrower and its Affiliates) of Equity Interests in such Persons)) shall be commercially unreasonable in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom.

7.13 Pledge of Capital Stock.

Pledge or cause to be pledged to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the applicable Secured Parties to secure the Obligations, other than in the case of Excluded Property, the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of each Subsidiary to the extent owned by a Credit Party within sixty (60) days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion)

 

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of its formation, acquisition or other receipt of such interests; provided that, the pledge of the Capital Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC or any CFC Holdco shall be limited to Capital Stock representing 65% of the voting and 100% of any non-voting issued Capital Stock of each such Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC and CFC Holdco to the extent directly owned by a Credit Party, in each case, pursuant to the applicable Collateral Documents or pledge joinder agreements, together with, if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, opinions of counsel and any filings and deliveries reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent in connection therewith to perfect the security interests therein, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

7.14 Pledge of Other Property.

With respect to each Credit Party, pledge and grant a security interest in all of its personal property, tangible and intangible, owned and leased (except (a) Excluded Property and (b) as otherwise set forth in the Collateral Documents) to secure the Obligations within sixty (60) days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) of the acquisition or creation thereof pursuant to such pledge and security agreements, joinder agreements or other documents as may be required, together with opinions of counsel and any filings, registrations and deliveries reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent in connection therewith to perfect the security interests therein, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

7.15 Further Assurances Regarding Collateral.

(a) Promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, (a) correct any material defect or error relating to the granting or perfection of security interests that may be discovered in any Credit Document or in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation thereof, and (b) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent, or the Required Lenders through the Administrative Agent, may reasonably require from time to time in order to (i) carry out more effectively the purposes of the Collateral Documents, (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, subject any Credit Party’s assets (other than Excluded Property) to the Liens now or hereafter intended to be created by any of the Collateral Documents and (ii) perfect and maintain the validity, effectiveness and priority of any of the Collateral Documents and any of the Liens intended to be created thereunder.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document, the Credit Parties shall not be required to enter into control agreements with respect to their deposit accounts, securities accounts, futures accounts, commodity accounts, uncertificated securities or electronic chattel paper (other than with respect to any obligation to Cash Collateralize any L/C Obligations pursuant to the terms hereof). Other than with respect to the Borrower, no action to create or perfect any Lien shall be required under any non-United States law.

 

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(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided herein or in any other Credit Document, the Credit Parties shall not be required to (a) take any action outside of the United States to create or perfect any security interest (other than delivery of share certificates constituting Collateral), (b) execute any security agreement, pledge agreement, mortgage, deed or charge that is not governed by the laws of the United States or any state thereof or (c) take any perfection action with respect to Collateral constituting IP Rights, other than the filing of UCC financing statements and the filing of the Pledge and Security Agreement (or a short-form version thereof) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, as applicable.

7.16 Federal Health Care Program Exclusions.

Promptly, and in any event within ten (10) Business Days, after the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries receives written notice threatening that it may become or is otherwise subject to any action or proceeding by any Governmental Authority that would reasonably be expected to result in any of them becoming excluded, suspended, terminated or debarred from any Federal Health Care Program, provide notice thereof to the Administrative Agent.

7.17 Government Healthcare Investigations.

Promptly, and in any event within ten (10) Business Days, after the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries receives written notice of any litigation, investigation, audit or other proceeding by any Governmental Authority relating to a potential violation of applicable Healthcare Laws that was not previously disclosed to the Lenders which has resulted in or would reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, provide notice thereof to the Administrative Agent.

7.18 Post-Closing Matters.

The Borrower shall complete the tasks set forth on Schedule 7.18, in each case within the time limits specified on such schedule (in each case, as may be extended by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion) and the parties hereto acknowledge that for all purposes of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents, any such actions shall not be required to be satisfied until such times as required under this Section 7.18.

7.19 Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, International Trade Laws, and Sanctions.

Promptly notify the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders in writing upon the occurrence of a Reportable Compliance Event; (b) conduct its business in compliance with applicable Sanctions and in compliance in all material respects with applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and International Trade Laws; and (c) maintain in effect policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with all applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Sanctions by each Specified Covered Entity.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

Until the Revolving Obligations shall have been paid in full or otherwise satisfied, the Commitments hereunder shall have expired or been terminated and no L/C Obligations are outstanding (unless each Letter of Credit underlying such L/C Obligations has been (A) Cash Collateralized at 103% of the aggregate face amount thereof, (B) backstopped by a letter of credit from an issuer, and in form and substance, reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer and with a face amount of 103% of the face amount of such Letter of Credit or (C) deemed reissued under another senior secured credit agreement satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer on terms and conditions satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer in its sole discretion), the Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to:

8.01 Liens.

Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:

(a) Liens created pursuant to the Credit Documents;

(b) (i) Liens on the Collateral securing the 2027 Senior Secured Notes and any Guarantee thereof and (ii) Liens on the Collateral securing the 2028 Senior Secured Notes and any Guarantee thereof, in each case, so long as such Liens are subject to the Intercreditor Agreement;

(c) Liens (other than Liens permitted under clauses (a) or (b) above) existing on the Closing Date and, if securing obligations in excess of $10.0 million, listed on Schedule 8.01, together with any extensions, replacements, modifications or renewals of the foregoing; provided that the collateral interests are not broadened or increased or secure any Property not secured by such Liens on the Closing Date (but shall be permitted to apply to after-acquired Property affixed or incorporated into the Property covered by such Lien and the proceeds and products of the foregoing);

(d) Liens for Taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies not yet due or to the extent non-payment thereof is permitted under Section 7.05;

(e) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and suppliers and other Liens imposed by law or pursuant to customary reservations or retentions of title arising in the ordinary course of business; provided that such Liens secure only amounts not yet due and payable or, if due and payable, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce the same, are not overdue by more than thirty (30) days, or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves determined in accordance with GAAP have been established (and as to which the property subject to any such Lien is not yet subject to a foreclosure, sale or loss proceeding on account thereof (other than a proceeding where foreclosure, sale or loss has been stayed));

(f) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations (other than obligations under ERISA), bids, leases, government contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money);

 

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(g) Liens in connection with attachments or judgments (including judgment or appeal bonds) that do not result in an Event of Default under Section 9.01(i);

(h) easements, rights-of-way, covenants, conditions, restrictions (including zoning restrictions), declarations, rights of reverter, minor defects or irregularities in title and other similar charges or encumbrances, whether or not of record, that do not, in the aggregate, interfere in any material respect with the ordinary course of business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries;

(i) Liens on property of any Person securing Purchase Money Indebtedness or Indebtedness in respect of Sale and Leaseback Transactions, capital leases and Synthetic Leases of such Person, in each case to the extent incurred under Section 8.03(c) (or any refinancing of such Indebtedness incurred under Section 8.03(l)); provided that any such Lien attaches only to the Property financed or leased; provided, further, that individual financings of equipment provided by one lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender on customary terms;

(j) licenses, sub-licenses, leases or sub-leases granted to others not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries;

(k) any interest or title of a lessor or sub-lessor under, and Liens arising from UCC financing statements (or equivalent filings, registrations or agreements in foreign jurisdictions) relating to, leases and subleases permitted by this Agreement;

(l) 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 and Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements that constitute Investments permitted by Section 8.02;

(m) customary contractual rights of setoff upon deposits of cash or other Liens relating to bankers liens, rights of setoff or similar rights in favor of banks or other depository institutions not securing Indebtedness;

(n) Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-208 of the UCC (as in effect in the State of New York) or 4-210 of the UCC (as in effect in any other jurisdiction) on items in the course of collection and liens in favor of securities intermediaries in respect of customary fees, expenses and charges in connection with maintaining securities accounts;

(o) Liens on Property securing obligations assumed under Section 8.03(h) (or any refinancing of such Indebtedness incurred under Section 8.03(l)); provided that the Liens are not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation or anticipation of, the acquisition and do not attach or extend to any Property other than the Property so acquired (but, solely to the extent required by the documentation governing such obligations or such refinancing thereof and only for so long as such obligations or such refinancing shall be outstanding or so require, shall be permitted to apply to after-acquired Property of the relevant obligor and the proceeds and products of the foregoing) (or, in the case of Liens securing a refinancing of such Indebtedness pursuant to Section 8.03(l), the Property acquired with the proceeds of the Indebtedness so refinanced);

 

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(p) Liens securing obligations in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding that do not exceed the greater of (i) $25.0 million and (ii) 33% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period; provided that such Liens shall rank pari passu or junior to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations or shall be secured by assets that do not constitute Collateral; provided that if such Liens are on Collateral, then they shall be subject to the Intercreditor Agreement or another intercreditor agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(q) Liens in respect of any Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.03(g) to the extent such Liens extend only to Property of Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors;

(r) pledges and deposits and other Liens securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing insurance to the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(s) Liens on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement in respect of any Investment permitted hereunder;

(t) Liens securing obligations incurred pursuant to Section 8.03(n);

(u) Liens on Capital Stock in joint ventures securing obligations of such joint venture, to the extent required by the terms of the organizational documents or material contracts of such joint venture;

(v) Liens on goods or inventory the purchase, shipment or storage price of which is financed by a bank guarantee or bankers’ acceptance issued or created for the account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business so long as such Liens are extinguished when such goods or inventory are delivered to the Borrower or a Subsidiary;

(w) Liens securing insurance premiums financing arrangements; provided that such Liens are limited to the applicable unearned insurance premiums;

(x) Liens in favor of any Credit Party;

(y) Liens on the Capital Stock of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(z) Liens arising from UCC financing statement filings (or similar filings under other applicable Law) made by factoring companies on accounts receivables sold by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to such factoring companies in the ordinary course of business;

(aa) Liens on the Collateral securing Permitted Notes Refinancing Debt incurred pursuant to Section 8.03(k) (or any permitted refinancing of the 2027 Senior Secured Notes, the 2028 Senior Secured Notes or Permitted Notes Refinancing Debt incurred pursuant to Section 8.03(l)); provided that the holders of such Permitted Notes Refinancing Debt (or permitted refinancing debt in respect thereof) or their representative is or becomes party to the Intercreditor Agreement or another customary pari passu intercreditor agreement on terms that are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (it being understood that an intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of the Intercreditor Agreement shall be deemed to be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) and all such Liens are subject to the Intercreditor Agreement or such other intercreditor agreement;

 

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(bb) (I) Liens on the Collateral securing Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred pursuant to Section 8.03(y)(i), (ii) or (iii)(A); provided that such Liens shall be subject to the Intercreditor Agreement or another customary pari passu intercreditor agreement on terms that are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (it being understood that an intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of the Intercreditor Agreement shall be deemed to be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) and (II) Liens on the Collateral securing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 8.03(h), 8.03(j) or 8.03(y)(iii)(B) on a junior lien basis to the Obligations, so long as (X) on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such Indebtedness as of the last day of the most recently ended Measurement Period, the Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 5.50:1.00 and (Y) such Indebtedness shall be subject to a customary junior priority intercreditor agreement on terms that are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower;

(cc) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to commercial letters of credit which solely encumber goods and/or documents of title and other property relating to such letters of credit and products and proceeds thereof; and

(dd) Liens on Receivables Assets granted pursuant to or arising in connection with a Receivables Facility.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall incur Indebtedness for borrowed money (which does not include, for the avoidance of doubt, Purchase Money Indebtedness) secured by Liens on any assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that rank pari passu with the Liens securing the Obligations after the Closing Date in excess of $100,000,000 (plus any Liens securing Indebtedness under the PIK Interest Additional Notes (as such term is defined in the New 2027 Notes Indenture as in effect on the Closing Date)). For the avoidance of doubt, such Liens may only secure Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower and the Guarantors.

8.02 Investments.

Make any Investments, except:

(a) cash and Cash Equivalents of, or to be owned by, the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(b) Investments existing on, contractually committed or announced but unconsummated as of, the Closing Date and, if in an amount in excess of $10.0 million, set forth on Schedule 8.02 and any extensions, renewals or reinvestments thereof, so long as the aggregate amount of any Investment pursuant to this Section 8.02(b) is not increased at any time above the amount of such Investment existing on the Closing Date, unless such increase is permitted by any clause of this Section 8.02 (other than by this Section 8.02(b)), in which case the capacity of such other clause shall (to the extent capped) be reduced by such increase;

 

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(c) loans and advances to officers, directors and employees and consultants of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) made for travel, entertainment, compensation, relocation and other ordinary business purposes, (ii) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $7.5 million at any one time outstanding or (iii) to the extent not used as part of or to increase the Cumulative Credit, made in connection with such person’s purchase of equity of the Borrower;

(d) Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors and any prepayments and other credits to suppliers, clients or purchasers or sellers of goods or services made in the ordinary course of business;

(e) Investments by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in Credit Parties;

(f) Investments by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (i) $20.0 million and (ii) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period;

(g) Investments by Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties in (A) any member of the Consolidated Group (including other Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties) and (B) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition, in Persons that become a members of the Consolidated Group (including Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties) upon consummation of such Permitted Acquisition;

(h) Support Obligations incurred pursuant to Section 8.03;

(i) Permitted Acquisitions;

(j) Investments in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding not to exceed (A) the greater of (i) $25.0 million and (ii) 30% of Consolidated EBITDA for most recently ended Measurement Period, plus (B) the amount of the Cumulative Credit at such time; provided that in the case of this clause (B), (x) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof and (y) the Borrower would be able to incur $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 8.03(y)(iii)(B);

(k) Investments representing non-cash consideration received in connection with any Subject Disposition permitted pursuant to Section 8.05;

(l) Investments in joint ventures in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (i) $20.0 million and (ii) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period;

(m) Swap Contracts allowed by Section 8.03(d);

(n) Investments resulting from pledges and deposits under Section 8.01(f), (g), (l), (p), (r), (s) or (w);

 

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(o) Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with or judgments against, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business or Investments acquired by the Borrower as a result of a foreclosure by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investments or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(p) loans or advances or other similar transactions with customers, distributors, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case, in the ordinary course of business, regardless of frequency;

(q) to the extent not used as part of or increasing the Cumulative Credit or constituting any Cure Amount, any Investment to the extent procured in exchange for, or made with the proceeds of, the issuance of Qualified Capital Stock to a Person other than a Subsidiary of the Borrower or an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(r) Investments to the extent consisting of the redemption, purchase, repurchase or retirement of any Capital Stock permitted under Section 8.06;

(s) advances in the form of a prepayment of expenses, so long as such expenses are being paid in accordance with customary trade terms of the Borrower or such Subsidiary;

(t) (A) guarantees by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of operating leases or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and (B) Investments consisting of guarantees permitted by Section 8.03;

(u) Investments consisting of the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons in the ordinary course of business;

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

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

(x) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (i) $15.0 million and (ii) 20% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period;

 

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(y) other Investments; provided that (A) on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Measurement Period, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 4.00:1.00 and (B) at the time of any such Investment, no Event of Default pursuant to Section 9.01(a) or (f) shall have occurred and be continuing;

(z) Investments consisting of the purchase of Indebtedness of (A) any Credit Party or (B) to the extent permitted pursuant to another clause of this Section 8.02, any Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party;

(aa) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses of intellectual property or leases, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(bb) Investments consisting of deposits, prepayment and other credits to suppliers or landlords made in the ordinary course of business;

(cc) guaranties made in the ordinary course of business of obligations owed to landlords, suppliers, customers and licensees of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

(dd) to the extent not otherwise prohibited by Section 8.09, any contribution of any Investment in a joint venture or partnership that is not a Subsidiary to a Person that is not a Subsidiary in exchange for an Investment in the Person to whom such contribution is made in an equivalent value;

(ee) the purchase of any Preferred Equity Interests in the Borrower or a Subsidiary issued to a Strategic Investor so long as such purchase complies with Section 8.09; and

(ff) Investments in any Receivables Subsidiary or by a Receivables Subsidiary in any other Person made in connection with a Receivables Facility (including the contribution or lending of cash and Cash Equivalents to finance the purchase of Receivables Assets or to otherwise fund required reserves).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the only basket that may be used for Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries shall be the basket provided in Section 8.02(x) above.

8.03 Indebtedness.

Create, incur or assume any Indebtedness, except:

(a) Indebtedness existing or arising under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents;

(b) Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date and, if in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $10.0 million, set forth on Schedule 8.03;

(c) Purchase Money Indebtedness (including obligations in respect of capital leases) to finance the purchase, acquisition, construction, development, enlargement, repair or improvement of fixed or capital assets, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding (when aggregated with the aggregate amount of refinancing Indebtedness outstanding at such time pursuant to Section 8.03(l) in respect of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this Section 8.03(c)) not to exceed the greater of (i) $25.0 million and (ii) 30% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period;

 

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(d) obligations under Swap Contracts not entered into for speculative purposes;

(e) intercompany Indebtedness among members of the Consolidated Group to the extent permitted by Section 8.02;

(f) unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in an aggregate outstanding principal amount which, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this Section 8.03(f) and then outstanding, will not exceed 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds received by the Borrower from the issuance or sale (other than to a Subsidiary, an Unrestricted Subsidiary, a Minority Investment, a Professional Services Affiliate or a Strategic Investor and other than any Cure Amount) of its Equity Interests or otherwise contributed to the equity (in each case, other than through the issuance of Disqualified Capital Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) of the Borrower (other than contributions by a Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary), in each case, subsequent to the Closing Date; provided, however, that (i) any such Net Cash Proceeds that are so received or contributed shall not increase the amount available for making Restricted Payments or Investments to the extent the Borrower and its Subsidiaries incur Indebtedness in reliance thereon and (ii) any Net Cash Proceeds that are so received or contributed shall be excluded for purposes of incurring Indebtedness pursuant to this Section 8.03(f) to the extent such net cash proceeds or cash have been applied to make Restricted Payments or Investments;

(g) Indebtedness of Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors (and guarantees thereof by other Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, without duplication) in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (i) $20.0 million and (ii) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period;

(h) Indebtedness acquired or assumed in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment; provided that (i) any such assumed Indebtedness was not incurred in connection with, or in anticipation or contemplation of, such Permitted Acquisition and (ii) on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Measurement Period, the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is not less than either (A) 2.00:1.00 or (B) the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio immediately preceding the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment; provided, further, that the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred by Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors pursuant to this Section 8.03(h), together with all Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred by Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors pursuant to the Section 8.03(y), shall not exceed the greater of (i) $20.0 million and (ii) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period;

(i) Indebtedness arising under any performance or surety bond, completion bond or similar obligation entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

(j) Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (and guarantees thereof, without duplication) in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (i) $25.0 million and (ii) 33% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period;

 

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(k) (A) Indebtedness of the Borrower under the 2027 Senior Secured Notes, (B) Indebtedness of the Borrower under the 2028 Senior Secured Notes and (C) any Permitted Notes Refinancing Debt, to the extent such Permitted Notes Refinancing Debt refinances, in whole or in part, outstanding 2027 Senior Secured Notes or outstanding 2028 Senior Secured Notes;

(l) any refinancing of Indebtedness incurred or outstanding pursuant to Section 8.03(b), (c), (f), (h) or (k) so long as (i) if the Indebtedness being refinanced is Subordinated Debt, then such refinancing Indebtedness shall be at least as subordinated in right of payment and otherwise to the Obligations as the Indebtedness being refinanced, (ii) unless permitted pursuant to another clause of this Section 8.03 (and reducing availability under such other clause to the extent capped), the principal amount of the refinancing Indebtedness is not greater than the principal amount of the Indebtedness being refinanced, together with any premium paid, and accrued interest thereon and reasonable fees in connection therewith and reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith, plus an amount equal to any existing unutilized commitments thereunder, (iii) the final maturity and Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such refinancing Indebtedness is not earlier or shorter, as the case may be, than the Indebtedness being refinanced, (iv) no Subsidiary (other than a Credit Party) that is not an obligor with respect to the Indebtedness to be refinanced shall be an obligor with respect to such refinancing Indebtedness (unless such Indebtedness to be refinanced was incurred by a Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party, in which case the Borrower or any Subsidiary may, solely to the extent, in the case of a Borrower or a Subsidiary that is a Credit Party, that the Borrower or such Subsidiary that is a Credit Party would be able to make, under Section 8.02, an Investment in the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness in such Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party, be an obligor in respect thereof) and (v) in the case of this clause (v), the material terms (other than as to interest rate, which shall be on then-market terms, or as otherwise specified in any of clauses (i) through (iv) of this Section 8.03(l)) of such refinancing Indebtedness, taken as a whole, are at least as favorable to the Consolidated Group and the Lenders as the material terms of the Indebtedness being refinanced;

(m) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn against insufficient funds;

(n) Indebtedness in respect of trade letters of credit, warehouse receipts or similar instruments issued to support performance obligations (other than obligations in respect of Indebtedness) in the ordinary course of business;

(o) Indebtedness supported by a Letter of Credit, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such Letter of Credit;

(p) Indebtedness consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take or pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(q) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(r) Indebtedness consisting of promissory notes issued by the Borrower to current or former officers, directors and employees, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses issued in exchange for the purchase or redemption by the Borrower of Qualified Capital Stock permitted by Section 8.06; provided that (a) the Borrower shall be able to make a Restricted Payment pursuant to Section 8.06 in an amount equal to the principal amount of each such note at the time such note is issued, and an amount equal to the principal amount of each such note shall reduce the amount of Restricted Payments available to be made under Section 8.06, and (b) the Borrower shall be able to make a Restricted Payment pursuant to Section 8.06 in the amount of any other payment on each such note at the time such payment is made, and each such payment shall reduce the amount of Restricted Payments available to be made under Section 8.06;

(s) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary under deferred compensation, indemnification, adjustment of purchase or acquisition price or other similar arrangements incurred by such Person in connection with the Transactions, any Permitted Acquisition or any other Investment permitted hereunder;

(t) all premium (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in Sections 8.03(a) through (s) and Sections 8.03(u) through (dd) below;

(u) Support Obligations by any member of the Consolidated Group in respect of Indebtedness incurred under Sections 8.03(a) through (t) and Sections 8.03(u) through (dd), solely to the extent such member of the Consolidated Group would have itself been able to originally incur such Indebtedness;

(v) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, workers’ compensation claims, self-insurance obligations, bankers’ acceptances, guarantees, performance, surety, statutory, appeal, completion, export or import, indemnities, customs, revenue bonds or similar instruments in the ordinary course of business, including guarantees or obligations with respect thereto (in each case other than for an obligation for money borrowed);

(w) Guarantees by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of obligations of joint ventures and, in the case of any Subsidiary that is a joint venture, the incurrence of Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding for all such Indebtedness and Guarantees incurred pursuant to this clause (w) not to exceed the greater of (i) $20.0 million and (ii) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period;

(x) (i) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to any Professional Services Affiliate incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice pursuant to or in connection with any Management Services Agreement, (ii) Guarantees by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of Indebtedness or any other obligation or liability of a Professional Services Affiliate incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice pursuant to or in connection with any Management Services Agreement, (iii) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary arising by reason of any Lien granted by or applicable to such Person or its assets securing Indebtedness of a Professional Services Affiliate incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice pursuant to or in connection with any Management

 

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Services Agreement, and (iv) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of letters of credit, banker’s acceptances or other similar instruments or obligations issued for the benefit of, or relating to liabilities or obligations incurred on behalf of, a Professional Services Affiliate, incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice pursuant to or in connection with any Management Services Agreement;

(y) Incremental Equivalent Debt in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed, for all Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred after the Closing Date, the sum of (i) the Incremental Base Amount minus the aggregate principal amount of Incremental Loan Facilities incurred or established pursuant to Section 2.01(d)(i)(x) after the Closing Date, plus (ii) the Incremental Prepayment Amount minus the aggregate principal amount of Incremental Loan Facilities incurred or established pursuant to Section 2.01(d)(i)(y) after the Closing Date, plus (iii) (A) an additional amount of Incremental Equivalent Debt secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Obligations if, on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Measurement Period, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 5.00:1.00, plus (B) an additional amount of Incremental Equivalent Debt if, on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Measurement Period, the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is not less than 2.00:1.00; provided that, in each case, the maximum amount of Incremental Equivalent Debt available to be incurred is determined without giving effect to any incurrence under the Incremental Base Amount or the Incremental Prepayment Amount that is incurred substantially simultaneously with amounts under this clause (iii); provided, further, that the Borrower shall be deemed to have utilized the amounts under clause (iii) prior to utilization of the amounts under clauses (i) and (ii); provided, further, that the aggregate principal amount of all Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred by Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors pursuant to this Section 8.03(y), together with Indebtedness incurred by Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors pursuant to Section 8.03(h), shall not exceed the greater of (i) $20.0 million and (ii) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period;

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

(aa) Indebtedness arising in connection with endorsement of instruments for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business;

(bb) Indebtedness in respect of unsecured promissory notes issued to a Strategic Investor as consideration for the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of shares of Preferred Equity Interests of the Borrower, a Subsidiary or a Professional Services Affiliate owned by a Strategic Investor if such purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value is made for consideration not in excess of the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of such Preferred Equity Interests;

 

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(cc) (A) Preferred Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Subsidiary issued to the Borrower or a Credit Party and (B) Preferred Equity Interests of a Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party issued to a another Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party (excluding any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any Subsidiary that holds such Preferred Equity Interests of another Subsidiary ceasing to be (X) in the case of clause (A) of this Section 8.03(cc), a Credit Party and (Y) in the case of clause (B) of this Section 8.03(cc), a Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Preferred Equity Interests, except to (X) in the case of clause (A) of this Section 8.03(cc), a Credit Party and (Y) in the case of clause (B) of this Section 8.03(cc), a Subsidiary);

(dd) non-voting Preferred Equity Interests of a Subsidiary issued to a Strategic Investor in the ordinary course of business for bona fide business purposes; provided that, on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Measurement Period, the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is not less than 2.00:1.00;

(ee) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of (i) workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits, property, casualty or liability insurance, self-insurance obligations, customer guarantees, performance, indemnity, surety, judgment, bid, appeal, advance payment (including progress premiums), customs, value added or other tax or other guarantees or other similar bonds, instruments or obligations, completion guarantees and warranties or relating to liabilities, obligations or guarantees incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; (ii) customer deposits and advance payments (including progress premiums) received from customers for goods or services purchased in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; (iii) letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, discounted bills of exchange, discounting or factoring of receivables or payables for credit management purposes, warehouse receipts, guarantees or other similar instruments or obligations issued or entered into, or relating to liabilities or obligations incurred, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; and

(ff) obligations under or in respect of any Receivables Facility.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall incur Indebtedness for borrowed money (which does not include, for the avoidance of doubt, Purchase Money Indebtedness) secured by Liens on any assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that rank pari passu with the Liens securing the Obligations after the Closing Date in excess of $100,000,000 (plus any Liens securing Indebtedness under the PIK Interest Additional Notes (as such term is defined in the New 2027 Notes Indenture as in effect on the Closing Date)) and (y) Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors shall not be permitted to incur any Indebtedness for borrowed money (which does not include, for the avoidance of doubt, Purchase Money Indebtedness).

8.04 Mergers and Dissolutions; Sale of All or Substantially All Assets.

In the case of Borrower or any Subsidiary, enter into a transaction of merger, amalgamation or consolidation with another Person, or, in the case of the Borrower, sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ properties or assets in one or more related transactions to another Person, except that:

 

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(a) the Borrower may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any other Person; provided that (A) following any such merger, amalgamation, consolidation, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition, either (x) the Borrower is the surviving or continuing Person or the Person to whom such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposal is made or (y) the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made, is a corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof and such Person shall assume all of the Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, (B) immediately after such merger, amalgamation, consolidation, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition, no Event of Default shall exist and be continuing and (C) on a Pro Forma Basis, either (x) the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would not be less than the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio immediately prior to giving effect to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, or such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition or (y) the Borrower would be able to incur $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 8.03(y)(iii)(B);

(b) any Domestic Subsidiary may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with the Borrower or another Domestic Subsidiary; provided that, (A) if the Borrower is a party to such transaction, the Borrower shall be the surviving or continuing Person and (B) if a Guarantor (but not the Borrower) is a party to such transaction, either (x) a Guarantor shall be the surviving or continuing Person or (y) the surviving or continuing Person shall become a Guarantor immediately upon the consummation of such transaction;

(c) any Foreign Subsidiary may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with the Borrower or another Subsidiary; provided that, (A) if the Borrower is a party to such transaction, the Borrower shall be the surviving or continuing Person and (B) if a Guarantor (but not the Borrower) is a party to such transaction, either (x) a Guarantor shall be the surviving or continuing Person or (y) the surviving or continuing Person shall become a Guarantor immediately upon the consummation of such transaction;

(d) to the extent not constituting a sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or otherwise disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, any Subsidiary may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with any other Person in connection with a Subject Disposition effected pursuant to Section 8.05, so long as no more assets are Disposed of as a result of or in connection with any transaction undertaken pursuant to this Section 8.04(d) than would otherwise have been allowed pursuant to Section 8.05; and

(e) the Borrower or any Subsidiary may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with any other Person or the Borrower may sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ properties or assets in one or more related transactions to another Person, in each case in connection with an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 8.02, so long as the continuing or surviving Person shall be the Borrower or a Subsidiary; provided that, (A) if the Borrower is a party to such transaction referred to in this Section 8.04(e), the Borrower shall be the surviving or continuing Person or the Person to which such assets are sold, assigned, transferred, leased, conveyed or disposed of and (B) if a Guarantor (but not the Borrower) is a party to such transaction, either (x) a Guarantor shall be the surviving or continuing Person or (y) the surviving or continuing Person shall become a Guarantor immediately upon the consummation of such transaction.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may merge or consolidate with a Subsidiary solely for the purpose of reorganizing the Borrower in another jurisdiction of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries is not increased thereby.

8.05 Dispositions.

Make any Subject Disposition unless (a) at least 75% of the consideration received from all Subject Dispositions is cash or Cash Equivalents; provided, that for the purposes of this clause (a), the following shall be deemed to be cash: (1) any liabilities (as shown on the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet provided hereunder or in the footnotes thereto) of the Borrower or such Subsidiary (other than liabilities that are by their terms contractually subordinated to the Obligations) that are assumed by the transferee with respect to the applicable Disposition, (2) any securities received by the Borrower or such Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Borrower or such Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received in the conversion) within one hundred eighty (180) days following the closing of the applicable Subject Disposition and (3) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration in respect of such Subject Disposition having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with the Designated Non-Cash Consideration in respect of all other Subject Dispositions, not in excess of the greater of (i) $7.5 million and (ii) 10% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period (with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured as of the time received) and (b) such Subject Disposition is made at fair market value. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall not, nor shall the Borrower permit any Subsidiary to, consummate any Disposition that would result in the transfer of ownership or exclusive license of Material IP from the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary to an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

8.06 Restricted Payments.

Declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except:

(a) each Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary, or in the case of a Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, to each equity holder of such Subsidiary on a pro rata basis (or on more favorable terms from the perspective of the Borrower and its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries) based on their relative ownership interests of the applicable class of Equity Interests in respect of which such Restricted Payment is being made, as required by such non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary’s organizational agreements or shareholders’ agreements, or, solely to the extent required by law, on a non-pro rata basis to such equity holders;

(b) any refinancing pursuant to Section 8.03(l) shall be permitted;

(c) any Investment permitted or not prohibited by Section 8.02 shall be permitted;

 

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(d) Restricted Payments; provided that, at the time of making such Restricted Payments, (x) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom and (y) on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Measurement Period, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 3.75:1.00;

(e) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof, the Borrower may make Restricted Payments at any time in an aggregate amount not to exceed (A) the greater of (i) $20.0 million and (ii) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period; provided, that the Borrower shall not make Restricted Payments (as defined in clause (i) and (ii) of the definition thereof) in respect of its Capital Stock pursuant to this clause (e)(A), that when aggregated with Restricted Payments (as defined in clause (i) and (ii) of the definition thereof) in respect of its Capital Stock made pursuant to clause (a) of the definition of Cumulative Credit, exceed $10.0 million plus (B) if, after giving effect to such Restricted Payments, the Borrower would be able to incur $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 8.03(y)(iii)(B);

(f) to the extent not used as part of or increasing the Cumulative Credit, the Borrower or any Subsidiary may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire shares of its Qualified Capital Stock with the proceeds received from the substantially concurrent issue of (i) in the case of the Borrower, new shares of its Qualified Capital Stock to a Person other than a Subsidiary of the Borrower or an Unrestricted Subsidiary or (ii) in the case of any Subsidiary, Qualified Capital Stock of the Borrower;

(g) the members of the Consolidated Group may prepay or repay intercompany Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder owed to other members of the Consolidated Group;

(h) repurchases of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the “cashless exercise” of stock options or warrants, cashless tax withholding, stock appreciation rights or upon the vesting of restricted stock or restricted stock units if such Capital Stock represents the exercise price of such options or warrants or represents withholding taxes due upon such exercise or vesting shall be permitted;

(i) the Borrower or any Subsidiary may convert, exchange or redeem any Indebtedness into or for Qualified Capital Stock;

(j) the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries held by any future, present or former employee, director or consultant of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (or any such Person’s estates or heirs) pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $7.5 million and (y) 10% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period in any calendar year, with unused amounts in any calendar year carried over and available for use in any succeeding calendar year; provided that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed (a) the cash proceeds from the sale of Qualified Capital Stock of the Borrower to a Person other than a Subsidiary of the Borrower or an Unrestricted Subsidiary to any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that occurred after the

 

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Closing Date, to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Qualified Capital Stock have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments or the making of Investments or constitute a Cure Amount; plus (b) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries after the Closing Date; minus (c) the amount of any Restricted Payments made in previous calendar years pursuant to the foregoing clauses (a) and (b);

(k) the payment of any dividend or other distribution or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within sixty (60) days after the date of declaration of the dividend or other distribution or giving of the redemption notice, as the case may be, if at the date of declaration or notice, the dividend or other distribution or redemption payment would have complied with the provisions of this Section 8.06; provided that the making of such Restricted Payment will reduce capacity for Restricted Payments pursuant to such other provision when so made; and

(l) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) issued after the Closing Date; provided, however, that (i) on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Measurement Period after giving effect to such issuance and the payment of such dividends or distributions, the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is not less than 2.00:1.00 and (ii) the aggregate amount of dividends declared and paid pursuant to this Section 8.06(l) does not exceed the net cash proceeds actually received by the Borrower from any such sale of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) issued after the Closing Date; and

(m) distributions or payments of Receivables Fees in connection with a Receivables Facility.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) for the avoidance of doubt, the conversion of any Indebtedness into Qualified Capital Stock as part of the Reorganization Transactions shall not increase the basket capacity under this Section 8.06 and (y) the Borrower shall not, nor shall the Borrower permit any Subsidiary to, consummate any Restricted Payment that would result in the transfer of ownership or exclusive license of Material IP from the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary to an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

8.07 Change in Nature of Business.

Engage in any material line of business other than a Permitted Business.

8.08 Change in Accounting Practices or Fiscal Year.

Change its accounting policies or reporting practices, except as required by GAAP or permitted by Section 1.03, or change the fiscal year of the Borrower.

8.09 Transactions with Affiliates.

Sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of the Borrower’s or any Subsidiary’s Properties or assets to, or purchase any Property or assets from, or enter into any contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (including any Unrestricted Subsidiary or Minority Investment

 

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that is an Affiliate) (other than between or among members of the Consolidated Group), whether or not in the ordinary course of business, in any one or a series of transactions involving aggregate payments in excess of $5.0 million (or in the case of Minority Investments that are Affiliates, in excess of $2.5 million) (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”), other than (i) (A) on terms that taken as a whole are not materially less favorable to the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that could be obtained in a comparable transaction at the time of such transaction or the execution of the agreement providing for such transaction in arm’s length dealings with a Person who is not such an Affiliate and (B) in the event such Affiliate Transaction involves an aggregate value in excess of the greater of (i) $7.5 million and (ii) 10% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Measurement Period, so long as the terms of such Affiliate Transaction have been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Borrower, (ii) Restricted Payments not prohibited by Section 8.06, (iii) Investments not prohibited by Section 8.02, (iv) mergers, consolidations, amalgamations or Dispositions not prohibited by Section 8.02 or 8.04, (v) transactions with an Affiliate where the only consideration paid is Qualified Capital Stock of the Borrower, (vi) indemnification or similar arrangements for officers, directors, employees or agents of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to charter, bylaw, statutory or contractual provisions, (vii) the payment of compensation, fees, costs and expenses to, and indemnities (including under insurance policies) and reimbursements, employment and severance arrangements, and employee benefit and pension expenses provided on behalf of, or for the benefit of, future, current or former employees, directors, officers, managers, contractors, consultants, distributors or advisors of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (whether directly or indirectly), (viii) the entry into employment agreements and the adoption of compensation or benefit plans for the benefit of directors and management of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, salaries, fees, bonuses, equity and incentive arrangements), (ix) the pledge of Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries, (x) any transactions between or among the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (xi) any transactions between the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Affiliate of the Borrower the Capital Stock of which Affiliate is owned solely by the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries and by Persons who are not Affiliates of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, on the other hand; (xii) non-exclusive licenses or sublicenses of IP Rights in the ordinary course of business with any of its Subsidiaries, (xiii) any transition services arrangement, supply arrangement or similar arrangement entered into in connection with or in contemplation of the Disposition of the assets or Capital Stock in any Subsidiary or entered into with any Business Successor, in each case, that the Borrower determines in good faith is either fair to the Borrower or otherwise on customary terms for such type of arrangements in connection with similar transactions; (xiv) transactions entered into by an Unrestricted Subsidiary with an Affiliate prior to the day such Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated as a Subsidiary (and not entered into in contemplation of such redesignation from an Unrestricted Subsidiary to a Subsidiary), (xv) any lease entered into between the Borrower or any Subsidiary, as lessee, and any Affiliate of the Borrower, as lessor, (xvi) any operational services arrangement entered into between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Affiliate thereof, in each case, which is reasonably determined by the Borrower to be no worse than a transaction on an arm’s length basis; (xvii) intellectual property licenses and research and development agreements in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, (xviii) transactions with joint ventures or Unrestricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business, (xix) transactions between the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and any Person, a director of which is also a director of the Borrower; provided, however, that such director abstains from voting

 

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as a director on any matter involving such other Person, (xx) sales of Equity Interests to Affiliates of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement and the granting of registration and other customary rights in connection therewith, (xxi) transactions in which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, deliver to the Administrative Agent a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Borrower or such Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of this Section 8.09, (xxii) transactions with a Person who is an Affiliate of the Borrower solely as a result of the Borrower’s or a Subsidiary’s Investment in such Person, (xxiii) so long as they comply with clause (i)(A) above, transactions with customers, clients, lessors, landlords, suppliers, contractors, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services that are Affiliates, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, (xxiv) any agreements or arrangements in effect on the Closing Date and, to the extent having a value in excess of $5.0 million, set forth on Schedule 8.09, and any modifications, extensions or renewals thereof that are not disadvantageous to the Lenders in the Borrower’s reasonable determination in any material respect, and (xxv) any customary transaction with a Receivables Subsidiary effected in connection with a Receivables Facility.

8.10 Financial Covenant.

Permit the Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of any fiscal quarter (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2024) (but only if, on the last day of any such fiscal quarter, the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Obligations (exclusive of L/C Obligations that (A) are Cash Collateralized in accordance with this Agreement or (B) arise from Letters of Credit in respect of which no drawing or demand for payment has been made or requested, to the extent, in the case of this clause (B), such L/C Obligations do not exceed $2.5 million in the aggregate) is in excess of 30% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments at such time), to exceed 6.60:1.00.

8.11 Limitation on Subsidiary Distributions.

Directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause to become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary to (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its capital stock or any other interest or participation in its profits owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (b) make loans or advances to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or (c) transfer any of its properties to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (i) applicable Law; (ii) this Agreement and the other Credit Documents; (iii) any agreement representing the 2027 Senior Secured Notes, the 2028 Senior Secured Notes and any refinancing thereof; (iv) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of a Subsidiary; (v) customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into by a Subsidiary; (vi) any Lien permitted by Section 8.01 restricting the transfer of the property subject thereto; (vii) any agreement relating to the sale of any property permitted under Section 8.05 pending the consummation of such sale; (viii) without affecting the Credit Parties’ obligations under Section 7.12, 7.13 or 7.14, customary provisions in partnership agreements, limited liability company organizational governance documents, stockholders agreements, asset sale and stock sale agreements and other similar agreements that restrict the transfer of ownership interests in such partnership, limited liability company or similar person;

 

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(ix) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by suppliers or landlords; (x) any instrument evidencing or governing Indebtedness assumed in connection with any Permitted Acquisition pursuant to Section 8.03(h), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person or the properties or assets of the Person so acquired; (xi) in the case of any Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, such Person’s Organization Documents or pursuant to any joint venture agreement or stockholders agreements solely to the extent of the Capital Stock of or property held in the subject joint venture or other entity; (xii) contracts or agreements in effect on the Closing Date relating to Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date and, if in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $5.0 million, set forth on Schedule 8.03; (xiii) any restrictions imposed by any agreement incurred pursuant to Section 8.03(f) or pursuant to a refinancing thereof, in each case to the extent such restrictions are not more restrictive, taken as a whole, than the restrictions contained in the 2027 Senior Secured Notes as in effect on the Closing Date or the 2028 Senior Secured Notes as in effect on the Closing Date, as determined in good faith by the Borrower; (xiv) customary net worth provisions contained in real property leases entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, so long as the Borrower has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions would not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to meet their ongoing obligations; (xv) any agreement in effect at the time any Person becomes a Subsidiary, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary; (xvi) any agreement representing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.03 of a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Credit Party; (xvii) restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business; (xviii) any instrument evidencing or governing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 8.03(y), so long as such encumbrances and restrictions do not, when taken as a whole, materially and adversely affect ability of the Borrower to make interest, principal and fee payments to the Lenders hereunder (as determined in good faith by the Borrower); (xix) any refinancings that are otherwise permitted by the Credit Documents of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to above; provided that such refinancings are no more materially restrictive, as determined in good faith by the Borrower, with respect to such encumbrances and restrictions than those prior to such amendment or refinancing; (xx) any buy-sell, voting trust and other shareholder arrangements; and (xxi) any restrictions created in connection with any Receivables Facility that, in the good faith determination of the Borrower, are necessary or advisable to effect such Receivables Facility.

8.12 Amendment of Material Documents.

Amend, modify or waive any of its rights under its certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other Organizational Documents, in each case, to the extent that such amendment, modification or waiver would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the Lenders.

8.13 Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, International Trade Laws and Sanctions.

Do any of the following, nor permit its directors and officers, and any employee, agent, or affiliate acting on behalf of the Borrower in connection with this Agreement, nor permit its Subsidiaries, to: (a) directly or indirectly provide, use, or make available the proceeds of any Loans hereunder (i) to fund any activities or business of, with, or for the benefit of any Person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is a Sanctioned Person, except as permitted for a Person

 

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required to comply with U.S. Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or in any Sanctioned Jurisdiction, except as permitted for a Person required to comply with U.S. Sanctions, (iii) in any manner that could result in a violation by any Person of any Anti-Corruption Law, Anti-Money Laundering Law or International Trade Law (including the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, any Lender, underwriter, advisor, investor, or otherwise) or (iv) in violation of any applicable Law, including, without limitation, any applicable Anti-Corruption Law, Anti-Money Laundering Law or International Trade Law; (b) repay any Loans with Blocked Property or funds derived from any unlawful activity; or (c) permit any Collateral to become Blocked Property.

ARTICLE IX

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

9.01 Events of Default.

Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

(a) Non-Payment. The Borrower or any other Credit Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan or any amount of principal of any L/C Obligation, or (ii) within five (5) Business Days after the same becomes due or required to be paid herein, any interest on any Loan or any regularly accruing fee due hereunder or any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Credit Document; or

(b) Specific Covenants. The Borrower or any other Credit Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.03(a)(i), 7.11 or Article VIII or, with respect to the existence of the Borrower only, clause (x) of Section 7.04; or

(c) Other Defaults. The Borrower or any other Credit Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in Section 9.01(a) or (b) above) contained in any Credit Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty (30) calendar days after written notice to the defaulting party or the Borrower by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders; or

(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty or certification made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Credit Party herein, in any other Credit Document, or in any document required to be delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be false in any material respect when made or deemed made; or

(e) Cross-Default. (i) Any member of the Consolidated Group (A) fails (beyond the period of grace (if any) provided in the instrument or agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness was created) to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, interest, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Support Obligations (other than Indebtedness hereunder or Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having a principal amount (with principal amount for the purposes of this Section 9.01(e) including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement), when taken together with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness and Support Obligations as to which any such failure has occurred, exceeding

 

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$25.0 million or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any Indebtedness or Support Obligations or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which failure or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Support Obligations (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Support Obligations to become payable, which has an unpaid principal amount, when taken together with the unpaid principal amounts of all other Indebtedness and Support Obligations as to which any such failure or event has occurred, exceeding $25.0 million (it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that the satisfaction of any customary “conversion conditions” set forth in the instruments governing any Convertible Indebtedness will not be deemed to constitute a Default under this clause (B) on account of such satisfaction giving any holder of such Convertible Indebtedness the right to convert the same); or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an “early termination date” (or term of similar import) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is the “defaulting party” (or term of similar import) or (B) any “termination event” (or term of similar import) under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is an “affected party” (or term of similar import) and, when taken together with all other Swap Contracts as to which events of default or events referred to in the immediately preceding clause (A) or (B) are applicable, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries exceeds $25.0 million; provided that this clause (e) shall not apply to any secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, if such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder and under the documents providing for such Indebtedness and such Indebtedness is repaid when required under the documents providing for such Indebtedness; or

(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. Any Credit Party or any Significant Subsidiary institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, monitor, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, monitor, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

(g) Change of Control. There shall have occurred a Change of Control of the Borrower; or

(h) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. Any Credit Party or any Significant Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within thirty (30) days after its issue or levy; or

 

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(i) Judgments. There is entered against any member of the Consolidated Group one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments and orders) exceeding $25.0 million (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage or otherwise discharged), and there is a period of thirty (30) consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgments, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

(j) ERISA. An ERISA Event occurs that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

(k) Invalidity of Credit Documents. Any material Credit Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Revolving Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Credit Party contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any material Credit Document; or any Credit Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any material Credit Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any material Credit Document; or

(l) Collateral Documents. Any Collateral Document after delivery thereof shall for any reason cease (or shall be asserted in writing by any Credit Party to cease) to create a valid and perfected Lien to the extent required by the Collateral Documents (subject to no other Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01) on Collateral that is (i) purported to be covered thereby and (ii) comprises Property which, when taken together with all Property as to which such a Lien has so ceased to be effective, has a fair market value in excess $25.0 million (other than by reason of (x) the express release thereof pursuant to Section 10.10, (y) the failure of the Collateral Agent to retain possession of Collateral physically delivered to it or (z) the failure of the Collateral Agent to timely file UCC continuation); or

(m) Sanctioned Person. The Borrower or any other Credit Party becomes a Sanctioned Person.

9.02 Remedies upon Event of Default.

If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

(a) declare the Commitments of the Lenders and the obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such Commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Credit Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;

(c) require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and

 

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(d) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it or to the Lenders under the Credit Documents or applicable Law;

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Borrower under Section 9.01(f), the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

9.03 Right to Cure.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 9.01 or 9.02, in the event that the Borrower fails to comply with the requirements of the financial covenant set forth in Section 8.10, then:

(a) until the expiration of the fifteenth (15th) Business Day subsequent to the date the relevant financial statements are required to be delivered with respect to such fiscal quarter pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b), the Borrower shall have the right to issue Qualified Capital Stock to a Person other than a Subsidiary of the Borrower or an Unrestricted Subsidiary for cash (the “Cure Right”), and upon the receipt by the Borrower of such cash, in an amount no greater than the amount required to cause the Borrower to be in compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 8.10 with respect to such fiscal quarter (the “Cure Amount”) pursuant to the exercise by the Borrower of such Cure Right, the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower as used in the financial covenant set forth in Section 8.10 shall be recalculated giving effect to the following pro forma adjustments:

(i) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower shall be increased for such fiscal quarter and each subsequent period containing such fiscal quarter, solely for the purpose of measuring the financial covenant set forth in Section 8.10 and not for any other purpose under this Agreement (including, but not limited to, determining the availability or amount of any covenant baskets or carve-outs or the Applicable Rate or the Commitment Fee Rate or reducing any outstanding Indebtedness (or increasing cash or Cash Equivalents); provided that such limitation on the reduction of outstanding Indebtedness shall not apply in subsequent fiscal quarters), by an amount equal to the Cure Amount; and

(ii) if, after giving effect to the foregoing recalculations, the Borrower shall then be in compliance with the requirements of the financial covenant set forth in Section 8.10, the Borrower shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of the financial covenant set forth in Section 8.10 as of the relevant date of determination with the same effect as though there had been no failure to comply therewith at such date, and the applicable breach or default of the financial covenant set forth in Section 8.10 that had occurred shall be deemed cured for all purposes of this Agreement; and

 

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(b) upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of written notice, prior to the expiration of the fifteenth (15th) Business Day subsequent to the date the relevant financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b) (the “Anticipated Cure Deadline”), that the Borrower intends to exercise the Cure Right in respect of a fiscal quarter, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall not be permitted to accelerate Loans or terminate the Commitments held by them or to exercise remedies against the Collateral or exercise any other remedies on the basis of a failure to comply with the requirements of the financial covenant set forth in Section 8.10 until such failure is not cured pursuant to the exercise of the Cure Right on or prior to the Anticipated Cure Deadline; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, no Credit Extension to the Borrower under the Revolving Facility shall be required to be made for so long as the Borrower is not in compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 8.10 and such non-compliance has not been cured in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9.03.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) in each four (4) fiscal quarter period, there shall be at least two (2) fiscal quarters in respect of which the Cure Right is not exercised, (ii) there can be no more than five (5) fiscal quarters in respect of which the Cure Right is exercised during the term of the Revolving Facility and (iii) for purposes of this Section 9.03, the Cure Amount utilized shall be no greater than the amount required for purposes of complying with the financial covenant set forth in Section 8.10.

9.04 Application of Funds.

After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 9.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized, in each case as set forth in the proviso to Section 9.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement):

First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including all reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of any law firm or other counsel and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, in each case in its capacity as such;

Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest, Commitment Fees and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders (including all reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of any law firm or other counsel and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Commitment Fees, Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans, L/C Borrowings and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders, the Swingline Lender and the L/C Issuers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

Fourth, to (a) payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings, (b) payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting breakage, termination or other amounts owing in respect of any Swap Contract between the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and the Administrative Agent, any Lender

 

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or Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or a Lender or any Person that was the Administrative Agent, a Lead Arranger, a Lender or Affiliate of the Administrative Agent, a Lead Arranger or a Lender at the time it entered into such Swap Contract, (c) payments of that portion of the Obligations constituting amounts due under any Treasury Management Agreement between the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and the Administrative Agent, any Lender or Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or a Lender or any Person that was the Administrative Agent, a Lender or Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or a Lender at the time it entered into such Treasury Management Agreement, to the extent such Treasury Management Agreement is permitted hereunder and (d) the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuers, to Cash Collateralize that portion of the L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit, ratably among such parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth payable to them; and

Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

Subject to Section 2.03(c), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fourth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as cash collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, amounts received from the Borrower or any Guarantor that is not a Qualified ECP Guarantor shall not be applied to Obligations that are Excluded Swap Obligations.

ARTICLE X

AGENTS

10.01 Appointment and Authorization of the Agents.

(a) Each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers hereby irrevocably appoints PNC Bank, National Association to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent hereunder and under the other Credit Documents and authorizes each Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the such Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article X (other than Sections 10.06, 10.10 and 10.12) are solely for the benefit of the Agents, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, and neither the Borrower nor any other Credit Party shall have rights as a beneficiary of any of such provisions (except the Borrower and the Credit Parties shall be beneficiaries of Sections 10.06, 10.10 and 10.12).

(b) Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints, designates and authorizes the Collateral Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and each Collateral Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement or any Collateral Document, together with such powers as are

 

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reasonably incidental thereto. In this connection, the Collateral Agent, and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 10.05 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Collateral Agent, shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article X and Article XI (including Section 11.04(c), as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under the Credit Documents) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere herein or in any Collateral Document, no Agent shall have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein or therein, nor shall any Agent have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender or participant, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any Collateral Document or otherwise exist against any Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” herein and in the Collateral Documents with reference to any Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties. The Collateral Agent shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Collateral and the Collateral Documents, and the Collateral Agent shall have all of the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Administrative Agent under the Credit Documents with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the Collateral Agent in connection with any Collateral or the Collateral Documents as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in such Credit Documents included the Collateral Agent with respect to such acts or omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided herein or in the Collateral Documents with respect to the Collateral Agent.

(c) Each L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and each L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Agents in this Article X with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by any L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Agent” as used in this Article X included such L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided herein with respect to such L/C Issuer.

(d) In addition to any other rights and remedies granted to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in the Credit Documents, the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise all rights and remedies of a secured party under the New York UCC or any other applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent, without demand of performance or other demand, presentment, protest, advertisement or notice of any kind (except any notice required by law referred to below) to or upon any Credit Party or any other Person (all and each of which demands, defenses, advertisements and notices are hereby waived), may in such circumstances forthwith collect, receive, appropriate and realize upon the Collateral, or any part thereof, or consent to the use by a Credit Party of any cash collateral arising in respect of the Collateral on such terms as the Administrative Agent deems reasonable, and/or may forthwith sell, lease, assign give an option or options to purchase or otherwise dispose of and deliver, or acquire by credit bid on behalf of the Lenders, the Collateral or any part thereof (or contract to do any of the foregoing), in one or more parcels at public or private sale or sales, at any exchange, broker’s board or office of the Administrative Agent or any Lender or elsewhere, upon such terms and conditions as it may deem advisable and at such prices as it may deem best, for cash or on credit or for future delivery, all without assumption of any credit risk.

 

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10.02 Rights as a Lender.

Each Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as such Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not an Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

10.03 Exculpatory Provisions.

The Agents and Lead Arrangers shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Agents and Lead Arrangers:

(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Credit Documents that the Agents are required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Credit Documents); provided that no Agent shall be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose such Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Credit Document or applicable law; and

(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as an Agent or any of its or their Affiliates in any capacity.

No Agent shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as such Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 11.01 and 9.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Agents shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to such Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an L/C Issuer.

No Agent shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Credit Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any

 

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of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or the creation, perfection or priority of any Lien purported to be created by the Collateral Documents or to assure that the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to any Collateral Document have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, (v) the value or the sufficiency of any Collateral or (vi) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article V or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to such Agent.

10.04 Reliance by Agents.

Each Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. Each Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an L/C Issuer, each Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or such L/C Issuer unless such Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or such L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. Each Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by them in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

10.05 Delegation of Duties.

Each Agent may perform any and all of their duties and exercise their rights and powers hereunder or under any other Credit Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by such Agent. Any Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of their duties and exercise their rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article X shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Agents, and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as such Agent.

10.06 Resignation of an Agent.

Each of the Agents may, at any time upon thirty (30) days written notice to the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Borrower, give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the consent of the Borrower (provided that no consent shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), to appoint a successor, which shall be a financial institution with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Agent gives notice

 

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of its resignation, then the retiring Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, with the consent of the Borrower (provided that no consent shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), appoint a successor Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if such Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Credit Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by such Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuers under any of the Credit Documents, such retiring Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Agent is appointed) and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through such Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and each L/C Issuer directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Agent as provided for above in this Section 10.06. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as an Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Agent and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Credit Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section 10.06). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Credit Documents, the provisions of this Article X and Section 11.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Agent was acting as such Agent.

Any resignation by PNC Bank, National Association as Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as the case may be, pursuant to this Section 10.06 shall also constitute its resignation as L/C Issuer and Swingline Lender. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as the case may be, hereunder, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer and Swingline Lender, (b) the retiring L/C Issuer and Swingline Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Credit Documents, and (c) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

10.07 Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders.

Each Lender and L/C Issuer acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

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10.08 No Other Duties.

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the “Joint Lead Arrangers” and “Joint Bookrunners” listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as an Agent, a Lender or an L/C Issuer hereunder.

10.09 Agents May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to any Credit Party, any Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations (other than obligations under Swap Contracts or Treasury Management Agreements to which such Agent is not a party) that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Agents (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Agents and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Agents under Sections 2.09 and 11.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

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

and any custodian, receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, monitor, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and L/C Issuer to make such payments to such Agent and, in the event that such Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, to pay to such Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of such Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due to such Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04.

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize any Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

10.10 Collateral and Guaranty Matters.

The Lenders and the L/C Issuers irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, at its option and in its discretion:

 

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(a) to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Collateral Documents if (i) such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction not prohibited hereunder, (ii) such Person is designated as an Immaterial Subsidiary or becomes an Excluded Subsidiary or (iii) if the conditions set forth in clause (b)(i) below are satisfied; provided that, if any Guarantor ceases to be a Wholly Owned Subsidiary and becomes an Excluded Subsidiary pursuant to clause (d) of the definition thereof, such Guarantor shall not be released from its obligations under the Collateral Documents, unless (x) the disposition that caused such Guarantor to become a Non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary was consummated for bona fide business purposes and the purpose of which was not to evade the guarantee requirements contained herein, (y) such disposition is to a non-Affiliate of the Borrower and (z) after giving pro forma effect to such release and the consummation of the relevant transaction, the Borrower is deemed to have made a new Investment in such Person (as if such Person was then newly acquired) and such Investment is permitted hereunder (it being understood that this proviso shall not limit the release of any Guarantor that otherwise qualifies as Excluded Subsidiary for reasons other than clause (d) of the definition thereof);

(b) to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Collateral Agent under any Credit Document (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than (A) contingent indemnification obligations not then due and payable and (B) obligations and liabilities under Swap Contracts and Treasury Management Agreements) and the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit (or if any Letters of Credit shall remain outstanding, upon (x) the cash collateralization of the Outstanding Amount of Letters of Credit (at 103% of the face amount of such Letters of Credit) on terms reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer or (y) the receipt by any applicable L/C Issuer of a backstop letter of credit (so long as such backstop letter of credit has a face amount of 103% of the face amount of such Letters of Credit) on terms reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer or the making of other arrangements with respect thereto which are reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer), (ii) to the extent such property was contributed as an Investment to a Person that is not a Credit Party in connection with an Investment not prohibited hereunder or is Disposed or disposed of as part of or in connection with any sale, Disposition or other disposition, in each case, not prohibited hereunder or under any other Credit Document (other than any such sale, Disposition or other disposition to another Credit Party), or (iii) subject to Section 11.01, if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders; and

(c) to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Collateral Agent under any Credit Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted hereunder in respect of Purchase Money Indebtedness or Indebtedness in respect of Sale and Leaseback Transactions, capital leases and Synthetic Leases.

Upon request by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the authority of the Collateral Agent to release or subordinate its interest in particular property and of the Administrative Agent to release any Guarantor from its obligations hereunder pursuant to this Section 10.10 in connection with a transaction permitted hereunder.

 

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10.11 Withholding Tax.

To the extent required by any applicable Law, the Administrative Agent may deduct or withhold from any payment to any Lender under any Credit Document an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax. If the IRS or any other authority of the United States or other jurisdiction asserts a claim that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold Tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender for any reason (including because the appropriate documentation was not delivered or not properly executed, or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstance that rendered the exemption from, or reduction of withholding Tax ineffective), such Lender shall indemnify and hold harmless the Agents (to the extent that the Administrative Agent has not already been reimbursed by any Credit Party pursuant to Sections 3.01 and 3.04 and without limiting or expanding the obligation of any Credit Party to do so) fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as Tax or otherwise, together with all expenses incurred, including legal expenses and any out-of-pocket expenses, in each case, whether or not such Tax was correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any other Credit Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this Section 10.11. The agreements in this Section 10.11 shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of this Agreement and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 10.11, the term “Lender” shall include any L/C Issuer and the Swingline Lender.

10.12 Treasury Management Agreements and Swap Contracts.

Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein or in any Collateral Document, no Treasury Management Bank or Hedge Bank that obtains the benefit of the guarantees hereunder or any Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or of any Collateral Document shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Credit Document or otherwise in respect of the Collateral (including the release or impairment of any Collateral) or such guarantees, other than in its capacity as a Lender and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Credit Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article X to the contrary, no Agent shall be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Obligations arising under Treasury Management Agreements and Swap Contracts unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice of such Obligations, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Treasury Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be.

10.13 Credit Bidding.

The Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations (including by accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Obligations pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or

 

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more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (a) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Credit Party is subject, or (b) at any other sale, foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid by the Administrative Agent at the direction of the Required Lenders on a ratable basis (with Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that shall vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) for the asset or assets so purchased (or for the equity interests or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are issued in connection with such purchase). In connection with any such bid (i) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles and to assign any successful credit bid to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, (ii) each of the Secured Parties’ ratable interests in the Obligations which were credit bid shall be deemed without any further action under this Agreement to be assigned to such vehicle or vehicles for the purpose of closing such sale, (iii) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles (provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or equity interests thereof, shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by, and the governing documents shall provide for, control by the vote of the Required Lenders or their permitted assignees under the terms of this Agreement or the governing documents of the applicable acquisition vehicle or vehicles, as the case may be, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in Section 11.01 of this Agreement), (iv) the Administrative Agent on behalf of such acquisition vehicle or vehicles shall be authorized to issue to each of the Secured Parties, ratably on account of the relevant Obligations which were credit bid, interests, whether as equity, partnership, limited partnership interests or membership interests, in any such acquisition vehicle and/or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle, all without the need for any Secured Party or acquisition vehicle to take any further action, and (v) to the extent that Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Obligations assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of Obligations credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Secured Parties pro rata and the equity interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of such Obligations shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Secured Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action. Notwithstanding that the ratable portion of the Obligations of each Secured Party are deemed assigned to the acquisition vehicle or vehicles as set forth in clause (ii) above, each Secured Party shall execute such documents and provide such information regarding the Secured Party (and/or any designee of the Secured Party which will receive interests in or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in connection with the formation of any acquisition vehicle, the formulation or submission of any credit bid or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such credit bid.

 

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ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

11.01 Amendments, Etc.

No amendment or waiver of, or any consent to deviation from, any provision of this Agreement or any other Credit Document shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the Borrower or the applicable Credit Party, as the case may be, and the Required Lenders (or the Administrative Agent at the direction of the Required Lenders), and each such amendment, waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it is given; provided that this Section 11.01 shall not apply to any amendments to this Agreement pursuant to and in accordance with Section 3.03; provided, however, that:

(a) without the consent of each Lender, no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(i) amend or waive any condition precedent to the initial Credit Extension set forth in Section 5.01 or (solely with respect to the initial Credit Extension) any condition precedent set forth in Section 5.02,

(ii) except to the extent permitted by Section 2.15 or 2.16 to effectuate a transaction pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.16, as the case may be, change any provision of this Agreement regarding pro rata sharing or pro rata funding with respect to (A) the making of advances (including participations), (B) the manner of application of payments or prepayments of principal, interest, or fees, (C) the manner of application of reimbursement obligations from drawings under Letters of Credit, or (D) the manner of reduction of commitments and committed amounts,

(iii) change any provision of the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder,

(iv) release all or substantially all of the Collateral, or

(v) release all or substantially all of the value of the guarantees provided by the Guarantors,

(b) without the consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(i) except to the extent permitted by Section 2.15 or 2.16 to effectuate a transaction pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.16, as the case may be, extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 9.02), it being understood that the amendment or waiver of an Event of Default or a mandatory reduction or a mandatory prepayment in Commitments shall not be considered an increase in Commitments,

 

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(ii) waive non-payment or postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Credit Document for any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to any Lender hereunder or under any other Credit Document or change the scheduled final maturity of any Loan,

(iii) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Credit Document; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary (A) to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate or (B) to amend any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or L/C Borrowing or to reduce any fee payable hereunder, or

(iv) change the order or manner of application of amounts set forth in Section 9.04;

(c) unless also consented to in writing by an L/C Issuer, no such amendment, waiver or consent shall affect the rights or duties of such L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it;

(d) unless also consented to in writing by the Swingline Lender, no such amendment, waiver or consent shall affect the rights or duties of the Swingline Lender under this Agreement;

(e) unless also consented to in writing by the Administrative Agent, no such amendment, waiver or consent shall affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Credit Document;

(f) unless also consented to in writing by the Collateral Agent, no such amendment, waiver or consent shall affect the rights or duties of the Collateral Agent under this Agreement or any other Credit Document; and

(g) without the consent of Lenders having more than 66.6666% of the sum of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments or, if the Revolving Commitments shall have expired or been terminated, Lenders holding more than 66.6666% of the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Obligations (including, in each case, the aggregate principal amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans), no such amendment, waiver or consent shall (i) subordinate any of the Revolving Obligations in right of payment to any other obligations or Indebtedness, or (ii) change or alter the priority of the Liens securing the Revolving Obligations in any manner adverse to the Lenders, in each case except as expressly permitted in Section 10.10(c) of this Agreement;

provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) each Lender is entitled to vote as such Lender sees fit on any bankruptcy or insolvency reorganization plan that affects the Loans, (ii) each Lender acknowledges that the provisions of Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States supersedes the unanimous consent provisions set forth herein, (iii) the Required Lenders may consent to allow a Credit Party to use cash collateral in the context of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, (iv) Section 11.06(h) may not be amended,

 

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waived or otherwise modified without the consent of each Granting Lender all or any part of whose Loans are being funded by a SPC at the time of such amendment, waiver or other modification and (v) the Administrative Agent Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may, without the input or consent of any other Lender, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as may be necessary or appropriate to effect the provisions of Section 2.01(d), 2.15 or 2.16 (including to provide that additional Classes of Loans or Commitments shall (i) share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents with the Revolving Obligations, (ii) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such Classes in any determination of the Required Lenders and (iii) to permit any such credit facilities which are revolving credit facilities to share ratably with the Revolving Facility in the application of prepayments).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 11.01, if the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall have jointly identified an obvious error (including, but not limited to, an incorrect cross-reference) or any error or omission of a technical nature, in each case, in any provision of any Credit Document, then the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent (acting in their sole discretion) and the Borrower or any other relevant Credit Party shall be permitted to amend such provision or cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to any Credit Document.

Without the consent of any other person, the applicable Credit Party or Parties and the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent may (in its or their respective sole discretion, or shall, to the extent required by any Credit Document) enter into any amendment or waiver of any Credit Document, or enter into any new agreement or instrument, to effect the granting, perfection, protection, expansion or enhancement of any security interest in any Collateral or additional property to become Collateral for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations, or as required by local law to give effect to, or protect any security interest for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations, in any property or so that the security interests therein comply with applicable requirements of Law.

11.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in Section 11.02(b)), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile or, with confirmation of receipt, electronic mail as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

(i) if to the Borrower, an Agent, an L/C Issuer or the Swingline Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02;

 

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(ii) if to any Credit Party other than the Borrower, in care of the Borrower at the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for the Borrower on Schedule 11.02; and

(iii) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.

Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received. Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in Section 11.02(b) shall be effective as provided therein.

(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

Unless the Administrative Agent and the Borrower otherwise prescribe, (i) notices and other communications sent (a) to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, if available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement) and (b) by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient) and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

(c) THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CREDIT PARTY MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE CREDIT PARTY MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE CREDIT PARTY MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall any Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to any Credit Party, Lender, L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of any Credit Party’s or any Agent’s transmission of Credit Party Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are

 

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determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to any Credit Party, Lender, L/C Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower, each Agent, each L/C Issuer and the Swingline Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, each Agent, each L/C Issuer and the Swingline Lender. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, facsimile number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.

(e) Reliance by each Agent, L/C Issuer and Lender. Each Agent, L/C Issuer and Lender shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Loan Notices and Loan Notices for Swingline Loans) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify each Agent, L/C Issuer, Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with any Agent may be recorded by such Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

11.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement.

No failure by any Lender, L/C Issuer, Swingline Lender or Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Credit Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Credit Documents against the Credit Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 9.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders and the L/C Issuers; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) any Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as such Agent) hereunder and under the other Credit Documents, (a) any L/C Issuer or the Swingline Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other

 

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Credit Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.12), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Credit Party under any Debtor Relief Law; provided, further, that, if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Credit Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.12, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

11.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

(a) Costs and Expenses. The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by each Agent and its Affiliates and each Lead Arranger (including the reasonable and invoiced fees, charges and disbursements of any one counsel for all of the foregoing, collectively, plus one local counsel in any jurisdiction reasonably necessary plus one regulatory counsel), in connection with the administration, syndication and closing of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, due diligence, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated and whether or not such amendment or waiver becomes effective), (ii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any L/C Issuer in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Agent, Lender or L/C Issuer (including the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of one counsel to the Agents, Lenders and L/C Issuers taken as a whole, plus one local counsel and one regulatory counsel to the Agents, Lenders and L/C Issuers taken as a whole in each relevant jurisdiction and, in the event of any actual or potential conflict of interest, one additional counsel to each affected Agent, Lender and L/C Issuer plus one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for each affected Lender, Agent and L/C Issuer) in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, including its rights under this Section 11.04, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

(b) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify each Agent (and any sub-agents thereof), Lender, L/C Issuer and Lead Arranger, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including any settlement costs and reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of one counsel for all Indemnitees collectively plus one local counsel in each reasonably necessary jurisdiction and in the event of any actual or perceived conflict of interest, one additional counsel for all similarly affected parties collectively plus one additional local counsel in each reasonably necessary jurisdiction plus one regulatory counsel), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Credit Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Credit

 

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Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Agents (and any sub-agents thereof) and their Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by an L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any Environmental Liability related to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Credit Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, in all cases, whether or not caused by or arising, in whole or in part, out of comparative, contributory or sole negligence of the Indemnitee; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (w) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any of its Related Parties, (x) result from any settlement entered into by any Indemnitee without the Borrower’s written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, (y) result from disputes between and among Persons otherwise entitled to indemnification and to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is not a party (provided that this clause (y) shall not apply to disputes involving the Administrative Agent or any other agent or arranger in its capacity as such) or (z) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Credit Party against an Indemnitee for a breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Credit Document, if the Borrower or such Credit Party has obtained a final and non-appealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. This Section 11.04(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under Section 11.04(a) or (b) to be paid by it to any Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), L/C Issuer or Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to such Agent (or any such sub-agent), L/C Issuer or Related Party, as the case may be (but, in each case, without affecting the Borrower’s obligations with respect thereto), such Lender’s Pro Rata Share (as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against such Agent (or any such sub-agent), L/C Issuer in its capacity as such, or Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for such Agent (or any such sub-agent) or L/C Issuer in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this Section 11.04(c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.11(d).

(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.

 

 

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(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section 11.04 shall be payable not later than ten (10) Business Days after demand therefor.

(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section 11.04 shall survive the resignation of any Agent and L/C Issuer, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

11.05 Payments Set Aside.

To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to any Agent, L/C Issuer or Lender, or any Agent, L/C Issuer or Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by any Agent, L/C Issuer or Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to such Agent on demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by such Agent plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

11.06 Successors and Assigns.

(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Borrower nor any other Credit Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender (other than in connection with a transaction permitted by Section 8.04) and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.06(b), (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.06(d), or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 11.06(f) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in Section 11.06(d) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of each Agent, L/C Issuer and Lender) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

 

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(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one (1) or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this Section 11.06(b), participations in L/C Obligations and in Swingline Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that:

(i) except in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to a Lender, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5.0 million, unless, in each case, each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default pursuant to Section 9.01(a) or (f) has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed and provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof), it being understood that assignments to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund shall not be subject to such minimum amounts;

(ii) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Revolving Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Revolving Loans and the Revolving Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not apply to rights in respect of Swingline Loans;

(iii) any assignment of Revolving Commitments and Revolving Loans must be approved by the Administrative Agent, each L/C Issuer and the Swingline Lender and, so long as no Event of Default pursuant to Section 9.01(a) or (f) has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed and provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof); provided that the Borrower’s approval shall not be required if the proposed assignee is a Revolving Lender, an Affiliate of a Revolving Lender or an Approved Fund; and

(iv) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500 (which fee may be waived by the Administrative Agent in its discretion), and the Eligible Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall (A) deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire and (B) deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent the forms required to be delivered pursuant to Section 3.01(e).

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 11.06(c), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under

 

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this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, and 11.04 (subject to the requirements and limitations of such Sections) with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 11.06(b) shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 11.06(d).

(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non- fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and related interest amounts) of the Loans and L/C Obligations and the interest thereon owing and paid to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Agents and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by each of the Borrower, the Agents and the Lenders and L/C Issuers (solely with respect to each Lender’s or L/C Issuer’s own Loans and Commitments) at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an Eligible Assignee, the Eligible Assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the Eligible Assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in Section 11.06(b) (if applicable) and any written consent to such assignment required by Section 11.06(b), the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the Eligible Assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.02(b), 2.03(c), 2.04(b), 2.11(b) or 11.04(c), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, a Defaulting Lender or a Disqualified Institution) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swingline Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Agents, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers shall continue to deal solely and

 

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directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Each Lender, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of such Participants and the rights, interests or obligations of such Participants in any Obligation, in any Commitment and in any right to receive any principal, interest and other payments thereunder (the “Participant Register”). The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error and the Borrower and such Lender shall treat each person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary; provided that no Lender shall have the obligation to disclose all or a portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of the Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Loans or other obligations under any Credit Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary in connection with a Tax audit or other proceeding to establish that any loans are in registered form for U.S. federal income Tax purposes under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations and Section 1.163-5(b) of the proposed United States Treasury Regulations.

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in Section 11.01(a)(iv) or (v) or, to the extent the Participant is affected thereby, Section 11.01(b)(i), (ii) or (iii). Subject to Section 11.06(e), each Participant (i) shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 (subject to the requirements and limitations of such Sections including the requirements under Section 3.01(e) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e) shall be delivered solely to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 11.06(b) and (ii) shall be subject to Sections 3.06 and 11.13(a) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 11.06(b). To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.08 as though it were a Lender; provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.12 as though it were a Lender.

(e) Limitation upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.

(f) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note(s), if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other governmental authority; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

 

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(g) Electronic Execution of Assignments. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

(h) Special Purpose Funding Vehicles. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (an “SPC”) the option to provide all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to fund any Loan, and (ii) if a SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to make all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof or, if it fails to do so, to make such payment to the Administrative Agent as is required under Section 2.11(b)(i). Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable, and the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including the approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of any Credit Document, remain the lender of record hereunder. The making of a Loan by a SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one (1) year and one (1) day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior debt of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, or liquidation proceeding under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and with the payment of a processing fee in the amount of $2,500, assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to any Loan to the Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its funding of Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety or guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC. Each SPC (i) shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 (subject to the requirements and limitations of such Sections) to the same extent as if it were a Granting Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 11.06(b) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e) shall be delivered solely to the Granting Lender) and (ii) shall be subject to Sections 3.06 and 11.13(a) to the same extent as if it were a Granting Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 11.06(b). No SPC shall be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01, 3.04 or 3.05 than the applicable Granting Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the interest granted to such SPC, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the applicable grant to the SPC.

 

 

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(i) Resignation as L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender After Assignment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time any L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender assigns all of its Commitment and Loans pursuant to Section 11.06(b) above, such L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender may, (i) upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Borrower, resign as Swingline Lender. In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of such L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender as L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender, as the case may be. If any L/C Issuer resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of an L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). If any Swingline Lender resigns as Swingline Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swingline Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swingline Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swingline Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(b). Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or Swingline Lender, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender, as the case may be, and (b) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

(i) Disqualified Institutions. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions hereof relating to Disqualified Institutions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (x) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant is a Disqualified Institution or (y) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans or Commitments, or disclosure of confidential information, to any Disqualified Institution.

11.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.

Each of the Agents, Lenders and L/C Issuers agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information, except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), provided that each of the Agents, Lenders and L/C Issuers shall be liable for any breach of this Section 11.07 by its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, advisors and representatives, (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners); provided that, except with respect to any audit or examination conducted by bank or other applicable financial accountants or any governmental bank or other applicable financial authority exercising examination or regulatory

 

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approval, each of the Agents, Lenders and L/C Issuer shall inform the Borrower promptly thereof prior to such disclosure, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process; provided that, except with respect to any audit or examination conducted by bank or other applicable financial accountants or any governmental bank or other applicable financial authority exercising examination or regulatory approval, each of the Agents, Lenders and L/C Issuer shall inform the Borrower promptly thereof prior to such disclosure, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Credit Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Credit Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 11.07, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) subject to each such Person being informed of the confidential nature of the Information and to their agreement to keep such Information confidential, to (i) an investor or prospective investor in securities issued by an Approved Fund that also agrees that Information shall be used solely for the purpose of evaluating an investment in such securities issued by the Approved Fund, (ii) a trustee, collateral manager, servicer, backup servicer, noteholder or secured party in securities issued by an Approved Fund in connection with the administration, servicing and reporting on the assets serving as collateral for securities issued by an Approved Fund, or (iii) a nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information regarding the Credit Parties, the Loans and Credit Documents in connection with ratings issued in respect of securities issued by an Approved Fund, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 11.07 or (y) becomes available to any Agent, Lender, L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or any of its Affiliates; provided that no disclosure shall be made to any Disqualified Institution. In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Lead Arrangers, Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Credit Documents, the Loans and the Commitments.

For purposes of this Section 11.07, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the any Agent, Lender or L/C Issuer on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

Each of the Agents, Lenders and L/C Issuers acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, Minority Investments or Professional Services Affiliates, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including federal, state, provincial and territorial securities Laws.

 

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11.08 Right of Setoff.

If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Credit Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Credit Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Credit Document to such Lender or L/C Issuer, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or L/C Issuer shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Credit Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Credit Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or L/C Issuer different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of each Lender, L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section 11.08 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

11.09 Interest Rate Limitation.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Credit Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Credit Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non- usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If any Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by an Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

11.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Credit Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 5.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.

 

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Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, emailed pdf or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of the actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

11.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties.

All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Credit Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by each Agent and Lender, regardless of any investigation made by any Agent or Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that any Agent or Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in

full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

11.12 Severability.

If any provision of this Agreement or the other Credit Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and

(a) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

11.13 Replacement of Lenders.

(a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.06; provided that the failure of any such Lender to execute an Assignment and Assumption shall not render such assignment invalid, and such Lender shall be deemed to have executed such Assignment and Assumption within one (1)

 

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Business Day of a request that it do so in the event that it has failed to do so within such period), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Credit Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that:

(i) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 11.06(b);

(ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Credit Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

(iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

(iv) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws; and

(v) such assignment is recorded in the Register.

(b) If, in connection with any proposed amendment, change, waiver, discharge or termination of any of the provisions of this Agreement or any other Credit Document as contemplated by Section 11.01, the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained but the consent of one or more of such other Lenders whose consent is required is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is not obtained as described in this Section 11.13(b) being referred to as a “Non- Consenting Lender”), then, at the Borrower’s request, any Eligible Assignee reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent that consents to such amendment, change, waiver, discharge or termination shall have the right to purchase from such Non-Consenting Lender, and such Non-Consenting Lender agrees that it shall, upon the Administrative Agent’s request, sell and assign to such Eligible Assignee, all of the Commitments and Loans of such Non-Consenting Lender for an amount equal to the principal balance of all Loans and L/C Advances held by such Non-Consenting Lender and all accrued and unpaid interest and fees with respect thereto through the date of sale and payment to the Administrative Agent of the assignment fee under Section 11.06(b); provided, however, that such purchase and sale shall not be effective until (x) to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall have received from such Eligible Assignee an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower whereby such Eligible Assignee shall agree to be bound by the terms hereof and (y) such Non-Consenting Lender shall have received payments of all Loans and L/C Advances held by it and all accrued and unpaid interest and fees with respect thereto and all other amounts payable to it hereunder through the date of the sale, but upon the satisfaction of the requirements set forth in clauses (x) (if so requested by the Administrative Agent) and (y) of this proviso, such purchase and sale shall be deemed effective and such Eligible Assignee shall be deemed the holder of such Loans, Commitments and L/C Advances of such Non-Consenting Lender. Each Lender agrees that, if it becomes a Non-Consenting Lender, to the extent requested by the Administrative

 

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Agent, it shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption to evidence such sale and purchase and shall deliver to the Administrative Agent any Note (if the assigning Lender’s Loans are evidenced by a Note) subject to such Assignment and Assumption; provided that the failure of any such Lender to execute an Assignment and Assumption shall not render such sale and purchase invalid, and such Lender shall be deemed to have executed such Assignment and Assumption within one (1) Business Day of a request that it do so in the event that it has failed to do so within such period.

A Lender that has assigned its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Credit Documents pursuant to this Section 11.13 shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05 and 11.04 (subject to the requirements and limitations of such Sections) with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment.

A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

11.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

(a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF SUCH STATE AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT ANY PARTY HERETO MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

 

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(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN SECTION 11.14(B). EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS; APPOINTMENT OF PROCESS AGENT. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. THE BORROWER AND EACH GUARANTOR NOT ORGANIZED IN A STATE OF THE UNITED STATES HEREBY APPOINTS CT CORPORATION AT 28 LIBERTY STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10005 OR, IF OTHERWISE, ITS PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK FROM TIME TO TIME, AS ITS AUTHORIZED AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT, AND AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ANY PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICE OR DOCUMENT BY HAND DELIVERY OR REGISTERED MAIL UPON SUCH AGENT SHALL BE EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS FOR ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT.

11.15 Waiver of Jury Trial.

EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 11.15.

11.16 USA PATRIOT Act Notice.

Each Lender that is subject to the Beneficial Ownership Regulation or the Patriot Act and the Agents (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Beneficial Ownership Regulation and the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Beneficial Ownership Regulation and the Patriot Act.

 

 

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11.17 Designation as Senior Debt.

All Obligations shall be “Designated Senior Indebtedness” (or such similar defined term) for purposes of all documentation governing Subordinated Debt, to the extent such concept exists in the documentation governing such Subordinated Debt.

11.18 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.

In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Credit Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Agents and the Lead Arrangers are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower on the one hand, and the Agents and the Lead Arrangers, on the other hand, (B) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Credit Documents; (ii) (A) each Agent, Lender and Lead Arranger is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower and (B) no Agent, Lender or Lead Arranger has any obligation to the Borrower with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents; and (iii) the Agents, Lenders and the Lead Arrangers and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and no Agent or any Lead Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against any Agent, Lender or Lead Arranger with respect to any breach or alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

11.19 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Credit Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected Financial Institution arising under any Credit Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and

(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

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(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Credit Document; or

(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.

11.20 Judgment Currency; Submission to Jurisdiction.

If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder or any other Credit Document in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the first currency with such other currency on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of the Borrower in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder or under the other Credit Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent from the Borrower in the Agreement Currency, the Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Administrative Agent or the person to whom such obligation was owing against such loss. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent in such currency, the Administrative Agent agrees to return the amount of any excess to the Borrower (or to any other person who may be entitled thereto under applicable law).

By the execution and delivery of this Agreement, each Credit Party (i) hereby designates and appoints the Borrower as its authorized agent upon which process may be served in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement that may be instituted in New York Courts, (ii) submits to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit or proceeding and (i) agrees that service of process upon the Borrower and written notice of said service to the Borrower in accordance with the manner provided for notices in Section 11.02 shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon such Credit Party, in any such suit or proceeding. Each Credit Party further agrees to take any and all action, including the execution and filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment of the Borrower in full force and effect so long as this Agreement is in effect. To the extent that any Credit Party has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court of (i) any jurisdiction in which it owns or leases property or assets or (ii) the United States or the State of New York or any political subdivision of either or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property and assets or this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents or actions to enforce judgments in respect of any thereof, such Credit Party hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under the above-referenced documents, to the extent permitted by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Credit Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

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11.21 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Credit Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Swap Contracts or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support “QFC Credit Support” and each such QFC a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Credit Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):

In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Credit Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Credit Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

[Signature Pages Intentionally Omitted]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

AKUMIN INC.,
as the Borrower
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC GROUP, LLC,
as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC RESOURCES,
LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
AFFILIATED PET SYSTEMS, L.L.C., as a
Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
AFO IMAGING, INC., as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
AKUMIN FL, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:

 

[Signature Page to Revolving Credit Agreement]


AKUMIN FLORIDA HOLDINGS, LLC,
as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
AKUMIN HEALTH ILLINOIS, LLC,
as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:

 

[Signature Page to Revolving Credit Agreement]


AKUMIN HOLDINGS CORP., as a
Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
AKUMIN IMAGING TEXAS, LLC, as a
Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
AKUMIN OPERATING CORP., as a
Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
ALLIANCE HEALTHCARE SERVICES,
INC., as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
ALLIANCE IMAGING NC, LLC, as a
Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
ALLIANCE ONCOLOGY OF ALABAMA,
LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:

 

[Signature Page to Revolving Credit Agreement]


ALLIANCE ONCOLOGY OF ARIZONA,
LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
ALLIANCE ONCOLOGY, LLC, as a
Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
ALLIANCE RADIOSURGERY, LLC, as a
Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
DECATUR HEALTH IMAGING, L.L.C., as
a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
DELAWARE OPEN MRI RADIOLOGY
ASSOCIATES, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
DIAGNOSTIC HEALTH CENTER OF
ANCHORAGE, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:

 

[Signature Page to Revolving Credit Agreement]


ELITE IMAGING, LLC as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
ELITE RADIOLOGY OF GEORGIA, LLC,
as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
GREATER BOSTON MRI LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
GREATER BOSTON MRI SERVICES,
LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
IMAGING CENTER OF WEST PALM
BEACH, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
INMED DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES OF
MA, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:

 

[Signature Page to Revolving Credit Agreement]


JEANES RADIOLOGY ASSOCIATES,
LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
LCM IMAGING, INC., as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
LEBANON DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING,
LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS, LLC, as a
Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
MEDICAL OUTSOURCING SERVICES,
LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
MID-AMERICAN IMAGING INC., as a
Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:

 

[Signature Page to Revolving Credit Agreement]


MONROE PET, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
MUSC HEALTH CANCER CARE
ORGANIZATION, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
NEHE/WSIC II, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
NEHE-MRI, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
NEOSPINE BLOCKER CORP., as a
Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
NEW ENGLAND HEALTH
ENTERPRISES BUSINESS TRUST, as a
Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
NEW ENGLAND HEALTH
ENTERPRISES, INC., as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:

 

[Signature Page to Revolving Credit Agreement]


NEW ENGLAND HEALTH IMAGING –
HOULTON, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
NEW ENGLAND MOLECULAR
IMAGING LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
PCI MAUI HOLDINGS, INC., as a
Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
PET SCANS OF AMERICA CORP., as a
Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
PMI PARTNERS, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
PREFERRED IMAGING AT CASA
LINDA PLAZA, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:

 

[Signature Page to Revolving Credit Agreement]


PREFERRED IMAGING AT THE
MEDICAL CENTER, LLC,
as a Guarantor

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 
PREFERRED IMAGING HEB, LLC, as a
Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
PREFERRED IMAGING OF AUSTIN,
LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
PREFERRED IMAGING OF CORINTH,
LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
PREFERRED IMAGING OF DENTON,
LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
PREFERRED IMAGING OF FORT
WORTH, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:
PREFERRED IMAGING OF FRISCO,
LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

 

Name:
Title:

 

[Signature Page to Revolving Credit Agreement]


PREFERRED IMAGING OF GARLAND, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

    

Name:
Title:
PREFERRED IMAGING OF GRAPEVINE/COLLEYVILLE, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
PREFERRED IMAGING OF IRVING, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
PREFERRED IMAGING OF MCKINNEY, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
PREFERRED IMAGING OF MESQUITE, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
PREFERRED IMAGING OF PLANO, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:

 

[Signature Page to Revolving Credit Agreement]


PREFERRED IMAGING ON PLANO PARKWAY, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
PREFERRED OPEN MRI, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
RITTENHOUSE IMAGING CENTER, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
ROSE RADIOLOGY CENTERS, LLC., as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
ROUND ROCK IMAGING, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
SHARED P.E.T. IMAGING, LLC., as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:

 

[Signature Page to Revolving Credit Agreement]


SMT HEALTH SERVICES, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
SYNCMED, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
THAIHOT INVESTMENT COMPANY US LIMITED, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
THREE RIVERS HOLDING, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
TIC ACQUISITION HOLDINGS, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF AUSTIN, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:

 

[Signature Page to Revolving Credit Agreement]


U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF CHICAGO, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF COLUMBUS, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF ILLINOIS, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF PHILADELPHIA, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:

 

[Signature Page to Revolving Credit Agreement]


U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF RENO, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF TULSA, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
U.S. RADIOSURGERY, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
U.S. RADIOSURGERY OF RUSH-CHICAGO, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
USR HOLDINGS, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
VISTA PEM PROVIDERS, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS MAGNETIC RESONANCE SERVICES, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:  
Title:  

 

[Signature Page to Revolving Credit Agreement]


WILKES-BARRE IMAGING, L.L.C., as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:
WOODLAND DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:  

   

Name:
Title:

 

[Signature Page to Revolving Credit Agreement]


PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, a Lender and L/C Issuer
By:  

   

Name:
Title:

 

[Signature Page to Revolving Credit Agreement]


BARCLAYS BANK PLC, as a Lender
By:  

   

Name:
Title:

 

[Signature Page to Revolving Credit Agreement]


CITIBANK, N.A.,
as a Lender
By:  

   

Name:
Title:

 

[Signature Page to Revolving Credit Agreement]

Exhibit 10.4

Final Form

CONTINGENT VALUE RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This CONTINGENT VALUE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of February 6, 2024 (this “Agreement”), is entered into by and among Akumin Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Stonepeak Magnet Holdings LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Stonepeak”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust, a federally chartered trust company, as agent with respect to the Contingent Value Rights (the “CVR Agent”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, on October 20, 2023, the Company entered into a Restructuring Support Agreement (the “RSA”) with, among others, Stonepeak, the Consenting 2025 Noteholders and Consenting 2028 Noteholders identified therein;

WHEREAS, on October 22, 2023 (the “Petition Date”), the Company and certain of its Affiliates commenced voluntary cases under Title 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, and concurrently filed a joint prepackaged plan of reorganization (the “Prepackaged Plan”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, the Company shall grant contingent value rights to the CVR Agent on behalf of holders of the Shares (as defined below) immediately prior to the Effective Date (as defined below) that submit a valid CVR Recipient Certification that meets the CVR Recipient Conditions prior to the CVR Submission Deadline (each as defined in the Prepackaged Plan);

WHEREAS, this Agreement constitutes the CVR Agreement referred to in the RSA and the Prepackaged Plan;

WHEREAS, each contingent value right is a contract right, providing the Holder (as defined below) the right to receive contingent cash payments if and to the extent payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement at a later date, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to appoint the CVR Agent as its agent with respect to the Contingent Value Rights pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and the CVR Agent desires to accept such appointment; and

WHEREAS, the CVR Agent has agreed to provide specified services covered by this Agreement.


NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the agreements contained herein and the consummation of the Prepackaged Plan, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the benefit of all Holders, as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1. Definitions.

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

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

(ii) unless the context otherwise requires, words describing the singular number shall include the plural and vice versa, and words denoting any gender shall include all genders;

(iii) references to any Person shall include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns;

(iv) references to laws, contracts, agreements or instruments are references to such laws, contracts, agreements and instruments as they may be amended or supplemented from time to time, and references to laws include references to any succeeding law and to the implementing rules or regulations promulgated pursuant to such laws or to such succeeding law;

(v) any reference to a number of days shall be deemed to refer to calendar days unless Business Days are specified;

(vi) whenever any action must be taken hereunder on or by a day that is not a Business Day, then such action may be validly taken on or by the next day that is a Business Day;

(vii) when computing any time period in this Agreement, the day marking the commencement of the time period shall be excluded but the day of the deadline or expiry of the time period shall be included;

(viii) the word “or” is disjunctive but not necessarily exclusive, and has the meaning represented by the phrase “and/or”;

(ix) all references to $ or dollars are to U.S. Dollars; and

(x) whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by “without limitation”.

(b) The following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them as follows:

Accredited Investor” has the meaning set forth in Rule 501(a) of the Securities Act.

 

2


Affiliate” means, when used with respect to a specified Person, a Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such specified Person. As used in this definition, the term “control” (including with correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”), when used with respect to any specified Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or other interests, by contract, agreement, obligation, indenture, instrument, lease, promise, arrangement, release, warranty, commitment, undertaking or otherwise.

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Assignee” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.

Authorized Officer” means each of the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, or vice president, the controller, the treasurer and the secretary of the Company.

Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company, or similar governing body of any successor-in-interest.

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banks are required or authorized to close in the State of New York or in the State of Florida.

Calculation Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a).

Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares, interests, rights, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock (or other ownership, equity or profit interests or units in, including any limited or general partnership interest and any limited liability company interest) of such Person.

Change of Control” means the occurrence of a merger, acquisition, consolidation, sale, transfer or other transaction whereupon Stonepeak and its Affiliates, collectively, fail to own more than 50% of the Capital Stock of the Company.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Company” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Confidential Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c).

Confirmation Order” has the meaning set forth in the Prepackaged Plan.

Contingent Value Rights” means the rights of Holders to receive contingent cash payments pursuant to this Agreement.

CVR Agent” means the CVR Agent named in the Preamble, until a successor CVR Agent shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Agreement, and thereafter “CVR Agent” shall mean such successor CVR Agent.

 

3


CVR Agent Fees” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(f).

CVR Distribution Expenses” means the reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket costs and expenses of Stonepeak, the Company and any of their respective Subsidiaries solely in connection with the performance of its or their respective obligations under this Agreement or otherwise in connection with any such distribution to be made to the Holders in respect of a CVR Payout Transaction, including, if applicable to the particular CVR Payout Transaction: (a) the costs and expenses (whether or not reasonable) billed by the Independent Accountant and allocated to the Company pursuant to Section 2.6(a) and (b) the CVR Agent Fees billed by and any reimbursed expenses of the CVR Agent in connection with such CVR Payout Transaction.

CVR Payment Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(c).

CVR Payout Transaction” means (i) the consummation of a CVR Trigger Transaction and (ii) following a CVR Trigger Transaction, any subsequent CVR Trigger Transaction or any sale or other disposition of Capital Stock of the Company for value by Stonepeak.

CVR Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b).

CVR Trigger Transaction” means the consummation of (i) an initial Public Offering; (ii) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; (iii) a Change of Control transaction; or (iv) a liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary, or involuntary, in each case, that results in any payment to Stonepeak on account of its ownership of Shares.

Effective Date” means the effective date of the Prepackaged Plan.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Final Determination means with respect to (a) U.S. federal income Taxes, a “determination” as defined in Section 1313(a) of the Code or execution of an Internal Revenue Service Form 870-AD and (b) Taxes other than U.S. federal income Taxes, any final determination of liability in respect of a Tax that, under applicable law, is not subject to further appeal, review or modification through proceedings or otherwise (including the expiration of a statute of limitations or a period for the filing of claims for refunds, amended returns or appeals from adverse determinations).

Governmental Entity” means United States or non-United States national, federal, state or local governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency or commission or any judicial or arbitral body.

Holder” means a Person in whose name a Contingent Value Right is registered in the CVR Register.

Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(e).

 

4


Independent Accountant” means an accounting firm selected by Stonepeak that (i) is a “big four” accounting firm that has attested its independence to Stonepeak and neither Stonepeak or the Company is an existing client or former client of such accounting firm within the previous 12 months from the date of appointment of the accounting firm and (ii) that has the necessary accounting experience to perform its duties and make such determination or approval required by the Independent Accountant as contemplated in this Agreement.

Independent Director” means any member of the Board of Directors who is not (i) an employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries, (ii) a director, partner, manager, consultant or employee of Stonepeak or its Affiliates (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), or (iii) any other person that has a business relationship with Stonepeak or its Affiliates (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries).

Initial Contingent Value Rights” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c).

Liabilities” shall mean any and all debts, liabilities and obligations of whatever kind or nature, whether accrued or fixed, known or unknown, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, asserted or unasserted, billed or unbilled or determined or determinable.

Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(e).

Majority of Holders” means, at any time, the Holder(s) of more than 50% of the total number of Contingent Value Rights registered at such time, as set forth in the CVR Register.

Make Available” means, with respect to the Calculation Certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 2.5(b), (i) the Company has mailed or caused the CVR Agent to mail a notice thereof by first-class mail to the Holders at their addresses as they shall appear in the CVR Register and (ii) posted on the Company’s public website, and for any other document, notice or information required to be provided to Holders under this Agreement, the Company has (x) mailed or caused the CVR Agent to mail a notice thereof by first-class mail to the Holders at their addresses as they shall appear in the CVR Register, or (y) posted on the Company’s public website.

Non-Party Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9.

Notice of Objection” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b).

Officers Certificate” means a certificate signed by an Authorized Officer, in his or her capacity as such an officer, and delivered to the CVR Agent.

Pay-Out Threshold” means, at the time of any CVR Payout Transaction, an aggregate amount equal to: (i) the aggregate amount outstanding under the Stonepeak Note (and any accrued interest, fees or other similar amounts) as of immediately prior to the Effective Date, minus (ii) any dividends or other amounts distributed to Stonepeak on account of its ownership of Shares and any amounts received by Stonepeak in connection with the disposition of its Shares, in each case, less amounts paid therefrom to then-current or former employees or service providers of the Company or its subsidiaries who are not employees of or service providers to Stonepeak or its Affiliates (other than the Company, its subsidiaries and any parent company of the Company at which an equity incentive plan is established) in connection with any equity incentive plan, compensation plan or other arrangement or compensatory grant by Stonepeak or any of its Affiliates plus (iii) any additional cash, securities, or other property or consideration directly or indirectly contributed to or paid on behalf of the Company by Stonepeak or its Affiliates (and any accrued interest) prior to the consummation of the applicable CVR Payout Transaction, including $[236,231,752.99y] contributed by Stonepeak prior to or on the Effective Date and any unpaid fees and expenses incurred by Stonepeak or its Affiliates in connection with the Stonepeak Note or the applicable CVR Payout

 

5


Transaction (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any fees or expenses related to the approval and consummation of the Prepackaged Plan paid by the Company to Sidley Austin LLP or Moelis & Company LLC); provided, that, in each case, the Pay-Out Threshold shall never be less than zero and, for greater certainty, shall not be affected by amounts contributed to or paid on behalf of the Company by any equityholder other than Stonepeak or its Affiliates or distributed or paid to any equityholder other than Stonepeak or its Affiliates by the Company.

Permitted Transfer” means: (i) the transfer (upon the death of the Holder) by will or intestacy; (ii) a transfer by instrument to an inter vivos or testamentary trust in which the Contingent Value Rights are to be passed to beneficiaries upon the death of the trustee; (iii) transfers to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the Holder or the immediate family of the Holder, (iv) transfers to any beneficiaries of the Holder, including immediate family members or to any custodian or trustee of any trust, partnership, or limited liability company for the direct or indirect benefit of the Holder or the immediate family of the Holder, (v) transfers to any family member of the Holder, or any entity all of the interests of which are held directly or indirectly for the benefit of any one or more family members of the Holder, in connection with the Holder’s estate or tax planning, retirement, or similar arrangements, (vi) transfers by a Holder to another Holder, (vii) transfers made pursuant to a court order of a court of competent jurisdiction in connection with divorce, bankruptcy or liquidation; or (viii) a transfer made by operation of law (including a consolidation or merger) or without consideration in connection with the dissolution, liquidation or termination of any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity, in each such case made in compliance with applicable securities laws.

Permitted Transferee” means a Person who receives a Contingent Value Right pursuant to a Permitted Transfer and otherwise in accordance with this Agreement.

Person” means any individual, corporation (including not-for-profit), general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust, association, organization, Governmental Entity or other entity of any kind or nature.

Petition Date” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Plan Documents” means the RSA, the Prepackaged Plan, this Agreement, and the organizational documents of the Company adopted as of the Effective Date.

Prepackaged Plan” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Pro Rata Payment Amount” means an amount, with respect to a Holder, equal to (i) a fraction, the numerator of which equals the total number of Contingent Value Rights held by such Holder on such date, and the denominator of which equals the total aggregate Contingent Value Rights issued and outstanding on such date, multiplied by (ii) the Proceeds payable to the Holders pursuant to Section 2.4.

Proceeds” means the cash and other consideration actually received by or for the benefit of Stonepeak (whether directly or indirectly by distribution from the Company, depending on the form of CVR Payout Transaction), in each case, in connection with a CVR Payout Transaction; provided, however, that, (a) in no event shall Proceeds include (i) any reasonable consideration paid to Stonepeak or any of its Affiliates for post-closing transition services, (ii) any portion of the

 

6


consideration in a CVR Payout Transaction that is used to pay (A) equity holders of the Company other than Stonepeak, (B) then current or former employees or service providers of the Company or its subsidiaries who are not employees of or service providers to Stonepeak or any of its Affiliates (other than the Company, its subsidiaries and any parent company of the Company at which an equity incentive plan is established) in connection with any payment under an equity incentive plan, compensation plan or other arrangement or compensatory grant by Stonepeak or any of its Affiliates, whether paid directly by the Company or indirectly (including from amounts paid to Stonepeak or any of its Affiliates), or (C) indebtedness (including principal, interest, break fees, management fees and any other fees and expenses), fees and expenses, change of control payments (including transfer and consent fees and severance or other termination payments), bonuses, brokers’ commissions or similar fees, or other Liabilities of any Person, (iii) any debt (including capital leases), operating leases, accounts payable or other Liabilities of the Company assumed, acquired, refinanced or replaced by a counterparty in a CVR Payout Transaction or other applicable transaction or (iv) any CVR Distribution Expenses.

Public Offering” shall mean any Underwritten Offering by the Company or successor entity of Capital Stock (or the Capital Stock of any of Subsidiary of the Company) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the SEC under the Securities Act (or the closing of another transaction that results in any such Capital Stock being publicly traded and widely held by the public); provided, however, that a Public Offering shall not include an offering made pursuant to an employee benefit plan.

Related Party” has the meaning ascribed to the term “related person” in Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act.

Related Party Transaction” means any transaction in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on one hand, and Stonepeak, an Affiliate of Stonepeak (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) or an employee, director, officer or shareholder of Stonepeak or of an Affiliate of Stonepeak (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), on the other hand, is a party.

Review Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b).

RSA” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (or any successor Governmental Entity).

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933.

Shares” means the shares of common stock, no par value, of the Company or any successor equity interests of the Company or its successor in interest.

Stonepeak” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Stonepeak Note” means that certain 11% Unsecured PIK Toggle Series A Note issued by Akumin Corp. to Stonepeak on September 1, 2021.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, of which the securities or other ownership interests having more than 50% of the ordinary voting power in electing the board of directors or other governing body are, at the time of such determination, owned by such Person or another Subsidiary of such Person.

 

7


Tax” means all federal, state, local and foreign income, profits, franchise, gross receipts, environmental, customs duty, capital stock, severances, stamp, payroll, sales, employment, unemployment, disability, use, property, withholding, excise, production, value added, occupancy and other taxes, together with all interest, penalties and additions imposed with respect to such amounts and any interest in respect of such penalties and additions, in each case, imposed by a Governmental Entity.

Transfer” means any sale, assignment, transfer, disposition, mortgage, pledge, participation, donation, gift, bequest, grant, hypothecation, encumbrance or any other similar transaction in any manner, direct or indirect, in whole or in part.

Underwritten Offering” shall mean a sale of Capital Stock to an underwriter or underwriters for reoffering to the public.

ARTICLE 2

CONTINGENT VALUE RIGHTS

Section 2.1. Issuance of Contingent Value Rights; Appointment of CVR Agent.

(a) The Contingent Value Rights represent the contractual rights of Holders to receive contingent payments if and to the extent payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Each Holder shall be issued Contingent Value Rights pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan and, in connection with the issuance of Contingent Value Rights pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan, each Holder is automatically deemed to have accepted the terms of this Agreement and is automatically deemed to be a party hereto as if, and with the same effect as if, such Holder had delivered a duly executed counterpart signature page to this Agreement without any further action by any party.

(b) The Company hereby appoints the CVR Agent to act as agent for the Company with respect to the Contingent Value Rights in accordance with the express terms and on the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and the CVR Agent hereby accepts such appointment.

(c) The maximum aggregate number of Contingent Value Rights that may be outstanding under this CVR Agreement is limited to the number of Contingent Value Rights that were issued pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan and in accordance with Section 2.1(a) above (the “Initial Contingent Value Rights”) and which Contingent Value Rights were outstanding as of the Effective Date. The number of outstanding Contingent Value Rights at any given time may be less than the number of Initial Contingent Value Rights, if reduced in accordance with Section 2.8 upon the abandonment of a Contingent Value Right or in accordance with Section 2.9 upon the repurchase of Contingent Value Rights by the Company. From and after the Effective Date, the Company shall not be permitted to issue any additional Contingent Value Rights under this CVR Agreement.

Section 2.2. Non-transferability. The Contingent Value Rights are non-transferable and shall not be Transferred, other than a Permitted Transfer to a Permitted Transferee in compliance with applicable securities laws and the procedural requirements of this Agreement, including Section 2.3. No Holder may Transfer any economic interest in a Contingent Value Right to any other Person. Any final determination regarding whether a proposed transferee is a Permitted Transferee shall be made by the Company, in its discretion, pursuant to Section 2.3(c) below. Any purported Transfer of a Contingent Value Right to anyone other than a Permitted Transferee shall be null and void ab initio.

 

8


Section 2.3. No Certificate; Registration; Confidentiality; Registration of Transfer; Change of Address.

(a) The Contingent Value Rights shall be issued in book-entry form only and shall not be evidenced by a certificate or other instrument.

(b) The CVR Agent shall keep a register (the “CVR Register”) for the registration of Contingent Value Rights in a book-entry position for each Holder. The CVR Register shall set forth the name and address of each Holder and the number of Contingent Value Rights held by such Holder. The CVR Register will be updated as necessary by the CVR Agent to reflect the addition or removal of Holders (including pursuant to any Permitted Transfers, abandonment pursuant to Section 2.8 or repurchase pursuant to Section 2.9), upon receipt of such information with respect to any new Holder by the CVR Agent. The parties hereto and their Affiliates or representatives may receive and inspect a copy of the CVR Register, from time to time, upon request made to the CVR Agent.

(c) Any information furnished to a Holder by the Company or the CVR Agent, including the CVR Register and all analyses, compilations, data, studies, notes, interpretations, memoranda or other documents prepared by the Holder or any of its respective representatives containing or based in whole or in part on any such furnished information (“Confidential Information”) may not be divulged or communicated to any Person, or, other than to evaluate such Holder’s interest in the Contingent Value Rights, used for any purpose, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the Company; provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, information shall not be Confidential Information and subject to the restrictions set forth herein if such information (i) was, is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of the Holder’s or one of its representatives’ breach of this Agreement; (ii) was, is or becomes available to a Holder or its representatives on a non-confidential basis from a source that was not known by the Holder or its representatives to be bound by a confidentiality agreement with respect to such information or otherwise prohibited from furnishing or making available the information to the Holder or such Holder’s representatives by a contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation; or (iii) was, is or becomes independently developed by the Holder or its representatives without using any Confidential Information; provided, further, that (1) Confidential Information may be disclosed if legally compelled (including by deposition, interrogatory, request for documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process), or in response to a request from a regulatory or self-regulatory or supervisory authority having or asserting jurisdiction over the applicable Holder; provided, the Holder provides reasonably prompt prior written notice of such required disclosure (to the extent permitted by law) so that the Company may seek (at its sole cost and expense and with the reasonable cooperation of the Holder) a protective order or other appropriate remedy, and the Holder shall only disclose that portion of Confidential Information that is legally required to be disclosed and shall take all reasonable steps to preserve the confidentiality of such disclosed Confidential Information, and (2) each Holder may disclose Confidential Information to its officers, employees, agents, accountants, attorneys, and advisors but such Holder shall be responsible for any breach of the confidentiality provisions set forth in this Agreement by any such officer, employee, agent, accountant, attorney, or advisor as if such Persons were subject thereto.

 

9


(d) Subject to the restrictions on transferability set forth in Section 2.2, every request made to Transfer a Contingent Value Right to a Permitted Transferee must be made in writing to the Company and the CVR Agent and set forth in reasonable detail the circumstances related to the proposed Transfer, and such request must be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer and any other requested information or documentation in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the CVR Agent, duly and validly executed by the registered Holder or Holders thereof or by the duly appointed legal representative thereof or by a duly authorized attorney. Upon receipt of such a written Transfer request, the Company shall, subject to its reasonable determination that the Transfer instrument is in proper form and the Transfer otherwise complies with the other terms and conditions of this Agreement (including the provisions of Section 2.2), instruct the CVR Agent in writing to register the Transfer of the Contingent Value Rights in the CVR Register. All duly Transferred Contingent Value Rights registered in the CVR Register shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same rights and entitling the transferee to the same benefits and rights under this Agreement as those held immediately prior to the Transfer by the transferor. No Transfer of a Contingent Value Right shall be valid until registered in the CVR Register, and any Transfer not duly registered in the CVR Register will be void ab initio (unless the Transfer was permissible hereunder and such failure to be duly registered is attributable to the fault of the CVR Agent to be established by clear and convincing evidence). Any Transfer of the Contingent Value Rights shall be without charge to the Holder; provided, that the Company and the CVR Agent may require (i) evidence of payment of a sum sufficient to cover any stamp, documentary, registration, or other Tax or governmental charge that is imposed in connection with such Transfer or the registration of such Transfer (or evidence that such Taxes and charges are not applicable), or (ii) that the transferor establish to the reasonable satisfaction of the CVR Agent that such Taxes have been paid. The CVR Agent shall have no obligation to pay any such Taxes or charges and the CVR Agent shall have no duty or obligation to take any action under any section of this Agreement that requires the payment by a Holder of such Taxes or charges unless and until the CVR Agent is satisfied that all such Taxes or charges have been paid. Additionally, the fees and costs related to any legal opinion requested under this Section 2.3(d) shall be the responsibility of the Holder. Any attempted Transfer of a Contingent Value Right, in whole or in part, that is not permitted by this Section 2.3(d), including any attempted Transfer that is made to any party other than a Permitted Transferee or otherwise not effected in accordance with the terms set forth herein, will be void and of no effect.

(e) A Holder may make a written request to the CVR Agent to change such Holder’s address of record in the CVR Register. The written request must be duly and validly executed by the Holder. Upon receipt of such written notice, the CVR Agent shall promptly record the change of address in the CVR Register.

 

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Section 2.4. Determination and Payment of Proceeds.

(a) Proceeds in connection with a CVR Payout Transaction, shall be distributed to Stonepeak, on the one hand, and the CVR Agent on behalf of the Holders, on the other hand, as follows (with each Holder entitled to receive from the CVR Agent its Pro Rata Payment Amount of all amounts received by the CVR Agent on behalf of the Holders under this Section 2.4(a)):

(i) first, Stonepeak shall be entitled to receive 100% of such Proceeds until the Proceeds received by Stonepeak equals the Pay-Out Threshold then in effect;

(ii) second, the Holders shall be entitled to receive, in the aggregate, 85% of the remaining Proceeds and Stonepeak shall be entitled to receive, in the aggregate, 15% of the remaining Proceeds, in each case, until such time as the Holders in the aggregate have received 15% of the aggregate amount distributed under Section 2.4(a)(i) and this Section 2.4(a)(ii);

(iii) third, the Holders shall be entitled to receive, in the aggregate, 15% of the remaining Proceeds and Stonepeak shall be entitled to receive, in the aggregate, 85% of the remaining Proceeds, in each case, until such time as Stonepeak has received aggregate Proceeds of all CVR Payout Transactions equal to 150% of the sum of all amounts contributed or deemed contributed by Stonepeak to the Company under clause (i) and clause (iii) of the definition of the Pay-Out Threshold then in effect; and

(iv) thereafter, the Holders shall be entitled to receive, in the aggregate, 25% of all remaining Proceeds and Stonepeak shall be entitled to receive, in the aggregate 75% of all remaining Proceeds;

provided, that, in each case, with respect to a CVR Payout Transaction (taken together with all prior CVR Payout Transactions), if the aggregate Proceeds from all such CVR Payout Transactions are not in excess of the Pay-Out Threshold, then none of the Proceeds of such CVR Payout Transaction will be paid to the CVR Agent on behalf of the Holders and no Holder will be entitled to any of such Proceeds. An illustrative example of the calculation of the payments set forth herein is set forth in Schedule A. In the event there is a conflict between the calculation of payments in Schedule A and this Section 2.4(a), the terms of this Section 2.4(a) shall control.

(b) Stonepeak or the Company, as applicable, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to distribute Proceeds in the same form of consideration in the same proportion as received by Stonepeak; provided, however, that, if Stonepeak or the Company, as applicable, is unable to distribute such Proceeds in such manner after exercising commercially reasonable efforts (including if distributing any non-cash consideration would violate applicable law or if the transfer of equity consideration is not permitted by the issuer thereof), then Stonepeak or the Company, as applicable, will distribute cash equal to the fair market value (as determined by the Independent Accountant in good faith) of any such non-cash consideration to some or all of the Holders, in accordance with Section 2.4(a), in lieu of distributing such non-cash consideration to the Holders. Stonepeak or the Company, as applicable, shall be permitted to require Holder to provide proof of accreditation prior to the distribution of Capital Stock.

Section 2.5. Payment Procedures.

(a) If a CVR Payout Transaction occurs, then no later than 45 days following such CVR Payout Transaction, Stonepeak or the Company shall deliver to the Independent Accountant a certificate which outlines Stonepeak’s or the Company’s calculation of the Proceeds with respect to such CVR Payout Transaction and the recipients thereof (the “Calculation Certificate”), which such Calculation Certificate and the information contained therein shall be deemed to be Confidential Information.

 

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(b) During the 30 day period after the Calculation Certificate is delivered to the Independent Accountant in accordance with Section 2.5(a) (the “Review Period”), the Company shall permit, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to permit, the Independent Accountant to have access to the records of the Company or its Subsidiaries as may be reasonably necessary to investigate the basis for the Calculation Certificate. For the avoidance of doubt, only if the Company did not engage an Independent Accountant at the time of a prior Related Party Transaction in accordance with Section 4.1(a), the Independent Accountant may review as part of its investigation under this Section 2.5(b) whether a prior Related Party Transaction that was undertaken by the Company was on arm’s length terms for purposes of performing calculations hereunder. If an Independent Accountant reviewing a prior Related Party Transaction pursuant to this Section 2.5(b) determines that such Related Party Transaction is not on arm’s lengths terms, then the Independent Accountant shall determine if the transaction had or would have the effect of circumventing or reducing payment to the Holders hereunder and, if so, then any payments or amounts paid by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of arm’s length terms shall reduce the Pay-Out Threshold by the amount that is in excess of arm’s length terms. At the end of the Review Period, the Independent Accountant will certify its approval of the Calculation Certificate, as amended (if applicable) to reflect its good faith judgement of the calculation of the Proceeds with respect to such CVR Payout Transaction and the recipients thereof, and such Calculation Certificate will be deemed final, conclusive and binding (absent intentional fraud or manifest error) on the parties hereto and every Holder for all purposes of this Agreement. Within five Business Days following the end of the Review Period, Stonepeak or the Company shall Make Available such final Calculation Certificate and deliver such final Calculation Certificate to the CVR Agent.

(c) If, following the Review Period or, if applicable, completion of the procedure set forth in Section 2.6(a), there is a Proceeds amount distributable or payable to the CVR Agent on behalf of the Holders, the Company or Stonepeak, as applicable, will deposit with the CVR Agent cash or other applicable consideration in an amount equal to the Proceeds payable. On the date (a “CVR Payment Date”) that is not more than five Business Days after receipt of such Proceeds (or any other Proceeds received by the CVR Agent under Section 2.4(a)), the CVR Agent will then pay to each Holder an amount equal to such Holder’s Pro Rata Payment Amount with respect to such Proceeds by check mailed to the address of each such respective Holder as reflected in the CVR Register, or, if agreed to by the Company with respect to any Holder who has provided the CVR Agent with wire transfer instructions meeting the CVR Agent’s requirements, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account.

(d) The Company and the CVR Agent will be entitled to deduct and withhold, or cause to be deducted or withheld, from the Proceeds or any other amount payable to the Holders pursuant to this Agreement, such amount as the Company or the CVR Agent is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of any such payment under the Code, or any provision of state, local or non-U.S. Tax law. The Holders will deliver to the Company or the CVR Agent, as applicable, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Company or the CVR Agent, as applicable, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Company or the CVR Agent, as applicable, as will permit the Company or the CVR Agent to determine the appropriate amount of withholding. To the extent that amounts so withheld are paid over to or deposited with the relevant Governmental Entity, withheld amounts will be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to a Holder in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.

 

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(e) The CVR Agent shall have no duty or obligation to calculate, verify or confirm the accuracy, validity or sufficiency of any Proceeds, Proceeds any amounts paid hereunder, the Pay-Out Threshold, or any other amount under this Agreement.

(f) Stonepeak, the Company’s and CVR Agent’s obligation to pay any Proceeds shall be conditioned on no court or other Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction having enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any judgment, injunction or order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is in effect and restrains, enjoins or otherwise prohibits or imposes any penalty upon the payment of any Proceeds and the payments being otherwise lawful.

(g) If Stonepeak or the Company requests in writing to the CVR Agent, any funds comprising the cash deposited with the CVR Agent under Section 2.5(c) that remain undistributed to the Holders 12 months after a CVR Payment Date shall be delivered to Stonepeak by the CVR Agent and any Holders who have not theretofore received payment in respect of such Contingent Value Rights shall thereafter look only to the Company for payment of such amounts, subject to any applicable escheatment laws in effect from time to time. Upon delivery of such funds to the Company, the escheatment obligations of the CVR Agent with respect to such funds shall terminate. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, any portion of the funds provided by or on behalf of the Company to the CVR Agent that remains unclaimed 36 months after termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 7.7 (or such earlier date immediately prior to such time as such amounts would otherwise escheat to, or become property of, any Governmental Entity) shall, to the extent permitted by law, become the property of Stonepeak, free and clear of any claims or interest of any person previously entitled thereto, subject to any applicable escheatment laws in effect from time to time.

(h) All funds received by the CVR Agent under this Agreement that are to be distributed or applied by the CVR Agent in the performance of services hereunder shall be held by the CVR Agent as agent for the Company and deposited in one or more bank accounts to be maintained by the CVR Agent in its name as agent for the Company, and such funds shall be free of any claims by the Company or Stonepeak other than reversionary rights and as set forth in Section 2.5(g), and separate from any potential bankruptcy estate of the Company or Stonepeak. The CVR Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for any diminution of the funds that may result from any deposit made by the CVR Agent in accordance with this paragraph, including any losses resulting from a default by any bank, financial institution or other third party, except as a result of the CVR Agent ’s willful misconduct, fraud, bad faith or gross negligence (each as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). The CVR Agent may from time to time receive interest, dividends or other earnings in connection with such deposits. The CVR Agent shall not be obligated to pay such interest, dividends or earnings to Stonepeak, the Company, any Holder or any other Person. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Stonepeak or the Company (depending on which receives Proceeds in connection with any CVR Payout Transaction) shall be responsible for providing the CVR Agent with sufficient funds to satisfy its payment obligations to the Holders.

 

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(i) The parties hereto agree to treat the Contingent Value Rights for all U.S. federal and applicable state and local Tax purposes as (a) additional consideration for or in respect of the Shares pursuant to the Prepackaged Plan and (b) a “closed transaction” in which the fair market value of the Contingent Value Rights, as determined by a third party valuation expert, is included in income in the taxable year of the Confirmation Order and, in each case, none of the parties hereto will take any position to the contrary on any Tax return, any other filing with a Governmental Entity related to Taxes or for other Tax purposes except as otherwise required by a Final Determination. The Company or CVR Agent, as applicable, shall report imputed interest on the Contingent Value Rights pursuant to Section 483 of the Code, to the extent required by applicable law.

(j) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the CVR Agent shall be responsible for information reporting required under applicable law with respect to the Contingent Value Rights, including reporting the fair market value of the Contingent Value Rights upon the Holders’ receipt of such Contingent Value Rights on IRS Form 1099-B or other applicable form to the extent required under applicable law. The Company shall provide the CVR Agent with the fair market value of the Contingent Value Rights.

Section 2.6. Review of the Independent Accountant.

(a) The Company will engage the Independent Accountant in the circumstances and on the terms set forth in this Agreement and will reasonably cooperate with the Independent Accountant, including providing the Independent Accountant reasonable access during normal business hours and on reasonable advance notice to relevant personnel, properties, and books and records of the Company.

(b) The sole and exclusive remedy or recourse for any Holder under this Agreement relating to the Calculation Certificate delivered by Stonepeak or the Company and the determination as to whether a distribution is required to be made under this Agreement shall be to review of the Independent Accountant in accordance with Section 2.5, Section 2.6(a) and Section 4.1 (as applicable).

Section 2.7. No Voting, Dividends or Interest; No Equity or Ownership Interest in the Company; No Fiduciary Duties; No Registration.

(a) The Contingent Value Rights shall not entitle the CVR Agent or the Holders to any voting or dividend rights, and interest shall not accrue on any amounts payable regarding any Contingent Value Rights to any Holder.

(b) The Contingent Value Rights shall not represent any equity, stock or other ownership interest in the Company, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of the Company or any other Person.

(c) Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any of their respective officers or directors owe fiduciary duties of any kind to the Holders.

 

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(d) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as conferring upon any Holder, by virtue of the Contingent Value Rights, any rights or obligations of any kind or nature whatsoever as a stockholder or member of the Company or any of its Affiliates either at law or in equity. The rights of any Holder and the obligations of Stonepeak, the Company and their respective Affiliates and their respective officers, directors and controlling Persons are contract rights limited to those expressly set forth in this Agreement.

(e) Each Holder acknowledges that such Holder is aware that the Contingent Value Rights have not been registered under the Securities Act or under the securities law of any state, and the Company is not obligated hereby to, and has no intent to cause the offer or sale of or the Contingent Value Rights to, be registered under any securities laws.

(f) It is hereby acknowledged and agreed that the Contingent Value Rights and the possibility of any payment hereunder with respect thereto are highly speculative and subject to numerous factors outside of Stonepeak’s and the Company’s control, and there is no assurance that Holders will receive any payments under this Agreement or in connection with the Contingent Value Rights. Each Holder acknowledges that it is possible that no payments will occur and that there will not be any Proceeds. It is acknowledged and agreed that this Section 2.7 is an essential and material term of this Agreement.

Section 2.8. Ability to Abandon the Contingent Value Right. The Holder of a Contingent Value Right may at any time, at such Holder’s option, abandon all of such Holder’s remaining rights in a Contingent Value Right by delivering to the CVR Agent a notice of abandonment relinquishing such Contingent Value Right to the Company without consideration therefor, in which case such Contingent Value Right shall be deemed canceled and no longer outstanding, and the CVR Agent shall amend the CVR Register accordingly and notify the Company in writing.

Section 2.9. Repurchase of Contingent Value Right. If any Holder ceases to be an Accredited Investor prior to November 1 in any calendar year, such Holder shall notify the Company prior to November 1 of such year, and if a Holder ceases to be an Accredited Investor after November 1 of any year, such Holder shall notify the Company within five Business Days of ceasing to be an Accredited Investor. If a Holder notifies the Company that it has ceased to be an Accredited Investor, the Company (or its designee) may repurchase such Holder’s Contingent Value Rights for fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith) by a check or wire transfer of immediately available funds to such Holder (the “Purchase Price”), if the Company reasonably determines such repurchase as described herein is necessary in order for the Company to remain as a privately held company whose securities are not required to be registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or other applicable securities laws. Upon payment of the Purchase Price to such Holder, the Contingent Value Rights of such Holder shall be redeemed and cancelled and no longer outstanding, and the CVR Agent shall amend the CVR Register accordingly. The amount of the Purchase Price for any repurchase of Contingent Value Rights pursuant to this Section 2.9 shall deemed to be Proceeds distributed to the Holders in accordance with Section 2.4.

 

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ARTICLE 3

THE CVR AGENT

Section 3.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities. The CVR Agent shall not have any liability for any actions taken, suffered or omitted to be taken in connection with this Agreement, except to the extent such liability arises as a result of the willful misconduct, fraud, bad faith or gross negligence of the CVR Agent (in each case as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall any Person be liable for any special, punitive, indirect, consequential or incidental loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits) arising out of any act or failure to act hereunder. No provision of this Agreement (other than this Section 3.1) shall require the CVR Agent to expend or risk its own funds on behalf of any other Person, take any action that it reasonably believes would expose or subject it to expense or liability, or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers. The Company’s obligations under this Section 3.1 and Section 3.2 shall survive the resignation or removal of any CVR Agent, the expiration of the Contingent Value Rights and the termination of this Agreement.

Section 3.2. Certain Rights of CVR Agent. The CVR Agent undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Agreement, and no implied duties, covenants or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the CVR Agent. In addition:

(a) the CVR Agent may rely on and shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to taken by it in reliance upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, instruction, direction, consent, order or other paper or document believed by it, in the absence of bad faith, to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(b) the CVR Agent may perform any and all of its duties (i) itself (through its directors, officers, or employees) or (ii) through its agents, representatives, attorneys, custodians or nominees and the CVR Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such agents, representatives, attorneys, custodians or nominees, absent gross negligence, bad faith or willful or intentional misconduct (each as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction) of the CVR Agent in the selection and continued employment thereof;

(c) the permissive rights of the CVR Agent to do things enumerated in this Agreement shall not be construed as a duty;

(d) the CVR Agent shall not be required to give any note or surety in respect of the execution of such powers;

(e) the Company agrees to indemnify, defend, protect, save and keep harmless the CVR Agent and its Affiliates and their respective successors, assigns, directors, officers, managers, employees, agents, attorneys, accountants and experts (collectively, the “Indemnitees”), against any and all loss, liability, obligation, damage, fine, settlement, penalty, action, judgment,

 

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suit, cost, disbursement, proceeding, investigation, claim, demand or out-of-pocket expense of any kind or nature whatsoever (including the reasonable and documented, out-of-pocket fees and expenses of legal counsel and the reasonable and documented, out-of-pocket costs and expenses of defending the Indemnitee against any claim of liability arising therefrom) (collectively, “Losses”) that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against any Indemnitee, at any time, and in any way relating to, arising out of or in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement, the enforcement of any rights or remedies in connection with this Agreement, and the payment, transfer or other application of funds pursuant to this Agreement, or as may arise by reason of any act, omission or error of the Indemnitee; provided, however, that no Indemnitee shall be entitled to be so indemnified, defended, protected, saved or kept harmless to the extent such Loss was caused by the willful misconduct, fraud, bad faith or gross negligence of such Indemnitee (each as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction);

(f) in addition to the indemnification provided under Section 3.2(e), the Company agrees (i) to pay the fees of the CVR Agent in connection with the CVR Agent’s performance of its obligations hereunder, as set forth on a mutually agreed upon on or prior to the date hereof fee schedule (the “CVR Agent Fees”), and (ii) to reimburse the CVR Agent within 10 days after written demand for all reasonable and documented, out-of-pocket expenses and other disbursements incurred in the preparation, delivery, negotiation, amendment, administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder, including all Taxes (other than income, receipt, franchise or similar Taxes) and governmental charges incurred by the CVR Agent in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement;

(g) in the event the CVR Agent reasonably believes any ambiguity or uncertainty exists hereunder or in any notice, instruction, direction, request or other communication, paper or document received by the CVR Agent hereunder, the CVR Agent shall, as soon as practicable, provide notice to the Company, and the CVR Agent may, in its sole discretion, refrain from taking any action, and shall be fully protected and shall not be liable in any way to the Company or other Person or entity for refraining from taking such action, unless the CVR Agent receives written instructions signed on behalf of the Company by an Authorized Officer which eliminate such ambiguity or uncertainty to the reasonable satisfaction of the CVR Agent;

(h) nothing herein shall preclude the CVR Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other Person;

(i) the CVR Agent shall not incur any liability for not performing any act, duty, obligation or responsibility by reason of any occurrence beyond the control of the CVR Agent (including any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, any act of God, terrorist acts, shortage of supply, breakdowns or malfunctions, interruptions or malfunction of computer facilities, or loss of data due to power failures or mechanical difficulties with information storage or retrieval systems or failure of any means of communication, labor difficulties, war, civil disorder or epidemic or pandemic); provided, that the CVR Agent shall (i) use its commercially reasonable efforts to end or mitigate the effects of any such occurrence on its performance and (ii) resume the performance of its obligations as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of such occurrence;

 

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(j) whenever the CVR Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that a fact or matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder (including the identity of a Holder), the CVR Agent may rely upon an Officer’s Certificate, and such Officer’s Certificate shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the CVR Agent. The CVR Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it absent willful misconduct, fraud, bad faith or gross negligence (each as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction) under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate. The CVR Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties and obligations hereunder from an Authorized Officer, and to apply to such officer for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable and shall be indemnified for any action taken or suffered to be taken by it in accordance with instructions from such officer. The CVR Agent shall not be held to have notice of any change of authority of any person, until receipt of written notice thereof from the Company;

(k) the CVR Agent shall not be subject to, nor be required to comply with, or determine if any person or entity has complied with, the Plan Documents (other than this Agreement) or any other agreement between or among the parties hereto, even though reference thereto may be made in this Agreement, or to comply with any notice, instruction, direction, request or other communication, paper or document other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement; and

(l) the Company agrees that it shall perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged or delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the CVR Agent for the carrying out or performing by the CVR Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.

Section 3.3. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a) The CVR Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Company specifying a date when such resignation shall take effect, which notice shall be sent at least 30 days prior to the date so specified, and such resignation shall take effect on such specified date.

(b) The Company shall have the right to remove the CVR Agent at any time for any reason or no reason upon at least 30 days’ notice, specifying a date when such removal shall take effect.

(c) If the CVR Agent shall resign, be removed, or become incapable of acting, the Company shall promptly (and in any event within 30 days after giving notice of the CVR Agent’s removal or after it has been notified of the CVR Agent’s resignation) appoint a qualified successor CVR Agent. The predecessor CVR Agent shall deliver any funds held in connection with this Agreement to any such successor CVR Agent at or prior to the effectiveness of the predecessor CVR Agent’s resignation or removal. The successor CVR Agent so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with this Section 3.3(c) and Section 3.4, become the successor CVR Agent.

 

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(d) The Company, or at the Company’s request the successor CVR Agent, shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the CVR Agent and each appointment of such successor CVR Agent by Making Available notice of such event to the Holders. Failure to Make Available any such notice to the Holders, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the CVR Agent or the appointment of a successor CVR Agent, as the case may be.

(e) The CVR Agent shall deliver all of the relevant books and records to the successor CVR Agent.

Section 3.4. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. Every successor CVR Agent appointed hereunder shall, at or prior to such appointment, execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring, resigning or removed CVR Agent an instrument accepting such appointment and a counterpart of this Agreement, and the retiring, resigning or removed CVR Agent shall execute and deliver such documentation in connection therewith as the Company may reasonably request, and thereupon such successor CVR Agent, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring CVR Agent.

ARTICLE 4

OTHER COVENANTS

Section 4.1. Certain Transactions.

(a) The Company may engage an Independent Accountant who may review any Related Party Transaction that has occurred prior to the CVR Payout Transaction or may occur in connection with the CVR Payout Transaction to confirm if such Related Party Transaction is or was on arm’s lengths terms. If such Related Party Transaction is not on arm’s lengths terms, the Independent Accountant shall determine if the transaction has or would have the effect of circumventing or reducing payment to the Holders hereunder and, if so, then any payments or amounts paid by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of arm’s length terms shall reduce the Pay-Out Threshold by the amount that is in excess of arm’s length terms.

(b) At or prior to the Effective Date, the Company shall appoint an Independent Director selected by Stonepeak. If, prior to entering into a proposed Related Party Transaction the Independent Director approves such transaction as on arm’s length terms at the time of entry into the transaction, then such transaction or determination shall not be subject to review or challenge by any Holder. For the avoidance of doubt, in accordance with Section 2.5, the Independent Accountant may later determine that a Related Party Transaction was not arm’s length for purposes of performing calculations under this Agreement, including related to the Pay-Out Threshold.

(c) For the purposes of this Agreement, the Independent Accountant’s determination in accordance with this Section 4.1 shall be final and binding upon the parties hereto except in the case of fraud or manifest error.

 

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Section 4.2. Assignment. No party may assign its rights, interests and obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section 4.2. Stonepeak or the Company may assign, in its sole discretion and without the consent of any other party, any or all of its rights, interests and obligations hereunder to one or more of its Affiliates or to any Person with whom Stonepeak or the Company is merged or consolidated, any Person to which Stonepeak or the Company shall sell all or substantially all of its assets or any entity resulting from any merger or consolidation to which Stonepeak or the Company shall be a party (each, an “Assignee”); provided, that in connection with any assignment to an Assignee, (i) Stonepeak or the Company, as applicable, shall agree to remain liable for the performance by Stonepeak or the Company, as applicable, of its respective obligations hereunder (to the extent Stonepeak or the Company exists following such assignment) and (ii) any such assignment is not prejudicial to the Holders and not intended to circumvent payment of any Proceeds to the Holders in accordance with this Agreement. In the event an assignment by Stonepeak or the Company to its respective Affiliate pursuant to the preceding sentence occurs, Stonepeak or the Company, as applicable, shall deliver to the CVR Agent an Officer’s Certificate stating that such assignment complies with this Section 4.2. The CVR Agent may assign its rights, interests and obligations hereunder to any Person into which the CVR Agent or any successor CVR Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person to which the CVR Agent shall sell all or substantially all of its assets, or any Person resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the CVR Agent or any successor CVR Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the corporate trust, stock transfer or other shareholder services business of the CVR Agent or any successor CVR Agent, shall be the successor to the CVR Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the CVR Agent agrees to use reasonable best efforts to provide the Company with written notice of any such event. No Holder shall, in whole or in part, assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement except in accordance with a Permitted Transfer in accordance with Section 2.3(b)-(c). Any purported assignment that is not permitted by this Section 4.2 shall be null and void and of no effect.

Section 4.3. No Obligation to Pursue or Consummate CVR Payout Transaction. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, none of the Company, Stonepeak or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates shall be in any way obligated or required to pursue, discuss, negotiate or consummate any CVR Payout Transaction or any transaction or series of transactions that is intended to or would be likely to lead to a CVR Payout Transaction.

ARTICLE 5

AMENDMENTS

Section 5.1. Amendments Without Consent of Holders.

(a) Without the consent of any Holders, Stonepeak, the Company and the CVR Agent, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more amendments hereto, for any of the following purposes:

(i) to evidence the succession of another Person as a party to this Agreement and the assumption of any such successor of the rights and obligations of the applicable party herein if such succession and assumption is in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;

 

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(ii) to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as the Company and the CVR Agent shall consider to be for the protection of the Holders; provided, that in each case, such provisions shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders in any material respect;

(iii) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement; provided, that in each case, such provisions shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders in any material respect;

(iv) as Stonepeak, the Company and CVR Agent deem appropriate or necessary in their sole discretion; provided, that such amendment does not adversely affect the interests of the Holders in any respect; or

(v) as necessary to ensure that the Contingent Value Rights are not subject to registration under the Securities Act or result in Stonepeak, the Company or the Contingent Value Rights being required to register or be registered under the Exchange Act or any other applicable law.

(b) Promptly after the execution by Stonepeak, the Company and the CVR Agent of any amendment pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.1, the Company shall prepare and Make Available a notice thereof to the Holders setting forth in general terms the substance of such amendment; provided, that any failure so to notify the Holders shall not affect the validity of such amendment (it being understood that any failure so to notify the Holders shall not excuse the CVR Agent from its obligations under Section 5.3).

Section 5.2. Amendments with Consent of Holders.

(a) Subject to Section 5.1 (which amendments pursuant to Section 5.1 may be made without the consent of the Holders), with the consent of the Majority of Holders, Stonepeak, the Company and the CVR Agent may enter into one or more amendments hereto to add, eliminate or change any provisions of this Agreement, if such addition, elimination or change is adverse to the interests of the Holders in any respect. It shall not be necessary for any written consent of the Majority of Holders under this Section 5.2(a) to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but shall be sufficient if such written consent approves the substance thereof.

(b) Promptly after the execution by Stonepeak, the Company and the CVR Agent of any amendment pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.2, the Company shall Make Available a notice thereof to the Holders, setting forth in general terms the substance of such amendment; provided, that any failure so to notify the Holders shall not affect the validity of such amendment (it being understood that any failure so to notify the Holders shall not excuse the CVR Agent from its obligations under Section 5.3).

Section 5.3. Execution of Amendments. Prior to executing any amendment permitted by this Article 5, the CVR Agent shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in and shall incur no liability for relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate stating that the execution of such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Agreement. The CVR Agent shall execute any

 

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amendment authorized pursuant to this Article 5 if the amendment does not materially and adversely affect the CVR Agent’s own rights or duties under this Agreement or otherwise. Otherwise, the CVR Agent may, but need not, execute such amendment. No amendment to this Agreement shall be effective unless executed by the CVR Agent. The CVR Agent agrees that time is of the essence in connection with any amendment to this Agreement that it is directed to execute by the Company in accordance with this Section 5.3.

Section 5.4. Effect of Amendments. Upon the execution of any amendment under this Article 5, this Agreement shall be modified in accordance therewith, such amendment shall form a part of this Agreement for all purposes and every Holder shall be bound thereby.

ARTICLE 6

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE OR CONVERSION

Section 6.1. No Prohibitions on the Company.

(a) Without limitation of Section 2.4, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or prevent Stonepeak, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries from consolidating with or merging into any other Person or conveying, transferring or leasing its properties and assets, in whole or in part, to any Person or from converting from a corporation to another business entity, including a limited liability company, organized in another jurisdiction.

(b) Without limitation of Section 2.4, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or prevent Stonepeak or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from selling any of its rights, in whole or in part, to the Company or any or all of the assets of the Company, as applicable.

ARTICLE 7

OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 7.1. Notices to the CVR Agent, the Company and the Holders.

(a) Unless otherwise indicated, any notice, request, instruction or other document to be given hereunder by any party to the other shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by mail, postage prepaid, by electronic mail or overnight courier:

 

  (i)

If to the Company:

Akumin Inc.

8300 W Sunrise Blvd.

Plantation, FL 33322

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

Email: rzine@akumin.com

 

22


with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Sidley Austin LLP

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, NY 10019

Attention: Ryan Scofield and George J. Vlahakos

Email: rscofield@sidley.com; gvlahakos@sidley.com

 

  (ii)

If to Stonepeak:

Stonepeak Magnet Holdings LP

55 Hudson Yards

550 West 34th Street, 48th Floor

New York, NY 10001

Attention: Legal & Compliance

Email: legalandcompliance@stonepeakpartners.com

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Sidley Austin LLP

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, NY 10019

Attention: Ryan Scofield and George J. Vlahakos

Email: rscofield@sidley.com; gvlahakos@sidley.com

 

  (iii)

If to the CVR Agent:

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust

State Street 30th Floor

New York, NY 10004-1561

Attention: Steven Vacante

Email: svacante@continentalstock.com

or to such other persons or addresses as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice as provided above. Any notice, request, instruction or other document given as provided above shall be deemed given to the receiving party upon actual receipt, if delivered personally; three Business Days after deposit in the mail, upon confirmation of successful receipt if sent by electronic mail (or if confirmation of successful receipt is not confirmed, the Business Day following delivery); or on the next Business Day after deposit with an overnight courier, if sent by an overnight courier; provided, however, that for any information or notices that the Company is required to Make Available pursuant to this Agreement, such information or notices shall be validly delivered to the applicable recipients thereof if delivered in accordance with the term “Make Available” pursuant to this Agreement.

(b) Where this Agreement provides for notice to Holders, such notice shall be sufficiently given if in writing and Made Available, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to deliver such notice, a defect in the mailing address listed in the CVR Register, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders.

 

23


Section 7.2. Effect of Headings; Construction. The headings herein are for convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions of this Agreement. Where a reference in this Agreement is made to a section, such reference shall be to a section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.

Section 7.3. Benefits of Agreement; Holders are Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, shall give to any Person (other than the parties hereto and their permitted successors and assigns hereunder) any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement or under any covenant or provision herein contained, all such covenants and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted successors and assigns. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of the Holders shall be an intended third party beneficiary of this Agreement and each Non-Party Affiliate shall be an intended third party beneficiary to Section 7.9. The Holders will have no rights hereunder or with respect to the matters contemplated hereby except as are expressly set forth in this Agreement. Except for the rights of and exercisable by the CVR Agent set forth herein, the Majority of Holders will have the sole right, on behalf of all Holders, by virtue of or under any provision of this Agreement, to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity with respect to this Agreement, and no individual Holder or other group of Holders will be entitled to exercise such rights.

Section 7.4. Governing Law and Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial.

(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE MADE IN AND IN ALL RESPECTS SHALL BE INTERPRETED, CONSTRUED AND GOVERNED BY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH PRINCIPLES WOULD DIRECT A MATTER TO ANOTHER JURISDICTION. The parties hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of any federal or state court in the Borough of Manhattan, New York, New York (and any appellate courts therefrom) in respect of the interpretation and enforcement of the provisions of this Agreement and of the documents referred to in this Agreement, and in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby, and hereby waive, and agree not to assert, as a defense in any action, suit or proceeding for the interpretation or enforcement of this Agreement or of any such document, that it is not subject thereto or that such action, suit or proceeding may not be brought or is not maintainable in said courts or that the venue thereof may not be appropriate or that this Agreement or any such document may not be enforced in or by such courts, and the parties hereto irrevocably agree that all claims relating to such action, proceeding or transactions shall be heard and determined in such courts. The parties hereby consent to and grant any such court jurisdiction over the person of such parties and, to the extent permitted by law, over the subject matter of such dispute and agree that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided in Section 7.1 or in such other manner as may be permitted by law shall be valid and sufficient service thereof.

 

24


(b) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (i) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (ii) EACH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (iii) EACH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (iv) EACH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 7.4.

Section 7.5. Severability Clause. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions of this Agreement. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application of such provision to any Person or any circumstance, is invalid or unenforceable, (a) the Company and the CVR Agent shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law to such end that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are fulfilled to the extent possible, and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the validity or enforceability of such provision, or the application of such provision, in any other jurisdiction; provided, however that if any such excluded provision shall materially and adversely affect the rights, immunities, liabilities, duties or obligations of the CVR Agent, the CVR Agent shall be entitled to resign immediately upon written notice to the Company.

Section 7.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each such counterpart being deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts shall together constitute the same agreement.

Section 7.7. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force or effect, and the parties hereto shall have no liability hereunder, (a) if the CVR Payout Transaction is a sale of all or substantially all of the assets or Capital Stock of the Company, automatically, following the completion of the payments required to occur on the CVR Payment Date pursuant to Section 2.5(c) or (b) if Stonepeak no longer beneficially owns any Shares or interest in the Company, automatically, following the completion of the payments, if any, required to occur on the CVR Payment Date pursuant to Section 2.5(c); provided, that Article 1, the last sentence of Section 2.5(b), Section 2.6, Section 2.7, Article 3, Article 6 and this Article 7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement, in each case, to the extent applicable.

Section 7.8. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and this Agreement supersedes any and all other oral or written agreements hereto made with respect to the Contingent Value Rights.

 

25


As it relates to the CVR Agent, this Agreement represents the entire understanding of the CVR Agent with reference to the Contingent Value Rights, and this Agreement supersedes any and all other oral or written agreements hereto made with respect to the Contingent Value Rights. With regard to the Company and the Holders, if and to the extent that any provision of this Agreement is inconsistent or conflicts with the Plan Documents, this Agreement shall govern and be controlling (except as may be otherwise required by applicable law), and this Agreement may be amended, modified, supplemented or altered only in accordance with the terms of Article 5. No party shall be bound by, or be liable for, any alleged representation, promise, inducement or statement of intention not contained herein.

Section 7.9. No Recourse Against Nonparty Affiliates. This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claim based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement may only be brought against, the Persons expressly party hereto, and then only with respect to the specific obligations set forth herein with respect to such Persons. For further clarity, no past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, manager, member, partner, equityholder, Affiliate, agent, attorney or other representative (in each case, in their capacities as such) of any Person party hereto or of any Affiliate of any Person party hereto, or any of their successors or permitted assigns (each, a “Non-Party Affiliate”), shall have any liability for any obligations or liabilities of any party to this Agreement or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of the transactions contemplated hereby. Without limiting the foregoing, to the extent permitted by law, (a) each Person party hereto hereby waives and releases all rights, claims, demands, or causes of action that may otherwise be available at law or in equity, or granted by statute, to avoid or disregard the entity form of any Person party hereto or otherwise impose liability of any Person party hereto on any other Person, whether granted by statute or based on theories of equity, agency, control, instrumentality, alter ego, domination, sham, single business enterprise, piercing the veil, unfairness, undercapitalization, or otherwise and (b) each Person party hereto disclaims any reliance upon any other Person not party hereto with respect to the performance of this Agreement or any representation or warranty made in, in connection with, or as an inducement to this Agreement.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

26


Final Form

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

AKUMIN INC.

By:    
  Name: Riadh Zine
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

STONEPEAK MAGNET HOLDINGS LP
BY: STONEPEAK ASSOCIATES IV LLC, ITS GENERAL PARTNER
By:    
Name: 
Title:

 

CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

[Signature Page to Contingent Value Rights Agreement]


Schedule “A”

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES

Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Schedule A have the meanings given such terms in the Contingent Value Rights Agreement (the “CVR Agreement”) to which this Schedule A is appended. References to Sections in this Schedule A refer to the corresponding sections of the CVR Agreement.

EXAMPLE 1

Sale proceeds from CVR Payout Transaction (assumes no other prior CVR Payout Transaction and no other previous distributions from the Company to Stonepeak): $2B

Total debt and liabilities: $1B

Proceeds (assumes no other stockholders besides Stonepeak): $1B

Pay-Out Threshold: $750M

Payout Implications:

First, Pay-Out Threshold paid to Stonepeak (i.e., $750,000,000)

Second, remaining Proceeds of $250,000,000 to be shared as follows under Section 2.4(a):

 

  First,

CVR Holders receive $136,607,143 (representing 85% of remaining Proceeds until payment to CVR Holders reaches 15% of the sum of (x) Pay-Out Threshold and (y) aggregate amount received by CVR Holders and Stonepeak under this prong (i)) and Stonepeak receives $24,107,143 (representing 15% of remaining Proceeds until payment to CVR Holders reaches 15% of the sum of (x) Pay-Out Threshold and (y) aggregate amount received by CVR Holders and Stonepeak under this prong (i)). Proceeds of $89,285,714 remain to be distributed.

 

  Second,

CVR Holders receive $13,392,857 (representing 15% of remaining $89,285,714 of Proceeds) and Stonepeak receives $75,892,857 (representing 85% of remaining $89,285,714 of Proceeds) because the aggregate of $24,107,143 (as paid in the immediately preceding step to Stonepeak) plus $750,000,000 (Pay-Out Threshold previously paid to Stonepeak) plus $75,892,857 (paid to Stonepeak under (ii) hereof) is less than 150% of the Pay-Out Threshold. After all the foregoing disbursements, the total amount of the Proceeds will have been paid.

 

Schedule A-1


EXAMPLE 2

Sale proceeds from CVR Trigger Transaction (assumes no other prior CVR Payout Transaction and no other previous distributions from the Company to Stonepeak): $2.5B

Total debt and liabilities: $1B

Total Proceeds (assumes no other stockholders besides Stonepeak): $1.5B

Pay-Out Threshold: $750M

Payout Implications:

First, Pay-Out Threshold paid to Stonepeak (i.e., $750,000,000)

Second, remaining Proceeds of $750,000,000 to be shared as follows under Section 2.4(a):

 

  (i)

First, CVR Holders receive $136,607,143 (representing 85% of remaining Proceeds until payment to CVR Holders reaches 15% of the sum of (x) Pay-Out Threshold and (y) aggregate amount received by CVR Holders and Stonepeak under this prong (i)) and Stonepeak receives $24,107,143 (representing 15% of remaining Proceeds until payment to CVR Holders reaches 15% of the sum of (x) Pay-Out Threshold and (y) aggregate amount received by CVR Holders and Stonepeak under this prong (i). Proceeds of $589,285,714 remain to be distributed.

 

  Second,

CVR Holders receive $61,922,269 (representing 15% of the remaining Proceeds until such time as Stonepeak receives an additional $350,892,857 which, together with the Pay-Out Threshold previously paid and the $24,107,143 paid in the immediately preceding step, represents aggregate payments to Stonepeak of 150% of the Pay-Out Threshold). Proceeds of $176,470,588 remain to be distributed.

 

  CVR

Holders would receive $44,117,647 (25% of all remaining Proceeds) and Stonepeak would receive $132,352,941 (75% of remaining Proceeds). After all of the foregoing disbursements, the total amount of the Proceeds will have been paid.

 

Schedule A-2

Exhibit 99.1

IN THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

HOUSTON DIVISION

 

 
In re:    Chapter 11
 
AKUMIN INC., et al.,1    Case No. 23-90827 (CML)
 

         Debtors.

 

 

   (Jointly Administered)

NOTICE OF (I) ENTRY OF ORDER APPROVING DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

ON A FINAL BASIS AND CONFIRMING THE JOINT PREPACKAGED

CHAPTER 11 PLAN OF REORGANIZATION OF AKUMIN INC. AND

ITS DEBTOR AFFILIATES AND (II) OCCURRENCE OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE

On November 30, 2023, the Honorable Christopher M. Lopez, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (the “Bankruptcy Court”), entered the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order (I) Approving Disclosure Statement on a Final Basis and (II) Confirming the Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Akumin Inc. and its Debtor Affiliates [Docket No. 272] (the “Confirmation Order”) (i) approving, on a final basis, the Disclosure Statement for the Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Akumin Inc. and its Debtor Affiliates (the “Disclosure Statement”) and (ii) confirming the Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Akumin Inc. and its Debtor Affiliates (as supplemented or amended, the “Prepackaged Plan”).2

The Effective Date of the Prepackaged Plan occurred on February 6, 2024.

Copies of the Prepackaged Plan, the Disclosure Statement, the Plan Supplement, and the Confirmation Order may be obtained free of charge by visiting the website maintained by Epiq Corporate Restructuring LLC at https://dm.epiq11.com/case/akumin. Parties may also obtain any documents filed in the Chapter 11 Cases for a fee via PACER at https://www.pacer.gov/. Please note that a PACER password and login are required to access documents via PACER.

The Prepackaged Plan and the provisions thereof are binding on the Debtors, the Reorganized Debtors, any holder of a Claim against, or Interest in, any of the Debtors and such holder’s respective successors and assigns, whether or not such Claim or Interest is Impaired under the Prepackaged Plan and whether or not such holder voted to accept or reject the Prepackaged Plan.

 

 

1. 

A complete list of each of the Debtors in these chapter 11 cases may be obtained on the website of the Debtors’ proposed claims and noticing agent at https://dm.epiq11.com/Akumin. The Debtors’ service address is 8300 W. Sunrise Boulevard, Plantation, Florida 33322.

2 

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Prepackaged Plan.


The Bankruptcy Court has approved the discharge, release, exculpation, injunction, and related provisions in Article VIII of the Prepackaged Plan.

The Prepackaged Plan and the Confirmation Order contain other provisions that may affect your rights. You are encouraged to review the Prepackaged Plan and the Confirmation Order in their entirety.

 

Dated: February 6, 2024   
Houston, Texas   
/s/ Jennifer F. Wertz   

JACKSON WALKER LLP

Matthew D. Cavenaugh (TX Bar No. 24062656)

Jennifer F. Wertz (TX Bar No. 24072822)

J. Machir Stull (TX Bar No. 24070697)

Victoria N. Argeroplos (TX Bar No. 24105799)

1401 McKinney Street, Suite 1900

Houston, Texas 77010

Telephone: (713) 752-4200

Facsimile: (713) 752-4221

  

DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP

Eric Lopez Schnabel (admitted pro hac vice)

Rachel P. Stoian (admitted pro hac vice)

Michael Galen (admitted pro hac vice)

51 West 52nd Street

New York, New York 10019-6119

Telephone: (212) 415-9200

Facsimile: (212) 953-7201

Email: schnabel.eric@dorsey.com

Email: mcavenaugh@jw.com    Email: stoian.rachel@dorsey.com
Email: jwertz@jw.com    Email: galen.michael@dorsey.com

Email: mstull@jw.com

Email: vargeroplos@jw.com

  

 

Co-Counsel to the Debtors    Co-Counsel to the Debtors
and Debtors-in-Possession    and Debtors-in-Possession

Exhibit 99.2

Akumin Inc. Completes Deleveraging Transaction, Becomes a Private Company

Wholly-Owned by Stonepeak

Akumin well-positioned to continue providing top-quality radiology and oncology services to patients, health systems, hospitals, and physician groups across the U.S.

PLANTATION, FLORIDA, February 06, 2024 — Akumin Inc. (“Akumin” or the “Company”) today announced that it has completed its deleveraging transaction, becoming a private company wholly-owned by Stonepeak, a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets. The deleveraging and recapitalization transaction was implemented through a voluntary, court-supervised financial restructuring process, which is now complete.

“We are pleased to have concluded this process and are excited to enter our next chapter as a private company in partnership with Stonepeak,” said Riadh Zine, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Akumin. “We are emerging from this process with significant positive momentum across our business, and in our view, we are better positioned than ever to execute on our strategic plan and drive our future success. With increased financial flexibility and Stonepeak’s strong support, we will be able to continue to invest in our business by upgrading equipment, deploying new service delivery technologies and renovating facilities in support of our objective to become the outpatient service provider of choice for patients, health systems and hospital partners in Radiology and Oncology.”

“This milestone is a testament to our employees’ hard work and their relentless commitment to our mission,” Mr. Zine continued. “The leadership team and I are greatly appreciative of the unfailing support we received from all of Akumin’s stakeholders as we worked through this process over the last few months.”

“Akumin is now well-positioned to take the next step in its journey as a leading provider of critical health services and trusted partner to patients, health systems, hospitals, and physician groups nationwide with a streamlined capital structure in place,” said Graham Brown, Managing Director at Stonepeak. “We look forward to leveraging our resources and expertise as we work alongside Akumin’s talented team to support the company’s continued progress and mission with the objective of enhancing patient experiences and outcomes.”

In connection with the close of the transaction, Akumin’s stock has been delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange and OTC Pink Open Market.

Akumin’s advisors include Jackson Walker LLP, Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Stikeman Elliott LLP and McDermott Will & Emery LLP as legal advisors , AlixPartners LLP as financial advisor, and Leerink Partners LLC as investment banker. Sidley Austin LLP is serving as legal advisor to Stonepeak, and Moelis & Company LLC is serving as Stonepeak’s investment banker.


About Akumin

Akumin is a national outpatient partner of choice for U.S. hospitals, health systems and physician groups, addressing their outsourced radiology and oncology needs. Akumin provides comprehensive radiology and oncology services and solutions to approximately 1,000 hospitals and health systems across 47 states, and offers fixed-site outpatient diagnostic imaging through a network of owned and/or operated facilities. By combining clinical and operational expertise with the latest advances in technology and informatics, Akumin delivers unparalleled patient experiences and outcomes. Our radiology procedures include MRI, CT, PET/CT, ultrasound, 3D mammography, X-ray, and other interventional procedures; our oncology services include a full suite of radiation therapy and related offerings. For more information, visit www.akumin.com.

About Stonepeak

Stonepeak is a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets with approximately $61.1 billion of assets under management. Through its investment in defensive, hard-asset businesses globally, Stonepeak aims to create value for its investors and portfolio companies, with a focus on downside protection and strong risk-adjusted returns. Stonepeak sponsors investment vehicles focused on private equity and credit. The firm provides capital, operational support, and committed partnership to grow investments in its target sectors, which include communications, energy and energy transition, transport and logistics, social infrastructure, and real estate. Stonepeak is headquartered in New York with offices in Hong Kong, Houston, London, Singapore, and Sydney. For more information, please visit www.stonepeak.com.

Contact

R. Jeffrey White

Akumin Investor Relations

1-866-640-5222

jeffrey.white@akumin.com

Kate Beers / Maya Brounstein

Stonepeak Corporate Communications

+1 (212) 907-5100

corporatecomms@stonepeak.com

v3.24.0.1
Document and Entity Information
Feb. 06, 2024
Cover [Abstract]  
Document Type 8-K
Document Period End Date Feb. 06, 2024
Entity Registrant Name Akumin Inc.
Entity Incorporation State Country Code DE
Entity File Number 001-39479
Entity Tax Identification Number 88-4139425
Entity Address Address Line 1 8300 W. Sunrise Boulevard
Entity Address City Or Town Plantation
Entity Address State Or Province FL
Entity Address Postal Zip Code 33322
City Area Code 844
Local Phone Number 730-0050
Written Communications false
Soliciting Material false
Pre Commencement Tender Offer false
Pre Commencement Issuer Tender Offer false
Security 12b Title Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Security Exchange Name NONE
Entity Emerging Growth Company true
Entity Ex Transition Period false
Trading Symbol AKUMQ
Current Fiscal Year End Date --12-31
Entity Central Index Key 0001776197
Amendment Flag false

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